Santorini Travel Guide – Santorini lives up to the hype. When it’s summer in Europe, we know that one of the most popular and desired places to visit is Santorini and Greece, in general. It seems like everyone is there at the same time.
Our feeds on IG all look the same: those beautiful white churches, pink flowers, and those fantastic sunsets put the Greek Island on the top of everyone’s bucket list. So let’s get to our Santorini Travel Guide.
With us, it’s always been the same, and this year, we’ve decided to cross this gorgeous island from our list. It was not only our first time in Santorini but our first time in Greece.
After a short flight from Athens (50min), we finally landed on the beautiful island of Santorini. With a total of 227 islands, Santorini is probably one of the most attractive places to spend summer, not just in Greece but in Europe. We all know Santorini by the whitewashed, cube-shaped buildings with blue roofs. Well, Santorini has way more than that.
Find here the best tips for your next Santorini trip.
Santorini Travel Guide – Where’s Santorini?
As mentioned above, Santorini is located in Greece. It is a Greek island situated in the Aegean Sea, 200 km southeast of Athens, 150 km south of Mykonos, and 140 km north of Crete. It belongs to a group of islands called the Cyclades.
Santorini is essentially what remains after an enormous volcanic eruption that destroyed the earliest settlements on a formerly single island and created the current geological caldera.
Best time to visit Santorini
The best time to enjoy Santorini is at the beginning of June and mid-September. Why you ask, during these two times, the weather is more excellent than during Summer. It is still warm but not too crazy hot. Also, it isn’t as busy as it gets during Summer, meaning prices are usually not so high, hotels are not all booked, and the streets are not overflowing…yet.
How many days should I spend in Santorini?
As we mentioned before, Santorini isn’t a huge island. Even with everything Santorini has to offer, and if you are planning on visiting other Greek islands, an average of 3-4 days will be ‘enough’ to visit the island’s main attractions and get around. Of course, you can spend a week there and still find beauty everywhere. It’s like people can’t get enough of this place.
What is the best way to get around in Santorini?
If you want to explore the island yourself – and you should – your best friend will be a Scooter or ATV. They are the cheapest and most fantastic way to get around the island.
And here are the reasons why:
- Price. The average price of a scooter rental is around 30€ per day, and the ATV is around 40€ per day.
- Parking. In Santorini, there is no paid parking. They are all free, BUT there are also not many options to park. Another great reason to rent a scooter/ATV – you can park anywhere.
- Gas. As you can imagine, the scooter is perfect on gas.
- Fun. Driving these things on Santorini’s street is super fun. You get to see amazing views, the roads are super small, and you can cross the whole island – back and forth – in 1, 1.5h. Most tourists do the same, so be ready to see lots of scooters and ATVs on the streets of Santorini. Like, LOTS of them.
– What will you need to rent a Scooter or an ATV in Santorini?
To rent one, you’ll need: a Driver’s License type AM for a 50cc scooter, A1 for a 125cc scooter, A for all the sizes of motorcycles, and B for all sizes of ATVs. It would help if you also were at least 23 years old. You can find plenty of options to rent your ride.
If you don’t live in Europe, you also need an International Driver’s License and your valid driver’s license.
The scooter is your best option if you’re looking for an excellent fantastic ride following the road in Santorini. Now, if you want to explore beaches and hidden gems, you should use an ATV. Lots of roads in Santorini are still not paved. An ATV will contact you to your destination safely and smoothly.
The other options are the regular car rental and the buggies – the last one looks fun.
We got a car for one day because we were changing hotels and would have to pay for the transfer and later for a scooter. So we choose a convertible Smart car for 80€ per day. It was a pretty nice ride too.
Taxi is another way to move around the island but the most expensive way to do so. We got one from the airport to our first hotel.
What to do in Santorini
The beautiful island has lots to offer you. Restaurants, nightclubs, bars, shopping, boat rides, diving, water sports, helicopter ride… there are lots of options.
We’ve selected a few places you should go and things you should do when visiting the island, as well as a map of the island so you can situate yourself.
- Black Beaches
On the southeast coastline of Santorini, there are two successive beaches, Perissa Beach and Perivolos Beach, which form one long beach famous for the black volcanic sand.
- White Beach
The cove next to the Red beach, on the southern side of Santorini, is known as the White beach. It is very similar to the Red beach, with black pebbles on the shore, only that the surrounding cliffs are white. This beach is accessible only by boat.
To get to White Beach, you will need to take a boat. You can park at the lot near Red Beach and bring a water taxi that will drop you off at White Beach for a small fee. Unless you are an experienced rock climber, there is no other way to get there.
- Santo Wines
Scenic winery offering walking tours, food, & tastings… As this is a travel guide, we strongly suggest you make a reservation and go at sunset. The view is just incredible over there.
- Oia
Oia is best known for breathtaking sunsets, but to be honest, the sunrise in Oia is also incredible. The town has whitewashed houses carved into the rugged clifftops and overlooks a vast caldera filled with water. Oia is probably the most famous – and expensive- part of Santorini. Over there, you will find a traditional village with charming houses in narrow streets, blue-domed churches, and sun-bathed verandas. Its streets have plenty of tourist shops, restaurants, cafes, and other shops. Oia is quieter than Fira, and the busiest area is the main pedestrian area that runs along its length.
- Fira
Fira (also called Thera or Thira) is the capital of Santorini. On the caldera side, you get one of the island’s best views, and the activity level is enough to keep you entertained for hours. This is the place for nightclub lovers.
- Imerovigli
Upscale Imerovigli village sits on a cliff top overlooking Santorini’s caldera islands, and it has the best overall views of the sunset and caldera due to its higher elevation.
- Walk through Santorini Streets
Oia, Fira and Imerovigli are the places you want to go for a walk. Over there, you will find lots of stores, restaurants, souvenirs, cute narrow alleys, and the most breathtaking views of Santorini.
If you have motion problems, Santorini might not be the best location to visit. There are many stairs, up and down hills, and lots of walking. This is something that caught our attention there.
- Helicopter ride
Do you know you can take a Heli flight over Santorini at sunset? I KNOW! We went for a flight at sunset; that was one of the most beautiful experiences ever. We recommend it 100%. Here is the link for the company we flew with.
- Boat ride.
We didn’t do the boat ride because we ran out of time on the island, but this is something that we want to do on our next – hopefully soon – trip over there.
What to eat in Santorini
Greek cuisine is heart healthy with its heavy use of olive oil, fish, lean meats, vegetables, herbs, and grain, although some dishes can still be quite rich. It is founded on wheat, olive oil, and wine triad. It uses vegetables, olive oil, grains, fish, and meat, including pork, poultry, veal and beef, lamb, rabbit, and goat.
We always love to try local food wherever we go, and Santorini was no different. We made a list of the things we liked the most and suggested you not live on the island without trying.
- Feta Me Meli – Luana’s fav
- Saganaki
- Dolmades
- Moussaka
- Baklava
- Fava Dip
- Souvlaki
Where to stay in Santorini
Of course, this is the most awaited subject by our followers. So we will list the places we’ve stayed at and liked the most. Are you guys ready?
1 – OMMA Santorini
OMMA Santorini is Epoque Collection’s first hotel (Greece’s pioneer in hospitality management).
An exclusive location is approximately a 20′ minute drive from the airport and ten ′ minute drive from the capital, Fira.
Located in Imerovigli, on a unique spot perched high on the cliff top and offering 360° views of both the Aegean Sea and the Caldera, this luxury boutique hotel is one of the most high-end 5* hotels & villas on the island of Santorini.
This is a Santorini Travel Guide but you know that we are ALL about people, right? What makes a five-star hotel truly five-star is the people involved. OMMA is a five-star hotel to us. We felt at home from the moment we arrived until the very last minute. All the staff was excellent, kind, and accommodating. Always with a smile, even behind the masks (Covid times).
We stayed at their Infinity Suite With Private Plunge Pool. On top of the gorgeous room, we had an incredible and clear view of the all-famous Caldera from Santorini. What else to ask for?
The hotel architecture is a charm. OMMA has a restaurant on site and also a Spa, gym, infinity pool, pool bar and, in case you need to go somewhere, they also have private transfers.
This was one of the best hotels we’ve ever stayed at. The hotel itself is gorgeous and so peaceful and the staff, as we mentioned previously, was incredible! We highly recommend it!
2 – Cavo Tagoo Santorini
Located 5 km from Fira and 6 km from Oia, Cavo Tagoo Santorini is an exclusive all-suite hotel offering luxurious accommodation with sunset views. All suites feature a hot tub, private pool, and a veranda or terrace.
Cavo Tagoo Santorini is the sister property of Cavo Tagoo Mykonos – one of the hot spots of Santorini. This is your place if you are looking for a trending hotel with a DJ on site.
The five-star hotel is famous for its infinity pool with the Caldera view, especially at sunset. If you want access to the evening at the pool, you need to make a reservation before, even as a guest. The same goes for the restaurant at night. Unfortunately, we didn’t experience the sunset at their main pool because it was all booked during our stay. It’s a hot spot in Santorini, you will find it in every Santorini Travel Guide, so ensure you get your reservation in advance.
We could still enjoy the sunset from our balcony in our jacuzzi, which was also pretty gorgeous! We stayed at their Junior Suite With Hot Tub and the Caldera’s view.
3 – Sophia Luxury Suites
If you are traveling with family or friends and looking for a private Villa, Sophia Luxury Suites has precisely what you need. Sophia Suites offers a relaxing retreat with magnificent views of the endless Aegean Blue.
They have different types of accommodations and in other places too. We booked a two-bedroom Villa with an incredible indoor cave pool. No breakfast ideas included, but the villa had its kitchen. Super exclusive. You can find Sophia luxury suite properties in Imerovigli, Oia, Fira, and Finikia.
We got the one in Finikia. Great location with restaurants steps away from our villa and only a 5-minute drive to Imerovigli.
Santorini Travel Guide Conclusion
If you’re planning on going to Santorini, you won’t regret it. The island is beautiful, and the Greeks are incredibly friendly.
We honestly can’t wait to revisit it soon and hopefully make it to other islands in Greece. There are so many gorgeous ones!
Have you been to Greece yet? What do you think of this Santorini Travel Guide? Let us know about your experience and if you have any questions about this piece of heaven of the Mediterranean called Santorini, leave them in the comments below.
Xx,
Luana & Fred.
