Things To Do In Santorini, Greece
No trip to Greece is complete without visiting the sunkissed town of Santorini! The famous blue domes that come up when one types Greece in Google are from Santorini!
I went to Santorini in the month of November 2018 with one of my closest friends. November is not the best time to visit since some places are shut due to the off season. However, you can still experience the Greek charm and have a good time, like we did. The best time to travel to Greece would be during the summer months.
Two nights are more than enough in Santorini, Greece. There is nothing much to do in Santorini besides going to Oia and seeing the scenic views.
STAYING IN SANTORINI
The best place to stay in Santorini is Fira or Thira, the capital of Santorini. Local buses run every hour during the off season and more frequently during the summer. One way to Fira from the other islands in Santorini is about an euro and 80 cents. I would say sometime between the off season and the summer would be a good time to visit Greece. That way you are beating the crowd and will enjoy it more. You should stay somewhere near the centre of Fira. I stayed at the San Giorgio Hotel which was more of an AirBnb than a hotel. It was a great location and only 5 mins by walk to the central bus station. There are many other good hotels around as well but we thought this was convenient and got a good deal too.
San Georgio Hotel has a free airport shuttle that you can ask for when booking a room before your trip. Our room was on the first floor. The room was small but big enough for two people. The hotel was a 5 mins walk to the bus station and restaurants in the city. The hotel provides free coffee and cake as refreshments. They don’t have any inhouse cafe or restaurant which could be a plus cause then you can explore the restaurants and bars nearby.
THINGS TO DO
OIA
Seeing the sunset is a must in Oia. The bus ride from Fira/Thira to Oia is about 30 mins but one can enjoy the view. There is something magical about it.
You can reach Oia for lunch and be there till sunset. After sunset it gets dark and there is nothing much to do, especially in the month of November. You could probably eat a relaxing dinner but you wouldn’t enjoy it without the iconic view that one can experience at sunset or before. Day time would be good to visit Oia and enjoy its scenic views.
There is also a lovely bookstore on the island called Atlantis Books among little shops. Be sure to check out this quaint little bookstore if you are into reading though.
One fact about Oia that not many people know about is that besides being a tourist attraction it is also a residence. So when I visited most parts of the island were blocked due to the construction in progress but I could still walk to the main parts.
Also, the blue domes are churches with white architecture making the town to be white with little spots of blue.
THE VOLCANIC ISLANDS OF SANTORINI
If you are into trekking and are up for an adventure then you can take a tour to the volcanic island of Santorini. It is half an hour by ferry and costs about twenty euros. The ferry drops you right at the islands where you can spend one and half hours and walk around while enjoying the beautiful views and scenery. But don’t wander too far to miss the ferry back to Fira.
THE ANCIENT TOWN OF AKROTIRI
If you are into history and archaeology then you should visit the prehistoric town of Akrotiri to see the excavations. They are impressive and magnificent. You will get to witness and see a whole ancient town and how people lived during those times. But be sure to take a tour guide to explain to you everything in detail. There are signs there that explain what the exhibit is but a tour guide is an added plus/ benefit. I really liked visiting the ancient town of Akrotiri cause I am a big fan of history!
PLACES TO DINE IN SANTORINI
Donkey Beer and Ouzo, a dry anise-flavored aperitif that is widely consumed in Greece are popular drinks. Seafood, olives and some greek wine are also a must try.
Donkey Beer in Fira, Santorini. This beer is named after the animal since they are widespread in this region and are often used for transport of goods within the island.
You can’t visit Santorini and not try the various wines there. A very famous winery is Santos Winery and they have a popular wine called Vinsanto which is a sweet wine. I only visited Santos Winery but would suggest going to other wineries as well if you have the time. I took the 10 flight wine tasting flight which was more than enough for two people. My friend and I were super tipsy after that wine flight :)
You could have dinner at one of the wineries or you could have dinner at Fira. After the winery, we had dinner at Salt and Pepper. This restaurant is different from the Italian Cacio E Pepe Italian restaurant. It is easy to get the two mixed up.I too got mixed up with the names.
The people at Salt and Pepper are really nice and they make sure you are well taken care of and eat well. Greek people in general are honest and welcoming people.
At Salt and Pepper, I ordered the veggie soup which was delicious as it was chilly outside. I also ordered the grilled zucchini with balsamic cream. The zucchini was a bit salty for my taste but it looked fresh. The owner also gave us a complimentary pudding/flan as dessert. Overall, we had a good time and would recommend it to everyone visiting Santorini.