Santorini [url=http://www.santorini.net]]is a volcanic island in the [[Cyclades[/url]] group of the [wiki=6b718641741f992e68ec3712718561b8]Greek[/wiki] islands. It is located between [wiki=a756d26ca5161ae6fcc2bde4b2bcf169]Ios[/wiki] and [wiki=38415faf6164d95725958b04fe10aefb]Anafi[/wiki] islands. It is famous for dramatic views, stunning sunsets from [wiki=a217c8d48b597293c457f6d9fc52b2bd]Oia[/wiki] town, the strange white aubergine (eggplant), the town of [wiki=8a5e7291ea228510dc6c3380547b717b]Thira[/wiki] and naturally its very own active volcano. There are naturally fantastic beaches such as the beach of Perissa, maybe the best beach in Santorini, the black pebble beach of [wiki=e81877a4ffd8c24ebda5bbe0be746f19]Kamari[/wiki], white beach and red beach.
An official Santorini travel guidebook is availablehttp://www.santorini.net/guidebook.html.
The tourist season starts April 1, or around Greek Easter. The period from December through March is very much the off-season and marked by colder temperatures, rain and winds. Although the temperature is rarely cold, the poor weather makes for a less than optimal experience on this beautiful island. Most of the businesses, including hotels and guest houses, may be closed. The air is usually hot and dry during the busy summer months with very little rain between May and September. Ideal times to visit, for milder weather, lower prices and crowds, are April-June and September-October.
Santorini (Thira) National Airport [url=http://www.santoriniairport.com]]is an airport in Santorini/Thira, Greece (IATA: JTR, ICAO: LGSR), located north of the village of Kamari.
With regular flights from [[Athens[/url]] by Olympic Air [url=http://www.olympicair.com/],]Aegean Airlines [url=http://www.aegeanairline.com/[/url]]and AirSea Lines [url=http://www.airsealines.com/[/url]](a seaplane airline). Flight duration from Athens to Santorini is about 30 minutes. During summer, Sky Express [url=http://www.skyexpress.gr/[/url]]connects Santorini with other popular islands such as [[Crete[/url]] ([wiki=f6665e2a9ab77abefd148781e4dd135c]Heraklion[/wiki]), [wiki=3dd9ab27e061fb4fab78e42511023a08]Rhodes[/wiki] and [wiki=fdd5174c1da55bd2c224abf3749a2c65]Mykonos[/wiki]. During the months of July and August Astra Airlines [url=http://www.astra-airlines.gr/]]flies from Thessaloniki [http://www.airport-thessaloniki.com[/url].
From May till October charter airlines fly directly to Santorini from many European airports.
* Air Berlin [url=http://www.airberlin.com/]]flies from Berlin Tegel (TXL), Düsseldorf (DUS) , Hamburg (HAM), Nuremberg (NUE) and Vienna (VIE);
* Condor [url=http://www.condor.com/[/url]]flies from Dusseldorf (DUS), Stuttgart (STR), Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC);
* EasyJet [url=http://www.easyjet.com/[/url]]flies from London Gatwick (LGW), Manchester (MAN) and Milan Malpensa (MXP);
* Edelweiss Air [url=http://www.edelweissair.ch/[/url]]flies from Zurich (ZRH);
* Germanwings [url=http://www.germanwings.com/[/url]]flies from Cologne/Bonn (CGN), Munich (MUC) and Stuttgart (STR);
* Jetairfly [url=http://www.jetairfly.com/[/url]flies]from Brussels (BRU);
* Meridiana [url=http://www.meridiana.it/en/[/url]]flies from Milan Malpensa (MXP));
* Norwegian [url=http://www.norwegian.com[/url]]flies from Copenhagen (CPH), Oslo (OSL) and Stockholm (ARN);
* SAS [url=http://www.sas.no[/url]]flies from Oslo;
* TAROM [url=http://www.tarom.ro/[/url]]flies from Otopeni Bucharest (OTP);
* ThomasCook [url=http://www.thomascook.com/[/url]][url=http://www.thomascook.be/[/url]]flies from London Gatwick (LGW), Manchester (MAN) and Brussels (BRU);
* Thompson [url=http://flights.thomson.co.uk/[/url]]flies from Manchester (MAN)
* Transavia [url=http://www.transavia.com/[/url]]flies from Amsterdam (AMS).
From the airport there are buses to [[Fira[/url]], where you can change to buses for other towns. Taxis are also usually waiting at the airport, but competition for them can be keen. You should agree on the fare with the driver (€10 - €14 to most places is acceptable) before departing. Many Santorini hotels offer airport transfers, usually for a fee that's more than a taxi would charge you, but some may find it worth it for the convenience.
Take the ferry from [wiki=5ea66e4b85fa9287d6b204fdb8169c24]Piraeus[/wiki] past [wiki=8df42fb3247f81ee0422c508ad3953b0]Paros[/wiki] and [wiki=ec463ceae0ca4cd80011c8a810fce3d1]Naxos[/wiki] to the new port of Athinios [url=http://www.santorini-port.com/]]on Santorini. More details in the [[Cyclades#By sea|Cyclades[/url]] article. There is also daily connection between [wiki=f6665e2a9ab77abefd148781e4dd135c]Heraklion[/wiki] ([wiki=5fa39857df317523a03e5aac02ee6b18]Crete[/wiki]) and Santorini during high season.
If you prefer traveling by sea, your best bet is high-speed catamarans. The trip from [wiki=a6a4a171f71de2f1fd23b0037c88fd21]Pireaus[/wiki] to Santorini takes 4.5hrs with a high speed ferry.
Ferries dock at the new port of Athinios[url=http://www.santorini-port.com/],]where buses and taxis meet each arrival to transport passengers to Oia, Fira, and elsewhere. All vehicles climb a very steep, winding road (with seven 180 degree turns) to get anywhere from Athinios.
If you arrive by [wiki=33705032f9f8fc5b55aedee04ed80de2]cruise ship[/wiki], the experience will surely leave you with lasting memories. Cruise ships that call on Santorini[url=http://www.santoriniport.com]]do not dock but hold position in the caldera near the Old Port of Fira and require tendering, which is usually provided by the Union Boatman of Santorini. Locals with fishing boats occasionally transfer cruisers to the Old Port at Fira (Skala Pier, which seems not to have changed over the last 50 years).
From the Old Port (Skala Pier), there are three ways to reach the top of the cliff and Fira, which is 260 metres above sea level:
* cable car (daily, 6.30am-10pm, every 20 mins, €5/£4.15; takes about a few minutes to reach the top),
* mule ride (€5/£4.15; there's a weight limit and it'll take longer than the cable car), or a
* tough hike up 580 steps (following the same path as the mules; you must be fit and should inquire if you want to hike up; no charge).
With one or more large cruise ships off-shore, long lines may queue at the bottom of the cable car. Casual Fira walkers/shoppers may meet many others at the top returning after a few hours, and long queues may form at the top of the cable car before passengers are expected back aboard their ship(s). There are six small cable cars ganged together (each holding six persons max), taking about a couple of minutes to descend. Do the maths, and plan accordingly.
Alternatively[http://www.tomsportguides.com/Santorini-07-22-2013.pdf[/url], you could take a speedboat, run by the Union Boatmen of Santorini, who also operate the tenders for the cruise ships, from the Old Port pier to Oia. Tickets are sold at the Old Port pier for €20/person. That covers a 12-minute speedboat ride to Ammoudiou Bay at the bottom of the cliff next to Oia, and a private bus ride up a switchback road to a NST bus parking lot in Oia. After you explore Oia for 1, 2, 3, or 4 hours, you can then board a private NST bus (included in the price) to Fira. One still have to contend with the long queue for the cable car or walk down with the messy donkeys.
For cruise-ship excursions, the cruise ship may tender passengers to the new port at Athinios, where chartered buses wait to start the excursions. Typically, excursions end at Fira.
Transport by sea is always dependent on weather. For safety, especially in winter or raining monsoon, cruise ships may delay or cancel shuttles to/from shore, and ferries their departure times to or from the island.
The island is small enough that it can be thoroughly explored by bicycle, or with a few bus trips, by foot. Bicycle rentals are fairly hard to find -- most places advertising bike rentals refer to motorbikes, rather than bicycles. The maps are designed for hikers,
however, so the recommended routes are impassable by bicycle.
Santorini is not very bicycle-friendly -- there are no dedicated bicycle routes, so you must share roads with vehicular traffic. In addition, the island is very hilly. The traffic was more friendly to bicycles than to pedestrians or other vehicular traffic, however.
Recommended routes by foot include the amazing walk from Fira to Oia (note that this walk is less nice in reverse, it can take less than three hours but can be difficult, for up and downhill climbs, the rocky surface at times, and the proximity to unprotected cliffs that drop sharply into the caldera) along the caldera, as well as the paths over Perissa Rock connecting Perissa, Kamari, and Pyrgos. The walk between Perissa and Kamari is fairly short (via Ancient Thira), while the walk to Pyrgos is somewhat longer, passing through the highest point on the island.
Public beaches do not seem to have showers or places for changing.
*Black Beach- see [wiki=e81877a4ffd8c24ebda5bbe0be746f19]Kamari[/wiki] and [wiki=f94ff84a19d2815c9544c666591ce2b1]Perissa[/wiki]
*Red Beach- it's worth taking the Red Beach/Akrotiri bus from Fira and then climbing over the very rocky trails to get here (though there are water taxis and various schooners that make their way here as well). Red Beach earns its name from the iron-rich sedimentary rocks in the cliff face towering above you, as well as the red sand. It's quite crowded; you can rent an umbrella and a pair of chaise lounges for € 8, though there is also some good free space nearby that gets packed by midday. The first few meters of the water near the shore are quite gravelly, so be prepared to step on some stones. Women are frequently topless. Many distant yachts can be seen from the beach -- it looks really romantic at sunset time. Great snorkeling - an abundance of sea life is present, as with Perissa. The tavernas built into the caves on Red Beach seem to have no electricity or running water, so if you eat or use the washrooms there, bring along hand sanitizer!
*White Beach- available only from the sea; get there by boat from Red Beach or Akrotiri. There is no pier so the only way to get there is by getting of the boat and walking through water that starts at about you waist. It is very small with only a few beds.
*Vlychada- this is a nude beach. On the left side of the beach, you will see that people are clothed, but as you go toward the right, you will find everyone in nude. An umbrella with 2 chaise longues cost €5 if you stay on the left side of the beach.
*Amoudi- this is not really a beach with sand, but is a wonderfully secluded swimming area reachable from Oia. There is a road around the far side of Oia that leads down to a small parking lot. From there, you can reach the swimming area on foot past a few small restaurants. There is also a platform on a large rock that people can swim to and dive off.
*Perivolos- lighter sand than Perissa beach, and is very enjoyable when the North Wind is blowing. It has beach bars and restaurants that makes it feel like a "beach day club".
*Monolithos- quiet but well organized beach with all the comforts of the other beaches such as clubs, restaurants, and umbrellas.
*Baxedes- this is the main beach at the north side of the Island. Baxedes is a peaceful place with black sand, it is much more like how Santorini was like before tourists discovered the island. This is not the best beach when the north wind is blowing. It is easiest to get there by rented or private car or motorbike.
*Pori- this is an amazing beach on the east side of Santorini where the rocks have a very unique red color to them. This is an excellent beach for those who do not mind walking a bit to get there. No facilities, restaurants, or shopping are located here.
*Mesa pigadia- A beautiful rocky beach near the nature side of the island by the town Akrotiri. About 800 meters away from the Akrotiri main road there are restaurants on the beach itself. There are several ways to reach the beach which include driving, biking, or taking a small boat from Akrotiri. The price is about € 7 for the ride and another € 7 to rent an umbrella.
*Agios georgios- at the southern tip of the Santorini this beach has everything from water sports to beach bars. There are a few small taverns here and it is the perfect spot to have a quiet swim and avoid the massive crowds. You can reach this beach from Emporio and Perissa by rented or private car. Walking is also an option.
Volcan Wines Museum & Winery: [url=http://www.wine-museum.info/en/];+30]2286 31322. open 12PM-8PM.
*Santo Wines: [url=http://www.santowines.gr[/url];]open 9AM-sunset (the only winery that charges a fee for a tour)
*Argiros Estate: Mesa Gonia near Kamari
*Roussos winery: Mesa Gonia near Kamari
*Boutari winery: Megalochori
*Venetsanos Winery: Megalochori [http://www.venetsanoswinery.com[/url]; open 10:00 - 22:00
*Hatzidakis winery: Pyrgos
Akrotiri, in the south, a roughly 3,500 year old Minoan town preserved in volcanic ash like Pompeii, is one of Santorini's "must-sees". The excavation site is covered by a roofing system, which makes it something that you can comfortably visit no matter what time of year. The ruins are extremely well preserved. Streets, buildings, stairs and even second floors of buildings are still visible. Visitors can stand in the ruins and look at Minoan pottery and frescoes, and with a little imagination, feel what it would have been like to live in ancient Greece. Due to an accident in September 2005, the excavation site was temporarily closed to the public, but as of April 2012, the site is once again open.
Ancient Thera, the Classical city of the island is on Mesa Vouno, 396 m. above sea level. It was founded in the 9th century B.C. by Dorian colonists whose leader was Theras, and continued to be inhabited until the early Byzantine period.
The preserved ruins belong to the Hellenistic and Roman phases of the city. The residential area and the larger part of the cemeteries were excavated by German archaeologists between 1895 and 1902. The cemeteries on the NE and NW slopes of Sellada were excavated by N. Zapheiropoulos in the years 1961-1982.
[wiki=6911b3d63299e1c297b85baeeda5fb16]Fira[/wiki] has the Museum of Prehistoric Thira that contains some of the artifacts, which were found in the ruins of Akrotiri. So first visit Akrotini, where the items came from and then Thira to understand what the items are. The museum has more pots, pottery and other household items than you can shake an antique stick at, but the highlight is the frescoes of the blue monkeys -- a mystery since historians say there is no evidence that there were ever monkeys on Santorini.
Also in [wiki=6911b3d63299e1c297b85baeeda5fb16]Fira[/wiki], near the cable car station, is the Archeological Museum that contains artifacts from various eras. Most of the exhibits are dated from the Classic and Roman period from the ancient town of Thera and it's cemeteries.
The Cycladic Islands are world-famous for their picturesque towns of cubic white-washed homes and blue-domed churches. Santoríni is especially famous for the towns of Firá and Oía, whose white and pastel-colored homes and churches-- seemingly stacked on top of each other-- are perched on the cliffs of the caldera. Many of these traditional homes are built on cliff-side caves, thus having a much larger interior than their exterior would suggest. The architecture of Santoríni's picturesque towns is typically Cycladic, but with strong neoclassical and baroque influences visible in many of the island's churches and public buildings.
While Santorini cannot claim a prominent art collection, why not see some local and international artists work by visiting the Art Space Gallery and Winery in the small village of Exo Gonia, on the way between Fira and Kamari. Art Space is a winery built in 1830, an old canava. Also an museum with old installations for raki and tomato-juice. Owned by the same family (Argyros) for three generations.
The landscape here --the blue sky, the little white houses perched on gigantic rocks on hills that plummet to the sea, the lemon and orange groves, the pink and white churches that look like pastrycakes, the faces and warmth and expressiveness of the Greek people -- little wonder this may be the most photographed scenery in the world.
Santorini has 5 dive shops. Prices are typically around € 80 for two dives, including equipment rental, transport, and usually, a light lunch. The offerings are otherwise quite similar. Prices are sometimes lower when booked directly through dive shop, rather than through a travel agency. Try the Mediterranean Dive Club divecenter.gr], info@divecenter.gr). Their dive station is on Caldera Beach near Akrotiri, but they also have an office on Perissa Beach. There are also two dive shops in Kamari: Navy's Waterworld Dive Center (+30 22860 28 190, [url=http://www.navys.gr]),]and Aegean Divers (+30 22860 33210, info@aegeandivers.com, [http://www.aegeandivers.com[/url]).
Diving, visibility is amazing, but there are not as many fish as more popular scuba and snorkelling locations. Dive sites include a wreck near the volcano, caverns, reefs, as well as wall diving. The wall dive is the most interesting. Octopus are not uncommon. To minimize environmental damage, all five dive shops go to the same locations (although not at the same time), with moorings shared by all the dive shops. If you want to go to a specific dive site, call ahead, and find out which dive shops are heading to which locations on which day (or ask to go to a specific location).
Recommended sites for snorkelling include Mesa Pigadia beach, somewhat out (some people recommended a diving buoy for boat safety), the beach South of Oia, as well as Perissa Rock (esp. somewhat further around the rock). There are supposed to be some nice spots between Perivolos and Vlichada Beach as well. The beach on Thirasia also has some reasonable snorkelling. Caldera Beach, near Akrotiri, has a few amazing snorkelling spots. When walking down to Caldera Beach (follow the signs to Santorini Dive Center), you will see some rock formations further out into the water. If you can find those once in the water, and swim to them, you will find wonderful snorkelling.
Virtually all beach-side shops will sell cheap, low-quality snorkelling gear (mask for around 10EU, fins for around 20EU).
Tour local wineries and enjoy the local wines, well thought of, if not world famous. A combination of climatic factors and the tastes of those who have occupied and lived on the island have formed an eclectic cuisine.
You can find internet cafes in Kamari, Perissa, [wiki=8a5e7291ea228510dc6c3380547b717b]Thira[/wiki] (wireless access also available) and in [wiki=a217c8d48b597293c457f6d9fc52b2bd]Oia[/wiki].
As of year 2014, most hotels and cafes offer free Wi-Fi Internet access (available even on the beach). (at least, in Perissa, Perivolos and Kamari)