Travel Guide Santorini
The star of the Greek islands and one of the most beautiful islands in the world, quite simply. Recomposed 3,500 years ago by a gigantic volcanic eruption that would have given birth to the ancient myth of Atlantis, Santorini unveils its charms every year to more than a million and a half tourists, all of it 200 km from the Greek mainland in the Aegean Sea. The largest island of the Cyclades, the beauty knows how to dazzle its visitors as soon as they arrive with the dizzying palette of colors of its rocks on which have grown a string of white houses with windows and blue domes. The archipelago offers few places to swim except the charming Red beach but fascinating white towns and villages like Fira (or Thera), Oia and Imerovigli and miles of paths to walk along the coast with your tourist guide. Santorini and its four small neighbors can be explored by boat to observe the active and sulfurous volcano of the archipelago, to visit the sunken city of Akrotiri, the Greek Pompeii, and to bathe in the hot springs of the surroundings.
What to visit Santorini?
Suggested addresses Santorini
When to go to Santorini?
Of course, it is hottest in summer, but if you have the choice, avoid August when the sites and hotels are crowded with Greek tourists, in addition to international visitors. The best time to go to Santorini is the first half of July and between Easter and the end of June: the weather is mild and the sites are not yet crowded, while transportation is already organized for the summer season. In addition, hotel prices are not yet those of the high season. In winter, most hotels and restaurants close, except of course in the cities. If you go to Santorini at the end of April during the Orthodox Easter, you will be able to attend a great popular and warm festival for about ten days. But it comes at a price, too: prices increase by 9% everywhere because of a religious tax.
Weather at the moment
The climate is very hot in July and August and pleasant from May until October. After that, the weather in Santorini becomes less mild and the rain starts to fall. It is important to know that the climate of the islands allows you to discover them in much calmer and serene periods, that is to say in the months of May, June and September.
Both Santorini and Greece are part of the euro zone. In tourist places, it is to be expected that prices will be high, more expensive than elsewhere in Greece and than in most Cycladic islands. On the other hand, some villages are not yet too affected by tourism, and prices remain accessible and are slightly lower than the island average. Theoretically, the service is included in the bill. It is customary to leave 5 to 10 %.
For European Union citizens, an identity card or passport is sufficient. For unaccompanied minors, an authorization to leave the country is required (forms can be obtained at the town hall or police station). No visa is required for Canadian nationals if their stay is less than three months. For Swiss nationals, a valid identity card or passport is required.
The Greek islands, like Greece, do not present any major health risks. Tap water is drinkable and hygiene is equivalent to France. No vaccination is recommended before leaving. However, beware of mosquito bites, ticks when camping and especially sunburn.
Practical information
- When to travel?
- Weather forecast
- Budget
- Formalities
- Health
- How to travel by yourself?
- How to get organized?
- Getting around
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How to go to Santorini? Our advice & tips
The agencies offer all types of services on site: excursions, visits to archaeological sites, diving, luxury villa rentals, hotels, cruises, hiking, wine tasting and local products. Stays in Santorini are often offered as a package with other islands of the Cyclades.
Discover our selection of travel agencies for this destinationThere are direct flights to Santorini during the high season, from May to October. The rest of the year, you will have to make a short stopover in Athens. It is of course possible - and recommended - to come by ferry, from the mainland (Piraeus, Rafina), Crete or the other islands of the Cyclades, because the arrival on the island by sea is unforgettable.
You can travel from island to island by boat and you can travel on land in Santorini by bus, car or rental scooter. The bus network is centralized in Fira. The car is one of the most efficient means of transportation to discover the islands. However, we recommend you to be very careful when driving, as the Greeks are very inventive when it comes to interpreting the traffic rules.
