Santorini Travel Guide
Santorini is a Cycladic Greek Island, known for its blue and white architecture which blends seamlessly into the turquoise ocean, its views are rather breath-taking. Famous for its sunsets and volcanic sand beaches it is a holiday destination with a lot to offer. Each year millions (and i’m really talking millions) of tourists visit the Island and it can arguably at times be quite overwhelming. Last year when Hannah (@postcardsbyhannah) and I visited we were lucky enough to go at a time when travel was somewhat uncertain and cruise ships were not allowed so the level of tourism was far less so if you could travel there now, I would highly recommend doing so.
Fira is the islands Capital and whilst most people focus on Oia, Fira is worth a visit, the breath-taking cable-car ride down to the old port is a must and there are a few good bars and restaurants to visit whilst waiting for the sun to set (they also have a great sunglasses shop called Eye room Santorini which I would recommend). Despite Oia being equally touristy, it is my preferred area in Santorini as it has a more boutique feel.
Best time to visit:
Santorini has a long tourist season, it usually begins in March and closes in November, despite this you can visit Santorini all year round but not as many places will be open. The best times to visit are between April – June and September – October as the weather is still lovely, it is buzzy, but you miss the peak travel season and don’t endure the super-hot weather in tandem with hordes of tourists!
Booking:
Travelling to Santorini is very easy, most airlines fly into Thira and from there it is very easy to get a taxi or be collected by your designated hotel transport. If you are island hopping there are an array of ferries that can take you to and from Santorini and the ferry port isn’t far from the airport. Both trips we have taken, we have booked to go for around a week as it gives you the perfect time to explore (with the optional day trip to another island) and enough time to relax and enjoy the pool and everything island has to offer.
Accommodation:
Both trips to Santorini we have been lucky enough to be gifted stays by the Andronis group and so we have been able to stay at the Andronis Arcadia, Andronis Luxury Suites and Andronis Concept. The three of them all have something different to offer (I will outline a bit more below).
Andronis Arcadia is the newest addition to the Andronis family, the hotel is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the town as it is just tucked behind the main strip. The style of the hotel is rustic chic, and the main area of the hotel reminds me of a luxe Tulum Beach club.
The hotel boasts a stunning infinity pool with a sunken bar in the middle, surrounded by floating day beds; the perfect place to spend the day in the sunshine. Arcadia is home to the restaurant Pac-Man, which serves Greek & Japanese fusion cuisine throughout the day to evening in the indoor-outdoor restaurant. Upstairs, rooftop restaurant Opson offers a traditional Greek menu and equally spectacular views of the sunset, this is the more intimate restaurant of the two.
Each of the 44 suites in Arcadia come with their own private pool and of all the hotels we stayed in Santorini, this felt the most spacious. The rooms stick within the hotel’s vibe of a minimalist theme, but it has been well decorated as to not feel barren. The hotel room we stayed in was split over two floors and had a bedroom that led out onto the pool and a living room. The pools in all the suites are big enough to mean if you don’t want to go to the main pool you don’t have to.
The spa in the hotel is beautiful and well worth a visit, hidden away under the main building the spa offers a terrace for morning yoga and a handful of treatments from facials to ancient rituals such as a crystal massage. The hotel is also family-friendly, one of the few on the island! One tip – do not miss out on the yoghurt cart at breakfast!
This hotel is perfect if you are looking to have the best of both worlds, relaxation but also a more ‘vibey’ beach club feel. If you don’t stay here a sunset dinner is a must as the sunset never disappoints.
Andronis Concept Wellness Resort is located in Imerovigli and it offers you true relaxation and tranquillity, it is reminiscent of a retreat. The hotel is around five minutes' walk from Imerovigli, (which is positioned in between the capital Fira The hotel looks out on the Fira-Oia hiking path along the Caldera (which can be accessed from the hotel and takes approx. 2-3 hours). The hotel has 28 pool suites and villas, most of which are built to capture the sunset over the Aegean towards the caldera, the rooms are very minimalist but perfectly encapsulate the Santorini style. The hotel service is consistent with Arcadia; utterly dreamy.
There are three swimming pools, my favourites being the cave pool with an artificial waterfall and the 56-metre infinity pool (said to be the longest in Santorini). The hotel also boasts a tennis court, a heli pad and a private cinema. The spa has seven special treatment rooms and a yoga space which overlooks the stunning views. You can choose from 10 massages and there is a fully equipped gym too!
The food at The Concept in restaurant Throubi, is excellent, the menu has a core focus on wellness and does not disappoint from breakfast through dinner. This hotel is perfect if you are looking for complete and utter relaxation and disconnect from the outside world and want to dip your toes into the madness of Oia and Fira but ultimately want to disconnect.
Tip – order breakfast to the room with the heart-shaped float.
Andronis Luxury Suites is the flagship of the Andronis group; renowned for its uber luxe feel and sense of tranquillity despite its positioning it is clear why the hotel is so popular. Andronis is said to have pioneered the ‘cave style’ hotel room and all 33 of the suites are built with private infinity pools, cave pools and heated Hot tubs.
The hotel's entrance is in the thick of Oia’s main strip. The hotel was built cliffside and stretches practically vertically from the caldera downwards, and so there is quite the walk down to the main body of the hotel, but once you are down there, you won’t be disappointed.
I am not one to not leave the hotel as I love to explore but this is one hotel I could happily never leave. Despite the location of the hotel, the rooms are incredibly spacious. The bathrooms are cave style and have toiletries worth stealing. My favourite part of the room is the pillow menu which comes with the option of sleep spray.
The al fresco Lycabettus restaurant is one of the country’s finest, having won Greece’s equivalent of a Michelin star in 2016, 2017 and 2018. The setting of the restaurant is truly stunning, the perfect place for a date to never forget. The hotel also offers two bars, one of which is poolside and the other overlooks Lycabettus.
Despite the fact I said never leave the room, I would advise to have at least one breakfast in the restaurant as the view is truly stunning. The view from the restaurant is one of my favourites in a hotel ever, it is truly breath-taking.
Luxury Suites is the perfect place for a romantic getaway, somewhere to truly relax whilst feeling like you are completely and utterly VIP. This hotel will forever be one of my beloved hotels. It is nothing short of magic from service through to experience and amenities. If I had to chose only one to stay at this would be my winner.
I didn’t visit any other hotels during either trip but these are a few Hannah recommended on her blog post. Click here to read.
Bars & Restaurants
Many locals say Metaxi Mas is the best restaurant in Santorini, it is in the village of Exo Gonia and it serves traditional Greek cuisine.
Amoudi Bay is one of my favourite places for dinner on the island. It is the perfect place to enjoy seafood while watching the sunset in Santorini. It’s a small port with around 7 waterfront restaurants, each with a clear view of the horizon. We went to Sunset Ammoudi (right at the end) and went back the following year as the experience was just perfect (note if you don’t like fish there are options!)
Lucky’s Souvlakis serves amazing souvlakis and gyros, it is also insanely good value for money. Everyone raves about this place and it is definitely worth a visit.
Francos is located in Pyrgos which is the CUTEST town, this café is perfect for a pit stop to enjoy the surroundings, service was slow when we went but its nice for an alfresco drink and lunch.
Meteor café in Oia is a perfect place for a pit stop as it is very cute (not far from Atlantis books). Make sure to go in and get a peek at the view too.
PK bar is amazing, it is in Fira and is the best way to watch the sunset. Book in advance to secure the best seating and arrive before sunset so you can get settled and order ALL the cocktails.
Red bicycle restaurant is located in a 19th-century mansion on the cliff edge in Oia and has been open since 2004, the cuisine is a twist on Mediterranean specialities with a strong focus on quality Santorini produce.
Pac Man in Andronis Arcadia is a must to visit, perfect for a dinner that will leave you feeling transported to a luxe beach club, also has excellent sunset views and cocktails
Lycabettus in Andronis Luxury Suites is a must, it is the epitome of fine dining in a once in a lifetime setting.
Seaside is a beachside restaurant on Perivolos beach. It is very Mykonos/ Ibiza vibe and has a Moët and oyster bar! Think luxe beach club with a Mediterranean/ Asian cuisine
Botargo is a stunning restaurant in Pyrgos, the restaurant Is incredibly picturesque think white linen tablecloths by candlelight. They have perfected the Mediterranean cuisine and it is well worth a visit.
Selene is in Fira and has a key focus on fresh ingredients, Led by Michelin-star rated Ettore Botrini they have won multiple awards and it is clear why! It has an extensive wine list which can be enjoyed in the most gorgeous setting too.
Amrbosia offers Modern Mediterranean food and cliff top views which makes for a winning combination. The owner also runs a hotel Horizon Mills Villas near Oia).
Things to do:
I would highly recommend visiting some of the villages in Santorini as they are stunning. These were some of our favourites:
Pyrgos is a traditional village and actually used to be the island’s capital. It is situated in one of the highest points on the island, offering panoramic views of both the Aegean Sea and Santorini. Pyrgos offers the picturesqueness of Oia without the crowds, every corner has stunning whitewashed homes and chapels which can be explored through winding alleys but there is the joy of no crowds.
Emporio was another favourite village in Santorini, similar to Pyrgos it has the same charm and tranquillity but it somehow feels entirely different. Two blue-domed churches stand at the entrance of the village (the largest village in Santorini). The village has a long history and walking through the ‘maze’ feels like going back in time.
Megalochori is another picturesque village, the town square is surrounded by stunning pottery shops, small restaurants, beautiful churches and it is also home to some of the islands best wineries. Megalochori is also home to the ‘heart of Santorini’ a rock formation that is shaped like a heart that looks out onto the Aegean Sea.
Santorini is famous for its wine, there are many wine tasting tours around the island and there are also a few wineries which you can spend the day at. Santo Wines is the most popular but Venetsanos Winery and Megalochori Winery come highly recommended too.
Atlantis books is a charming bookshop in the heart of Oia, I read that in 2002 two American friends visited Santorini and noticed there were no bookstores on the island, so over a bottle of wine, they decided to open one and it has been opened ever since. It is filled with incredible books, both one of a kind and rare, they also have books in multiple languages. It is stunning and well worth a visit if you are buying a book or not!
Sunset Oia Sailing Cruises are the perfect way to see the island by boat in luxury. They have an array of options to chose from, but I would definitely recommend one that includes sunset!
Beaches:
Santorini is known for its volcanic black sand beaches, whilst I didn’t visit the beach whilst we were there due to it being a drive away and we had issues with our hire car (a story for another day).
Kamari Beach is a pebble beach, with lots of good restaurants and bars (a good spot for snorkelling).
Perissa “black sand” beach – is where you will find the black sand (note it gets VERY HOT). The strip is filled with many great bars and restaurants too.
Red Beach is a volcanic sand beach near Akitori and is famous for its red-orange cliff face.
Tips:
Oia is a pedestrian-only town, with that being said I walked around in heels and had no issues (it wasn’t the easiest choice of footwear, however). Be aware a lot of the paths can be quite steep and occasionally slippery!
There are several ATM’s both within the hotels and the town, I never had an issue with having my Revolut/ Credit Card whilst out there.
I would recommend waking up early one morning and watching the sunrise from the streets in Oia, It is the nicest time to explore the streets 1) as they are very empty and 2) the temperature is significantly cooler.
For more pictures check out my Santorini highlights, I also have highlights of each hotel.
