Santorini Attractions Guide

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Today - 23rd November 2024

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Tomorrow - 24th November 2024

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Updated at 10:00 GMT

Famous for its windmills, baby-blue rooftops and stunning sunsets, Santorini boasts a dry climate and almost year-round sunshine.

The crescent-shaped Mediterranean island, 120 miles to the southeast of Greece, is the result of one of history's biggest volcanic explosions.

Despite its small size, there are plenty of things to do on Santorini. There are a number of ways to see the island ­from boat, minibus, or the back of a donkey though most say it is best viewed from the water.

Santorini has real historic pedigree: the huge volcanic explosion 3,600 years ago caused part of the island to sink, feeding into the legend of Atlantis. There are many museums available for those wanting to know Santorini's story.

Most of the outdoor activities and sports available involve the sea, and there are also water-parks and other entertainment for families with children. Those wishing to fully unwind can visit Santorini's many spas, and there are lots of shops for souvenir-hunters.

Sightseeing and Excursions

The best way to tour the island of Santorini and its islets is by boat but there are also a range of specialised tours such as wine tasting and photography tours.

The Bella Aurora & Thalassa Tour company shares its name with its two sailing boats. They offer a one-day volcano tour and caldera cruise, from Fira to the port at Nea Kameni and the volcano, before taking in hot springs and the isle of Thirassia.

Spiridakos Sailing & Yacht Day Cruises provide specialist catamaran sailing, and daytime and sunset luxury-motor-yacht cruises around Santorini and the surrounding Greek islands.

The Santorini Sailing Center, established in 1991, offers four yachts and a range of sailing routes, allowing customers to cruise for days around the Greek islands or just a few hours around Santorini.

Santorini is a photographer's paradise. Santorini Photo Day Tours is run by a professional photographer who provides private driving-tours ranging from four hours to a day- or a week-long.

OceanWave Private Santorini Day Tours also offer private tours in fully air-conditioned vehicles. Experienced English-speaking guides can take guests to the island's less-trodden locations.

Run by a licensed tour-guide with 15 years' experience, Santorini Private Day Tours offers tailor-made tours around the island and allows visitors to decide what they would like to see.

Foodies will be hungry to sample Santorini Food and Wine Connection, which has created a series of culinary tours around Santorini, showing off the island's best food and wine. They are based in Oia, offer dedicated wine tours, wine and food tours, some with cooking classes, and customised events to meet everyone's needs.

Likewise, Santorini Wine Tour, in Fira, takes holidaymakers around three traditional wineries to try wines made from indigenous grape varieties, and provides cooking and tasting experiences.

There is also a cable car that runs from sea level at Santorini Port from where you can also ride a donkey up the cliffs past multicoloured rocks towards Fira, 220 metres above.

Historical and Natural Sites

The archaeological site of Ancient Thera is a Dorian settlement with Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine ruins, including temples and a theatre. The site, a must for history buffs, is in Kamari, and at a height of 396 metres it offers great views.

Alternatively, the ruins at Akrotiri provide an insight into ancient life: the Minoan settlement was preserved beneath volcanic ash and started to be excavated in 1967. Discoveries such as frescoes and ceramics are now displayed at the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira. The ruins can be found in the south of Santorini.

There are also ruins of a Byzantine castle at Oia, and the Monastery of the Prophet lias, near Pyrgos, affords outstanding views.

Amoudi Bay is a port near Oia that rates highly for its natural beauty, where many go to eat fish. Some say it is the best place for swimming on the island.

Museums

Santorini's rich history is evident in the number of museums on offer.

The Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira houses finds excavated at Akrotiri, including wall paintings and a gold ibex figurine from the 17th century BC. The exhibition stretches from prehistoric Santorini to the 18th and 17th centuries BC, when the city of Akrotiri was one of the most important settlements on the Aegean.

Santorini Wine Museum is in a 300-metre-long cave, eight metres below ground. It took the Koutsoyannopoulos family, fourth-generation winemakers, 21 years to create the museum, which demonstrates the history of Santorini's wine and vine growers from 1660 to 1970, with an audio guide in 14 languages.

The Santozeum Museum is a non-profit museum and exhibition space in Fira. It explores how contemporary art-practices relate to those of ancient times, produces its own publications, and broadcasts with Santorini seismology teams, sharing live earthquake and volcano data.

Also in Fira is the Lignos Folklore Museum, which dates from 1861. It survived the earthquake in 1956 and was restored in 1973, and now houses antique furniture and family heirlooms. In the courtyard there are often traditional folklore events, book launches and games.

The Megaro Gyzi museum, in Fira, withstood the earthquake, too, and has photographs showing scenes before and after the quake. The centre is in a 17th century mansion and was founded in 1980, financed by the Catholic Diocese of Santorini.

Sea-dogs will love the Maritime Museum of Oia, containing historic naval items Captain Antonis Dakoronias started collecting in 1951. The museum was founded in 1956 and has been found at the captain's home since 1990. Its displays include rare figureheads, mariners' chests, and watercolours of old sailboats.

Sports & recreation

Most of the sports and recreational activities available on Santorini involve the water.

Santorini Sailing offers catamaran tours for small and large groups, for half a day or longer, and water-sports such as snorkelling.

Santorini Sea Kayak organises excursions in single and double kayaks to some of Santorini's most pristine and remote locations. Adventurers can swim in hot springs, snorkel, and enjoy gourmet food on sandy beaches. They also offer rock climbing for all abilities by Perissa beach.

Sunset Oia offers boat, motor-yacht charter and luxury-yacht rentals as well as organising private tours and honeymoon and wedding cruises.

Several dive companies operate on Santorini. Aegean Divers offer at least 32 different diving spots around Santorini, with the majority in the west and southwest, and some near the volcano. The dive-centre provides individual and group packages, scuba diving for beginners, and boat dives for experienced divers.

Mediterranean Dive Club has been showing visitors the hidden wonders of Santorini since 1998, and has three speedboats for excursions; while Navys Waterworld Dive Centre was set up in 2005 on Kamari Beach to provide scuba diving and snorkelling activities. They run daily diving excursions for all levels of diver, and snorkel-safaris around the cliffs and volcanic landscape.

There are also breathtaking walks and hiking trails on Santorini, including one that runs from capital Fira to Oia, along the caldera cliffs.

Entertainment

A highly-rated attraction on Santorini is its Open Air Cinema in Kamari, which follows the Ancient Greek tradition of outdoor entertainment and theatre. Since 1987 the cinema has provided top films, a garden-party atmosphere, and a full bar. It is open from June to October and also hosts cultural events.

There is another cinema, Villaggio Cinema, at Kamari Shopping Center, which shows films in 3D, and is open year-round and air conditioned.

Escape Land in Kamari is perfect for keeping kids entertained, offering mini bowling and pool tables, plus darts, table tennis and table football. It also has a playroom for children and a bar for adults.

Shopping

Shops on Santorini can supply a range of beautiful holiday mementos.

In capital Fira you'll find Fabio Zardi Floral Design & Decoration, which is run by an Italian designer and decorator. The company can provide bouquets and flowers and decorations for holidaymakers and special occasions, such as weddings and dinners.

Atlantis Books in Oia is a quirky shop that opened in 2004. It boasts a range of books, has hosted readings and food- and film-festivals, and tempts customers in with a sign saying, 'Rent a cat 5 a day'.

For those with a creative streak, Aegean Designs in Firostefani offer year-round textile art classes, which give visitors the chance to create hand-painted linen art and buy pieces as souvenirs.

There are also a number of galleries and spaces selling art. Tzamia-Krystalla Gallery in Fira has exhibited contemporary Greek art and paintings, ceramics and jewellery, and sold art, gifts and souvenirs since 1995.

Alternatively Art Space in Exo Gonia hosts artworks from Greek and international artists. Its exhibition hall is the cellars and distillery of a former winery, dating from 1861. The space is carved into pumice rock and now houses a modern winery whose products are for sale.

Boutari Winery opened in 1989 and has been producing high-quality wines by combining modern and traditional techniques ever since. The winery, near Megalochori village, is open for tours and can accommodate 1,600 tonnes of grape annually.

Water-based fun

Santorini Waterpark at Perissa beach provides three swimming pools with sun beds and umbrellas, and three slides, two of which are specially designed for children. There is also a café and restaurant.

Spas

There a several spas on Santorini for those wanting to make their holiday especially relaxing, and the following three are highly rated.

Caldera Massages Studio & Spa is carved into the caldera at Oia. It opened in 2006 to offer massages, beauty treatments and a sunset terrace with sea views, in a tranquil and peaceful location.

The Fish Spa Kangal Wellness Center in Fira â'has a team of specialists dedicated to relaxation and luxury. It allows guests to create their own combination of treatments, which can include a fish spa, in which toothless fish suck the dead cells from skin and give a mini-massage.

Kissingfish Santorini, also in Fira, offers a similar treatment with fish, a fun way to take care of your feet.