Santorini Beaches
The beaches of Santorini are unlike other Greek beaches and have
special and dramatic geological features like black shining pebbles
and unique land formations, coloured by black, white and red sands.
The beaches tend to be coves surrounded by steep cliffs which add
to their beauty. The waters are deep though, so be cautious. The
Red beach is possibly the most famous and is located near the
village and ancient site of Akrotiri. It is popular because of the
stunning volcanic slabs and colour of its sand, although the sand
is not comfortable to sit on so the sun loungers on the beach are
necessary.
Perissa beach, just southeast of Fira, is another favourite and
has an impressively long, black sandy beach with an enormous rock
rising out of the sea. For those who prefer a quiet and unspoilt
beach environment, Cape Columbo is one of Santorini's most
beautiful and most isolated beaches. The waves here are rougher
though so beware of a more dangerous sea. The southeastern beaches
of Monolithos, Avis and Kamari are family favourites. At Monolithos
beach kids love the football pitch, basketball court and play area.
Trees at the back of the beach provide shaded respite from the sun,
and there are also snacks available on the beach.
Kamari Beach
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Santorini Wineries
Santorini is a large wine-producing region, which was helped
along by a volcanic explosion in 1650 BC. The vines on the island
are very old, and are trained into a distinctive basket shape to
protect them from the elements. Wine has been grown in the region
since ancient times and has been renowned since as early as the
Middle Ages, when the Venetians made it famous - the Italian
influence is still detectable in the wine tradition of Santorini
today. One of the grapes that the region is known for is the sweet
Vin Santo (or vinsanto) which is dried in the sun before use. The
blended rosé from white grapes likes Athiri, Aidini and Assyrtiko,
and red grapes like Mandelaria, is also highly acclaimed.
There are a number of great wineries on the island. Antoniou is
very popular, particularly for weddings, and Boutari is the largest
vineyard in the region. Sigalas, which has spectacular views from
their patio, is a lovely place to while away a day, and Volcan has
a Wine Museum which will interest fanatics interested in the
production process and history of the area.
Santos Winery
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Museum of Pre-Historic Thera
The Museum of Pre-Historic Thera has displays of many
archaeological finds from the excavations at Akrotiri, including
Neolithic pottery from as far back as 3300 BC. The exhibits attempt
to show life in prehistoric times, with tools, metalworkings,
pottery, furniture, and other artefacts on display. The exhibition
is laid out in four parts: the history of research at Thera; the
geology of Thera; the island's history from the Late Neolithic to
the Late Cycladic I period (early 17th century BC); and the heyday
of the city at Akrotiri (mature Late Cycladic 1 period, 17th
century BC). Look out for the gold ibex figurine and the
magnificent wall paintings, or frescoes, of Ladies and Papyri and
of the Blue Monkeys. A visit to this small but interesting museum
is a great complement to exploring the archaeological site of
Akrotiri as it provides context and displays the impressive
artefacts discovered at the site. Often tour guides will combine
the site and the museum. The museum is well-organised and
informative and offers a lot of good background information; it
consistently rates well with tourists in reviews.
Address:
847 00 Fira, Santorini
Museum of Prehistoric Thira
Klearchos Kapoutsis
Santorini is part of the Cyclades Islands, where the climate is
almost typically Mediterranean. The North African climate does
influence it to some degree. Visitors will find hot, dry weather in
summer and mild winters.
Peak-season temperatures (July and August) range from 86ºF
(30ºC) during the day to 72ºF (22ºC) at night. Conditions can get
hotter during heat waves. Summer is crowded and temperatures can
get oppressively hot. Rainfall is almost non-existent in summer but
showers can be expected between October and April.
Spring and autumn are probably the best times to visit
Santorini. More specifically, beach lovers will enjoy the sea
towards the end of spring, when the water gets warmer. The
beginning of autumn is another good moment on the island. The ocean
is still very warm, most tourist have left and the rainy season
hasn't started yet.
Restaurants in Santorini range from bland and commercial near
the tourist traps to unforgettable tavernas where tourists have to
compete with locals for seats.
Local specialties include tomato keftedes, white aubergine, and
fresh-grilled fish. Fast-food-style gyros places are plentiful in
all the larger towns and resorts.
Santorini (Thira) International Airport
Location: 1.6 miles (2.6km) southeast of Fira/Thira Town, near
Monolithos
Time: GMT +2
Getting to the city:
There is bus service to many local destinations in Santorini,
and several shuttle transfer companies operate from the
airport.
Car Rental:
Herz, Avis, Payless, Thrifty and Budget have car hire offices at
Santorini Airport.
Airport Taxis:
There are taxis available from the airport.
Facilities:
The terminal contains duty-free shopping, ATMs, travel agencies
and information services.
Santorini has many cafes, bars and nightclubs. Indeed, it has
one of the best nightlife scenes in the Cyclades. Visitors will
find lots of action along the caldera. Most nightclubs are in the
capital, Fira, which is the best place for all-night partying.
As with shopping and accommodation, Santorini is not the
cheapest Greek island to party on. That said, it can be very
rewarding for visitors who are prepared to pay a little bit
extra.
Classical-music performances at the Nomikos Centre in Fira are a
good option for visitors who prefer more relaxed evenings.
Santorini also has some quieter, more authentic restaurants, where
visitors can enjoy drawn out meals with lovely views.
Finding somewhere away from the crowds and bustle can be
challenging in summer. As a rule of thumb, visitors should avoid
resort areas and big towns, and look out for places that locals
frequent.
Santorini is well connected with Greece's main cities by both
sea and by air. Ferries and catamarans depart from Piraeus Port in
Athens, and there are boats to ports on surrounding islands. All in
all, Santorini's ferry system is reliable and convenient, though
not always comfortable. The same is true for the entire
country.
Athinios is home to Santorini's main arrivals port. Boats
departing for the volcano and Thirasia sail from Fira. Santorini
airport is about three miles (5km) from Fira and easily reached by
bus or taxi.
Although there are not many direct flights to Santorini from
overseas, there are some available from the UK. Also, it's easy to
fly to Athens and take a connecting flight to the island.
Fixed-rate taxis are available throughout Santorini. Visitors will
find a well-organised bus network flowing from the main bus
terminal in Fira. It's also possible to rent a car, motorbike or
scooter, though Santorini's roads are steep and can be
unnerving.
Santorini has some great attractions, including volcanoes,
beaches and museums.
Visitors will find the volcanic islands of Nea Kameni (Young
Burnt Island) and Palea Kameni (Old Burnt Island) in the Santorini
caldera. They're the youngest volcanic lands in the Eastern
Mediterranean, with Nea Kameni having formed less than 500 years
ago.
Perissa and Perivolos are two of Santorini's most popular
beaches. Hungry travellers can choose from a selection of tavernas
and restaurants on their black-sanded shores. Agios Georgios also
has some amenities and tavernas, but the southern tip of the island
tends to be quieter.
The Museum of Prehistoric Thera is worth a visit, with its
wall-paintings, golden ibex figurine and Neolithic pottery
exhibits. Santorini's wineries are appealing, as are the island's
smaller villages, where visitors can enjoy a more traditional
atmosphere. Megalochori, Pyrgos, and nearby Thirasia Island are all
options.
Santorini Water Park is a great stop for kids.