I have recently returned from a fantastic holiday in the beautiful Santorini. I visited in July which is peak time for Santorini and I would strongly recommend travelling from May – September for the best weather.
I chose to stay in Kamari beach for my holiday as you will find it does work out cheaper than Oia & Thira and it is still very pretty with a long volcanic beach and views of the mountains in the distance.
When you arrive at the airport I strongly recommend having a transfer booked as it is a lot cheaper than getting a taxi on arrival. The airport is located about a 15/20 minutes from Kamari and you can see the planes flying low over the beach.
In Santorini the local buses are the main transport to take you to all the different towns. The buses come every 20 minutes and are fully air coned coaches which only cost 1.80 euro for each journey. Taxis are very expensive in Santorini and it wouldn’t be recommended as they can be unreliable.
A boat trip is a much whilst in Santorini and I would recommend taking one which includes a trip to the Volcano, a swim in the hot springs and a visit to Thirasia. The volcano trip includes a hike to the top with amazing views of all the islands. Thirasia is a beautiful small island and is very traditional with no motor vehicles and a tiny population of 260 inhabitants, some people refer to Thirasia as the old Santorini before all the tourism. (Photos below)
Top Tips
- If you want the best views in Santorini but don’t want to pay too much look at staying in Imerovigli – 1.2 miles from Thira, boosts stunning views at a lower price – recommendation hotel is the Grace Hotel
- Not suited for anyone with walking difficulties
- Use local buses or rent a car instead of Taxi’s
- Visit Oia for the Sunset
- Hike from Thira to Oia
- Take a Sunset or Volcano Cruise
- Take a Wine Tour
- Thirasia Island is a must do
- Take a cable car from Thira
- Take a trip to the old traditional Capital Pyrgos
Kamari
Kamari beach is excellent for family’s and couples as it offers a long strip of restaurants, Tavernas, bars. Kamari is an upmarket town on Santorini’s east coast with a relaxed sophisticated feel yet still has the old school Greek charm. Whilst in Kamari I recommend sunbathing on the volcanic beach, tucking into the Meze at a seafront taverna and have a dance at one of the beach bars. Kamari is one of the cheapest places to stay in Santorini and I would recommend staying here as you can have a relaxing beach holiday but easily reach all of Santorini’s attractions. The hotels I would recommend in Kamari Beach are:
4* - Aegean Plaza, Bellonias Villas
3* Kings Suites Kamari
Thira
Thira is the capital of Santorini and gets very popular in the main season with couples & friends. Thira is the destination you want to stay if you want a busier town with plenty of bars and restaurants. This town is beautiful with whitewashed houses and blue domes, museums, cathedrals and galleries to explore.
When in Thira I strongly recommend you take a cable car to the port, watch the sunset from a cliff side restaurant and most of all take a boat trip to the volcanic islands. Due to the location it is most expensive to stay in Thira, however if you stay on the outskirts you can get some cheaper accommodation.
Oia
Oia is one of the most beautiful places in the world with its breathtaking sunsets and pretty cobbled streets with white houses and blue domed churches. Oia is built onto the steep slopes of the caldera at the Islands northern tip, which means it’s the best place to watch the Santorini sunset. Oia has fewer crowds then the rest of the island with its small-town feel, however between 6-8 the main street gets very busy for the sunset. Eating in Oia can be very pricey however if you are looking for a very affordable restaurant with views of the sunset look no further than the Elinikon Traditional Restaurant (photos below). Accommodation is very expensive in Oia but if you are travelling for a special occasion I would definitely recommend it.
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