"Cycladean Splendour" Top 5 Page for this destination Santorini Island by steventilly

Santorini Island Travel Guide: 1,603 reviews and 5,129 photos

Fira, Santorini - Santorini Island
Fira, Santorini

Santorini is a truly wonderful destination. The siting of some of its major towns along the clifftop rim of the caldera is one of the most spectactularly lovely sights I've ever seen. The buildings seem to defy gravity in the way they cling to the cliffs and are stacked one on top of the other like so many sugar cubes.
We had a slight fear that it may all be a bit too twee, a kind of "disneyland" and not really "Greece". We'd read how tavernas just want you to spend as much as possible and then leave as soon as you've finished; how waiters, shopkeepers etc. are less friendly and more pushy and about simply how expensive the place is.
We needn't have worried. The people were no different to anywhere else in Greece really. We always got good and friendly service and were never rushed. The food was wonderful, I'd say the best of any Greek Island we've visited so far, and it was a little more expensive, but only a little. We ended up taking a wadge of money back home because it was so much cheaper than we'd been led to believe.

Pyrgos, Santorini - Santorini Island

Pyrgos, Santorini

There's more to Santorini than just the clifftop, sugarcube towns of Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia, though it is these that most people flock to see. There are inland hilltop "fortified" villages and cosmopolitan coastal resorts, with fine, black sand beaches and there are ancient archeological sites. We made sure that we saw all sides of Santorini.

Walk To Oia, Santorini - Santorini Island

Walk To Oia, Santorini

It's a good island for walking too, if you're up to it. We took our (lightweight) walking boots with us so we could make the most of the opportunities. We'd been surprised (and delighted) to find that for all its diverse towns and villages, it's really a very small island. From where we were staying, near Fira, you could walk to almost everywhere. We walked to Pyrgos, Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia, as well as walking from Emborio to Perissa and Kamari to Ancient Thira (and back). We could have walked from where we stayed to Kamari, Megalahori, Messaria, Mesa Gournia and Akrotiri. In fact, we could have walked everywhere, given enough days.

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:Scenery, Scenery, Scenery, Scenery
  • Cons:None
  • In a nutshell:Wonderful Destination, Paradise On Earth
  • Last visit to Santorini Island: Jun 2006
  • Intro Updated Jun 20, 2006
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Reviews (58)

Beach Fron Taverna, Perissa - Santorini Island Perissa - Town Etc. Things to Do (33)

Perissa didn't impress me much to start with. The main street as walked into town had no pavement and you were sharing... more travel advice

Perissa Beach, Looking Towards Kamari - Santorini Island Perissa - Beach Things to Do (33)

Perissa's beach is the longest on the island and stretches from Perissa itself through Perivolos and eventually round to... more travel advice

Kamari From Ancient Thira - Santorini Island Ancient Thira - Views From... Things to Do (33)

I couldn't rave on about the views from Ancient Thira without showing some, and also without illustrating the way up to... more travel advice

Ancient Thira - Santorini Island Ancient Thira Things to Do (33)

Ancient Thira stands on top of the rocky outcrop between Kamari and Perissa. From either resort it is a good stiff... more travel advice

Comments (31)

  • Reply
    mfas2000's Profile Photo
    Sep 21, 2010 at 10:29 AM

    Nice..how long it takes from Fira to Oia? From Imrevegili to Fia? thanks

  • Reply
    jestevens's Profile Photo
    Jul 9, 2010 at 9:06 PM

    My husband and I are taking our 14 7 16 year old daughters to one or two greek islands next summer. How is Santorini for teens? We've been told we might be better off going to Naxos or Paros. Your comments appreciated:). Thanks. jennifer

  • Reply
    yaya15923's Profile Photo
    Aug 19, 2009 at 10:04 AM

    Thank you so much, you did an amazing job on your Santorini pages! I am leaving in two weeks and your tips have been so helpful. Definitely going to take that walk from Fira to Oia :o)

  • Reply
    VeronicaG's Profile Photo
    Jun 3, 2008 at 1:05 PM

    Lovely pictures, lovely place!!

  • Reply
    Helga67's Profile Photo
    Jun 3, 2008 at 10:31 AM

    Did you decide to go back in 2010 before or after your read Sandy's and my page and saw our wonderful pics :-)

  • Reply
    Karnubawax's Profile Photo
    Dec 10, 2007 at 7:33 PM

    Great Pics!

  • Reply
    GracesTrips's Profile Photo
    Nov 15, 2007 at 3:42 PM

    Wow, just gorgeous Fira photos you posted! Must be a professional photographer?!

  • Reply
    marielexoteria's Profile Photo
    Nov 8, 2007 at 2:00 AM

    Beautiful pictures. Greetings :)

  • Reply
    Bokhari76's Profile Photo
    Sep 24, 2007 at 9:00 PM

    Great Great Page about Fira. I may never get a chance to visit greece but pages like these allow me to feel like i am there. Thanks Steve

  • Reply
    Jul 12, 2007 at 6:42 PM

    Beautiful place. Hope to be there one day!

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