Monolithos holidays

Holidays to Monolithos take you to one of Santorini's quietest resorts. But the beachside village isn't far from Thira, so it's easy to get back on the beaten track.

Old-fashioned village

Monolithos, on the eastern arc of Santorini, missed the boat to the 21st century. The 400-person village has barely changed since it was built. Whitewashed houses with blue shutters are the norm, and high-rise hotels are unheard of.

Two-part beach

The focal point of the village is the beach. A jetty of breakwater rocks splits the volcanic, ash-grey swathe into two halves. The left side is quiet and the water is slightly deeper, so it’s a bit more popular with adults. The right half, meanwhile, is better for families. It has shallower waters and a line-up of bars. Plus, you can sign up to try out watersports from this side of the beach.

Close to the capital

Pocket-sized Santorini is easy to navigate. When you want to take things up a gear, places like Kamari and the island’s cliff-hanging capital, Thira, are just a short drive away. The latter is the place to go for shopping, fine dining, and sunset cocktails with views across the caldera.