What do you love to do when you go on a holiday? Eat, Drink, Party, Explore & Relax? All or None of the above? Are you the one who saves up for the dream holiday after working long hours everyday and dreaming of stretching your legs on the beach, beer in one hand and instagram updates on the other?
Precisely, the reasons why you MUST visit Santorini, and it is totally worth all the planning and saving! Whether you are a history buff or an ocean lover, you HAVE IT ALL in this holiday!
Atleast 5 to 7 days are required to cover Santorini. If you wish to do the other Greek Islands I would suggest to do a 7 to 10 days trip for a balance of relaxation, party and shopping.
Santorini's official name is Thira and did you know, it is the southernmost island in the Cyclades. It's one of those places where time goes by quickly and you wish you could keep going back.
I am not the kind of person who likes to sit in one place or in my luxurious room (if it is one), because who knows, I may not come back to the same place again. Especially after Covid-19, I really am so happy we visited Santorini.
So be prepared to jot down some places in your itinerary worth walking! Or eating! And drinking! Opaaa!
And, when you visit Santorini, don't be surprised that this place has more churches on the island than the houses!
Things to Do in Santorini:
1. Enjoy the famous Sunset in Oia:
No one who visits Santorini miss the sunset in Oia! It usually gets very crowded right before the sunset and you wouldn't want to miss that beautiful shot! One of the days we went to the town of Imerovigli to see the difference, and nothing can beat Oia's sunset with the backdrop of blue and white dome buildings, with the sun rays shining on the private pools and the people dressed up to clap at the end.
Pro Tip: It is advised to plan to get to Oia atleast an hour or two before sunset, If you are getting around by car. Parking is very limited and tour buses take up most of the space by late afternoon. But, if you choose to stay in Oia you won't have to go throw any of it!
If you do not wish to stand on the stairs, book a spot at one of the terrace restaurants for dinner, it's a nice setting with good food!
Sunset Spots: Oia Castle, Restautant Terrace or the Stairs
Oia and Fira are the biggest towns in Santorini, both very beautiful and worth exploring. You can either take the bus, taxi, car or a bike one way and walk back the other way. We did the famous trek from Oia to Fira, took us almost 4 hours as it was really hot, steep mountain climbs, and there was only one stop for water. Standing on top of the highest peak and gazing out at the endless ocean is totally worth the 4 hour walk!
So make sure to carry water, food and proper attire for a climb. I clearly did not follow that and almost ripped my canvas shoes.
To return back to Fira we took the public bus which was a perfect ride and costed only 2 euros per person.
The valley background and ambience is perfect for a quite wine tasting afternoon. We went in the evening and it was absolutely amazing!
4. Explore Oia, Fira, Imerovigli and Pyrgos:
The best areas to stay in Santorini are Fira, Oia and Imerovigli. I personally loved Oia for the sunsets, food, shopping and the late night walks! You can also choose to stay in other parts of Santorini which have less tourists, but then you won't get to enjoy the same views.
Ammoudi Bay is very similar to Amalfi coast, but just not that expensive! The picturesque #Ammoudi Bay sits just at one end of Oia. Once you climb down the 200 odd stairs or take a direct taxi; you can dine, have a drink or go cliff jumping!
Restaurant Recommendations: Ammoudi Fish Tavern, Dimitris Ammoudi Taverna, Fanari Restaurant, Ombra Restaurant, Kyprida Restaurant, Oia Gefsis
Kamari is a coastal village in the east coast of Santorini. The black sand on Kamari Beach, open air cinema and cafes won't disappoint you. Staying in Kamari is a good option to save on your money, and travel to other parts of Santorini by car during the day time.
Kamari does not have the Instagram worthy high end hotels but we still enjoyed our time here. The limited cafe were not as crowded and made the days less chaotic.
Hotel Recommendations in #Kamari: https://santorinidave.com/kamari-hotels
The sunrise may not be as good as the sunset, but it still counts for all the magic! If you manage to wakeup early (and I urge you to), you will get to enjoy the rare quite time, just by yourself along with a good cup of coffee or tea or champagne if you must.
We loved walking past the breezy lanes as the shops were closing, passing by the restaurants with live music in the hidden away gem and enjoyed a good glass of red wine and olives!
Restaurant Recommendations: Candouni, Roka
8. Go Shopping In Fira and Oia:
Greece is famous for it's evil eye - you will find this in everything, jewellery, home decor, paintings and clothing.
In Oia, we stayed at the Art Maisons Luxury Suites, Oia Castle. Honestly, we were lucky to find the suite at a half price on Expedia. If you are able to find the right deal, staying right in front of the Aegean Sea is waking up to a dream!
In Kamari, we stayed at the Blue Waves Hotel, only 30 meters from the Kamari Beach.
Best Areas To Stay: https://santorinisecrets.com/where-to-stay-santorini/
Scroll down for more hotel recommendations in Santorini
Hotel Recommendations in Oia and Fira
Greece is a perfect place for everyone and a must visit atleast once in your life. I hope you visit Santorini once sometime in your life and that you found my article inspiring enough to plan your next trip to #Greece.
Follow me on Instagram @curlytravelmess for such more travel adventures.
Thank you for Stopping by!
#santorini #beachvacation #honeymoon #romantic #bucketlist #europe #greece #island
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