Santorini Holidays

Pretty whitewashed towns and world-famous sunsets set the scene on holidays to Santorini. But that’s just the start of the island’s charms.

Volcanic beginnings

Back in 1450 BC, a massive volcanic eruption caused the middle of Santorini to fall into the sea. It left a steep-edged crater known as a caldera peeping above the waves, which, today, is a spectacular sight from the island’s clifftops.

Traditional Greece

It’s not just the geological make-up of the island that turns heads, though. With its whitewashed houses, blue-domed churches and never-ending vineyards, Santorini is Greece at its traditional best. Thira, the capital, is a popular place to stay – it’s perched on top of the caldera rim overlooking the Aegean. And the northern town of Oia, which also has a spot on the caldera, is the best place to see the island’s famous sunsets.

The beach scene

If you don’t mind your sand in a darker shade of grey – a legacy of the island’s volcanic past – there are some great beaches in towns like Kamari and Perissa. Framed by jagged cliffs, Kamari’s dark sandy sweep has been given Blue Flag status. As for Perissa, the seven-kilometre stretch here comes with a good helping of watersports.

At a glance

Catch the sunset from one of Oia’s cliff-top tavernas
Clip-clop up to ancient Thira on a donkey
Take time out on Kamari Beach

Destinations in Santorini

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Santorini’s volcanic sands

You won’t find beaches the colour of talcum powder in these parts. Instead, striking black pebbles and dark-grey sands circle the island. And they’re framed by steep, craggy cliffs that were shaped by Santorini’s volcanic beginnings. Just so you know, Thira, one of the island’s main resorts, is perched high up on the caldera, so you won’t find any beaches there.
The big beach

Kamari is one of Santorini’s most popular places to stay, and that’s largely down to its beautiful Blue Flag beach. A dark mix of sand and pebbles, it’s over five kilometres long. It caters for holidaymakers with a backdrop of ice-cream parlours, bars, and restaurants serving up fresh-from-the-net seafood.
The secret beach

Katharos Beach is tucked away in Oia, just a couple of minutes’ walk from the village centre. It’s hidden between rocks and cliffs, so you get a real sense of seclusion. There’s a little restaurant overlooking it, as well.

Bargain Buys

Kamari and Perissa are good for traditional souvenirs. The stores down on the seafront promenades, in particular, are filled with authentic pottery, ceramics and handmade beach bags. Another popular take-home is a bag of the island’s volcanic pumice stones, which are often used for beauty treatments.
Mid-Range Buys

Oia leads the way when it comes to art. Its views have been the inspiration for thousands of painters over the years, and you can pick up reasonably-priced pieces in the galleries here. If wine is more your thing, visit the Canava Roussos Winery in Kamari to pick up a vintage bottle of the stuff.
Designer Buys

Oia has its fair share of blow-out boutiques, like the Mov&May store on the town’s main road. This place stocks items from some of the big fashion houses like Versace, Cavalli and Alberta Ferreti. Thira, on the other hand, is great for jewellery – head to Gold Street for quality gold moulded into Byzantine-style designs.

Laid-back evenings

The sunsets in Oia are legendary, and visitors to the town tend to plan their evenings around them. For the best views, either pack your own picnic and join the crowds outside, or book a table at one of the restaurants that line up along the edge of the caldera. Alternatively, if you’ve got a bit more money to spend, you can join a sunset cruise from Thira for amazing views of the coast.
Lively evenings

Thira is the island’s nightlife champion. The bars and clubs overlooking the caldera have amazing views, and lots of them have open-air terraces. You’ll also find live music dens tucked away in the cobbled streets that step down the cliffside. Kamari and Perissa are also good choices for a night out. The seafront cafés in these towns turn into lively bars when the sun goes down, with extended happy hours and guest DJs setting the pace.

Tomatokeftedes

This dish is often referred to as tomato balls or tomato pancakes. It’s made by mixing diced cherry tomato with onion, herbs and flour to form a batter. The batter is divided up into pancake-sized portions, and then fried until golden. The finished product is best served with a big dollop of tzatziki.
Fava

This creamy dip is made by pureeing fava beans, which are abundant in Santorini thanks to the island’s volcanic soil. The dip is usually used to garnish meat or vegetable dishes, but it’s just as tasty spread on a big chunk of crusty bread. If you find the flavour a bit strong, try squeezing a bit of lemon juice over it.
Chloro

The handmade method of making this mild goats’ cheese is so time consuming, it’s difficult to get hold of the final product these days. That said, some of the island’s tavernas still feature it on their menus. It’s usually served in a salad, alongside tomatoes, capers and grilled vegetables such as aubergine.
Koufeto

This dessert is usually served at island weddings, and its two ingredients – honey and almond – are thought to symbolise a happy marital life and good fertility. The bride and groom will traditionally have the first bite, in the hope that their new life will be as sweet as the pudding.
Vinsanto

The volcanic explosion that created Santorini also produced the perfect conditions for wine-making. These days, the island cultivates 36 different kinds of grape. One of the most sought-after wines is Vinsanto, a sweet, red dessert wine.

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Santorini Holidays

Volcanic beginnings

Traditional Greece

The beach scene

At a glance

Destinations in Santorini

Top Destinations

Top things to See and Do in Santorini

Santorini’s volcanic sands

The big beach

The secret beach

Bargain Buys

Mid-Range Buys

Designer Buys

Laid-back evenings

Lively evenings

Tomatokeftedes

Fava

Chloro

Koufeto

Vinsanto

SIMILAR DESTINATIONS

Our destinations in Santorini

Firostefani

Kamari

Megalocori

Perissa

Thira

Imerovigli

Perivolos

Monolithos

Oia

Pyrgos

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