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Other Santorini
tips & insights
I hope my pointers on Santorini in Greece prove useful to you.
Akrotiri Islands
 Akrotiri
(see Santorini Island map below) is an archaeological and tourist site in southern Santorini.
A
visitor path takes you through the partially restored ruins of a town that was buried
under ash by the famous volcanic eruption
of 3600 years ago. Excavations began in the 1960s.
Click
the button below for the interesting background of the Santorini (Thera)
volcano.
Kameni Islands
The
two are volcano islets. They sit near the middle of the caldera bay (see map).
Nea
(new) Kameni rose above the water surface about 300 years ago. It last erupted in the 1950s and remains modestly active
with rising sulfuric steam plumes. You can take a tour to that islet and walk on
its lunar-like terrain.
Palia
(old) Kameni is about two millennia old. You can visit this islet and take a mud bath
heated by underground volcanic activity.
Santorini
Islands Map
Both the island group and its largest island are named Santorini.
Beaches
Beaches
play an important part in the life of many Santorini vacationers. Red Beach,
back dropped with high reddish cliffs, is
the most stunning. See map above for its location.
The
beaches of the Perissa and Kamari sea resort areas (see map) on the east coast
of Santorini are the most popular in terms of tourist count. Be aware that their black volcanic sands (though
visually interesting) readily absorb solar rays. That's why they can get foot-burning hot under a blazing midday sun.
Santorini
accommodation
areas
Some
visitors choose the east coast sea resorts on the non-crater side of Santorini
Island.
After lounging on the beach in the afternoon, they take an evening outing to Fira for its
terraced restaurants and spirited nightlife. Others prefer to stay in
caldera-rim villages like Fira and make
daytrips to the beaches.
The
first option (east coast) is usually best for families and beach worshipers, the second
(on the rim) for
nightlife enthusiasts and adventurous travelers. For me, I like the second option because it
provides a better strategic base for exploring all of Santorini.
Before
booking a cliff-village hotel, make sure your room isn't too far down the
slope. Otherwise, you may have to walk up 50 to 100 steps each time you want to
go the village's main drag.
Transportation
You
can fly to Santorini from Athens, Greece. You can do the same from Mykonos and a few other
Greek Islands.
Santorini
is well-connected by scheduled ferries from the mainland of Greece and from major
nearby Greek Islands. But keep double checking the latest departure and arrival times
because some operators are notorious for not adhering to their printed
schedules.
Santorini has a decent public bus system
for getting around the island. You also
have the taxi and rental (car, bicycle, motorbike) options.
Other Santorini
tips & insights
Fira
has an archaeological museum with a worthy selection of local ancient artifacts,
some dating back to the historic volcanic eruption.
Santorini
exports wine to countries around the globe. Its best known wine is a dry white made with the indigenous Assyrtiko
grape. Though unremarkable, it becomes special when sipped in Santorini.
Wine
grapes are grown in volcanic soil. The vines have to rely mainly on morning dew for its
watering needs (Santorini has limited rain, spring, and other fresh water
sources).
My Santorini
home page
Click the blue button below
for more tips & insights on Santorini.
View my other gold,
silver & bronze medal
winners in Greece
 
My Greek
phrase guide
for travelers
What every visitor should know.
My Greek
cuisine guide
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