Santorini

Probably the most well known and visited island in the Cyclades is Santorini (or Thera in Greek). Santorini embodies what I had envisioned Greece to look like - whitewashed buildings, beautiful beaches, and stunning sunsets. Santorini is actually a (currently) dormant volcano, with the sea filled volcanic caldera as a focal point for the towns on the surrounding cliffs. One of the largest volcanic eruptions in the last 10,000 years was in ~1620 BC on this island. It was this eruption that created the islands and caldera that we now know as present day Santorini. The most recent eruption, though not as significant, was in 1950.

Santorini has something for everyone, and you can easily spend a week here without seeing or doing it all (provided you have deep enough pockets to stay that long). There are many places to stay on the island depending on what you want to see and do, and how much you want to spend. The easiest way to get around the island is to either rent a car or a quad to have the freedom to go where you want, when you want, though, there are buses or tours that transport people to and from some of the hot spots if that is more of your travel style.

Fira is a town located relatively central, on the West side of the island, overlooking the caldera. This is where I stayed, though there are TONS of other options depending on your budget. Fira itself is quintessential Santorini, though taking a trip up to Oia on the North west side of the island, is where you’ll see the classic ‘postcard’ shots of Santorini that we’ve all come to love. Here is where you’ll find the blue domes, the ‘classic’ sunset of the island, and some incredible views of the distant cities over the caldera below. This is also where you will undoubtedly find a million tourists. If you do plan on watching the sunset here, make sure to get to the windmills early. People start to hangout here anywhere from an hour before sunset to get the perfect spot to watch. Sitting at a restaurant or cafe near by may work, though be warned that if theres a pathway next to you, you will likely have tourists get right in the way. A significant portion of the tourists on the island every day are from cruise ships, which typically arrive early in the morning and leave just after the sun sets, so if you’re looking for some quiet time, your piece of quiet time will be quite short lived in the main tourist areas.

Some typical things to do in Santorini for the day includes checking out many of the small towns and villages scattered around the island, wine tasting, beach combing on one of the many volcanic beaches, taking a trip to the volcano on the other side of the caldera, warming up in the hot springs, eating some amazing greek food, and of course, watching the sun set. Though Santorini is known for its incredible sunsets, the sunrise here is just as impressive. Anyone who knows me knows that i’m not a morning person, but I had to make an exception here. I rolled out my yogo yoga mat that I travel with on a beach on the East side of the island, and did a vinyasa practice with the beach all to myself, while watching the fishermen heading out in their boats, and the equally incredible sunrise.

If you’re a scuba diver like I am, this is also something that may be worthwhile for you to try here. As you can imagine, the marine life here may not be the highlight of a dive by any means, but if you’re into geology and rocks as I am, diving here may be right up your alley. With that said, the marine life here was surprisingly still impressive. No, it’s not your typical bright reef fish and coral you may see in the Caribbean or the Great Barrier Reef, but instead we got to see a massive school of barracuda, huge grouper, many octopus and squid, and sea slugs. There are many different shipwrecks, and since this is a volcanic island, many rock walls and trenches to swim through. Its incredible to see the caldera not only from the cliffs surrounding, but what lies below is just as impressive. You can dive along an igneous rock wall with massive boulders everywhere you look, trenches left as remnants of previous eruptions, and some sheer cliff drop-offs of 200-300 m that can feel very disorienting when you’re staring out into the abyss.

Ultimately, whatever you’re into, Santorini will have it. Regardless if you’re a backpacker, couple or honeymooner, Santorini is a must see when you’re in Greece. Find ways to get out of the hustle and bustle of the tourist traps, and find some hidden gems of your own to make your time on the island truly yours.