The Traveller's Destinations in Santorini

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best time to go?

The best time to go is from April to October when the weather is at its most splendid during the summertime period Take your summer wear but also be prepared to bring something to put over your arms in the evening, as the temperature drops to being quite chilly (due to the high temperatures during the day and little cloud cover) This means you can still drink and eat out in the open, without feeling too much from the slight chill at night

Country: Greece

Airport: Santorini

Currency: Euros

Timezone: GMT +3

Fun facts:

The entire island of Santorini is a volcanic rock.

Santorini is one of the sought to be location of the Atlantis

There are more churches than houses in Santorini

There is so little rain in the island, hence wine is more abundant than water.

The island has some secret hot spring.

ANTLER

LUXURY BRITISH LUGGAGE

CONTEMPORARY LUGGAGE

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#2DAYSIN SANTORINI

A comprehensive travel itinerary

This was our second trip to Santorini and boy were we looking forward to it! Santorini is one of the most beautiful and amazing places that we have ever visited. Situated in the Mediterranean in the Aegean Sea, with excellent weather all year round, beautiful surroundings, and great Greek hospitality, this is not a place to be missed.

So without further ado, here's the guide for the best locations in Santorini to prepare you for your next trip. Enjoy!

Akrotiri

It is believed that Akrotiri was the inspiration for Plato's story of Atlantis An important historical town located in the south of Santorini with buildings stretching back to 4000BC There are several archeological findings Here you can find the ruins of the bronze age buildings, and beautiful frescos which were covered in Ash from the nearby Volcano Theran Eruption

Getting there: To get Akrotiri you are best travelling by car which is

a short journey about 15-20 minutes from Fira.

Entrance fee: Free!

Best time to go: Anytime during the day is best to visit Akrotiri

Photo tip:: There are some really interesting Frescos and Bronze age ruins and artefacts. Akrotiri also has some great views of the beach, sea and island. a place to be missed

The Red Beach

The red beach is a volcanic sand beach located near Akrotiri It is a narrow beach which is interesting to view because of the striking arrow head decline of the cliff pointing down into the sea Although you can find a few sunbathers nearby –it is probably not the best type of beach for sunbathing but more for scenic photographs The reason for this is its red-hue colour which is the reason for its popularity.

Getting there: You can get to the red beach often by using a tour However, you can also take the bus from Thira to Akrotíri and

then either take the boat directly to the beach or walk for about 15 minutes from the bus stop It will cost you about 5 euros compared to a tour which may be more expensive (but include other activities)

Entrance fee: none

Best time to go: The best time to go to the red beach is during the day rather than the evening whether you want to view the cliffs, stay on the beach, or walk round the volcanic rocks

Photo tip: You can get a good Instagram shot of the “arrowhead” like cliff projecting into the sea from a top of the cliff overlooking

Oia

Oia is a town you simply have to put onto your itinerary if you are going to Santorini Oia is in many ways similar to Fira, but has some amazing views, fantastic restaurants and bars, and is very famous for the blue and white domed buildings

Getting there: We travelled to Oia by car which took about 30 minutes journey time You can also get there by bus from Fira centre for less than 5 euros but will take slightly longer to get there than by car

Entrance fee: none

Best time to go: Visiting Oia is very much like visiting Fira - April to October time when the summer is at its best You are best going there earlier rather than later in the day if you want to avoid the build up of crowds

Photo tip: You can get some truly astounding Instagram pics here There are some great opportunities by the walkway next to the church overlooking the whole town and capturing the blue domed buildings as well as some great shots of you walking across the white/grey paths and alleyways near the hotels and bars

happy socks

BE READY FOR SUMMER

Catamaran Sailing

The great thing about this tour is that you don’t have to worry about how to get there The companies tend to run a pick up and transport service directly from your hotel. By booking in advance online, you can provide your details and the address You can be expected to be given a time for collection and drop off either for the morning or evening. The mini bus (which is modern and comfortable) can take about an hour to get from Fira to the port of Amoudi Bay and the tour lasts about 5 hours.

Entrance fee: contact them for more accurate pricing

Best time to go: Early in the morning is a good time if you want to spend the day on the Catamaran and also have something else planned for the evening The benefits of the afternoon/evening trip is that it would allow you to catch the sunset If you choose to do this take something to put over your arms as it can get quite cool at that time.

Photo tip: There are loads of opportunities for a great Instagram photo on this trip, from standing at the point of the boat, to taking a dip in the thermal springs, to laying on the netting at the front of the Catamaran as you cruise into the distance

There are some stunning views of the cliffs of Oia as well as the Volcano and Tharasia Island. For bookings please visit here

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T H E H E A R

O F S A N T O R I N I

We were lucky enough to be provided with our wonderful driver Nicos who was able to drive around the island to some of the lesser known and more beautiful spots of Santorini One of these was the “Heart of Santorini”. The Heart of Santorini is the most beautiful spot I have encountered on all of our views of the island Hidden away at the side of the cliff, after a short journey through the daisies and the wild Thyme growing amongst the grass and rocks, there is a hidden staircase taking you down towards the bell towers A natural opening in the cliff face forms a “heart shaped” view, a truly awe inspiring and stunning vista of the whole island bay Has to be seen to be believed Completely quiet, picturesque and secluded.

Entrance fee: none

Best time to go: Anytime of day when the sky is clear.

Instagram tip: Taking a view through the hear shaped opening is your best place for capturing a beautiful shot of the island. There’s also some great shots to be taken by the bell tower near the opening.

BAYIATIKO

Best Gyro in Santorini

Pyrgos

Pyrgos is a town on the island about 7km away from Fira. On top of the hill is the Kasteli (castle) which gives you views across the entire island It is the town to visit in Santorini if you are visiting for Easter (large celebrations happen) During Easter the local population light large candles across all the walkways and buildings From a distance the entire town is lit up high with candles – it really is a fantastic sight. Pyrgos is also a more traditional town and less focussed on tourism

Getting there: If you are visiting Pyrgos for the festival during Easter then be prepared for some difficulty with getting there. To be honest, you may as well forget

travelling by bus as you can expect to be held up in long traffic queues.

Entrance fee: none

Best time to go: The best time to visit Pyrgos is in Easter during the celebrations The town comes alive and you can witness the parade and lighting of the candles

Photo tip: You can get some great Instagram shots from the roof of the church at the top of the hieghts of Pyrgos. However, I would strongly recommend getting an Instagram shot during easter from a distance – perhaps from Fira of the whole town being lit up by the candles.

M E G A L O C H I R I

Megalochori is one of the most picturesque villages on the island a short journey away from Pyrgos. Similar to Pyrgos it is a more traditional Santorini location compared to the most tourist places of Fira and Oia. There are several vineyards here for some of the delicious flavours of wine produced on the island.

Getting there: A short journey away from Pyrgos you can travel there by car or bus in a relatively short time The advantages of having a car is that you can park and walk through some of the areas which have been restricted from all traffic

Entrance fee: none

Best time to go: The best time to go to Megalochori is probably during the early afternoon to give you chance to visit some of the wine tasting and walk throughs of the traditional buildings.

Photo tip: Walking through this town you really get a sense of the “real Santorini” There is a bell monument which is built over a narrow street which leads onto the main square, and some beautiful churches with amazing church bells, and quaint buildings. You can walk up some of the narrow streets which lead quite high up for some great shots You can also visit a traditional cave house for free

A MUST STOP ON YOUR TRAVELS AROUND SANTORINI

The Dolphins

Ahhhh this is such a wonderful restaurant in Akrotiri! All the fish and seafood is sourced by the fishermen in the bay who run the Dolphin Restaurant. The tables and chairs are set out along the dock so you are surrounded by the calm waters around you as you eat. The fish and seafood is amazing due to it being recently caught and so fresh. Whilst we were there we actually saw the fishermen bring in a shark which was then hung up nearby as they prepared it for meals.

Fira (or Thera) is the Capital of Santorini

The view from the Caldera (the three islands) is breath taking – I cannot emphasise this enough. One of the most beautiful places I have ever visited with an awesome view of the cliffs, shoreline and ocean, watching the ferries come and go, with a fantastic vista of the partially submerged Volcano. There are a wonderful panoply of bars and restaurants, with plenty of great tasting Greek and international cuisine Most of the ingredients for the food and wine are made on the island which has great weather all year round

Getting there: You can get to Fira from Santorini airport by bus or car The journey takes about 15-20 minutes and so it really is easy to get to and from the airport You can also hire a car if you are feeling brave enough to drive A word of warning on driving – most of the roads are very quiet up until you enter the towns - when it can get very busy and most people seem not to mind driving very close or faster than what would be considered safe in the UK

Best time to go: The best time to go to Fira is from April to October when the weather is at its most splendid during the summertime period Take your summer wear but also be prepared to bring something to put over your arms in the evening, as the temperature drops to being quite chilly (due to the high temperatures during the day and little cloud cover). This means you can still drink and eat out in the open, without feeling too much from the slight chill at night.

alabaster white buildings and restaurant bars views all have panoramic views of the bay, ocean, and volcano Some of the bars have some beautiful walkway entrances it can be great to take a pic walking down. Also, where there are some turns on the cliff further up in the centre of Fira, you can get panoramic shots of Fira up on the cliffs.

Photo tip: The

Wine Tasting

As part of our trip to the heart of Santorini we decided that it was a good opportunity to carry out some wine tasting! Our driver at the time had a really good friendship with the Manager and Owner and so we managed to get a seat and table at our preferred time Wine is produced from the grapes and ingredients cultivated under the sunkist skies of Santorini We were introduced to some great and flavoursome wines found on the island such as Mandilaria and Nykteri.

Getting there: a few minutes drive from Fira centre

Best time to go: We visited about 5pm – this isn’t the best time to go. You are probably best off heading here between 2-3pm which would give you time to be able to take the tour around the winery before finishing off with a fabulous wine tasting activity We just missed out on the wine tour which finished just as we were arriving

Photo tip: The winery is on a cliff overlooking the sea, so if you take a seat outside you can take a pic with the glass of wine whilst you are drinking outside The al fresco feel is quite pleasant and the view is really quite stunning If you opt for the 6-8 wine tasting experience then you can take a great shot of all the different wines laid out on front of you, with the taster food and wine glasses

SEAFOOD GALORE

ARESSANA HOTEL SPA & SUITES

by Rodrigo Monzon

The Aressana Spa Hotel and Suites, in the town of Fira, is a fabulously grand and beautiful location for any period of stay in Santorini, Greece It offers pleasant surroundings, comfort, and complete tranquillity for a peaceful and relaxing stay

The hotel Spa is situated near in the centre of the towns bustling restaurants and bars, but because of the location and design, it cleverly creates an ingenious space of complete calm, quietness and peace, but once you step outdoors you can easy return to the bustle and activity of Santorini. It is well placed to access major parts of the town by easy stroll.

The interior design matches the wonderful buildings and architecture of the surrounding landscape, where beautiful white washed expansive spaces create a soothing atmosphere

On arrival, you can see the reception space with an Ancient Greek Goddess adorning the walls behind the desks greeting the visitor As you walk through the hotel towards you room, there are spacious curves and verandas which you can meander through towards your room, passing the white beautiful decor and green plants, and vibrant blue pool areas.

Exploring Panorama Boutique Hotel

Panoramic view from Panorama Boutique Hotel

The room suite that we stayed in was marvellously spacious, great mini bar, wardrobe, beautiful bathroom (with amazing bath scents and cosmetics designed by the hotel) and it’s own private swimming pool just outside the glass screen door

The breakfast has amazing greek yoghurt and fresh fruits which taste nothing like the fruits you find in the supermarket, shops, and restaurants in the UK. The Greek yoghurt was rich and full of flavour, and the fruits so beautifully fresh, bright, juicy and tasty. In Santorini my mouth came alive with fresh flavour!

Then we come to the features and amenities of the Hotel Spa –just wow. Many of the aromatic and skin care products on offer have been created and designed by the hotel They offer a range of services including facials, massages, aromatherapy and more

Overall, we are very glad that stayed in Aressana Spa Hotel & Suites It was a perfect experience What are you waiting for? Book now by visiting their website here

Enjoy the pool!

Mouthwatering Cuisine

Guest Bed

the athenean

HOUSE

Experiencethebest ofGreekCuisine

TheAtheneanHouse

Imerovigli84700,Greece

MOUTH WATERING

BREATHTAKING VIEW

GOURMET

GREEK

BESTGASTRONOMIC EXPERIENCE

Authentic Greek cuisine

The Athenian House is situated in Santorini, high on the Cliffside overlooking the caldera and an amazing view of the famous Skaros Rock It provides an open top restaurant where one can see the spectacular sunsets whilst sampling some sublime and elegant gourmet cuisine on the veranda There is a romantic atmosphere with plenty of couples clinking glasses and chatting warmly in the Santorini clime.

The Athenian House was awarded the World Luxury Restaurant Awards with 3 prizes “Global Winner for Best Greek Cuisine”, “Continent Winner for Most Romantic Atmosphere in Europe” and “Country Winner for Best Luxury Scenic Setting in Greece” It has also been voted “Traveller’s Choice” by Tripadvisor. With accolades like this the restaurant has a reputation to live up to – and I am pleased to say it does so spectacularly.

We were given a pleasant welcome and shown to our table (a well placed location to see the dramatic sunset whilst we dine) We were then provided with the inspired and sophisticated menu We were kept warm by the blankets that they have funished The service is excellent. The waiters and waitresses know the ingredients and how the food was made, including the wine paired for each course

After taking some time to first take in the view and the atmosphere, we decided to begin our gastronomical journey with the degustation (tasting) meal, a wonderful opportunity to sample traditional high class Greek cuisine with matching local wines With healthy ingredients gathered locally, expertly crafted onto the plates, we were treated to a remarkable experience. See for yourself

PANORAMA BOUTIQUE HOTEL

by Rodrigo Monzon

The Panorama Boutique Hotel is located on the Fira cliff side in Sanotrini looking out towards the impressive volcano and overlooking the Caldera The hotel has been designed into the Cliffside in a stepped and layered way, which gives a real sense of being part of the landscape which is stunning to view

The room we stayed in was provided with luxurious linens, coco-mat mattresses and a smart and comfortable bathroom The balcony of the room provided a high up and perfectly situated view of the gorgeous sunrise and sunset, which we could see each and every morning.

The Panorama Boutique Hotel is situated right in the heart of Santorini, which gives you easy access to the town Once you step outdoors you are quickly part of the bustle and life of Santorini From this hotel you can access all of Santorini by foot which is convenient and enjoyable, without having to experience a noisy environment

The breakfast was served from 8-10 every morning and was served in the upstairs bar restaurant which gave you a fantastic outdoors view of the Santorini coastline The breakfast was a combination of menu and buffet – with a delightful selection of Greek meals. Fabulously tasty, well presented, and polite and friendly staff:

Exploring Panorama Boutique Hotel

Panoramic view from Panorama Boutique Hotel

The hotel was peaceful and comfortable, with a great outdoor pool which you could access and was not too busy. Again, the nature of the outdoor location meant that you had great vistas of Santorini and the Volcano

The staff at the hotel were welcoming and friendly, but mostly left you to your own devices.

If you spoke to staff they would be helpful, easy to engage in conversation, and friendly but would not necessarily check in with you about how you were finding the breakfast, room etc

In many ways this was quite pleasant – you were able to enjoy your time there without any interruption but could also rely on staff to help if needed

All in all, a great place to stay – especially for the views and access to the town facilities of Fira

Panorama Boutique Hotel

Fira, Santorini , Cyclades 84700, Greece +30 22860 21760

info@panoramahotel.com.gr

Enjoy the pool!

Delish breakfast

Morning view

Meet the team

MANAGING EDITOR EunicePabines

WRITER, PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTOGRAPHER

ISSUE april