Despite its over-touristed nature and pricey reputation, Santorini was planted firmly on my Greece travel wish list; visions of its sheer cliffs, whitewashed villages, and sapphire-toned seas had occupied a corner of my imagination for years. And, after finally visiting this summer, I was surprised to find it had exceeded my expectations. The views were even more spectacular and dramatic in person: the Aegean a deeper shade of blue, the buildings painted an almost blinding white.
Numerous moments stand out in my mind when I think of Santorini, but the following highlights are the reasons I fell so hard for this striking volcanic island.
Here is our travel itinerary and top highlights from our 4 nights on Santorini, Greece.
The Food & Drink
From quiet breakfasts overlooking the Aegean to lunches in traditional Greek taverns, and lengthy dinners in the warm glow of the sunset, mealtime on Santorini was always a pleasure. Between platters brimming with freshly caught seafood from Volcano Blue in Fira, baked feta with tomato, fresh herbs, and chili from Melitini in Oia, and squid ink risotto from Kapari in Imerovigli – every meal was divine.
As for drink, I’m not referring to the country’s national spirit of Ouzo, (the after-effects of which would most definitely fall into the ‘lowlights’ category), but rather the island’s wine. Hopping on a guided tour allowed me to delve into every aspect of Santorini wines, from the vineyards to the production process to the finished product. Despite the hostile environment, Santorini produces surprisingly refreshing and aromatic wines. They’re most well-known for crisp, citrusy whites, and Vinsanto: a sweet, syrupy dessert wine.
The Sunsets
Santorini’s sunsets are world renowned for good reason. Dusk becomes a vibrant spectacle as the sun dips below the horizon and the sky is illuminated with vivid shades of reds, oranges, and purples, the colours reflecting off the calm surface of the sea.
Oia is the most infamous sunset spot on the island, and the view from Oia castle is a great vantage point to watch as the whitewashed houses change from pink to gold and blue in the reflection of the ever-changing sky. Fira also offers fantastic sunset views, without the hassle of having to fight your way through the crowds that inundate Oia. The placid village of Imerovigli is the highest point on Santorini, with an expansive view of Oia and the neighbouring island Thirassia.
My caldera view hotel
Accommodations are normally the last thing I choose to splurge on when I travel, but I knew I had to make an exception for Santorini. I had visions of staying in a dreamy caldera view hotel with a private infinity pool overlooking the sea.. until I realized that, no matter how badly I wanted to splurge, I could never afford a caldera-facing hotel in the height of the summer. Then I happened to stumble upon Vallas Apartments – a charming hotel with a handful of rooms, a beautiful caldera view, and a reasonable price tag. Vallas Apartments is situated in the charming village of Firostefani, which is close enough to walk to the bustling restaurants of Fira, and yet far enough to watch the sunset from the hotel’s private patio in blissful silence.
The village of Firostefani has a traditional charm, with its narrow, cobbled alleyways and laid-back atmosphere. It’s the antithesis of Oia’s busy, manicured streets; in lieu of designer boutiques and luxury hotels you’ll find smaller family-owned accommodations and cheerful, reasonably-priced restaurants.
Kamari Beach
Santorini’s beaches are mostly clustered on south-east side of the island, and Kamari is one of the most accessible beaches in the area. Its setting is striking – sitting at the foot of Mesa Vouno mountain, nestled between its surrounding cliffs. The long stretch of beach is covered with black pebbles, a stark contrast to the azure blue waters, and the promenade is lined with bars and restaurants.
I spent my afternoon here sunbathing, sipping on cheap Greek beer, and taking an occasional dip in the crystal clear water. It was a beautiful spot, and the perfect introduction to a lesser-known side of the island.
Have you been to Santorini?
What were your favourite highlights?
Perfect timing to have found this post as heading there for the first time next week! And staying in Firostefani for part of the stay so I’m delighted to read these positive reviews.
I hope you enjoyed Firostefani, it’s a lovely little village!
Santorini is one of my favorite destinations in Greece! And I agree that viewing the Caldera from where you stay is an absolute delight to the eyes. You should’ve tried some archeological tours to Theta and Akrotiri and some Winery Farm tours. Anyway, great article about the place!
Thanks Rosemarie 🙂 If I had more time on Santorini, I definitely would have booked an archeological tour!
I’ve always wanted to go to Greece. There’s something about all that blues and whites that I appeal to me very much. I think I’d find it a very relaxing place after trudging through my own travels. Thanks for this post, it has me inspired!
Glad to hear that, Dave! Greece is an incredible place – I’m sure you’d love it!
I’ve been to different places in Greece but Santorini has always seemed to escape me. It’s one of those places that’s on my travel bucket list for sure. Only issue might be that my expectations are too high!
I was worried my expectations would be too high as well, but I still ended up loving Santorini!
In June this summer I went to Mykonos with my daughter and her friend. I had a hard time deciding which Greek island to choose, and I’m not sure Mykonos was the best choice actually, although we did have a good time. Like you, the images of Santorini linger in my mind’s imagination, and I definitely will go there someday. I’ll remember your hotel tip, watching the sunset in peaceful bliss sounds exactly like my cup of tea. Silence at night was not available where we stayed at Mykonos, the music started pumping right after lunchtime…