Santorini

( Sandor-'ee-nee )

"Santa    Ir-'ee-nee "
Saint  Irene

Also written : Sandorini ,  ( in Greek )

 

The world famous island of Santorini is the southern most island of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea, and is located 63 nautical miles north of Crete. Its surface area is 73 sq. km. and its population, distributed among thirteen villages, just exceeds thirteen thousand six hundred souls, according to the census of 2001. Latitude: 35.25N - Longitude: 25.20E

             
 

HOW TO REACH SANTORINI

 

Santorini can be reached from most international airports via Athens. The flying time from Athens to Santorini is approximately 40 minutes.

Nearly all international scheduled flights arriving in Athens allow adequate time for making the connecting flight to Santorini. Numerous charter flights from different European Cities fly directly to the island during the summer period. During the same period Santorini is also connected with flights to and from Thessaloniki. Another way to reach the island is by a regular ferry boat service from the port of Piraeus, Thessaloniki or Crete and almost all the Cycladic islands. The boat trip takes approximately 4,5 - 9 hours depending on the ferry type and the number of stopover ports.

Daily high speed boats are available, leaving from the port of Piraeus and from numerous other Cycladic islands and Crete.

 

 

Santorini is included in the top 10 world's tourism destinations, a matter which is easily understood, immediately after seeing its magnificent landscape. Santorini,  "Thira"  ( formal name) is a classic Cycladic island, with few flora, a lot of winds and many many white houses. But, among all these, Santorini gives to its visitors something special: its Caldera magic.

 

 

 

If you decide to visit Santorini be sure that you have enough time,  2 or 3 days won't just be enough. You need at least a week's time.
A walk at Caldera is not not enough to enjoy the magical view. The whole day colours change and the landscape gets thousands of different scenes.
For the sunset, Oia (pronounced 'ee-a, not O-i-a) is the best choice. Oia's magnificent sunset is well known around the world. Each year thousands of visitors from all over the globe get crowded at the village's castle and narrow walk-paths in order to watch the sun set into the sea.
Suggestion: when the sun sets,  turn around and watch the beautiful colours that the houses take. It's unbelievably beautiful.

 

 

 

Swimming in one of the island's beaches is a must, as well as the visit to as many as possible of its traditional settlements. Their architecture is amazing. It travels visitors to old eras. Apart from Oia, traditional settlements exist in Megalohori, Vothonas and Imerovigli. Don't miss the Archeological Area in Akrotiri gaze. There you will see a part of the city of 1650-1500 B.C. which was buried under tons of lava.

 

 
 
 

 

The night life of Santorini is very intense. In Fira you can enjoy almost everything. Beginning from luxurious restaurants or simple tavernas and leading to night clubs with greek or international music. Except from Fira, intense night life you can find at Kamari, Oia and Perissa, where beach parties are often held by the beach bars and fun keeps up to the morning.