Santorini travel guide
Santorini - the beautiful island
Santorini (Santorini) is the southernmost archipelago in the Aegean Sea, halfway between Athens and Crete. In terms of the thousands of tourists who flock to the island every year, the archipelago is by far the most popular holiday destination in Greece. This is due to a colossal volcanic eruption that created the islands of Thira, Nea Kameni, Palea Kameni, Thirasia and Aspronisi and unique views. Majestically high rocky cliffs, with gleaming white houses stretching along them at dizzying heights and black and red sandy beaches bathed in unforgettable sunsets every evening - Santorini paints an unrivalled picture. Discover the unique volcanic landscape on kilometres of hiking trails, bathe in hot springs on Palea Kameni, explore the sunken city of Akrotiri or visit the surrounding neighbouring islands on boat trips across the Aegean. On Santorini, nature lovers, culture vultures and adventurers can spend an incomparable holiday!
LOCATION
The Santorini archipelago is located in the southern Aegean Sea, about 120 kilometres north of Crete.
AREA
90.69 km2
POPULATION
15,550 (as of 2011)
CAPITAL CITY
Fira
According to legend, the island was created from a lump of earth that was thrown into the sea by Euphemos, the son of Poseidon and the Okeanide Europa.Initially, the main island is said to have been called Kalliste ("the most beautiful") and was inhabited by Phoenicians. According to Pausanias, a Greek author from the 2nd century AD, eight generations later Theras, the son of Autesion, founded the Spartan colony, which he named after himself: In his late works, the world-famous Greek philosopher Plato described Atlantis, the flourishing empire that sank into the ocean thousands of years ago - and surmised that it was today's Santorini. A thesis that you should definitely investigate during your holiday on Santorini!
Weather and climate
As is typical for the Mediterranean region and the Cyclades, it is pleasantly warm to hot and sunny on Santorini in summer. The climate is generally dry with low humidity. With average temperatures of 26°C and 11 hours of sunshine per day, Santorini is a fair-weather island. The warmest months are July and August with maximum temperatures of 29°C and water temperatures of up to 25°C. As there are almost no rainy days in the summer months from June to September, there is hardly a better destination for a beach and bathing holiday than Santorini. The best time to visit the Cyclades island is between June and the beginning of October.
In autumn and winter, temperatures drop to an average of 11°C, but it rarely gets colder than 10°C. Even in the winter months from November to February, there are still four to five hours of sunshine per day. Rainfall increases during this time, with December and January being the rainiest months. The reason for this is the winter rain climate in which Santorini is located. The Meltemi winds, which are characteristic of the Mediterranean region, ensure that summers are warm and dry, while winters are cooler and rainy. This makes the Santorini archipelago the ideal holiday destination for sun-seekers in midsummer and for water sports enthusiasts in autumn and winter!
Flora and fauna
Compared to other islands in the Greek archipelago, Santorini is atypical: instead of olive trees, cypresses and date palms, you will find a less diverse natural landscape on the islands. This is due to the volcanic origin of the island, which characterised the steep coasts and cliffs, vineyards, desert-like stretches of land and dark lava beaches. The landscape on Thira, Thirasia, Aspronisi, Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni is characterised by grasses and shrubs, whose flowers colour the slopes in spring and summer. Due to the special landscape, the two islands of Palea Kameni and Nea as well as the Profitis Ilias mountain are even protected and included in the European Union's Natura 2000 network. It is precisely this unique landscape - the steep-sided Caldera Bay, the active volcanoes and the whitewashed villages - that make Santorini one of the highlights of the Aegean.
Food and drink
There are two extremes on Santorini: on the one hand, there are numerous international, upmarket restaurants on the coast with wonderful views of the caldera. The menus often feature international, often Asian dishes - not least because of the many tourists who have been part of island life for decades. On the other hand, there are still many original, romantic tavernas offering traditional Greek dishes in more remote villages off the beaten tourist track.
In contrast to the rest of Greece, where tavernas, restaurants and cafés often remain closed at lunchtime, Santorini's gastronomy has fixed opening hours. Guests are not only served in the evening from 7 pm, many establishments are open at lunchtime from 1 pm to 4 pm. Some tavernas even serve hot and cold dishes throughout the day - whether for breakfast at 9am or dinner at 10pm.
Specialities
There is hardly any agriculture or livestock farming on Santorini, which is why everything that goes into the pots and pans comes from other parts of Greece. Nevertheless, many cuisines set regional accents - for example with small, sun-dried tomatoes, capers or flat peas. There are a few specialities that should definitely end up on your plate during your holiday in Santorini:
🐑 Meat dishes
- Bekrí mezé: A slightly spicy goulash made from pork sausage with paprika vegetables.
- Juvétsi: A braised beef stew with kritharákja in tomato sauce.
- Jemistés: Vegetable tomatoes and peppers stuffed with rice, minced meat and wild herbs.
🌿 Vegetarian dishes
- Fáva Santorínis: A puree made from the island's typical flat peas (fáva), mixed with vinegar or lemon and olive oil.
- Choriàtiki santorínis: A mixed salad with capers, olives, tomatoes and feta, typically served as a starter.
- Chórta: A salad of cooked wild plants flavoured with lemon.
- Patsária: Beetroot cooked whole and served lukewarm.
- Tomátokeftédes: One of Santorini's specialities, the potato pancakes made from pureed tomatoes, onions and courgettes, flour and mint. A variation is revithókeftédes made from chickpeas.
- Briám: Ratatouille made from courgettes and aubergines.
🐟 Fish dishes
- Chtapódi ksi dáto: Slightly sour pickled octopus.
- Taramá: A creamy puree made from fish roe and soaked white bread.
- Bakaljáro me skordaljá: Deep-fried stockfish with garlic and potato puree.
- Kalamári jemistá: Fresh squid served whole and stuffed with cheese.
🍷 Wines
Santorini is known for its many excellent wines. More than two dozen bottled wines are produced in the many wine-growing areas that stretch across the island. Many wineries offer tastings (usually for a fee) so that you know which wines to order when you visit a taverna. There are basically three types of wine on Santorini that you should know:
- Niktéri (Νυκτέρι) are dry, high-alcohol white wines made from late-ripened Assyrtiko grapes and aged in wood. The wine is often very high in acidity, pale yellow in colour and has a light jasmine bouquet, but always has lemon or lime aromas. The golden yellow wine goes perfectly with dishes with intense spicy flavours, such as grilled poultry or octopus. However, it also goes well with the Asian cuisine often found on the island.
- Visánto (Βινσάντο) is produced as a sweet wine or fortified sweet wine. White or red grapes are dried in the sun for one to two weeks before being injected with high-proof tsipouro. The wine then matures again for up to two years in oak barrels to obtain its special flavour of honey, sultanas and limes. The sweet wine, which deserves its name, is particularly popular as an aperitif.
- Brousko (Μπρούσκο) are wines for which grapes from various white and sometimes red vines are fermented for a long time in oak barrels. The result is a strong, bitter wine that goes particularly well with Santorini's pork and lamb dishes.
Nightlife
Fine dining in upmarket restaurants with sea views, dancing in clubs with excellent cocktails in hand or enjoying the sunset on a sun lounger on a private beach: Santorini's nightlife offers options for every taste. Fira in particular has - as befits a capital city - many bars, beach clubs and discos to round off the long evenings. If you are staying in Fira, you will hardly be able to escape the exuberant but relaxed atmosphere that spreads across the city in the evening hours. After an exciting day, it's worth relaxing in one of the many restaurants in Firostefani or Imerovigli before hitting the island's dance floors. The best thing to do is simply drift through the narrow streets of the town - you can hardly go wrong!
Beach bars - clubs and discos
- The beaches of Perissa and Perivolos in the south-east of Santorini are very popular. The promenade is lined with international, Mediterranean and Greek restaurants, and you don't have to look far for beach bars either. The most popular beach bars include Tranquilo,JOJO, WetStories,Chilli, Seaside By Notos,Theros Wave Bar andNight Flight. Take your pick and sample the excellent cocktail menus as you watch the sun set over the Aegean!
- In Fira, the best cocktails can be found at Casablanca, MoMix or the PK Cocktail Bar, where you can marvel at the indescribable view of the caldera over three floors. If you prefer a cosy atmosphere, you can also sink into the Khira Thira Jazz Bar: The oldest bar on the island in Fira is said to serve fantastic sangria.
- The best clubs are all located in Fira, the capital of Santorini. The clubs Two Brothers,Murphys,HighlanderorTropical are worth mentioning, where tourists and locals dance together until the early hours of the morning. After a visit to the restaurant, many are drawn to the Enigma Club, the oldest club on the island, where you can party to Greek and international EDM music. The equally popular KOO Club plays mainstream and house music. If you want to party the Greek way, you should go to Mamounia! On the way home, when bars close at 3 am and clubs at 6 - 8 am, many tourists treat themselves to a midnight snack in the "Syoronos" bakery, which is open around the clock.
Insider tips
Santorini is perhaps the most popular island in Greece, attracting over 1 million tourists every year. The main tourist centres are the capital Fira, the archaeological sites of Old Thera and Akrotiri, the white, black and red beaches on the coast of the caldera and the volcanic islands of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni. In these areas, it is difficult to find unknown, less crowded places - at least at first glance. After all, it is not impossible to discover unspoilt spots on the islands on hikes, round trips or diving trips. We have three special suggestions for a break from the hustle and bustle of the island. But shhh!
Tip 1: Excursion boat to the islands
Tip 2: Freshly caught fish in the harbour
Tip 3: For the sunset
Bestsellers Santorini
Maybe you are interested in the following activities and tours:
from 80.-€
Santorini parasailing on Perissa beach
