TABLE OF CONTENTS
→ When to Go
→ How to Get There
→ Where to Stay
→ What to Do
→ Where to Eat

Santorini is one of the most popular vacation spots — especially for people with something to celebrate. For me, I was celebrating my last birthday in my 20’s. I was a big unsure where to go to celebrate honestly. So, I asked my travel sister to choose between Madagascar, Mozambique and Greece. She chose Greece. At first I was a bit hesitant because I thought maybe Greece, Mykonos and Santorini in particular, might be a bit overrated. I was definitely wrong. I fell in love with Santorini. The sunsets I witnessed were some I will never forget.

When to Go

I went to Santorini during the first week of September. This is at the very end of their peak season. It was pretty windy, but it was hot and sunny most of the time. The best time to go is between April and October. These months are great for weather. June, July, August and September can be hot, and there will be more people on the island. However, I didn’t mind the heat, and it was never crowded while we were in Santorini.

How to Get There

My friend, Frances, and I took a ferry from Mykonos to Santorini. We booked the ferry through Seajets. If you do this option, arrive to the port early in order to pick up your tickets. The ferry took about two hours to get from Mykonos to Santorini. If you try to fly between islands, you will spend up to 6 hours traveling because you will have to fly to Athens first. There are sometimes flights directly between the islands, but it is very rare. A ferry is a cheap and quick option.

Where to Stay

DO NOT JUST STAY IN OIA. Let me repeat myself. Do not just stay in Oía. Oía was incredible, and it is a must, but don’t miss out on a two night stay in Imerovigli. I loved Imerovigli so much. It was more chill than Oía and was the perfect change of pace having just come from Mykonos. There are lots of options for places to stay on the island of Santorini. I suggest mixing it up by staying in a hotel and also checking out some of the beautiful Airbnbs the island has to offer. I stayed in an Airbnb in Imerovigli (read here) and a luxury hotel in Oía (read here).

What to Do

*TIP - Schedule your day tours and excursions while you’re staying in Imerovigli (or wherever else), not Oía. Oía can be expensive and is very luxe. You’ll want to enjoy your time in Oía and at your accommodation to get the most bang for you buck.

Wine Tour

The wine tour is a must on the island. It was probably one of the best wine tours I’ve ever had. They teach you about pairings, how wine is produced on the island and you get bits of food along the way. Keep in mind that most of the wine produced is white wine. I am a red wine lover, so at first I was apprehensive. When they teach you how to pair with the white wine though - it was wonderful.

Vineyards look very different in Santorini.

Catamaran

The catamaran full day or half day tour is a great way to see the island from the water. Relax, eat and get some sun while cruising.

Visit the Sights

✧Oía Cliffside

✧Kastro Oía Houses

✧Blue Dome Church (Oía)

✧Anastasi Orthodox Church (Imerovigli)

Where to Eat

✧Buddha Bar (Imerovigli) - Reservation recommended

✧Confetti (Imerovigli)

✧Let’s Eat (Imerovigli)

✧Catch (Oía) - Reservation recommended

Black Truffle Potato Gnocchi (aka best thing I’ve ever eaten abroad)

✧Sunset Taverna (Oía) - Reservation recommended

How to Get Around

Taxi

The only time you really need a taxi on the island is if you are coming from the airport or the ferry or if you are going from one village to the next. We took a taxi from Imerovigli to Oía. One night in Oía we took a taxi home from dinner, but only because Sunset restaurant is located in Ammoudi Bay. The cliffside walk down to the restaurant is not lit up at night, so a taxi was a better option.

Walk

The great thing about the villages on the island is that they are totally walkable. The area is actually pretty small. We walked everywhere in Imerovigli and in Oía with the exception of dinner the one night in Oía.

Overall

Santorini was a dream. It was a place that I just sat back and stared at the water and the sky thinking about life and the people that I love. I know that I have to go back and share that with those people one day.

If you have any questions, please ask below.