Santorini is one of the most beautiful islands belonging to the Cyclades of Greece in the Aegean Sea. It is famous for its prolific sunsets and gorgeous whitewashed houses which cling to the cliffs above the caldera. It is a crescent shaped island owing its shape to a devastating volcanic eruption in the 16th century. It has three main towns: Oia, Fira and Imerovigli.
Santorini was one of my dream destinations and a highly anticipated location during my Greece trip. I was very excited and had been looking forward to this for a very long time which was finally happening. The feeling was quite overwhelming and I went there expecting to be mind blown by its alluring beauty and magnificent views. I went there during the month of September when the crowds usually retreat giving me ample amount of room to enjoy the Island at my own pace.
You can either fly to Santorini from Athens or choose to take a Ferry from the Athens port to Thira (Santorini port) which takes about 4-7 hours. I decided to take a Ferry (Bluestar) from Athens at 8am and reached Thira by 2pm.
Santorini is famous for its alluring whitewashed houses. In most Cycladic islands the houses were painted white to reflect the harsh summer sun and this gives a unique and wonderful appearance to the entire island and its towns.
The town is quite small, however it will take a while for anyone to explore the quintessential alleys and walk along the caldera enjoying the picturesque views which is every photographer's delight.
When the sun is about to set the entire island comes to a standstill to watch the breathtaking spectacle which is deemed to be one of the most prolific sunsets in the world and the pictures do no justice to what I witnessed at that moment as the sun set beyond the volcano.
Santorini has several beaches ,however it is not known for its beaches. Most of Santorini beaches are composed of dark volcanic sand which get really hot during mid-day sun and it quite unpleasant to walk on barefoot.
There are two famous beaches namely the Perissa beach which is the black sand beach and the Red beach which is composed of red sand and a magnificent backdrop.
I carried on with my Greece trip by boarding a ferry from Santorini to the island of Mykonos.
Santorini far exceeded my expectations and left me awestruck. I enjoyed every moment of my wonderful time spent on this gem of an an island. It is truly idyllic, alluring, beautiful, and a place one should visit at least once in his/her lifetime.
(All photos were taken by me)
When I arrived at the Thira port of Santorini and disembarked, my couchsurfing host was already waiting for me with a big smile and a warm welcome. He took me to his beautiful beach facing house on the other side of the island namely a small, isolated area called as the Pori beach away from tourists, resorts and hotels. We had a traditional Greek dish called Moussaka and then rested for the afternoon.
That day I decided to explore the magnificent town of Fira. It is the vibrant and bustling capital of Santorini with a network of winding alleys and narrow streets making it an outright pleasure for anyone to explore it and then finally relax at one of the sea facing bar/cafe/restaurant and enjoy the mesmerizing views.
Santorini is famous for its alluring whitewashed houses. In most Cycladic islands the houses were painted white to reflect the harsh summer sun and this gives a unique and wonderful appearance to the entire island and its towns.
The town is quite small, however it will take a while for anyone to explore the quintessential alleys and walk along the caldera enjoying the picturesque views which is every photographer's delight.
When the sun is about to set the entire island comes to a standstill to watch the breathtaking spectacle which is deemed to be one of the most prolific sunsets in the world and the pictures do no justice to what I witnessed at that moment as the sun set beyond the volcano.
The next day was dedicated to exploring the town of Oia which is the most beautiful and colorful among all the towns of Santorini. It is celebrated for its quite life and fantastic sunset. It is perched on the northern tip of the island is a complete treat for photographers and travel enthusiasts.
The iconic blue domed churches of Oia are one of the most photographed locations in Santorini. It matches perfectly with the blue skies and the Aegean Sea. The unique architecture, beautiful colors and the significant detail to aesthetics makes Oia and Santorini stand out from the remaining islands and renders it a wonderment.
The castle of Oia is possibly the best place to watch the most amazing sunset in Europe. Everyone waits patiently for a couple of hours for the sun to set and the sunset paints the entire village of Oia with its magical colors and illuminates it by highlighting the town's color and beauty.
In between the towns of Oia and Fira lies Imerovigli which is often overlooked. I decided to walk from Oia to Fira along the caldera which takes about 2-3 hours and spent some quality time in Imerovigli exploring the town. Imerovigli is called as the Balcony tto the Aegean because of its beautiful sunset.
Santorini has several beaches ,however it is not known for its beaches. Most of Santorini beaches are composed of dark volcanic sand which get really hot during mid-day sun and it quite unpleasant to walk on barefoot.
There are two famous beaches namely the Perissa beach which is the black sand beach and the Red beach which is composed of red sand and a magnificent backdrop.
Santorini far exceeded my expectations and left me awestruck. I enjoyed every moment of my wonderful time spent on this gem of an an island. It is truly idyllic, alluring, beautiful, and a place one should visit at least once in his/her lifetime.
(All photos are taken by me)