Santorini is known as the most photographed island in the Mediterranean. Every single corner of this island will take your breath away. A very unique landscape geographically, Santorini is the only volcano around the world that has a settlement living on the edge of the crater. Standing at 1,200 feet above sea level, the island of Santorini provides breathtaking and romantic ocean views from almost every corner. It’s never a dull moment for a romantic moment and/or dinner on this majestic island. Luxury and/or romantic hotels, award-winning restaurants and shops line the streets.
Attractions in Santorini tend to be quite spread out, so this island is best discovered on a tour.
Santorini was formed after a large volcano that erupted around 1500 BC, and history along with evidence of the formation of this island can be found at several tourist sights. Check out my article on the formation of Santorini to learn more about how this beautiful island came to be.
Here are the top 10 things on Santorini to add to your bucket list:
Watch Incredible and Romantic Sunsets
Santorini can be a couple’s dream, especially for a honeymoon or anniversary. In the same time, it can also be a photographer’s paradise. Look for Santorini on postcards or social media and you’ll want to see those magical sunsets for yourself! Standing on the clifftop villages, there is almost never a spot from where you will not see either a sunrise or sunset. For views that are totally different than all the pictures seen everywhere, click here to book a sunset cruise and see the sunset while on the sea rather than from up to 1,000 feet above sea level.
Best places to see the sunset from:
- Oia
- Rooftop bars in Fira
- Prophet Elias Monastery
- Skaros Rock
- Santo Winery
- Franco’s Café in Pyrgos
- From your sunset view hotel/villa
Have a Seaside/Ocean View Lunch or Dinner
Just like Paris is known for its many French cafes, Santorini is known for its ocean view and seaside restaurants. When at the beach, enjoy a seaside dinner, usually on the beach or just across the street. Or if you’re walking around the city, enjoy a lunch or romantic dinner overlooking the sea and enjoy the fascinating Greek cuisine.
Walk on the Famous Santorini Caldera
The Santorini Caldera is the place where the eruption of the 1500 BC volcanic eruption took place, and travelers can walk on the steep paths of the island where it all happened. The uninhabited island is called Nea Kameni, and is a popular day trip from Thera by boat. This volcanic crater is made from black lava rock, and offers beautiful views of the other islands of Santorini. Off the shoreline, sulfurous hot springs can be found. Over the last 1,900 years, Nea Kameni has erupted a total of eight times and has been dormant ever since 1950.
Getting there: the only way to get there is by booking a tour. Ask your hotel/hostel for tour options.
Experience the “WOW” in Oia
Located a short drive away from Thera, Oia (pronounced as “eea” is known for inspiring artists, great poets and its whitewashed cave houses scooped into the volcanic rock of the cliffs and overlooking the ocean at every corner. Oia is a small village, however, the beauty of this place can keep you there an entire day! Travelers can also visit the Naval Maritime Museum and the nearby Oia Castle where sunsets can be admired from. Sunrises are also magical in this part of Santorini.
Getting to Oia: public transit buses do not link Thera to Oia. A taxi ride from Thera costs around €15 and takes about 25 minutes.
Walk on the Volcanic Sand of Perissa Beach
For those looking for a new experience than the usual white-sand beaches of the Caribbean, Perissa Beach is a black sand beach located at the bottom of Mesa Vouno Mountain. The black lava sand is a result of the volcanic activity on Santorini, which makes this beach different. Umbrellas and comfortable lounging chairs can always be found, along with a playground. Across the road there are seaside restaurants and bars where one can have a nice lunch or romantic dinner. After sunset, the bars become nightclubs and the party starts! Located at 13 km from Thera, Perissa Beach is a scenic 18-km descend.
Getting to Perissa Beach: Public transit buses link Thera to Parissa Beach at 30-minute intervals. A taxi from Thera costs €10-15, or €15 from Oia. After sunset, many drivers up their prices when there are no other ways to get back to Thera, so expect to pay up to double the price.
Experience Greek Culture by Visiting the Blue-Domed Monasteries
As small as Santorini may be, the entire island holds over 600 churches and temples. Chapels, churches and monasteries can be found at many corners of the island, and it is a beauty to see and even visit the Orthodox and Catholic churches with blue domes. Each church has unique icons and a fascinating history, and many of them are phenomenal cathedrals or monasteries, which are set apart by their notable characteristics. Lucky travelers will have the chance to attend a festival or fiesta where lots of people bring food, drinks and traditional music, and celebrate the day away by dancing and socializing.
Most popular churches to see
- Profitis Ilias Monastery
- Agios Nikolaos Monastery
- Panagia Episkopi Church
- Agios Nikolaos Marmaritis Chapel
- Agios Charalambos Church
Walk the Streets of Ancient Thera
Thera (or Thira in English) is the main city on Santorini. Arriving by ferry boat from Athens or any other island, the road leads up the cliff into Thera. In the 9th century BC, the Dorians founded this Hellenic city, and named the city after their mythical leader, Theras. Most travelers will stay in Thera, and explore the island from here. The city is filled with hotels, from basic to luxury, from city hotels to oceanview villas. And for those who enjoy souvenir shopping, this place is paradise. Every corner has a store selling souvenirs, among other things.
Visit the Archeological Museum of Thera
For travelers interested in archaeology, the Archaeological Museum of Thera is a must-see. The museum displays artifacts that date as far back as the Proto-Cycladic figurines of the 3rd Millennium BC. A few of the artifacts include sculptures, inscriptions and vases dating from the different periods of artistic development, from 650 BC to 31 BC.
Address: Erithrou Stavrou, Thera 847 00, Greece
Visit the Museum of Prehistoric Thera
The Museum of Prehistoric Thera is best for the history buff. The museum houses different finds from the excavations at Akrotiri, along with information on the geology and history of Santorini between the Neolithic to the Cycladic Periods. The different exhibits include archaeological objets and fossils of plants which grew in Santorini before the human settlement, Cycladic marble and pottery from 3300-2000 BC.
Visit the Akrotiri Archaeological Site
Akrotiri is a historical settlement of Santorini, dating back to the Bronze Age settlement. It is Santorini’s “version of Pompei”. The life of this town came to a sudden end in the 17th century when strong earthquakes hit, and the population was encouraged to abandon the town. Then came the volcanic eruption of 1500 BC, which completely destroyed and buried the town. Today, one will find the remains of many artworks and objects after the volcano erupted.
Getting to Akrotiri: public transit buses do not link Thera to this historic site. A taxi ride from Thera costs around €15 and takes about 20 minutes. However, lineups can be very long. It is recommended to book a tour that includes a stop at Akrotiri, in order to skip the lines. The tour will also include a tour of the national historic site.