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Cove Team
Cove Team
The world is filled with paradise-like destinations that people all over dream of visiting, forgetting their hectic lives and experiencing life at a slower pace with more extraordinary euphoria.
At the top of the list of the world’s gorgeous havens stands as tall and proud as its history, the breathtakingly enchanting Greece.
Greece will surely tickle your fancy, no matter who you are or your cup of tea. Whether it is its breathtaking natural scenery, time-travelling venues, or jaw-dropping architecture, you will always find something that can steal your heart and blow your mind in this piece–of–heaven country.
Santorini island has always been a crowd favourite among the impressive list of incredible destinations Greece offers. Whether you are a morning person or not, we dare you to look away from a Santorini sunrise. The orange sky over the clear blue ocean surrounding the island’s black beaches will leave your jaw on the floor.
And if you -like most people- had enough of this bleak world and its grey reality and would love a chance to hop on a time machine and travel back in time, well, sadly, you can’t. However, the tiny island offers you the next best thing with its rich history and retrospective sites. It has an incredible array of well-preserved remnants of ancient times, from the city of Akrotiri, buried underneath volcanic ashes during the explosion of 17th BC, to the magnificent site of the Ancient Thera. As previously mentioned, if you are into time travelling, Santorini is the place for you.
We all go on vacations to make memories, and what better place to make some ever-lasting memories than a place that looks like it has been taken out of a postcard, like virtually everywhere in Santorini? It won’t matter whether you can capture the perfect moment on camera or not; it won’t matter if you had the right angle or not; it won’t even matter if you can pose in front of things or not; just hold up the camera, find a spot to stand and the perfectly aligned nature of the island will take care of the rest and give you a perfect memory to bring home with you.
If you are hyped enough about your next adventure to the stunning island, let us help you plan the perfect trip to savour and enjoy as much of this beautiful paradise as possible.
Where to Stay
Santorini is rich in more than just nature and history. Just as the island offers next-level comfort and relaxation through its natural beauty, it also provides various accommodation options to complete your perfect vacation with the perfect stay.
Whether your dream vacation includes you waking up in a luxurious hotel suite overlooking Caldera cliffs, the Cycladic-style Villa Irini and a furnished sun terrace overlooking the Aegean Sea and the Volcano, or waking up to the voices and fast movements of the local streets of downtown Santorini, your dream will come true.
With rooms that include services ranging from Wi-Fi to rich minibars, air conditioning, and amenities like car services, she organised trips to experience the most out of Santorini and so much more that will guarantee you the perfect vacation, almost as perfect as this godly ideal destination.
The 10 recommended hotels in Santorini:
- Iconic Santorini
- Aroma Suites
- Lilium Santorini Hotel
- Port Fira Suites
- Ikies Santorini
- Astro Palace Hotel Suites
- Art Maisons Luxury Santorini Hotels Aspaki & Oia Castle
- Dana Villas & Infinity Suites
- Volcano View Hotel Santorini
- Ducato – The Wine Hotel
Now that we have covered the accommodation, let’s get something to eat!
Where to Eat
Aside from incredible nature, weather, and overall atmosphere, Greece has also been gifted with one of the best cuisines in the world. Santorini, in particular, offers some of the best culinary delights you could ever see or taste, especially when it comes to seafood—it is an island, after all.
So, out of all the great culinary options, Santorini, which stands out the most? Let’s find out!
The 10 most recommended restaurants in Santorini:
- Idol Restaurant Bar
- Le Ciel Restaurant
- Rymidi Restaurant
- Santo Athiri Restaurant
- Psatha Cocktail Bar and Restaurant
- Alisachni Art & Wine Gallery
- Metaxi Mas
- Salty Bone
- Selene
- Tzanakis
Things to Do
Now that your accommodation is covered, it is time to start planning your Santorini itinerary. Unless you plan where to go and what to do, you can quickly get overwhelmed by Santorini’s beauty and waste your precious time there without exploring and experiencing everything this stunning island offers. Although just walking around its gorgeous streets is magical enough, you still want to try to take in as much of its beauty as possible.
So here is a list of the best and most popular things to see and do in Santorini.
Best Santorini Attractions
- Ancient Thira
You can’t go to the island without visiting the iconic Ancient Thira. The Dorians first settled it in the 9th century BC. It contains Roman, Byzantine, and Hellenistic ruins, including houses, temples, a theatre, a market, and even a gymnasium. Whether you are an art and history buff or not, your mind will be blown during your visit to Ancient Thira.
- Black (Mesa Pigadia) Beach
Santorini’s black beach is one of the island’s most popular attractions, attracting hundreds of tourists annually. The Mesa Pigadia, or Black Beach, is a volcanic black sand beach with cliffs and a single taverna.
- White (Aspri) Beach
Aspri Beach is one of the most stunningly beautiful beaches in Santorini and probably the world. This secluded southwestern cove boasts miles of pristine, gorgeous white sand surrounded by cliffs. It is only accessible by boat, which only adds to its magic.
- Red (Kokkini) Beach
The Santorini Red Beach is one of Greece’s most surreal and exotic beaches. Located in Southwest Santorini, the Kokkini beach is backed by rust-and-fire-coloured cliffs.
- Museum of Prehistoric Thera
The Museum of Prehistoric Thera is home to some incredible finds excavated from Akrotiri, which have been settled since neolithic times. Your jaw will drop to the floor when you look at the stunning wall painting, ceramics, and gold ibex figurine featured in the Museum of Prehistoric Thera. Remember to look at the fossilised olive tree leaves from the caldera, which date back to 60,000 BC.
- Ancient Akrotiri
In 1967, excavations in the southwest of Santorini revealed an ancient city buried deep underneath the volcanic ash from the catastrophic eruption of 1613 BC.
This site has been preserved within a protective structure through which you can see all the fascinating features of the Ancient Akrotiri. You can pass through the city through the well-preserved wooden walkways. You can also see inside ancient three-storey buildings that survived the eruption, city roads, drainage systems, and even several stashes of pottery.
Top Things to Do on the Island
Aside from the gorgeous places and attractions, Santorini is a thrilling destination with many activities and experiences.
- Santorini Luxury Caldera Cruise with Full Greek Meal and Drinks
There is no better or fancier way for first-time visitors to get close and intimate with the true essence of the Santorini island.
Pick a daytime or sunset cruise and enjoy passing by some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. In addition, visit the only caldera (flooded volcanic crater) and the multiple hot springs in Santorini.
A Greek meal and a complimentary drink are guaranteed to be served on the cruise, so you won’t have to worry about food prep.
- Horse Back Riding on Black Sandy Beaches
These horseback rides usually take riders from Caldera Beach on the Santorini North Coast to Eros Beach on the Santorini South Coast. They are typically done in a group of 6 people, with a guide who oversees the ride and shows riders all the basics they need to know.
Posing for a commemorating picture while surrounded by the cliffs of Caldera Beach or riding through the volcanic landscapes to the black sands of Eros Beach will give you one of those million-dollar shots. Being this close to a gorgeously raw nature like that encountered on this ride is also an extremely holistic experience.
- Half-Day Exclusive Catamaran Cruise in Santorini with Meal and Open Bar
Whether this is your first time in Santorini or not, booking this exclusive Catamaran Cruise is essential for Santorini. During this half-day cruise, you will be able to see parts of the place that are only accessible by boats, bathe in the healing waters of the Santorini Hot Springs, snorkel in the crystal sea off the Thirasia island, and enjoy a delicious Greek meal of fresh seafood delicacies. So, no matter your plans or budget, make the time and money for this specific cruise; you will not regret it.
- ATV-Quad Santorini Experience Tour
Experience Santorini in a new and different way with this fun ATV-guided tour. This tour allows a maximum of six travellers, so you won’t have to fight off crowds or miss out on anything the guide shares with the group. The tour usually starts at the black sand beach of Perissa and follows back roads to gorgeous sites like the Venetian Castle, the Windmills of Emporio, a wine cellar, and so much more.
Since Santorini is quite literally too beautiful and eventful for words, we will end this quick travel guide here with the following note. Whether you relax and spend a laid-back vacation or take advantage of every moment and adventure the island offers, do one thing: enjoy yourself to the absolute max. The island of Santorini is one of the few goldy gifts on Earth, so respect, enjoy, and appreciate it.
