The 10 Best Things to Do and See in Santorini

Santorini, one of, if not the, most beautiful island in Greece, is sure to impress. Considered one of the ten best islands in the world to visit, Santorini has breathtaking views, unique architecture, authentic cuisine, delicious wines, and stunning sunsets. Geographically, Santorini is an island like no other. Santorini sits on the caldera of an erupted volcano, and its principal towns, Fira and Oia, cling to cliffs on its coastline. Here, we give you a rundown of the ten best things to do on this wonderful island. 

 

1. Take a Boat Around Santorini’s Caldera

To really appreciate all of Santorini, one should take a bout around the entire island and see its enormous Caldera, which at its base is 16 kilometers long! View its steep slopes upon which its villages sit and admire the beautiful blue and white houses on its coastline.

 

2. Visit Fira

Built on the caldera, at 260 meters above sea level, Fira has magnificent views of the crystal blue waters of the Aegean Sea and the island of Nea Kameni. There is also plenty of shopping in Fira, where you can check out art galleries, and souvenir as well as jewelry shops. And if you’re more of a partier, Fira is also the center of nightlife on the island, with many bars and clubs open late nights for endless dancing.

 

3. Hike the Volcano 

Hike around the caldera of Santorini and dive into some of its natural warm waters. Santorini’s volcano is one of the larges underwater active volcanos in the world! But don’t worry though, it won’t erupt any time soon. According to scientists, the volcano is supposed to erupt only every 20,000 years, and the last eruption was only 3,600 years ago.

 

4. Visit Oia

A traditional settlement of Santorini famous for its sunsets, Oia has many homes built in caves, as the volcanic rock of the island made it perfect for cutting away spaces for homes.

 

 

5. Discover Finikia

Close to Oia lies Finikia, a beautiful countryside village. Take a walk around the settlement and experience beautiful traditional old homes painted in earthy colors and see pretty little gardens and courtyards. 

 

6. Visit Akrotiri

Known as the “Pompeii of the Aegean Sea,” Akrotiri was once a Minoan village before it was destroyed by a volcanic eruption. The area of Akrotiri was first inhabited during the Late Neolithic period (around 4500 BC) and during the 18th century BC. Akrotiri’s remains still however somehow survived, and you can see what used to be warehouses, crafting tables, streets, and even a drainage system!

 

7. Discover Volcanic Beaches

Explore beaches with black, red, and white sand and enjoy the cool waters of the Aegean!

 

8. Honeymoon

Many couples honeymoon in Santorini, so it’s definitely a worthwhile destination to visit with your spouse!

 

9. Eat!

Grab a bite to eat from one of the wonderful seaside restaurants overlooking the Aegean Sea and enjoy authentic Mediterranean cuisine as well as the unique red and white wines of Santorini!

 

10. View a Sunset

Cou0ples flock to Santorini every year to enjoy a beautiful sunset from the Caldera. You should definitely see one too: it is quite a sight to behold. 

 

 

Enjoy Santorini!

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