The Santorini Diaries - What to do/visit

Santorini has plenty of stuff you can do without spending much Money. As I only stayed there for three days, I tried to do everything I could!

1. Watch the sunset in Oya

This is the most popular thing to do in Santorini and it's completely worth it. The sunset in Oya is, indeed, amazing. But be sure to be there at least one hour before the sunset, because everyone gathers in the little streets to see it. Some people even climb walls and houses to have a better view and take nice pictures, it's crazy! Also, it'll take you about half na hour to be able to walk out of the crow after the sun sets.

2. Drink some greek wine... with a view

Santorini is famous for its wines, which are also really affordable, and is filled with many winery shops along the Island. We went to Santo Wines, which had a breathtaking view. You have the option to wine taste, or can simply drink a glass of wine while enjoying an amazing landscape. I payed 1,5€ for my glass, as far as I remember.

3. Go to the red sand beach

This is the only beach in Europe which has red sand. It's pretty impressive and unique, but be prepared for a thrilling walk down until you reach the sea shore. You can also take amazing photos there and, needless to say, the water is warm.

4. Visit Thira at night

Thira is beautiful not only during the day, but also at night with its cute lights and vivid nightlife. You might want to have a drink at a pub or eat in a traditional greek food restaurante. Oya is beautiful at night too, but there's not much to there after nine o'clock. So, going to Thira might be the best option.

5. Ride a donkey

This is for the adventurous ones! Donkeys are very popular in Santorini because it's a good means of transport to go up and down the cliffs. For 5€ you can ride a donkey, going up or down the cliff. I'm warning you: it's scary! Because donkeys are big and going down can seem pretty dangerous. However, I don't think you shouldn't miss this experience.

6. Buy donkey milk lotion and natural sponges

Donkey milk lotion is insane, it hydrates the skin so much! In Santorini you can find it anywhere and it's a good souvenir. Natural sponges are also very popular in this Island. They feel so soft on the skin, you should definetely try them.

The Santorini Diaries - where to stay

Choosing a place to stay in Santorini is something you should be careful about, as you should consider what you are looking for. There are three main "villages" where you can stay:

Oya

This is the most popular place to stay and is the icon of Santorini. It's located in the North of the island and has the most beautiful sunset you'll ever see in Greece. However, it's the most expensive one. If you want to stay in five star, luxurious hotels then this is the place for you. Here you can see many hotels built upon the cliffs, with small infinity pools (there's not much space for big pools in this small island!) and private jacuzzis. Although Oya is pretty small, there are plenty of high-end stores, local souvenir stores, mini supermarkets and affordable restaurants. However, if you want to stay in a cheaper hotel, don't worry because driving to Oya is very easy.

Thira

Thira is the capital of Santorini and thus is the biggest village in the whole island. I stayed there. If you are looking for affordable hotels but with good conditions and a really nice view, then this is the place for you. Despite constantly having a big crowd (specially during the day), the hotels are usually located throughout the labyrinths of the cliffside, where no cars are allowed, so you can expect a silent night to rest. Just make sure to don't get lost, the little white streets are all very similar and there's no such thing as a GPS! I have to admit I got lost sometimes on my way back to the hotel after parking the car, specially at night. My hotel was Kykladonisia and I really liked it. I think I payed 60€ per night (so, 30€ for each of us, per night). It had a breathtaking view, a nice pool and a cute balcony where we had breakfast in the morning.
Thira has a lot of local and traditional shops, affordable restaurants, supermarkets, car and motorbike rentals and even has a McDonald's (I didn't even get in there). Also, if you want to go out at night, Thira is the right place. It has many pubs and bars, although it doesn't have a single club. Thira is really big comparing to Oya, so expect reasonably big walks! As Thira is in the centre, you will only need about 40 minutes to get to Oya.

Perissa

Perissa is pretty much the only place where you can go to the beach in Santorini. But if you were expecting white sand beaches with really calm waves, you'll be disappointed. The sand is black due to the volcanic nature of Santorini (and it really hurts to walk in that sand...) and there are big waves, despite the temperature of the sea being warm. Perissa doesn't have many houses and the centre is near each beach, where you can find mini supermarkets, souvenir shops and some restaurants with light food.
Usually the camping sites are in Perissa, which is the cheapest location to stay. It's a thirty-minute ride to Thira and a one hour ride to Oya. Perissa is located in the south and there's not many things you can do there, although one of the biggest attractions - the Red Sand Beach - is located there. However, if you are considering to stay in a cheap hostel (usually Airbnb style) or even camping, it's a good choice, as it is pretty easy to drive around the island quickly.

The Santorini Diaries - the basics

So, my first post in this blog had to be about Santorini, because not that many people know it and, from all the destinations I went to this summer, this island definitely was the one which got more attention from my friends.

How to get there

First things first, where is this paradise located? It belongs to the Greek Islands, more particularly to the Cyclades group. It's a volcanic island, basically what remained from a volcano explosion and it has the shape of a moon. Although known as Santorini, the official name of this island is Thira (the capital is also named Thira). 

Basically you can get there from anywhere, by plane or boat. If you are traveling from Greece or Turkey I would definitely recommend going on a boat, as it is much cheaper. Personally, I took the flight from Venice, which was direct and took two hours. It was really early, at 6 am in the morning, and It had a delay of 1:30h because Santorini's airport is so small it can only support one landing at a time. I paid 100€ for the flight and I booked 4 months in advance. Plus, I travelled with EasyJet, so you can see how expensive it can get.

How to prepare yourself for Santorini

One of the most important things is that you need to bring sunscreen, because there the sun is very intense. I come from sunny Lisbon, so believe me that if you don't wear sunscreen, you will suffer! A bathing suit is also a must. I wore bikini all the time, as I never knew when I was feeling so hot that I wanted to dive somewhere. After all, you're surrounded by water, so wearing a bathing suit is the best choice. Advice: if you want to look good in photos, wear white clothes! Santorini is a blue and white paradise and every little corner will amaze you.

Regarding money, you don't need much. Everything in Santorini is ridiculously cheap, even for us, who were on a budget. 

Blue and white everywhere!

How to get around 

As soon as we arrived at the airport (it's really small!) we rented a car. We literally asked for the cheapest car the company had. It wasn't Europcar or anything, it was this unknown Greek company. The truth is, we ended up paying 60€ for three days with the car (we were two, so 30€ each) which was really cheap! If you are going to Santorini I strongly recommend you rent a car or a motorbike because there public transportation just doesn't work! 

Driving there is pretty easy, but I'm wanting you: Greeks don't have any tolerance for anything that concerns the roads, so if you are an unskilled or nervous driver be prepared for frequent honks! Also, driving at night can be very challenging because the road is very curvy and there aren't any lights, apart from the centre.

You will not need much gas. We spent 15€ in gas for the three days and we drove a lot! There's a big road which goes through the whole island, from Oya (north) to Perissa (south). To get to the hotels you need to park somewhere (parking is usually free) and then walk - on those streets you will only see people and some donkeys. 

So, this is the basics of Santorini. On the next post I'll write about where to stay. A very important decision, although no matter where you stay, you will have a breathtaking view!