🌍 Country: Greece🗺️ Region: Southern Europe / Aegean🗓️ Best Time: May – October🗣️ Language: Greek💱 Currency: Euro (EUR)
✦ Did You Know?
Santorini is actually the rim of an ancient volcanic caldera — one of the world’s largest. The catastrophic volcanic eruption around 1600 BC may have contributed to the decline of the Minoan civilization. The island’s iconic white-and-blue architecture was mandated in the 1930s as part of a national Greek standard, making the entire island a UNESCO-protected settlement.
Where to Eat in Santorini
Fine Dining
Metaxy Mas
Exo Gonia Village, Santorini
A beloved local taverna known for authentic Santorinian cuisine — fresh octopus, tomato keftedes (fritters made from local cherry tomatoes), fava dip, and grilled fish with spectacular caldera views.
💡 Try the local white Assyrtiko wine — grown in volcanic ash soil, it’s crisp and mineral-forward, unique to Santorini.
Seafood
Dimitris Ammoudi Taverna
Ammoudi Bay, Oia
Perched right on the water at Ammoudi Bay below Oia, this seafood taverna serves the freshest grilled lobster, octopus, and sea bream straight from the fishermen’s boats. Arrive by boat or hike down the steep steps for the full experience.
💡 Go at lunchtime when fresh fish is most plentiful — evenings fill up fast with sunset chasers.
Fine Dining
Lauda Restaurant
Oia, Santorini
Founded in 1971 as Oia’s very first restaurant, Lauda is perched on the caldera’s northern edge and remains one of Santorini’s most celebrated fine dining experiences — renowned for its breathtaking sea views, luxurious ambiance, and refined Mediterranean and seafood cuisine.
💡 Opt for the multi-course tasting menu for beautifully presented, perfectly balanced dishes — a true culinary journey from start to finish.
Must-See
Oia Sunset at the Castle
Oia Village, Northern Santorini
One of the most famous sunsets in the world. Gather at the Byzantine Castle ruins in Oia for a panoramic view of the caldera turning shades of gold, pink, and purple as the sun dips below the horizon.
💡 Arrive 1.5 hours before sunset to secure a good viewing spot — it gets very crowded in peak season.
Water Activity
Caldera Sailing & Hot Springs
Fira Port, Santorini
Sail into the volcanic caldera and swim in the geothermal hot springs of Palea Kameni. Most tours include snorkeling stops at stunning sea caves, a swim at the Red Beach, and a sunset cruise back to Oia.
💡 The hot springs have sulfurous water — wear an old swimsuit as it can stain light fabrics.
Historic Site
Akrotiri Archaeological Site
Akrotiri Village, South Santorini
A remarkably preserved Minoan Bronze Age settlement buried by the 1600 BC volcanic eruption. Often called the “Pompeii of the Aegean,” its multi-story buildings, frescoes, and artifacts are beautifully displayed under a protective roof.
💡 Hire a local guide — the history behind each room makes the site come alive in ways the signs alone cannot.
Tours & Experiences
Wine Tour
Volcanic Vineyard Wine Tour
Santo Wines, Pyrgos
Santorini’s volcanic soil produces some of Greece’s most distinctive wines. Visit the island’s oldest wineries, learn about the unique basket-trained vines, and taste Assyrtiko, Nykteri, and Vinsanto wines paired with local cheese and cured meats.
💡 Book New Way Travel Corp’s private wine tour with a dedicated sommelier guide for the ultimate experience.
Beach Hopping
Black, Red & White Beach Tour
Southern Santorini Coast
Santorini’s volcanic beaches are unlike anywhere else on earth. A half-day tour visits Perissa (black sand), Akrotiri’s Red Beach (dramatic crimson cliffs), and the secluded White Beach accessible only by boat or sea kayak.
💡 Red Beach has loose rocks — wear water shoes for comfortable entry and exit from the water.
Culinary Class
Traditional Greek Cooking Class
Imerovigli, Santorini
Learn to prepare authentic Santorinian dishes from a local chef in a caldera-view kitchen. The class covers fresh tomato keftedes, grilled fish with lemon oil, fava dip, and loukoumades with thyme honey.
💡 Small group classes (max 8 people) book out weeks in advance in summer — reserve early with New Way Travel Corp.
Where to Stay in Santorini
Luxury Cave Hotel
Canaves Oia Epitome
Oia, Santorini
Carved into the caldera cliff face, this ultra-luxury property offers private infinity pools, butler service, and some of the most dramatic views in the Mediterranean. A collection of suites that blend Cycladic architecture with contemporary elegance.
💡 Book the villa with a private heated infinity pool facing the caldera — an absolute bucket-list experience.
Boutique
Ikies Traditional Houses
Oia, Santorini
A charming collection of traditional Cycladic cave-style suites with private terraces, plunge pools, and breathtaking caldera views. Intimate, romantic, and attentively staffed — perfect for honeymoons and special celebrations.
💡 Ask for a room on the upper level — an extra few steps rewards you with 270-degree caldera panoramas.
Mid-Range
Heliotopos Hotel
Imerovigli, Santorini
Located in the quieter Imerovigli village — the highest point of the caldera rim — Heliotopos offers genuine caldera views at more affordable prices than Oia, with a beautiful pool terrace and excellent buffet breakfast.
💡 Imerovigli is walkable to both Fira and Oia via the scenic caldera path — ideal base for exploring.
Insider Tips for Santorini
Rent an ATV (quad bike) rather than relying on buses — the island is hilly, buses run infrequently, and an ATV lets you explore hidden beaches and villages at your own pace.
The caldera-view hotels in Oia and Imerovigli are stunning but expensive — if you’re on a tighter budget, stay in Fira or Firostefani and take the scenic caldera walk to Oia (45 minutes on foot, incredibly beautiful).
Book sunset viewing spots in Oia very early if traveling in July–August — the famous castle area can hold 2,000+ people and gets dangerously crowded. Alternatively, watch from your hotel terrace with a glass of wine.
Try local Santorinian products: fava (split-pea puree), sun-dried cherry tomatoes, white eggplant, caper leaves, and the distinctive Vinsanto dessert wine. These are unique to the island’s volcanic microclimate.
Ferries from Athens (Piraeus port) take 5–8 hours but are scenic and affordable. The fast ferry takes 4.5 hours. Flying from Athens is just 45 minutes — worth it in peak summer when seas can be rough.
The peak summer crowds (July–August) are real — consider visiting in May, June, September, or October for better prices, mild weather, and far fewer tourists while still enjoying beautiful weather.
Santorini is very romantic but also family-friendly — the caldera-facing areas have steep paths not suitable for strollers, but Perissa and Kamari on the east coast have flatter terrain and family-friendly beaches.
Contact New Way Travel Corp to plan your Santorini itinerary with private villa bookings, yacht charters, and exclusive restaurant reservations that you won’t find online.
