SANTORINI
TRAVEL
SANTORINI
When most people think of visiting Greece, they’re more than likely envisioning the famous and picturesque villiage of Oia. Santorini is one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever been, but as beautiful as it is, it is one of the most expensive places to visit within the Greek Islands.
During our stay in Greece we met a number of people who unlike us, didn’t enjoy their stay so I am sharing our advice on how to ensure you have the most magical stay on Santorini.
HOW LONG TO STAY
Santorini is a very expensive place to stay, the hotels are expensive no matter where you look as are a lot of the activities.
1-3 days
Everyone’s budget is different so I would recommend staying long enough to take in the views and walk through the town but after 1-3 days move to a smaller island like Milos where boat trips are less expensive and beaches are easier to access.
You don’t want to rush in and out but you only need a few days to truly take in what Santorini has to offer.
what to look for in a hotel or air bnb:
a pool
Santorini is known more for it’s views than it’s beaches so if you can secure a hotel or private cave home with a pool you’re golden.
It’s a long hike down to the water (unless you’re taking a cab) so you're going to want access to a pool where you can jump in and cool off after climbing up the millions of stairs back from the beach.
a view
If you’re only staying for a few days, splurge on your hotel. It makes a huge difference. Look for a place with a view of the water, that way you can watch the sunset from your patio rather than stuffed in with the crowds.
a private terrace
Most of the people we met who didn’t enjoy their stay in Santorini complained of having public walking paths in front of their patio. They said it was noisy and not private.
This part was key for nick and I. We searched for days (I literally felt like I was in Santorini I spent so much time looking at hotels) for a cave home that was in a private area surrounded by hotels where the public wasn’t allowed and that didn’t have a walking path running in front of it.
tip: really analyze the pictures, especially if you’re looking on air bnb to see if there’s a walking path in front of your cave home. If there is, try to keep looking.
cave home
if you can find a cave home or a cave style hotel, go for it. You’re not going to get that experience anywhere else in the world so live a little and splurge. You won’t regret it. It was the most romantic place to be on our honeymoon.
We stayed here .
WHERE TO STAY
Oia
We stayed in Oia and luckily were on the side where all the resorts were which meant that the public wasn’t allowed on those paths (right above amoudi bay) so it was super private and quiet).
One tip our air bnb host gave us was that you want to try to be in Santorini (especially when staying in Oia) on the weekends because the cruise ships arrive on weekdays and the streets are so busy you can hardly get around.
We lucked out and were there on the weekend and the streets were already incredibly full. I can’t even imagine if they were busier.
Fira
My brother and and sister-in-law stayed in Fira and loved that. They said there were tons of restaurants and there was more night life there than in Oia.
So if you’re looking for more lively night-life you may be better suited for Fira.
WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast
Our air bnb provided our breakfasts so we got to watch it made in front of us while watching the sunrise. It was unreal.
If you don’t have this option you can run around to the corner stores to get some groceries to have while watching the sunrise.
There are also lots of cute spots to eat in town, so just get up early and find a nice patio spot before the town gets busy.
Sunset in Amoudi
I would’ve been happy eating there every night we were in town. You don’t need to make reservations way in advance (we made same day reservations) but if you want a seat right on the water, get your reservation in early and let them know you want to be right by the water. The food is inexpensive and delicious but it’s the view that makes this spot so special.
To access it you need to either climb the huge flight of stairs (you can take donkeys up and down too) or you can cab down.
This was a random restaurant we ate at in town. We had a front row seat to the gorgeous view and had to wait about 5 minutes to get a table.
Other
there are tons of restaurants in town and honestly there wasn’t a huge difference of where we ate, everything had a beautiful view so just wander around in the morning and get a sense of where you would like to eat that night and make a reservation.
WHEN and where TO EXPLORE
Wander the streets of Oia
Wander the streets in the morning, shop and pick up drinks and snacks to enjoy at your pool throughout the day. The streets are way less busy in the morning and the streets are cooler.
Swim at Amoudi Bay
Head down to Amoudi Bay anytime of day and jump into the water or cliff jump off the giant rock just off the shore. The wind is strong down their so bring a hair tie with you. It’s also a hike to get there so make sure to wear suitable shoes.
Sunrise and Sunset
Make sure you always wake up early to watch the sunrise and delay your dinner reservations so you can take in the sunset with a glass of wine on your patio.
The stairs
the stairs from Oia down to Amoudi Bay can be pretty intimidating but remember, you can stop and take a break any time you want and you have the most beautiful view to keep you company on your journey up and down.
We arrived in Oia right after eating our fair share of croissants in Paris so I was actually quite happy for the daily exercise. We took the stairs up and down around 2-3 times per day and just made sure to grab a mythos (local greek beer) and jump in our pool as soon as we got back.
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