Santorini Top Tips

My top tips for your trip to the picturesque island of Santorini.

Be prepared to walk.  Many of the villages are pedestrian only and are not accessible by car.

Pack comfy shoes.  Leave your high heels at home for this trip, you definitely wont be needing them here. Most of the streets are cobbled, uneven and on a hill of some sort, with an abundance of steps and staircases.

Visit between May and October.  These are the summer months, but if you prefer to avoid the super busy peak season don’t go in July and August

If you plan to hire a car in Santorini  be aware that some roads are very narrow and steep. Also parking is limited at times so be sure to check with your hotel that they have a designated car parking area in advance.

Explore as much as you can. Visit a couple of towns and soak up the atmosphere. Walk down the small alley ways that you assume lead to nowhere, often here you will find the most incredible views.

Don’t forget your camera. Maybe pack spare batteries and memory cards too! You will be taking hundreds of photos here.

All hotels are small. You wont find any large sprawling resorts on this island but the small boutique hotels that litter the coastline more than make up for this. Most are family run and full of character and charm.

The cable car can get very busy. If you are arriving by cruise and need to get the cable car down to your ship embarkation point make sure you leave plenty of time. Often 3 or more cruise ships can be in port on the same day and so the lines for the cable car can be extremely long at times. And if you do get stuck the only other option is a donkey ride down the mountain for 5 euros.

The airport is tiny. There are not many facilities at the airport and the departure lounge is very small and crowded so try not to arrive too early for your flight. If your travelling at meal times, have food at your hotel before you leave as the choice is very limited at the airport.

Watch a sunset. Its one of the most amazing sunsets in the world. Many of the hotels in Imerovigli have beautiful views out to the sea where you can watch the sun set over volcano. Alternatively, there are many restaurants in Oia and some rooftop restaurants in Thira with sunset views. If you are feeling romantic book a table for two in a lovely restaurant in Oia and watch the sun go down while you sip on a glass of wine. It truely is a magical experience.

The best nightlife is in Thira. If you prefer a more lively night time scene with plenty of bars and small clubs. The head to Thira, there are bars and pubs to suit every taste here and many good restaurants too.

Most importantly have a wonderful time!