What I didn’t know at first was that Santorini is not actually one island, but an archipelago. It consists of a total of 3 islands, which were once separated by a volcanic eruption. The center of the island is basically a volcanic hole. The entire island is made of volcanic stones, the color of which ranges from black to white. The inhabitants of the island built dwellings in the rocks from these stones. Santorini is the only inhabited caldera in the world. And most importantly – many people believe that Santorini is the legendary mythical Atlantis. There are many interesting corners and buildings that you must explore. You will find a lot of inspiration for beautiful and interesting photos. You just have to look around.
ROAD TO THE ISLAND
I didn’t fly to the island traditionally by plane, but by boat from the island of Crete. I took a detour. The port is located below the caldera. A narrow and terribly winding road leads up from it. I originally thought I would walk up, but in such great heat it was really impossible. Fortunately, I was tempted by the offer of a shuttle bus. As we slowly climbed up in the hot air with a van and other tourists along tight serpentines full of cars and buses, it was clear to me that it would take me several hours to climb on foot and that someone would probably knock me down along the way anyway. This whole fun cost me 20 Euros. In the end, I found out that buses also go from the port to the capital, Fira. The price is much more pleasant – 2.80 Euros.
CHURCH WHEREVER YOU LOOK
The interesting thing about the island is that there are more churches than houses. One is more beautiful than the other. They are all snow-white and have a blue dome. Yes, yes, exactly like in all those Instagram colored kitschy photos.
FISHING IN SANTORINI
Fishing in Santorini is very popular. You can join adventure fishing trips where you can enjoy traditional fishing, sunbathing, tasting Greek cuisine and swimming. If you catch something, you can grill the fish right on board while enjoying the sunset view and local wine.
FIRA
This capital is not much different from other Greek cities. Everywhere there are taverns, souvenir shops, gold and Greek delicacies. In short, there is something to look at. When we slowly made our way through the labyrinth of streets to its end, the beauty of the caldera opened up in full force before us without warning. It is incredible what beauty a destructive volcanic eruption created. The Greeks managed to build it up with an incredible conglomeration of houses, hotels and taverns. The view is truly amazing – the sea, ferries, volcanic islands and of course the city itself. At this view, you really don’t understand how all this can be built. Everything fits together beautifully like a puzzle.
Down in the harbor, there is a pretty long path leading up the hill. There are 652 steps in total, and each step has its own number. Only the lazy will let a donkey carry them up. 🙂 Yes, that is the symbol of the island.
The blue color on all those houses is really stunning. And all the souvenirs are made in this spirit. I have to admit that I really liked them. You really want to buy them all. 🙂
PICTURESQUE VILLAGE OIA
The capital Fira is about 15 km from Oia. A bus ticket costs 1.60 euros. This town is famous for its sunsets and romantic weddings. However, what you will also find here are crowds of tourists. So don’t be put off right at the beginning. Oia is also a very small town that can be crisscrossed in an hour. It is on top of a cliff, above the caldera. It offers the most beautiful spectacle that I knew from postcards – black lava and on it beautiful white houses with blue domes. Underneath all that, a beautiful turquoise sea. But I wouldn’t want to live here. After all, those crowds of tourists will do their thing.
I had a bit of a problem taking pictures here, because thanks to the sun I often couldn’t see what I had on the screen and I just guessed what I was actually taking pictures of based on the outlines. The wind here, which blew in my hair, didn’t help much either. I was all the more pleasantly surprised by the result of my efforts. 🙂
Vesničku jsem si prošla skoro celou. Stačila jsem nakouknout do různých krámků a zákoutí.
ATLANTIS BOOKSHOP
I actually discovered this bookstore by accident. It’s a Hobbit hole that I almost missed. I have to admit that I was very pleasantly surprised by what I found inside. And I found out that it’s not just any bookstore. This cute bookstore was even named one of the top 10 bookstores in the world by National Geographic magazine. I think it’s right. It’s really beautiful. It’s located in a beautiful house with a sea view.
There are shelves full of literary works, but definitely don’t look for books like “Fifty Shades of Grey”. 🙂 For example, you will find beautiful Greek Myths in several versions. The books are stacked on the floor and there is even a bunker in the back, because they really live here!
And how did this bookstore come about? The story of this bookstore began in 2002, when Craig Walzer and his Oxford colleague Oliver couldn’t find a bookstore in Oia where they could buy a book. And since they had nothing to read, they spent one night drinking and thinking “What if…” Two years later, their hypothetical bookstore, which they visualized that night, became a reality thanks to friends from Cyprus, England and the United States. Isn’t it a beautiful story?
GASTRONOMY AND WINERY
The gastronomy of Santorini is as impressive as its landscape. The island is known for its unique volcanic soil, which gives the local produce an unmistakable taste. Don’t forget to try typical dishes such as “fava”, a creamy chickpea porridge, or “tomatokeftedes”, spicy tomato fritters. Santorini wines, especially famous varieties such as Assyrtiko, are highly appreciated for their distinct mineral taste and freshness, which perfectly complement the local dishes.
SANTO WINERY
Santo Wines in Santorini offers a great experience for wine lovers and those who want to discover the beauty of the island. Situated near the village of Pyrgos, this winery is known for its exceptional cliffside location with breathtaking views of the caldera.
Tours of the winery cost 12 euros per person, including a 20-minute tour and tasting of two wines: Assyrtiko and Kameni. There is also a wine and delicatessen shop where you can purchase a full range of Santo wines and local gourmet products. The winery is open year-round, until midnight in the summer months, allowing visitors to enjoy the evening atmosphere with a view of the sunset over the caldera.
TOMATO MUSEUM
If you have time, you can visit the Tomato Industrial Museum “D. Nomikos”, which offers visitors a unique insight into the history of tomato processing on the island.
The museum is located on Vlychada Beach, in an area with impressive volcanic rock formations, and is housed in the former tomato processing factory of the Nomikos family. Interestingly, the small-fruited Santorini tomato is a typical product of the island, known for its small size, hard skin, juicy flesh and sweet taste, which makes it ideal for making tomato paste. This unique taste is attributed to Santorini’s rich volcanic soils.
The museum is open from April to November from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00. Admission for adults is €10, while for children aged 12 to 18, students and seniors (over 65) the admission is reduced to €6. Children under 12 are free.
HOW TO TRAVEL AROUND THE ISLAND
As I already wrote, there are also buses on the island. It is basically the main option for cheap travel on the island. Tickets cost around 1.8 to 2.4 euros per ride. Buses run from all resorts and towns and all of them, of course, lead to the capital of Thira (Fira). It is a kind of transfer center for almost all connections. Anyway, the station is small and buses to all corners of the island leave quite often. You pay the fare on the bus to the driver’s assistant, who has the task of pushing his way through the completely packed car and collecting fares from all passengers.
I think you could spend hours walking along the edge of the caldera and observing the intricate white and blue buildings. Of course, provided you don’t surround yourself with crowds of tourists. I’m so glad I crossed this island off my travel list and can now embark on a new adventure. In any case, Santorini will be one of the islands I would love to return to again.
