Santorini, Greece
The most beautiful place I’ve ever been (so far).
I’ve invited my gal pal Adrienne (who went to Santorini with me) to give her personal recommendations as well — those are shown at the bottom of this page!
*Visited in May 2016
Where to stay? Let’s set the scene: May 2016, part-time job, splitting things 5 ways between myself and 4 friends. With that in mind, we stayed 15 minutes away from the higher-priced Oía in a town called Thira (or Fira) at San Giorgio Villas. It was a cute & quiet place to stay without the high expenses of staying in Oía. If you’re balling on a budget, I recommend San Giorgio! But, now that I’m not saving pennies, I would definitely save more to stay in Oía. It’s a long journey to get to Santorini so you’ll want your accommodations to be top notch.
Should I rent a car? Nope! The island of Santorini is not that big and their public transportation is cheap to hop around. Thira is Santorini’s main city, and home to the central bus station. Buses run to/from Thira to: Perissa (Black Beach), Kamari Beach, Akrotiri (Red Beach), Oia, as well as Athenios port, and the airport. All rides are less than an hour. There are no buses that run directly from one side of Santorini to the other.
Ticket price depends on the destination, but are usually under two euro. Tickets are purchased on the bus from the driver or a conductor. You can also rent ATV’s if you’re wanting to explore on your own terms!
Where should I go to eat? It’s cliché, but you just can’t go wrong anywhere you go. The food in Santorini is so fresh! Anywhere that has a view will cost a bit more, but for the most beautiful place in the world… worth it, baby! Baklava at Zorbas Taverna in Kamari, Lolita’s Gelato and seafood pasta in Oía, crepes in Thira, cocktails in Akrotiri, just indulge.
What can I do in Santorini? Book a sunset cruise through Sunset Sailing Oía TODAY. It’s a few hours of food, drinks, snorkeling, and experiencing the world famous sunsets on the Aegean Sea. It’s one of my very favorite & most precious memories. Rent an ATV and travel ‘round the island to get the best views! Hit up Red Beach in Akrotiri for the red-hued sands and Black Sand Beach to experience the volcanic nature of the island along with killer cocktails and a secret cave you can swim in / through! Walking around Oía promises plentiful gift shops of handmade goods. One of my favorite spots was a bookstore named Atlantis Books. There are also public pools available in Oía to hang at if your accommodations don’t provide one!
Any secret tips you can share? We ended our trip with a waterfront dinner in Ammoudi Bay at Dimitris Ammoudi Taverna at the bottom of the high cliffs that Oía sits upon. It was dreamy and we went around the corner to swim in a small & quiet bay that had rocks nearby to watch the sunset on. Watching the sunset on the water again was the perfect conclusion to our trip plus there wasn’t anyone around! You might have to ask a local for exact directions (unless someone has already spilled the tea on Google).
ADRIENNE’S RECOMMENDATIONS
What are the top things you would recommend to do in Santorini?
The sunset cruise with Sunset Oía was my favorite memory! The whole experience was amazing. Food and drinks on the boat, swimming in the hot springs, and the perfect view of the sunset.
What meal / restaurant is a MUST?
A meal on the Ammoudi Bay is a must. Nothing like eating fresh seafood while the small fishing boats are coming in for the evening.
Anything that you would do differently that you would recommend?
Next time I hope to stay in a cave in the cliffs of Oía! Definitely recommend that type of experience.
