Santorini is an island of breath-taking beauty, with it’s achingly pretty white buildings adding to its epic natural volcanic landscapes. It is a romantic and gorgeous destination that many people have in their top 10 dream places to visit in their lifetime.
You can read our in depth report and guide here, however in this article we will focus just on the very best things to see and do. Read on for our top 5 recommendations of the best things to do in Santorini…
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See the island by boat
One of the very best ways to appreciate the island’s awe inspiring volcanic beauty is to take in its gorgeous cliffs while out at sea.
From the highly rated Caldera Cruise Tour (less than £30 per person) all the way up to hiring a private boat with your own skipper, there are a huge range of boat tours to fit any budget.
If a private yacht hire is a bit much for your budget, consider booking a Catamaran Sunset Cruise in a small group tour to witness the legendary sunset from the water.
SEARCH AND BOOK SANTORINI BOAT TOURS HERE
Visit Oia village
The two main villages Oia and Fira are bustling hives of activity, and can be overrun with tourists, especially on heavy cruise ship days.
Oia is arguably the more beautiful, and should be your choice between the two. The blue domed churches and the views down the cliffs into the caldera are the stuff of legend (and thousands of Instagram posts!). The many boutique shops here are also well worth your time.
Use cruisemapper.com to pick the quietest cruise-ship schedule, and head there in the morning before the crowds and the heat start to build.
Go for a wine tasting
Assyrtiko – this volcanic Greek island’s wonder grape – grows on low vines around the island. From this grape, Santorini’s wineries produce gorgeous white wines bursting with complexity and a unique mineral-blessed flavour.
There are a number of wonderful wineries on the island offering tours and tastings. Gavalas winery in the gorgeous village of Megalochori is my favourite, but there are several fantastic options.
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Visit Akrotiri Archaeological Site
In the south of the island, the incredible Akrotiri Archaeological Site is a great excursion to get out of the intense heat of the sun for a while and take in the remains of a prehistoric settlement thought to date to as far back as the 16th century B.C.
Explore the smaller villages
Don’t overlook the delights of the smaller villages. On days when the cruise ship crowds are packing out Oia and Fira, we recommend escaping to the gorgeous Megalochori (home of the wonderful Gavalas Winery) to take in its beautiful bell tower, its smattering of boutique shops, and its fantastic restaurants.
To get even further off the beaten track, head to even the more un-spoilt Emporio, where tiny cave houses are tucked away down a labyrinth of whitewashed alleys and tunnels which will make you feel like you’re in a sci-fi film!
Final thoughts
Of the wealth of things to do in Santorini, these are our five favourites.
Take your time over our recommendations, treat them as a very loose and languid Santorini itinerary to be enjoyed at a slow pace over a week or so. Don’t rush around trying to pack everything into one day.
This after all is a place to enjoy life at a slower pace. Watch the sunset with a glass of Assyrtiko wine from one of the island’s wineries, from the deck of a catamaran, from the pool of your hotel, or from the lighthouse at Akrotiri.
Just for a week or two, enjoy life at the same languid pace as the sun itself gradually descends toward the horizon each evening on this magical island.
SEARCH AND BOOK SANTORINI FLIGHTS HERE
SEARCH AND BOOK SANTORINI HOTELS HERE
SEARCH AND BOOK SANTORINI BOAT TOURS HERE
SEARCH AND BOOK SANTORINI WINE TOURS HERE
