SANTORINI, Greece.

Santorini a Must See Island.

(Santoríni éna nisí pou prépei na deíte)

Are you one of these people that never heard about Santorini, Greece ? Well if you are, let me tell you a little bit about it.

It is in the Aegean Sea, about 125 miles southeast of Athens, that the magnificent Greek island of Santorini is located. As a kid, I was attracted to Santorini because of its blue-domed churches and white stone buildings built on a volcano. Wow! crazy, right ? So when Diva expressed the desire to go there, I had my passport in my hand and my suitcase ready in the blank of an eye. We flew to Athens and from there we took a 45 minutes flight to Santorini, where we had plans to stay for the next 3 days.

I was amazed, just like when I got to Venice. It was really how the pictures shown it. A beautiful city on a volcano. Yep, just like that. Santorini should definitely be on your bucket list if you are looking for a romantic and vibrant place to spend some time away.

Okay ! You think you know who your soulmate is or you have the perfect person to go on a getaway you won't forget ? Then go ahead and start planning. You have different options. You can get there on a cruise ship and spend a full day of leisure on the island or you can fly there and stay for a few days. Another way is, taking the ferry from Athens but it will take you about about 5 hours and cost no more than 40 euros.. No matter how you get there, you will go back home with memories that will last a lifetime. A trip to Santorini can be the ultimate romantic experience.

Daytime view of Santorini

Many people consider Santorini to be one of the most popular destination for a romantic getaway and that explains why more and more people tie the knot there. I learned that not only couples from Greece but also from other parts of the world travel to get married in Santorini. To be honest, there are not many places in the world where you can be on the rim of of an active volcano enjoying the view of the blue water of the ocean at the same time.

Some destinations are cool to visit with friends or even alone but when you see pictures of Santorini's amazing sunset or famous Caldera, you will want to go there with someone special. It is magical to walk down the small streets of Fira or Oia and these memories will last a long time.

When to Visit?

Like any travel destination there is a peak season and an off-season. The island is less crowded in April, May or end of September, October. During this time, the prices are lower and this is the moment of the year where it is also easier to bargain. ( Always remember: Supply and Demand ) You may be able to afford a better room and you will have more time to visit and walk around at your ease. The months of July and August are the peak travel time. That is when prices are considerably higher. The viewpoints, hotels, and beaches are packed with tourists.

if you travel on a budget you may have to prioritize. If you want to have the ultimate experience, Oia is one of the most popular town. I did not stay there but I was very happy in Imerovigli ( the town where I stayed)

Did you know Santorini is volcanic island? We all know Santorini for its incredible sunset and its white houses and churches but it is in fact a Volcanic Island. The last volcano that erupted there was in 1950 and now there are only fumarolic activities.

Where to Stay

The best experience is to stay in a hotel with view on the ocean. Since Diva is very good at looking for deals and discounts, she was able to find us a room at the luxury On The Rocks in Imerovigli. The place was fantastic. The first thing that moved me was the view of the blue ocean. When we got inside, the architecture and the little details, like the snow white wall, the pool etc grabbed my attention. Sadly, there’s not a lot in these view-blessed rooms for budget-conscious travelers: caldera-view accommodation comes at a premium and it’s in hot demand (do your homework, book ahead and look for deals). The customer service we received from the staff was super. They really made us feel special. Our room was not so close to the pool but it was so quiet and peaceful. I really understood the meaning of sleeping "like a baby ". The next morning, we had room service and after enjoying breakfast, it was time to go and explore the island.

Some people only come for the day out of cruise ships therefore in the evening you will find out that the island is not as crowded as it was during the day. From the balcony of the room, I could enjoy the silence and feel the light breeze. When booking, your hotel, it is important to know if you want an ocean view room. Some hotels on the cliff do have a better view than others and my friends, trust me when I tell you, the view is worth every single penny. Fira witch is the capital of the island has more affordable prices. At the end of the day, it's my opinion that no matter where you stay on the island, you will have good restaurants and cafes and you will enjoy that good Santorini vibe and hospitality.

What to do

Walk

The obvious activity is to walk and take pictures. When I say walk, this is exactly what I mean: Walk. Walking the caldera edge with good company and admiring the view can be a very fun thing to do, and that's what I chose while some other people opt to rent a little scooter to ride around town. It can be a little over 3 hours walk each way depending on your pace, I'm so glad I had a pair of good sneakers. During that time, we had time to talk about all kind of issues that we left home (in the US) and also what we wanted to do in the future. It gave us an opportunity to spend some great quality time together, decompressing and doing some cardio . Hey ! that is the best way to look at it. Walks in and around Fira are spectacular, particularly heading north to Firostefani and Imerovigli along the caldera-edge pathway. At times the trail may be rough, so be careful and wear comfortable shoes (you can forget about wearing flip flop). After a long day, Diva and I looked for a good spot to sit down before sundown. All day we heard about how the sunset in Santorini is a real treat. We were not disappointed. The best sunset-viewing is in Oia, where thousands of tourists come together to enjoy the nightfall, so plan to get to a good spot early because it will be crowded. If you enjoy looking at sunset, I can assure you that a Sunset over there is like an event. Even sunset pictures taken from your phone has the possibility to look like a postcard. That was our first day in Santorini. I could not wait to go enjoy my hotel room and visit the restaurants the next day.

Swim

If you choose to relax and have a lazy day, swimming in the hotel infinity pool or even a short trip to the beach can help relax your legs muscles and enjoy the sun. If you want to save some money, on the other side of the island, the cities of Kamari or Perissa have cheaper beaches you can visit. Keep in mind that the pool area is small and can be packed real quick. One good thing I can say is that I did not see kids being loud or running around. It is truly a paradise if you are looking for a place to relax !

What to Eat

Of course, I went looking for my ice cream !!! I did not find it but in return I got some Gelato. I was satisfied, they had various flavors. Too bad , now I don't remember witch one I tried, but I know it had a coffee taste. One other thing that I enjoyed was their Smoothies (they were a little pricey but the taste was so good !) Because we walked a lot, the natural juices and smoothies were always welcomed. Come to think about it, I may have gained some weight in those 3 days.

My favorite dishes were the Lamb and the traditional Moussaka. I said traditional because some people use ground beef but the original is made with ground lamb and potatoes topped with some bechamel sauce. This is the type of dish you can not eat if you are in a rush because you will need some time to relax after eating. It's reach and creamy and so tasty. I also tried the Gyros just to make sure that it would taste different from the one I ate in America (In fact it does taste differently. Maybe, it's because over here I usually have gyros at 3 o'clock in the morning after the club.) Wine lovers will be pleased because Santorini is known for its wine and wineries that you can also visit.

Santorini, 2019

When I travel, I want to explore on my own. It gives me the opportunity to get lost and turn in circle at times, I also get a chance to talk to the locals. If you prefer an organized tour, there are so many different ones available. Dozens of agencies are ready to take you on archaeology tours and hot spot to watch the sunset. You can also go on boat ride or scuba. Some of those tours can be booked online. Over all, I found the place very safe and the people courteous, so if you are like me and feel a little adventurous, have no worries, by all means lace up your sneakers and go for it.

I visited many beautiful places but Santorini is one of those places that I would go back over and over. It still remains one of my favorite place in the world. While the place is not so big, there is so many memorable moments that one can have in this volcanic island. I will definitely go back there someday. Maybe, I'll meet you there !