Oia

There are increadible beaches on Santorini, very nice restaurants, but most impressive of all, as people say, THE SUNSET. I was astonished by colours that are changing every few seconds. Amaizing View. I recommand Franco's bar as a very nice place to be during sunset. It's cosy, very romantic, and classy. I higly recommand this island because of it's uniqness, great sighseeings and beautifull architecture.

Oia is a picturesque town on the west coast of Santorini. The island has very steep cliffs and the town is situated on the side of the cliffs such that almost every building seems to have an oceanfront view. The town is most famous for its sunsets, so the tables at the restaurants and cafes are either reserved or fill up early. We saw people taking tables up to 4 hours in advance to ensure they would have a seat. People cram into every available inch of the streets and steps and cafes and rooftops by dusk. As the sun starts to set, you realize there is not a bad seat in the whole town. On a clear day, it is almost as if the sun falls out of the sky, and the town seems to shimmer as the light changes and fades. Spectacular.

Santorini, oh where do I even begin!! :-) It was definitely one of my favorite places during my trip and I already want to go back!

In Oia, go down to Ammoudi Harbour (it's down about 200+ steps down the cliff...trust me, it's worth it). Great tavernas/restaurants down there, but my personal favorite is Sunset Taverna. It'll be to your left as you exit the staircase. Go for dinner as you watch the sunset! They have fresh delicious seafood, very friendly service, and a gorgeous view.

Another place to watch the sunset (and my favorite place to watch it) is on the Kastro (castle/fortress). And it's free! A lot of people watch the sunset there, so it's a GREAT way to meet other travelers, especially since you'll be traveling alone. It can get pretty crowded, so get there early! The sunset in Santorini is the most beautiful that I've ever seen, and the way the light hits the water and the white houses & blue-domed churches...it will take your breath away!

In Fira (the village where I stayed), there is a great souvlaki place called Lucky's. I don't have the address, but it's on the main road, across from the taxi stand. There is usually a line of people out the door! And if you're lucky, the employees might even dance for you :-) There are quite a few bars & nightclubs in Fira as well. If you like wine, try some of the local ones like Oia Sigalas or Vinsanto.

I did a day tour of the volcano (caldera), hot springs, and Thirassia (a very small island by Santorini), if you're interested in that kind of thing. I really liked going to the caldera, you can go up to the top of the volcano and it provides a nice view of the island.

I only went to one of Santorini's beaches (Kamari Beach), it's easily accessible by bus. It costs a few Euro to rent the sunbeds/umbrellas...BUT they don't charge you until like 10 or 11am, so if you get there early you can sunbathe on them for free until then ifyou can wake up that early :-) I heard some of the other beaches are incredible too, so you really can't go wrong anywhere you go.

I wrote about my time in Santorini in my Egypt & Europe 2007 blog...here's a link to the first of my Santorini entries...
http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/4135/Beautiful-Oia-Santorini-8

Let me know if you have any questions. Have a great time in Santorini, Michelle...you will LOVE it!!!