This place has been HIGH on my bucket list for years, and I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that we got to go! Someone pinch me! I hope you’re ready for a lot of pictures in this blog because this entire island is so photogenic, it was impossible to put my camera away.
To get here, we took a quick morning flight from Athens and had already arranged ahead of time to be picked up from the airport and taken to our Airbnb. We flew with Olympic Air for around 90 euros each, which I booked directly through their website. The only restrictions to get into Greece were proof of vaccination, antibodies, or negative covid test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival. We also had to fill out a passenger locator form with our accommodation details, which you can find here.
Before I go into the details of our trip, a little history lesson on Santorini…
This beautiful place in the Aegean Sea was essentially created by several volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, and was actually the site of one of the largest eruptions ever recorded, the Minoan eruption, around 3600 years ago. The crescent-shaped island is basically part of the outer rim of the volcano, and the caldera is what used to be the center.
Though it’s a fairly small island, it’s bigger than some people expect. There are a few main areas, including Fira/Thira (the main town, spelled either way), Oia (probably the most popular spot), Imerovigli, and Akrotiri.
We stayed in Imerovigli and I was so glad we did! It was a much quieter area but still close to anything we needed and actually has the best views of the caldera and sunset since it’s the highest point. We stayed at this Airbnb and loved it so much that we would recommend it to anyone. It was clean, felt very private, spacious, and they brought us a complimentary delicious breakfast every morning. If you’re looking to stay in a more touristy area closer to activities then I’d suggest Fira/Thira or Oia, but they are honestly very close by and easy to get to.
There is so much to do in Santorini! On our first day we spent a lot of time on our patio enjoying the jacuzzi and the view. Then after supper, we did a sunset hike out to Skaros Rock.
If you’re into hiking this is a must do because the view is incredible! Forewarning, there are a lot of stairs so wear appropriate shoes and don’t get too close to the edge.
Our next day we visited Amoudi Bay and Oia. Dalton and I both loved the vibe and bright colors in Amoudi, it was fun to watch the fishing boats and see the fresh octopus hung up ready to be cooked. If you’re an adrenaline junkie, you can also swim and cliff jump here. Keep in mind that to get down to the bay you must either drive/take a taxi, walk up and down a lot of stairs, or ride a donkey.
Oia was very beautiful but we didn’t stay too long because it was sooo hot outside. We still managed to see a few popular spots, including the Blue Domes (Anastasis Church) and the cute orange Kastro Houses.
I’d recommend coming here early in the morning to beat the heat! I would have loved to explore more but the sun was brutal, so we will definitely spend more time here next time we visit. I have read that there are often lines to take pictures at some of these popular spots but there were no lines while we were there, so I guess we were lucky!
On our third day, we did a catamaran cruise with Vista Yachting (I booked it here). This was our favorite activity during our trip! The company picked us up in Imerovigli and took us to the boat on the south end of the island.
We got to swim in the Aegean Sea, visit the thermal springs (we didn’t get in because they told us the water would turn our white swim suits orange, those that got in wish they hadn’t because the water smelled like sulfur and was slimy) and have a delicious Greek lunch and sail past the enormous cliffside. I have been to several different oceans/seas and can honestly say this was the clearest, cleanest water I have ever seen, although it was very cold.
Fun fact: We learned there is a hermit that lives alone on one of the little islands created from one of the volcanic eruptions! His name is Sostis and you can read more about him here.
After our catamaran ride, we and several other people on the tour convinced them to drop us off at Santos Winery. Though neither of us are big wine drinkers, it was still neat to try all the different flavors and enjoy the view! The wine definitely has a distinct flavor since it is made here on the island and the grapes are grown in the volcanic soil. We liked the rose the best!
Santorini has so many delicious restaurants as well. You might need to make some reservations in advance though, especially if you go around sunset. We liked Rare, Skaros, Avocado, and Amoudi Fish Tavern for lunch/supper! Dalton and I couldn’t stop talking about how much higher the quality of food is in Europe; even their bottled water was amazing
As for getting around Santorini, many people rent ATVs or scooters. I really wanted to do this, but when we arrived Dalton was not a fan of the way some people drove and how narrow the roads were. At first I was sad but it was also nice to be in air-conditioned taxis most of the time. You’re also able to walk to a lot of places. Some people actually even walk from Fira to Oia, which is about 6 miles and takes around 3-5 hours! Remember that if you do plan to rent a car or ATV, you’ll need to get an international driver’s license. We did this in person at a local AAA office, it was pretty easy and they are valid for a year. You can fill out an application here.
If you’re island hopping, the most common way to leave Santorini is by ferry. I will warn you that the process is extremely unorganized and confusing, and you’ll feel like a herd of cattle being led onto the boat. Also, expect your journey to take 1-2 hours longer than you expected. I booked our tickets ahead of time on ferryhopper and it helped make it a little easier. Also, double check to make sure you are booking the high-speed ferry (SeaJets). As for all boats, make yourself more comfortable by taking motion sickness medicine ahead of time.
If you get to the port in enough time, grab a table at Spartakos, have a delicious breakfast of omelets and crepes, and watch the boats come and go. The owner was incredibly nice and very helpful with the whole ferry process, he sat there and talked with us for quite a while and helped us make sure we were getting in the right line.
Overall, I loved Santorini and we were so thankful we were able to go on our honeymoon despite this terrible pandemic. It was definitely our favorite place we visited. I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog and found some useful tips for your trip to Santorini! Greece is such an amazing country and I hope you love it as much as we did! Thank you for reading!
WHAT I WANT TO DO/SEE NEXT TIME IN SANTORINI…
- Visit the ruins of Akrotiri and the lighthouse.
- Explore Oia more
- Visit Perissa Beach
- Hike from Fira to Oia
- Go horseback riding