Santorini Vacations, Santorini Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Santorini Vacation Guide

Consider arriving on the Greek island of Santorini on the slowest boat you can possibly track down. You’ll want every minute you can take to savor to stunning melodrama of the remnants of one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in history, which has left cliffs towering hundreds of meters above an enormous central crater amongst the calm waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The whole island is an impressive natural wonder, one that's growing reputation is still some way short of what it probably deserves.

Inevitably, the delicate villages clinging to the remaining cliff sides and the spectacular sunsets for which the island’s become known bring in tourists by the bucket load, and you’ll rarely find yourself enjoying the landscape alone, but one glance at those glistening sunsets (the best view is from the popular village of Oia, where the horizon is entirely uninterrupted) and tumbling towns is more than enough to make up for it.

Away from the soaring natural sights, Santorini’s overwhelming tourist trade can make for a chaotic street life, especially around the small port, Athinios, which becomes a hubbub of noise every time a ferry drops in, with half the island seeming to await the latest arrivals in the hope of ferrying them to the striking, whitewashed cliff top capital of Fira.

Fira looks down across green grassy cliffs, and is the perfect spot for infinity pools and steep, winding streets, though you’ll find yourself a hefty trek from the nearest of the island’s sporadic but stunning sandy beaches (look out for the turtles). When you do make the beaches, diving, windsurfing, kitesurfing and sailing are all popular pastimes, as is simply collapsing on your towel, where you’ll pick up a deep tan (or lobster-like complexion) in a matter of minutes.

Be sure to visit the tiny volcanic islets in the centre of the Bay of Santorini and explore their alien landscapes, as well as checking out some of the exceptional ancient Greek architecture (try to Minoan City of Akrotiri) and ogling the peachy exterior of the towering Catholic Cathedral. Taking a donkey ride, or exploring the towering cliffs of astonishing destinations like the ever-popular ‘Red Beach’ make for idyllic, dazzling, vivid Mediterranean perfection.