Santorini, Greece!

Santorini is one of the most beautiful spots in the world known for its white wash buildings and blue dome roof tops. The caldera is like nothing you have seen before. Santorini has so many amazing spots all over the island and I am listing some of my favorite places below!

1. Oía! Wow my parents used to come here 23 years ago and there only used to be two little tavernas and that’s it at the end of the road. Now it’s like a full city filled with so many restaurants and shops! However be aware that cruise ships love to stop by making the town very crowded during the day. It can also be very hot walking around so I would recommend going later in the day around sunset and dinner time. You can see the best sunsets on the island at the point of Oía. I recommend going onto the rock where the castle is at the tip of Oía because you can sit and watch the sunset. After sunset, the area seems to clear out a lot so you can take great pictures. Make sure to stay long enough to see the afterglow and watch the lights start to shimmer on the houses in the hill. Skiza Pizza is a great spot to eat dinner in Oía because the food is delicious and it has a rooftop patio with a view. Make sure to get the pizza for dinner and the waffles for dessert because they make their own crusts! If you want to stay in Oía there are so many spots! Take into consideration that it is a very popular spot so make sure to book your rooms pretty far in advance. The town has everything you need from supermarkets, to restaurants, to shopping, and lots more! It can be a bit of a drive from all of the beaches though.

2. Imerovigli! This spot has mostly houses and hotels all nestled into the caldera almost like a beehive. There are a few tavernas that are very good. This is the best spot if you want to avoid the crowds due to the fact that since there is no shopping, no cruise ships go there. You can hike the path down from Imerovigli to Oía. As you walk this way, you will see some hotels that are over the caldera but have a lot more space than the hotels right in the heart of Imerovigli. If you want to stay somewhere more relaxed and not as crowded I would recommend there. However, if you want to be in the hustle and bustle make sure to stay right in the center of Imerovigli. You can see people walking by at all times of the day. Make sure to stop by the Aegean Restaurant for great food and amazing service! It is open for both lunch and dinner. Aegean is great about allergies so if you have any just let them know and they are very accommodating. They also have the best Greek salad that I have ever had. Throughout our stay we went twice for dinner and once for lunch because we loved it that much.

3. Parivilos Beach! This beach is known for its black sand and crystal clear water. Some places along this beach will want you to pay 30 euro for two beach chairs but don’t be fooled! A few different restaurants will give you as many lounge chairs as you want for free as long as you order a drink or two! My personal favorite is Filippos Taverna! You can sit down and get drinks and then eat up at the restaurant or down on the beach. The water is very clear and feels very fresh. Filippo grows all the tomatoes for the whole island. Down on the other side of the beach, you can also hit up the cute taverna called Popeyes.

4. Kamari Beach! This beach town is filled with food, shopping, and tavernas! You can get free beach chairs from the restaurant Mangos as long as you order some food or drinks to go along with it! If you walk into town and go to Quickis you can get really great sandwiches for just a few euro!

5. Town of Fira! Once again, cruise ships like to come here and it gets hot during the day so I recommend coming early in the day or much later on. There are many shops and restaurants within. Take a break and have lunch at Nikki’s! It has great food and has an amazing view of the water. You can watch the donkeys go by. Also it is very happening at night for dinner. Sit on the rooftop terrace and look at the sparkling lights of the town of Fira. If you are looking for a fun activity and are in need of a break from walking around you have the option to ride donkeys from the top of the hill down to the bottom.

6. Amoudi Bay! Amoudi Bay is on the end side of Oía. You have to walk a lot of steps to get down there but it is definitely worth it. Down by the water there are some cute tavernas. There is also a cliff jumping spot if you are feeling adventurous! The water is beautiful and great for swimming!

7. Pyrgos Square! Here you can spend a couple hours walking around to see the chapels, small shops, and get some food! If you walk up the hill there are some beautiful lookout spots! I would recommend eating at Kantouni for delicious traditional greek dishes. Also, they have the most amazing fresh squeezed orange juice for only four euro! What a bargain!

8. Red sand beach! It’s a bit of a climb but once you get to the water it’s beautiful! Keep in mind there aren’t any beach chairs or umbrellas so you will have to bring everything on your own. Along the way, there are some delicious fruit stands where you can get great fruit for so cheap! A secret tip is when you first get to the parking lot of the Red Sand Beach, you can go a little to the left and go down some rocks to get to a ladder. From there, you can just jump right in! The water was probably my favorite spot on the whole island!

I hope you found this post helpful for where the best spots are in Santorini!

Talk Soon!

Sam