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VACATIONS IN SANTORINI


Santorini

Vacations in Santorini (Cyclades - Greece)

Santorini: The romantic island with the unique view to the caldera



Santorini islandSantorini seaSantorini mountainsSantorini greenSantorini ancientSantorini foodSantorini accessSantorini transportationSantorini roadsSantorini picturesque
Area Cyclades Best for Fun
Perfecture Cyclades Cost High
Access Ship Size 96 Square Kilometers
Beaches All Distance 265 Kilometers

Vacations in Santorini island - Santorini, The romantic island with the unique view to the caldera

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25.4615092
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Why Santorini

  • To admire the spectacular view of the caldera
  • To enjoy some of the best sunsets in the world
  • To swim in beaches with black sand, as well as in the red beach
  • To taste unique flavors from the volcanic land of Santorini

Information On Santorini


Santorini belongs to Cyclades and it is one of the southern islands of the complex. It is shaped like a cresent and along with four other volcanic islands, Thirasia, Aspronisi, Palia Kameni and Nea Kameni they form the so-called Volcano of Santorini complex. With Thirasia and Aspronisi they form a ring surrounding the caldera and the tow other islands.

Santorini is a unique island born by volcanic activity, as it is the remain of an old volcano, from whose eruption the central part sunk into the sea forming a sea basin, the so-called caldera. As a result of this Santorini is a completely dry island with no vegetation, but thanks to its volcanic soil it produces vegetables (cherry tomatoes of Santorini, fava beans, etc) of unique flavor.

Santorini is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the entire world, mainly because of its incredible view of the caldera, and one of the most romantic destinations ever. It has repeatedly been awarded by international media and magazines as the best destination in the world and for good reason, as the spectacle visitors face is truly unique.

Naturally Santorini is not an economic destination. In the tourist hot-spots with the unobstructed view of the caldera accommodation and food/drink often are insanely expensive. However, if you choose to dodge those expenses, then your stay in Santorini may end up being quiet affordable.

It goes without saying that in a popular tourist destination like Santorini it is best to avoid the high season (mainly August), when it gets extremely crowded. Finally, on Santorini there are a lot of remarkable museums of various kinds that are worth visiting.
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Beaches Of Santorini


The beaches of Santorini with their usually black color are a truly impressive sight. The truth is that Santorini is not an island ideal for beaches and swimming, as those rare beaches are mostly good for taking pictures. Most of the beaches have pebble (usually black) and only few have sand.
  • Kokkini Paralia (Southwest Santorini): A beach of rare beauty thanks to the redish pebble and the red rocks.
  • Aspri Paralia (Southwest Santorini): A nice beach with white pebble and tall stiff red cliffs.
  • Perivolos (Southeast Santorini): A large and organized cosmopolitan beach with black sand.
  • Agios Georgios (Southeast Santorini): A quiet beach with black sand and clean water, without facilities.
  • Perissa (Southeast Santorini): The most famous beach of Santorini, large and organized with thin black sand and blue sea.
  • Kamari (Southeast Santorini): One of the largest beaches of Santorini, very popular and well organized.
  • Vlyhada (South Santorini): An organized beach of wild beauty with bizarre rocky formations.
  • Pori (North Santorini): An unorganized and relatively small sandy beach with imposing red cliffs.
  • Koloumbo (North Santorini): Another black beach
    of Santorini, but it is exposed to the wind.
  • Monolithos (East Santorini): A wide organized stretch of black sand with shallow sea.
  • Exo Gialos (East Santorini): A quiet beach with black pebble, clean sea and a fantastic view.

Find here in full detail all Santorini beaches

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Travel To Santorini


The trip from Piraeus to Santorini ranges from 4,5 hours if you travel with the highspeed to 7-9 hours with the older ships. There is an airport on Santorini for easier access, as the flight last less than half an hour.
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Transportation On Santorini (Car Rentals)


Santorini has a good public transport as there are frequent buses leaving for everywhere (every half hour more or less). If you are on the island during high season the bus routes are not enough to accommodate everyone, so you will have to be prepared to suffer a lot of squeeze, so you may want to consider having your own vehicle, but be aware of the bad road network. As far as getting from the harbor to Chora, there are 3 choices: You either walk, ride a donkey (5 euro) or take the funicular (4 euro). Walking is not advised, as besides fatigue you would also be in danger of getting run-over by donkeys used like taxis.
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Accommodation On Santorini (Hotels, Apartments, Guesthouses, Rooms to let)


On Santorini there is a very specific dilemma: You either book an expensive room with an amazing view or or a relatively cheap room in a place with no view. Choose to avoid Fira if you want to stay clear of all the noise, while ideal and quiet - but also expensive - alternatives are Firostefani, Imerovigli and Ia (north). There is much accommodation in more economic areas like Kamari and Perissa, but is best to stay anywhere else but there, because in these two settlements there is a lot of fuss. Finally, there is an organized amping in Perissa.
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Food & Drink On Santorini


The trademark dish of Santorini is its tomatokeftedes (tomato nuggets) made with the famous cherry tomatoes of the island. You should also try the atherina mini pies (fried fish pieces) and recipes using the white eggplant (sweet and with no seeds) that is grows on the island. Avoid as much as possible the tourist hot-spots as the prices there are usually out of control and food / service is rather poor.
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What To Buy On Santorini


On Santorini, thanks to its volcanic soil, people grow exceptional products of unique flavor. You have to buy some of the famous cherry tomatoes of Santorini, superb fava beans and the delicious sweet red wine Vinsanto.
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Attractions On Santorini

Caldera


The number one tourist attraction of Santorini is without doubt the impressive caldera.

Volcano


The excursion includes a visit to the moonscape island of the volcano and more Santorini attractions

Archaeological Museum of Thira


It houses rich findings from various excavations on Santorini since 1896, mostly from the ancient city of Thira.

Museum of Prehistoric Thira


The museum in Fira exhibits the prehistoric findings of Thira. The famous mural of the 17th century B.C. with the monkeys stands out.

Thira Nautical Museum


The Nautical Museum of Santorini was founded in 1956 and it is housed in a two-floor traditional house.

Santorini Wine Museum


An impressive museum focused in whine processing on Santorini.

Petros Nomikos Conference Center


The conference center is housed in a neoclassical building in Firostefani, on a point with unique view to the caldera.

Ecclesiastical and Folklore Museum


The Ecclesiastical and Folklore Museum is housed in the Monastery of Profitis Ilias, built in the 18th century in the area of Pyrgos

Panagia Sergena


A truly impressive attraction as the church was built entirely into a rock.

Pyrgos


Pyrgos is a beautiful scenic village with a medieval feel, on the highest peak of the island, offering panoramic view of the entire Santorini.

Santorini Arts Factory


In Vlychada there is a stone buildings complex which includes the Tomato Industrial Museum, exhibition grounds and an open space for shows and concerts.


Find here in full detail all Santorini attractions

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Alternative Islands To Santorini

Santorini is not what you are looking for? Then one of the following nearby islands might interest you:

Ios (18 klm from Santorini)
Anafi (21 klm from Santorini)
Sikinos (29 klm from Santorini)
Iraklia (39 klm from Santorini)
Folegandros (41 klm from Santorini)
Schinoussa (45 klm from Santorini)
Amorgos (45 klm from Santorini)
Naxos (49 klm from Santorini)
Koufonisia (52 klm from Santorini)
Paros (57 klm from Santorini)
Antiparos (58 klm from Santorini)
Sifnos (76 klm from Santorini)
Donoussa (77 klm from Santorini)
Milos (77 klm from Santorini)
Kimolos (84 klm from Santorini)
Mykonos (103 klm from Santorini)
Serifos (104 klm from Santorini)
Syros (107 klm from Santorini)
Tinos (117 klm from Santorini)
Kythnos (126 klm from Santorini)
Andros (139 klm from Santorini)
Kea (Tzia) (151 klm from Santorini)

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Islands Connected To Santorini

There is a ferry from Santorini to the following islands:

Amorgos (direct connection to Santorini)
Astypalaia (direct connection to Santorini)
Crete - Heraklion (direct connection to Santorini)
Crete - Lasithi (direct connection to Santorini)
Crete - Rethymno (direct connection to Santorini)
Folegandros (direct connection to Santorini)
Ios (direct connection to Santorini)
Kalymnos (direct connection to Santorini)
Kastelorizo (direct connection to Santorini)
Kos (direct connection to Santorini)
Koufonisia (direct connection to Santorini)
Milos (direct connection to Santorini)
Mykonos (direct connection to Santorini)
Naxos (direct connection to Santorini)
Nisyros (direct connection to Santorini)
Paros (direct connection to Santorini)
Rhodes (direct connection to Santorini)
Serifos (direct connection to Santorini)
Sifnos (direct connection to Santorini)
Sikinos (direct connection to Santorini)
Symi (direct connection to Santorini)
Syros (direct connection to Santorini)
Tilos (direct connection to Santorini)

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Comments On Santorini


10-11-2014 : Greg Loughnan wrote about Santorini...

Great informative website
28-03-2013 : Admin wrote about Santorini...

Santorini was voted 5th in the top 10 island destinations of the world by the TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice 2013. One more international distinction for the scenic Santorini island!
19-04-2012 : Admin wrote about Santorini...

After 6,5 years the archaeological site of Akrotiri in Santorini is once again open to the public! The archaeological site of the prehistoric settlement which has been characterized as the most important of its kind in the Aegean will be open from 10 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon.
11-07-2011 : Admin wrote about Santorini...

Another distinction for Santorini which has been voted as the best island in the world by the American Travel + Leisure Magazine! The magazine praises, among others, the heavenly sunsets of Santorini, its deep blue sea and the freshly painted white houses with the light-blue roof tops.
 
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