Santorini is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
Tourists often call it the photogenic island, and Santorini really deserves this nickname! Numerous famous views of the island often adorn brochures of travel agencies, and believe - each shot in reality is much more fascinating.
Santorini is famous for its white stone-built buildings, blue-domed churches, ancient mills, the beautiful blue horizon of the Aegean Sea, sun-drenched pools in front of houses and hotels, narrow cobbled streets and flowery courtyards.
You can get from Athens to Santorini by boat (it takes about 8 hours) or by plane (flight takes 45 minutes).
The city of Fira (also known as Thira) is called the modern capital of the island.
You can visit the old port of Fira by cable car, enjoy the beautiful view and taste the delicious seafood at the fast food restaurants on the beach.
Visit the Archaeological Museum, walk the beautiful streets and see handmade items, local glass accessories, pottery, hand-embroidered tablecloths. Diving and boating are very popular among tourists.
White and blue colors are dominated on the island. The exterior and interior of hotels, restaurants or souvenir shops are also colored in these colors. Terraces are decorated with potted flowers.
The stairs of the island are often called stairs leading to happiness. With this staircase you will get from one tiny courtyard to another - Santorini - a real maze of colorful narrow streets.
The island includes more than 10 towns and villages, including Akrotiri, Emporio, Firastephany, Imerovigli, Kamari, Perissa, Mesaria and others. The most popular among them is Oia. The view of Oia is the main symbol of Santorini!
From the main station in the center of Fira, a bus runs in the direction of Oia (distance from Fira to Oia is a maximum of 20 minutes).
On the way to Oia bus will pass a section unknown to tourists. Hanging from the window allows you to see how the locals live on this beautiful island, how they like to care for their yard and the whole island.
The last stop of the bus is in the center of Oia. After getting off the bus, you have to walk for a few minutes, on the way you will find pink, purple, red ivy walls.
You will mix with the flow of people speaking different languages, and then you will have to take a deep breath and prepare emotionally to see the incredible beauty that you have seen at least a thousand times on the Internet or in the brochure.
Here is the most beautiful sunset - these words are not exaggerated.
This island is an ideal place for lovers of walking, as it is impossible to drive on the narrow streets of the island. If you are very tired, you can hire a donkey.
The best time to visit the island is from April to early November. Sunny weather is mainly from May to October, and in July and August it is very hot in Santorini. The cost of hotel reservations is relatively cheap in the spring and late fall, the price of the rooms are even lower in the winter (some hotels are closed on this season).
If your plan includes swimming in the sea in addition to sightseeing on the island, you should visit Santorini from June to September. The most popular are Perissa, Vlychada, Perivolos and Kamari beaches.
