Santorini hardly needs any introduction or praise. It really is as amazing island as described in most of the travel guides/blogs/movies etc. You simply could not go wrong visiting it and experiencing the landscape, culture, and cuisine. Once on the coastal side everywhere you look you see breathtaking views and unique architecture.

Santorini (Greek: Σαντορίνη, pronounced [sandoˈrini]), classically Thera (English pronunciation /ˈθɪərə/), and officially Thira (Greek: Θήρα [ˈθira]), is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km (120 mi) southeast of Greece’s mainland.

It is the largest island of a small, circular archipelago, which bears the same name and is the remnant of a volcanic caldera. It forms the southernmost member of the Cyclades group of islands, with an area of approximately 73 km2 (28 sq mi) and a 2011 census population of 15,550.

The Island

Getting to the island is an experience by itself. The local airport is quite small and the organization is not the most efficient. For the hotels and most of the Airbnb clients, there is a shuttle or a driver waiting to get you to your hotel/room. We got picked up and dropped at Oia’s main parking/bus stop. Getting from there to our place took some imagination. Due to the terrain and the way the city is built the luggage is carried by hand or by mules to most of the places in Oia.

Lodging

We were extremely lucky to stay right next to the Blue Domes of Oia. Booking our stay was a funny experience since almost all of the hotels in Santorini double book and then cancel on those unlucky souls who got the cheaper price. We got canceled three times! But I guess it was meant to be since the fourth time we used AirBnB and booked one of the most amazing and convenient locations we could have possibly hoped for. Literally twenty meters from the Blue Domes of Oia!

Oia

We spend most of our time enjoying the views and restaurants in the town of Oia. There were so many amazing places to eat, drink, relax, and enjoy the views. The town is filled with little “streets” and stairways everywhere and quite a few people on them as you would expect. Oia was busy from 9 AM to midnight. However early in the morning is quite empty and perfect if you are after some sunrise photos or videos. Drones are for the most part banned so we flew ours only over the ocean from the bottom of the island far away from the people/hotels etc.

At the pinnacle point of Oia is the ruined castle which was the seat of the Argyri family under the Venetians and serves as a lookout point with a complete 360-degree view. It is also called Fort Londsa. One of the most recognizable buildings in the town is an old windmill, which often appears on postcards. There are many kiosks offering a range of ethnic goods, handicrafts, jewelry and souvenirs, and several small art galleries, including Art Gallery Oia and The Art Gallery.

As impressive as Oia was during the day at night it as just as stunning. Walking on those main little “streets” and seeing the lights everywhere was surreal. Every direction you look … just beautiful views and people having the best time of their lives.

Fira

We also managed to spend a day in the town of Fira. There we explored the main streets and had a few meals in some of their most famous restaurants.

Firá (Greek: Φηρά, pronounced [fi.’ra]) is the modern capital of the Greek Aegean island of Santorini. A traditional settlement, “Firá” derives its name from an alternative pronunciation of “Thíra”, the ancient name of the island itself.

It is a noticeably larger town than Oia and very busy. The main walking streets are just exploding with various stores, galleries, and places to eat. One of the attractions there is the Cable Car. It is basically a small cable car for 6 people which gets you from the top of the town to the port at the bottom and back up. It is a nice experience and the port was great to see. There were two cruise ships at the time passing by right when the sun started to go down.

Other things to see

We also visited Red Beach as well as a few other beaches and attractions. We missed the buggy riding experience which is quite popular. It did not work for us since we had a kid and they did not have a 4 seater buggy. However, we rented a small car and drove around the island.

Conclusion

There is no need to probably further explain how truly special Santorini is. We spend a week there and time just flew by like it was just a few days. It was by far one of the most relaxing and rewarding trips we have ever done and one we will repeat the first chance we get again. If you have the opportunity do it! You will thank us later.

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Greece is quite famous for its amazing landscapes, culture, and cuisine. As a travel destination, it has always been on our radar. In June of 2017, we decided to travel to Europe & Iceland and made sure Greece was one of the main destinations. We started with Athens and ended in Santorini. Vacation none of us would ever forget and a vacation that left us wanting to come back in the near future.

The journey started with a few days in Athens, the capital of Greece. We stayed right in the middle of the city and most of the attractions we wanted to see were conveniently located around us. As many tourists would do first thing on our lists was to see the pantheon and the surrounding its attractions. After a long wait in lines etc, we managed to get inside and view this amazing reminder of how unique and capable ancient greeks were.

Attractions

However, we were not impressed by the condition of the pantheon. One-third of it was under construction/restoration and the remaining seemed like it has seen better days. Honestly, the majority of Athens felt somewhat abandoned, painted with graffiti, and for the lack of a better word … dirty. However, it felt like that to us during our day trips and explorations.

It got much better after the sun went down and everything somehow came alive. Funny how it works but Athens before and after sunset felt like two completely different cities. After 6 PM every possible square, restaurant, and place to eat were completely full. Getting a table in the local “goto” places was like mission impossible. We managed somehow to try a few of the places recommended by some of the locals and they all were worth the wait.

We also visited various other attractions like the smaller pantheon, their famous botanical gardens, and explored the main streets of the city. It is a busy city during the week but most of the attractions we went to were not crowded and accessible. The Pantheon being somewhat of an exception here. It does get crowded there and that is understandable.

Cuisine

The food was unbelievable. We did not have a single place where we had a meal that was not absolutely phenomenal. After the first few meals, we realized that Athens was all about the nightlife and the food. Everything else almost felt like either was not as important to the locals or they just had no way to make it better due to the economic state of the country. It was like someone flipped the switch and all of a sudden everything was alright and everyone was having fun everywhere.

Conclusion

Athens is a great city to visit for a few days and explore the Pantheon and the other attractions. It a must-see and experience if you want to say that you have seen and tasted Greece 🙂

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