The volcanic landscape of Santorini, with its steep cliffs, deep blue waters, but also the colourful cubic houses that adorn the grey-brown relief, will be etched in your memory forever.
The tourist interest is monopolized by the famous sunset of Oia and the view of the caldera from Fira and Imerovigli. But if you really want to get to know this unique place that is rightly one of the top tourist destinations in the world, it would be good to come here outside the tourist season.
5 Beautiful Places You Need To Visit In Santorini Greece
Surprises on the cobbled streets of Fira
The cosmopolitan Fira, the capital of the island, will welcome you with plenty of new buildings, dozens of shops of all kinds, but also museums, medieval cobbled streets, Venetian churches and a view of the caldera literally unbeatable.
Many of the popular caves in Santorini that were the homes of the poorest inhabitants of the island are still preserved, as well as impressive public buildings and urban buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries. It is worth approaching Theotokopoulou Square with its cafes and luxury shops. Look for different places from where you will enjoy the view of the chaotic cliff and the volcanic islands.
Visit the Archaeological Museum of Thira, the cultural centre “Belloneio Foundation”, and the Venetian Palace of Gyzi with its magnificent copper plates. In the upper Fira, you will tour Frangomachalas with its well-preserved mansions. In Kato Fira, the church of Ag. Mina and the church of Christ.
At the edge of the cliff… by car or on foot
Following the busy road that leaves the north of Fira parallel to the edge of the caldera, you will pass by Firostefani, which literally looks hooked in one of the most impressive parts of the island, at the edge of the cliff. Explore all the magic of the surrounding areas of Santorini with your car, enjoying a unique route overlooking the deep blue sea and the bright sun. If you do not have your own transport vehicle, you can turn to the choice of a rental car from the company Enjoy Travel, which is one of the most reliable solutions in the field of rental cars.
The next stop is Imerovigli which is perched at a point from where you can gaze at the volcano and the islet of Thirasia, while, due to its orientation, you will be able to supervise almost the whole island. Far from the crowds of cars, the old cobbled path is exciting, as today it has been transformed into a beautiful and elegant pedestrian street that runs at the edge of the caldera, connecting the villages of Fira with Imerovigli.
Akrotiri: A dive into history
Fourteen kilometres southwest of Fira, literally hidden in the volcanic hinterland of the island, we find one of the most important archaeological sites in the Mediterranean!
The archaeological dig revealed parts of an advanced settlement of the 3rd millennium BC buried in the ashes of the great eruption of the volcano (15th century BC). It is considered one of the most important prehistoric centres of the Aegean and the Mediterranean. The archaeological site is perfectly organized, and the visit here becomes a cognitive experience that no one should miss.
Red Beach: The wonder of nature
Thira is not famous for its beaches. However, it has several that have probably been used to the fullest. Among them, entirely indicative, to mention Kamari sandy beach on the east side of the island, the famous Perissa beach with fine black sand, the busy beach of Monolithos near the airport, Κolοumbοs, Vlychada and many more.
However, there is a beach that you will probably not see anywhere else in the Mediterranean, and of course, this is the famous Red Beach. This exotic coastline owes its name to the vertical reddish rocks that rise around the deep pelagic waters composing a landscape, almost eerie.
