What to do in Santorini (… Besides soak up the sun!)

Bella Vita Travels
Bella Vita Travels
Published in
3 min readJun 28, 2016
Santorini, Greece. Photo credit unknown.

Santorini is a part of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea, and, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful and romantic destinations in the whole world. The island’s charm derives from its distinctive volcanic landscape, the picturesque architecture and genuine hospitality. On Santorini, you can enjoy spectacular sunsets, a swim at volcanic beaches, eat tremendously well and experience the delicious local wines. But there are also many fun activities to enjoy! Here are our suggestions for the top 3 Santorini experiences:

The Volcano and Oia in a Day

Volcano view, Santorini. Photo credit: Dioskouri

The caldera is the water-filled crater of an ancient volcano from which sprouted Santorini. With an early morning start from Athinios port, you can go by boat to to all parts of the caldera with a first stop at the active crater. The visit to the volcano is followed by a swim at the Hot Springs, where the temperature of the waters can reach 35oC. Next stop is the beautiful, small island of Thirassia. The tour provides guests with some time to walk the island and have lunch or swim.

The last and, maybe, best part of the Volcano and Oia boat tour is the glorious sunset from Oia village. Stroll around this amazing town, feel its magnificent vibes and relax, while watching the magical sun setting in the Aegean Sea.

Sunset Sailing Cruise

Sunset sailing cruise, Santorini. Photo credit: Jack Newton

One of the most romantic Santorini tours is the Sunset Sailing Cruise (we just love this!). Sail along the imposing caldera on a beautiful catamaran or sailboat and view the villages of Fira, Imerovigli and Oia, perched on the edge of the caldera cliffs. You also visit the secluded Red Beach and the White Beach with the crystal waters and the impressive cliffs. The grand finale of the cruise is the incredible Santorini sunset. Such an amazing way to end the day!

Ancient Akrotiri, Wine Tour and even cooking lessons if you want!

Guided by an archaeologist and an expert sommelier, visit the Minoan town of Akrotiri, which is even believed to be the mythical lost city of Atlantis and then afterward, discover some famous traditional wineries of Santorini (yes, some really wonderful wines are produced on the island!).

Santorini winery, Artemis Karamolegos. Photo credit: Artemis Karamolegos

You can also visit Microbrewery along the way. Then it’s on to a traditional tavern, where an experienced chef will teach you the basics of cooking Greek style. Using only the freshest ingredients, combining them skilfully and bringing out the most intense flavors are the basis of our cooking class. At the end of your day, you will savor your self-cooked meal with a glass of wine at a small ‘taverna’ right under the blue sky.

So you see, you can easily just enjoy the “usual” on Santorini, which by no means is a bad thing, but you can also take it a step further to fully experience this an amazing and beautiful island!

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