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Santorini Unpacked: Caldera Cliffs and Romantic Sunsets
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items steal my ultimate santorini itinerary from this past summer to experience the best of the greek island including things to do unique to this destination, locally-recommended restaurants to reserve, and a breakdown of the top cycladic towns to stay in...
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things to do in santorini 🌋
where to eat in santorini 🌅
where to stay in santorini 🪨
things to do in santorini 🌋
discover can't-miss attractions across the caldera rim from sunset photo spots to black sand beaches—regardless of whether you arrive by car or catamaran
the most unique (and windiest) experience santorini has to offer, stroll along the caldera rim thousands of feet above the ocean below on this 3-hour, 6.5 mile moderate trek through charming greek villages. starting from elevated fira is significantl...
Hike from Fira to Oia
when passing through imerovigli, head down to the grace hotel to find the entrance to skaros rock, a path atop a rocky precipice jutting out into the sea. this peninsula is the most thrilling segment of the route, making the detour a can't-miss that ...
Skaros Rock Detour
across the street from volkan on the rocks, this quaint, locally-run bookshop has novels in a range of languages from greek harry potter to italian nautical charts. the perfect place to pick up souvenirs for a bookworm or your own travel diary, pop i...
Atlantis Books
a scenic lookout in fira you can find marked on maps apps, this is one of the best spots in town to capture a panoramic photo just down the street from volkan on the rocks and atlantis books 🌊
Panoramic View Fira
at first glance it may seem like a tourist trap, but this immersive, greek wedding experience is full of performers with truly impressive theatrical craft. enter the fictional home of the papadopoulos family, and after meeting the cast of characters ...
The Greek Wedding Show
a luxe black sand beach club with veuve branding, spend a day basking under the sun on the plump, floral poufs comprising their bohemian sunbed lineup 🌞
Seaside Santorini
the most iconic skyline features that make postcard-perfect oia famous worldwide, the two blue-domed churches are the quintessential backdrop needed to capture THE santorini shot. expect a line to have already formed by sunrise (especially at viewpoi...
Blue Domes
another infamous part of oia, stroll by the windmills on the upper edge of the village's western tip to snap a flick of one of the most iconic visual symbols of santorini 🌬️
like other aegean islands, wind-powered mills were relied on here for grinding grain—oia’s is one of the best preserved among the few remaining.
like other aegean islands, wind-powered mills were relied on here for grinding grain—oia’s is one of the best preserved among the few remaining.
Windmills of Oia
15th-century venetian fortress ruins with a 360° view, this is the most famous sunset spot in oia that starts to fill up hours before the sky turns pastel 🏰
if you want a solid vacation snap but don't have the patience to wait in line for the blue domes, this is your next best view. given the size of the castle and the fact that every angle has a beautiful backdrop, it's much easier to get a satisfactory...
if you want a solid vacation snap but don't have the patience to wait in line for the blue domes, this is your next best view. given the size of the castle and the fact that every angle has a beautiful backdrop, it's much easier to get a satisfactory...
Castle of Oia
the ideal place to lounge if your accommodations don't have a pool—the midday heat is notoriously brutal with locals using that time to nap inside; order a beverage or food from the cafe bar to lounge here instead away from the cruise crowds packing ...
Lioyerma Lounge Cafe Pool Bar
slick stone steps connecting the terraced village of oia with ammoudi bay below, do not cave and take a donkey ride back up. these poor animals are regularly mistreated for the benefit of tourists, making it in your best interest to book a bay excurs...
Oia Steps
the turquoise bay below oia with bobbing fishing boats in the harbor, this is the pickup point for catamaran cruises and a scenic lunch spot even if you don't book a tour—switch up the typical caldera view with something closer to sea level 🐙
sunset ammoudi is known for the famous flick of their sign with the day's octopus catch hung out to dry, but i found basalt to be a significantly higher-quality pick for lunch.
sunset ammoudi is known for the famous flick of their sign with the day's octopus catch hung out to dry, but i found basalt to be a significantly higher-quality pick for lunch.
Ammoudi Bay
a secret cliff jumping spot near ammoudi bay; continue on the rocky path leading out from the left side of the bay up and around the coast, ignoring the chain link fence and falling rock signs. a bit of scrambling is required over the volcanic crag b...
Nisis Agios Nikolaos
the #1 activity worth every penny in santorini, lounge on a catamaran net drinking copious amounts of complimentary wine while sailing to otherwise unreachable beach destinations detailed in the next few cards. swim in geothermal pools, snorkel, dig ...
Luxury Sunset Catamaran Cruise
hot springs you can only reach by boat, sail to this first stop aboard santorini catamaran cruises to dip in the warmest part of the otherwise frigid aegean sea, heated by magma beneath this volcanic island at the center of the caldera ♨️
Palea Kameni
the next snorkel stop aboard a santorini catamaran cruise, admire the black pebble beach of mesa pigadia in the distance while snorkeling amongst schools of fish enticed by pita pieces in the water 🐠
Mesa Pigadia (Black Beach)
a different color shore is up next, aspri paralia boasts staggering white cliffs behind the otherwise pebbly beach 🏖️
Aspri Paralia (White Beach)
the last stop before cruising into the sunset with a cocktail in hand, the red beach sits across the cove from the white—serving as the perfect backdrop while you dig into a plate of greek bbq cooked onboard the boat 🍖
Kokkini Paralia (Red Beach)
where to eat in santorini 🌅
santorini deserves to be a luxury experience all around, balancing authentic greek cuisine with scenery that wows—these restaurants fit that bill, ensuring you're dining with a view during each and every meal.
THE sunset spot in imerovigli tucked along the caldera cliffside, athenian house is a 5-star, regularly awarded establishment with both à la carte and tasting menus guaranteed to blow your mind. make reservations in advance with a €50 deposit, and co...
The Athenian House
begin your morning in a zen garden, devouring homemade fluffy pancakes topped with seasonal fruit and greek honey inside this peaceful oia oasis to fuel up on local ingredients before hiking to fira 🥞
(vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free options available)
(vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free options available)
Karma
a panoramic point in fira rewarding you with views in all directions after the hike, an outdoor cinema screens mamma mia! all summer long in the evenings 🎥
for a uniquely greek bite, try the peinirli boat-shaped pizza!
for a uniquely greek bite, try the peinirli boat-shaped pizza!
Volkan on the Rocks
fine dining with a view in fira, this relatively secluded balcony is located next to athina luxury suites, serving up a silky dragon fruit sour with a waiter who doubles as a flying dress photographer and can take professional-grade sunset flicks of ...
Esperisma
upscale and nestled along the bay, basalt boasts beach club ambiance with mellow house beats bumping throughout the meal. with the best tip top service i found in santorini, waiters prepare all your dishes tableside whether they're squeezing fresh le...
Basalt Restaurant
where to stay in santorini 🪨
i didn't appreciate the vastness of the island before visiting—the village of oia and santorini itself were the same thing in my head. now with an intimate understanding of the rocky caldera's true scale (which makes getting around a time-consuming t...
the whitewashed village santorini is known for, staying amongst the blue domes means you'll be sharing packed, cobblestone lanes with cruise goers as soon as the sun comes up. the most commercial, touristic town on the island, oia is for those who wa...
Oia
my preferred home base for a future trip, imerovigli sits between oia and fira on a quieter slice of the caldera full of luxury accommodations and fine dining. in the middle of the horseshoe-shaped bay, i'm convinced this is the best spot to watch th...
Imerovigli
the capital of santorini, fira sits below imerovigli towards the port as the major transportation hub, making it best for budget-travelers looking to utilize the bus system. while crowded and commercial like oia, the wider lanes and upscale storefron...
Fira