Oh Santorini, Santorini…. I’ve waited so long to do this just because I wanted to do this place justice! It’s the classic European summer – strolling down these cobblestone roads, eating gelato, swimming in the bay, what more could you lust for?! I’m going to jump right into it now, because there’s so much to cover!
When to visit: I recommend visiting in May or October, so either in the beginning or end of the season. The weather is much more mild during this time, there are way less tourists (you need to get that insta photo!), and hotels are way cheaper.
How to get there: You can either fly into Santorini airport (JTR) or take the ferry to the port (all in the map above). Note that you will need to arrange some kind of transportation to get to your hotel. You don’t need to do it ahead of time, there are plenty of taxis/shuttles that can take you to your hotel!
Do you need a car: Or should the question be car vs ATV haha. We chose to rent an ATV for one day to explore the south side of Santorini. Other than that, I don’t recommend renting a car, because the roads are quite narrow and if you’re based centrally, walking is the easiest way to get around. If we needed anything, taxis and public transit were pretty convenient (and not super expensive either) to get around.
Meet Oia, Your Adult Disney World
With the beautiful caldera backdrop, castles and churches, picturesque doesn’t even begin to describe Oia! There are no cars allowed into Oia, meaning its very pedestrian friendly… and very walkable. The main road is filled with boutiques and small alley ways that lead you to amazing views.
Molly’s tip: wake up early (meaning… before 9 or 10AM, not too bad right guys?) aka before the cruise ships come, so you can enjoy this little strip of paradise to yourself.
Indulge in seafood at Ammoudi Bay
Ammoudi Bay is nestled right off of Oia and known for the clear waters and amazing seafood. Come in the afternoon for a swim, and then finish off the day with a seafood feast. Katina’s Taverna is always packed and totally worth it. To get here, I recommend walking down because the sights are so pretty and make for tons of great photos! And then take a taxi back up because nobody has the glutes for 10,000 steps ok.
Molly’s Tip: Have your hotel make a reservation for dinner (day-of is fine) because it can get packed during peak hours!
Splurge in a fancy hotel
We stayed in Katikies Hotel for 2 nights and it was the ultimate dream. Infinity pools, private hot tubs, breakfast buffets… wait breakfast buffet?! Gosh.. the best! I also loved their rooftop, which I took tons and tons of photos on. So much easier than trespassing, and climbing and all those other shenanigans that ya’ll know I would definitely not do.
Some other hotels that came highly recommended:
- Charisma Suites (Oia)
- Mystique (Oia)
Explore the South Side
Vroom Vroom! Rent an ATV for a Day and explore all the beaches on the south side. I loved Black Sand beach (marked in map) because it was so unique. The “sand” is actually more of like a rock consistency. The beach also has lounge chairs if you want to lie down, and I know I definitely took a 30 min lil nap here haha. End your day with the most amazing secret sunset at the lighthouse.
Gyros are Life
Ok if you come to Greece and you don’t have a gyro IDK what you’re doing!! Gyros are so so cheap and delicious. I seriously think I could have them at any time of day haha. Pitos Gyros came highly recommended, and it did not disappoint! We tried their plates, wraps and salads and they were all so so good. If you like pork, I would definitely get the pancetta, that was our fave!
Santorini is truly so so magical. Let me know in the comments if you’ve been to Santorini or if you’re planning a trip there!
xx Molly
SHOP MY LOOKS HERE
SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER ON PINTEREST
Hey Molly!
My husband and I spent 4 days in Santorini last September (after Athens and Milos). We stayed in Imerovigli which is a quieter town in between Oiá and Fira. We loved it. We loved Santorini!
We hiked to Oia from Imerovigli. Took almost 3 hours including the stops. It was a little hard because of the heat, but the views and the experience was unforgettable. Our prize? We head down to Ammoudi Bay for seafood! Fantastic! Did you try the lobster pasta? It was one of the most expensive meals we’ve had, but it was worth it. OMG, i’m still dreaming about it to this day.
Santorini is beautiful. We also explored smaller villages. Emporio or Emborio is probably my favorite. We hiked the Skaros Rock too. Short and much easier hike than to Oia. It was very memorable.
I wish to go back again someday soon. I didn’t get to take a lot of photos because I was totally immersed with the whole experience. I was just taking in the views… chowing down excellent Greek food. 😄 I’ve never eaten so much octopus in my life! 😊
Looking forward to hearing about your next adventure.
Cheers,
Joanne