Santorini, the island of whitewashed towns and sunsets

It’s no wonder why Santorini makes it on many people’s bucket list. It sure did on mine. The panoramic view of white washed buildings, nestled on an island surrounded by dazzling turquoise water. I had to see this beauty for myself.

We stayed in Santorini for about a week and here is how our experience went. Keep reading..

Main activities we participated on this island were eating, drinking, and walking the caldera edge. A few others activities included naps on the beach, shopping in boutiques, talking to locals, riding quads, watching stunning sunsets, and more eating, of course.

A few of the beaches we visited were Kamari Beach, Perissa Beach, and Ammoudi Bay. Santorini is not known for it’s beaches, it’s known for the caldera and white washed buildings. Their beaches are unique in their own way. They are composed of red, black, and white volcanic sand and pebbles.

Kamari Beach and Perissa Beach offer sun loungers for a small price or purchase of a meal/drink. Once you get one of those, it’s yours for the day.

Ammoudi Bay is a little more interesting. We climbed down 214 steps from the Oia castle to see what the rave was all about. We also grabbed lunch at one of the most freshest seafood restaurants on the island (Dimitris Ammoudi Taverna).

It’s a surreal, charming harbor (not a beach). There’s a narrow, 5 minute trail on the left side that takes you to a swimming spot. It’s not a secret to most people on the island. In fact, it’s pretty well known and you’ll see a good handful of people there jumping from the rocks into the crystal clear water.

One of the activities we booked was a catamaran cruise that took us from one side of the island to the other with multiple stops, lunch, drinks, and a sunset view. One stop in particular was next to a volcano. The water, surprisingly, was murky and smelled like sulfur. A few people didn’t mind and proceeded to take a dip.

Above is the town Fira, seen from the catamaran boat. (Also, a cruise ship)

The boutique hotel we stayed at was Belvedere Suites. I gotta tell you, it was worth every penny. A hotel near the caldera buildings is a must. We had breakfast with a view every morning. It didn’t feel real, especially since I had just rolled out of bed 5 minutes beforehand.

Breakfast included a real Greek yoghurt, parfait with seasonal fruit, croissants, spinach and cheese pies, fresh juice and cappuccinos every morning.

Meals throughout the day included street gyros, calamari, pita and tzatziki, fried feta and honey, fresh seafood, and a lot of Greek salads.

Thalami is a spectacular Greek restaurant with a sunset view. This recommendation came from a friend (Tanya Gavrilyuk) who visited the island in the past.