Santorini Attractions - Where White Walls Meet Blue Domes

Santorini is on the bucket list of many travelers, and I was no exception. I had seen so many beautiful pictures and videos of it, and I definitely wanted to experience it for myself as the sun sets over the caldera. I wanted to walk among the iconic white houses, find the best viewpoints, and see the blue-domed churches.

I arrived by cruise, so the first step was to climb the hill straight up to the city. You can also take a cable car, but the line was so long that I chose to walk, despite the heat. It was a surprisingly long walk, but it was manageable.

It was a funny sight late in the afternoon, as passengers from large cruise ships rushed down the same road to the port to prevent their ship from leaving without them.

If you arrive by boat, allow enough time for the return trip, because even though you only have to go downhill, the ground can be slippery at times.

What do you need to know about this special island?

Santorini (Greek: Σαντορίνη) is located in the southern part of the Cyclades archipelago, in the Aegean Sea. Its unique beauty is given by snow-white houses, blue domes, breathtaking sunsets and volcanic landscape. The island is world-famous for its romantic atmosphere and historical secrets.

The island has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. The most important ancient settlement is Akrotiri , often called the “Pompeii of the Aegean”. It was an advanced Minoan city that was buried by a volcanic eruption around 1600 BC. According to some theories, this city was the inspiration for the Atlantis legends.

The oldest of the settlements still visible today is Thera, which was built in the eastern part of the island and founded by the Dorians in the 9th century BC.

The island got its name from the Venetian conquerors, who captured it in 1207 and named it Santorini after Santa Irene.

From 1579 it became part of the Ottoman Empire, and only from 1830 did it belong to Greece.

Santorini lies on the rim of a volcanic caldera. The island was formed after a massive volcanic eruption (the Thera eruption) that occurred about 3,600 years ago, one of the largest known volcanic eruptions in history.

This resulted in the formation of the caldera, a huge, water-filled crater, on the rim of which the main settlements (e.g. Fira, Oia) are located.

Due to its volcanic origin, Santorini's beaches are not the classic golden sand type, but rather boast special colors: you will find black, red, and white sand beaches here.

What to see in Santorini?

Santorini attractions

The island's capital, Fira (Thira), is built on the edge of the caldera. It is characterized by narrow streets, characteristic whitewashed houses, and restaurants with great panoramic views.

Oia is the most famous village on Santorini, and most of the pictures you see on social media are taken here. It is famous for one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. The ruins of the castle are perhaps the best place to admire this natural phenomenon.

If you are interested in archaeology and history, you can also visit the archaeological site of Akrotiri, where you can see the frescoes of the streets, canal system and houses in the excavated Minoan settlement.

You can also see the ruins of ancient Thera, where you can see the ruins of a theater, residential buildings, and temples.

Most beautiful beaches in Santorini

The red beach, where the sand is really dark red, the black sand of Perissa and Kamari, and the white beach, which can only be reached by boat.

Pyrgos is also worth adding to the list, it is a mountain village with an authentic atmosphere and far fewer tourists.

Santorini is also famous for its local wine, a special grape variety is grown on the volcanic soil. Several wineries can be visited, such as: Santo Wines, Venetsanos Winery .

Santorini is a unique place in the world where history, geological features and natural beauty come together in harmony. Santorini's attractions: the volcanic landscape, historic ruined cities and stunning sunsets all contribute to making the island one of the most popular travel destinations in the world - whether it's a romantic trip, a journey of discovery for history seekers or simply a special vacation.

The downside is that it is usually crowded, and I also didn't like the fact that there are still tourists who, arriving by cruise ship, are too lazy to walk up to the town or wait for the cable car and go up on donkeys, which is simply animal cruelty. In this case, in my opinion, the one who ensures the demand is to blame, because if no one wanted to use this service, the supply would also disappear over time. When you see how the poor animals suffer, carrying the - often overweight - tourists up the mountain all day without a break, you immediately understand why I wrote all this.