Santorini Guide

This is an island and a fair weather destination; better avoid the storms of winter. Once ashore, you will find a variety of hotel pricings - from the modest one star to the luxury, with prices ranging from €35 a night up to €1000. There are also self-catering options: apartments, villas, studios and some specials for (second) honeymooners - in fact, the island rather specialises in honeymooning.

The island is only 18km at its longest and you can explore by car, scooter, bike, boat or bus, with tours to see sunsets, hot springs, archaeological sites and other attractions. A small saloon starts from about €35 a day. Fira, the ‘capital’ with 1,600 residents, perches on 260m cliffs with panoramic views, but Oia makes the claim to be the island’s most picturesque village and it’s the place to go for the best sunsets.

It was fear of pirates that created the cliff-top architecture and the charming traditional villages of small white-painted houses and narrow streets. Food is modern and traditional Greek, and with such a choice of views, most restaurants offer them with your meal. There are also cafes - on the beaches, on the cliffs and in the villages, some with wi-fi.

There are specialist leather and local craft shops, some with jewellery and figures in precious metals crafted by artists. So, after that glorious sunset, what next for those who enjoy late night-life? There are lively bars on this small enchanting island, scattered among the narrow streets of Fira and Oia, and along the coastline at Perissa and Kamari beach resorts. There are clubs too where you can party until sunrise.

And nothing is far away!For the history buff, there are excavations and museums, from pre-history to naval history and the story of the island’s wines. If you want a quiet life there are cool churches and quiet, unspoiled beaches. For the action visitor there is diving, sailing, windsurfing, wind-kiting and jet-skiing, with watersports centres.

Average temperatures range from the mid-50’F in the winter months to highs in the 80s in July and August. Generally speaking, from April to August, it is sunny; from September on there is some cloud, but rainfall is light. Prices are said to be a little higher than for other Greek islands.

At a restaurant, for example, a bottle of house wine is about 21 Euros and a moussaka about 9 Euros. Beer in a bar is about 4 Euros and at a super market about 1 Euro. Santorini could justly claim to be something of a paradise island, with everything for everyone - but no pressure.

As visitors say for themselves:: “.

it is the absolute destination to relax.

The island is fabulous. It has unique landscapes and a great atmosphere with the most beautiful landscapes of Greece.

It is like this was created by a god.