DISCOVERING SANTORINI’S MAGIC

From active volcano hikes and grammable beachhopping to precious antiquities and elegant viticulture experiences, Santorini is a fascinating destination that offers a wealth of attractions and experiences. The question is: Where to start?

Ask Any sAntorini locAl what question they get asked the most and you’ll get the same answer every single time: What are the best places to visit/things to do in Santorini? People come here from all over the world wanting to see, do and experience all the best things our island has to offer, and more than that, they want the experience to be authentic.

It’s great that people are so enthusiastic about exploring and experiencing our island, but when asked to pick “bests” on an island like Santorini, where do you even begin? More than gorgeous picture-perfect sunsets and out-of-this-world vistas, Santorini is our heritage and our legacy, a multifaceted, complex place that celebrates its past while forever evolving. And that’s exactly where this island’s magnetic allure comes from.

Embrace The Landscape

From the very first moment you step foot on Santorini, it’s impossible to forget that you’re standing on a volcano. There’s the red and black volcanic sand, the lava stones, the sheer cliffs that plunge into the Aegean Sea around the iconic caldera (which, if you’re wondering, is a geology term for the large depression formed when a volcano erupts and collapses). The fact that Santorini is an active volcano has shaped our history and culture in a thousand different ways, but first and foremost, it has given us an island unlike any other. An environment so extraordinary that when you’re in it, it’s practically impossible to find anything mundane. Hands down the single most important thing to see and experience.

Blessed with such a unique landscape, crystal clear waters and fantastic weather, makes Santorini is ideal for all kinds of outdoor activities, which in turn are a great way to experience even more of the island! Stay on land for leisurely strolls or active hikes to take in the sights or to go horseback riding along the beaches and clifftops and mix it up with a change of perspective, kayaking along the coast to secluded coves, trying exhilarating watersports, or diving in the caldera.

Journey To The Heart Of The Volcano

When it comes to culture, art, dining and nightlife, all the action is on Thira (the crescent-shaped main island), but when it comes to volcanism, all the action is on Nea Kameni, the tiny island in the heart of the caldera. The youngest volcanic islets in the Mediterranean, Nea Kameni and neighbouring Palia Kameni are essentially the summits of Santorini’s active – but dormant – volcano.

Whether privately or as part of a group tour (boat tours to Nea Kameni run daily from Fira, Oia, Athinios and Vlychada), a visit to the Kameni islands is one of the best and most authentic experiences to be had in Santorini: humbling, awe-inspiring and fun. Explore Nea Kameni, hike up to the five craters, enjoy a dip at one of the tiny, otherworldly beaches, go scuba diving to explore underwater lava formations, and then wrap up the experience with a relaxing soak at the islands’ natural volcanic hot springs. The best tip? Make sure to choose appropriate footwear for the hike (you don’t want sandals for this one!) and pack a hat, sunblock, snacks and plenty of water. The islands, which are also included in the Natura 2000 European network of protected areas, are barren and wild and you’ll find no shade or amenities in their magnificent landscape.

Discover Ancient Santorini

Growing up in a place of considerable historical significance doesn’t really mean that much when you’re a kid and the most important things in your life are trips to the beach, playing outside and being allowed an extra scoop of ice cream on a hot summer afternoon. But then you grow up, and there comes a moment when you feel like you’re seeing your surrounding for the very first time. The significance of all these things you took for granted suddenly hits you and you kind of need to stop and catch your breath. And that’s the secret to the most common sightseeing recommendation on the island: Visiting Ancient Akrotiri and Ancient Thera isn’t about checking the big names off a list; it is about tapping into that sense of awe, of seeing something magnificent for the very first time.

Ancient Akrotiri (which according to many is the inspiration behind the mythical lost city of Atlantis) is home to a prehistoric Minoan city that was buried under ash during a violent volcanic eruption around 1600 BCE. Excavations in the second half of the 20th century revealed a remarkably well preserved ancient town, with whole streets, houses, stunning frescoes, furniture and other precious antiquities that offer a rare glimpse back through time to how our ancient ancestors once lived. Meanwhile, on the other side of the island, the hilltop ruins of Ancient Thera bear witness to the island’s legacy through the centuries: Founded in the 9th century BCE, the settlement was in turn under Greek, Ptolemaic, Roman and Byzantine control before another volcanic eruption led to its abandonment in the 8th ‣

The island’s Venetian heritage is most evident in the medieval casteli or fortified settlements, of Akrotiri, Emporio and Pyrgos (pictured), which charm visitors with their labyrinthine passages and quaint architecture.

THERE’S A QUIET JOYFULNESS TO LETTING YOURSELF GET LOST IN THE MEANDERING ALLEYWAYS OF THE ISLAND’S TRADITIONAL VILLAGES century CE. To your journey into Santorini’s ancient history (and view some gorgeous antiquities!) don’t forget to visit the Museum of Prehistoric Thera and the Archaeological Museum of Santorini in Fira.

Go Beach Hopping Along The South Coast

There’s no shortage of stunning beaches and remarkably clear waters on Santorini, but nothing quite beats the spectacular diversity that’s packed into just a couple of kilometres of shoreline on Akrotiri’s south coast: the Red Beach (Kókkini Paralía) with its red-hued sand and crimson cliffs, the secluded White Beach (Lefkí Ámmos) that’s backed by a wall of bright white limestone, and the Black Beach (Mésa Pigádia) with its black volcanic sand and lava pebbles. With great swimming spots, iconic scenery and fantastic peeks into the island’s unique volcanic background, this stretch of the south coast is a fast favourite and a go-to recommendation, and while you can get there by road, getting there by sea is guaranteed to up the wow factor. A visit to Akrotiri Lighthouse, perched on the westernmost point of the peninsula is a great way to wrap up your day with panoramic sunset views that easily rival those from Oia.

Rising to 127 metres above sea level in the heart of the caldera, the volcanic island of Nea Kameni was first formed during an eruption in the 16th century and has grown with subsequent eruptions, most recently in the mid-20th century.

To Behold Such Impossible Beauty Is To Truly Experience The Sublime

There’s a surprising variety of different ways to experience Santorini’s culture and heritage, including visiting the Tomato Industrial Museum in Vlychada (top), exploring traditional music and mythology at Symposion (above), and witnessing the master potter Andreas Makaris create exact, full-scale reproductions of ancient Theraic vessels at his workshop in Megalohori (opposite).

Explore A Wealth Of Traditions And Heritage

With a history that spans over four millennia and more than half a dozen empires and civilizations, Santorini is a treasure trove of historic built heritage and unique traditions that live on in the sites and customs of its many villages. Fira, the island’s capital, is a great starting point with plenty of attractions and museums, but if you really want to experience Santorini, you have to get out and explore its charming traditional settlements and historic landmarks.

You can stop by the tranquil, traditional village of Finikia near Oia, head to Imerovigli to hike to Skaros Rock and the hidden Church of Panagia Theoskepasti, stroll through the intriguing village of Episkopi Gonias and see the historic Byzantine Church of Panagia Episkopi in Mesa Gonia, visit Kasteli castle in Pyrgos, see the Chapel of Panagia Katefiani and the blue-domed Church of the Holy Cross in Perissa, wander through the enchanting Medieval town and walk up to the windmills in Emporio, and visit the Venetian castle of Akrotiri.

Revel In Arts And Culture

Maybe it’s the unique landscape or maybe the brilliant Cycladic light, but artists and creative spirits seem to have always been naturally drawn to this island. Throughout the centuries, Santorini has been home to exceptional craftsmen and artisans, painters, iconographers, sculptors and potters. There are plenty of galleries and studios in Fira and Oia, but even smaller villages are home to some exceptional artists and traditional workshops for those truly interested in discovering the island’s

IT’S NOT JUST THE SUNSETS THAT ARE PHENOMENAL – ALL THROUGH EACH DAY, LIGHT AND WATER DANCE TOGETHER, CREATING SHIFTING PATTERNS OF ETHEREAL BEAUTY

To Really Experience Santorini You Have To Be Open To Exploring Beyond Your Expectations

art. Notable stops on your journey should be Symposion Cultural Centre in Megalohori , which offers a fascinating programme of activities and events focused on music, art and mythology; the workshop of acclaimed ceramic artist Andreas Makaris, also in Megalohori ; winery-cum-art-gallery Art Space in Exo Gonia; and Bellonio Cultural Centre in Fira.

Savour Local Flavours

With its windswept rocky landscapes and hot summer sun, Santorini might not seem like an obvious destination for growing, well, anything. Yet thanks to the resourcefulness of its people (and centuries of traditional knowhow passed down through generations), the island has become internationally renowned for its wine and unique produce. The mineralrich volcanic terroir produces some extraordinary wines – particularly crisp Assyrtiko and sweet Vinsanto – while traditional farms and artisanal producers grow and manufacture a tidy selection of exceptionally flavourful produce, including the island’s phenomenal cherry tomatoes and famous fava (the local name for yellow split peas). Discover the island’s authentic flavours with a local winery tour