Santorini guide

When to visit Santorini 

The most popular season for visiting Santorini is the period between the months of April-November. Since it is one of the most well-known Greek islands, Santorini in summer is filled with tourists deriving from all over the world. So this is your chance to be part of a multicultural rendezvous! The period from October to April is by far a more quiet time to travel to Santorini, but you miss all the fun, plus many places are closed.

How to pack for Santorini

Santorini has a semi-arid climate with hot and dry weather. So, we recommend that you pack many t-shirts and comfortable clothing to feel the air penetrating your body, so that the wind can dance with your clothes making you feel like a movie star! Of course swimwear is needed if you plan on exploring Santorini’s beaches. Flip flops and sneakers will be your companion at the beach or when exploring the grounds of the island. An excellent choice when traveling is Merino wool clothing items. Merino wool is soft, comfortable, it has natural antimicrobial properties and can dry very quickly! Also, a light jacket or sweater will be perfect for your night strolls! Last but not least, sunscreen and a hat are the two essentials you will definitely need!
The island life is meant to make you feel free, so when making your suitcase have in mind that less is more!

Local cuisine

As you would typically expect from a Greek island, Santorini serves delicious local grilled seafood and dry white wine made from a specific local variety of grapes, the Assyrtiko grapes.
The island is filled with tavernas, so you can enjoy the mediterranean cuisine all over Santorini!

The most famous local dishes that you should taste are:

Fava, is a yellow split of bean purée. This creamy dish is served warm with olive oil and lemon.

Apochti, is pork loin which is being salted and placed in vinegar before being air-dried. Then, the meat is rubbed with pepper and cinnamon. It is used in many recipes and it is a must!

Ntomatokeftedes, are fritters made of tomatoes, onion, pepper, mint, oregano and flour, all fried in hot oil.

White eggplant, a rare vegetable growing on the island because of its volcanic soil. It has a sweet taste and it is an ingredient of many dishes.

Chlorotyri, a local white cheese made from goat’s milk and it is produced in limited quantities.

Skordomakaronada, thick spaghetti with browned garlic.

Sfoungato, a kind of omelet with courgettes, potatoes and tomatoes fried in olive oil. A Santorini classic.
Of course to truly experience the island and Greek culture, we recommend to order various small dishes and share with your company. Most appetizers, or “meze” as it’s called in Greece, are combinations of meat and vegetables and vary throughout the different regions of Greece.
Ask in any taverna for their “meze” and get ready to be amazed!

Where to eat and drink in Santorini   

You will find numerous places to eat in Santorini. Local taverns with traditional treats, terrace restaurants with extremely beautiful views and seaside restaurants gazing at the everyday life of the island with people passing by. Except of the local mediterranean cuisine that you should definitely taste, there are also other cuisines. You can find italian pasta, pizza, chinese, sushi and greek street food such as gyros. So, everyday can be a gastronomic wandering!

All taverns and restaurants serve drinks, so you can enjoy alcohol along with every meal. If you desire alcohol earlier in the day, keep in mind that all beach bars serve it by the sea. Such an excellent combination - sea and drinks. Furthermore, you can enjoy delicious cocktails at bars at the evening.

Some of the most popular restaurants are:

Restaurants

Oia: Lauda, Sphinx

Imerovigli: Ovac, La Maison, The Athenian House

Pyrgos: Selene, Cava Alta

Exo gonia: Aroma Avlis

Perivolos-Agios Georgios: Forty one, Sea Side

Taverns

Ammoudi: Sunset, Ammoudi

Exo gonia: Metaxy mas

Perivolos: Popey

Perissa: Frantzeskos

Vlychada: To Psaraki

Bars

Oia: Sphinx, Oia vineyard

Imerovigli: Buddha Bar

Fira: Tango  

Beach Bar-Restaurants

41 Forty One

Sea side

Tranquilo

Wet stories

Theros

Akron 

Santorini for vegans 

In Santorini you can find many vegan cafés, bars and restaurants. There is a great variety starting from street food and scaling up to expensive restaurants that offer vegan choices as well as gluten free options. Of course, there is always the most convenient and closest to you option...to enjoy our hotel’ s vegan options at Santorini Heights.

For special requests contact us at info@santoriniheights.com

Where to go dancing in Santorini 

Nightlife is mainly located in Thira. Clubs are open till early in the next morning, so you can party non-stop all night long!

Enigna Club has amazing cocktails, dance music and a dancefloor. What else do you need? Highly recommended for clubbers.

Koo Club is located in the center of Thira, where you can drink and dance under the stars. Enjoy the night sky with good music!

Mamounia is a club where you can enjoy greek music and party the ‘’greek’’ way. So, if you want to experience a Greek night out, then this is the place to go.

But except from clubbing, there are several bars that you could have nice drinks, cocktails and great music. So, explore all your options! Begin your night journey at a bar and later on, after 23:00, relocate to a club!

Shopping in Santorini 

As one of the cosmopolitan islands in Greece, Santorini has a plethora of shopping options to offer. The shops, ranging from clothing apparel to shoes, jewelry, and books, are located in Fira (Thira) and Oia, and you should combine your retail sessions with a stop at one of the many terraces offering a splendid view over the blue sea.

Nevertheless, there are several shops throughout the island (some more touristy than others) that illustrate the local culture such as pottery art, sculpture, galleries, jewelry and traditional products (wines, olive oil, olives).

Shopping at Fira:

Fira is the central market of the island, with its crowded alleys being full of shops that satisfy even the most fastidious tastes. There, you will find the “gold” street, or as the real name is Ypapantis street, that is considered one of the biggest gold markets in Greece. In the shops of gold street you will find the latest design jewelry collections of famous Greek and foreign houses, and you will come up with ideas for presents both for yourself and for your beloved ones. You will also find many shops with handmade jewelry made of silver and other precious materials, in definitely more budget prices.

In every shopping street of the island’s capital, the latest trends of international fashion as far as clothes, shoes and accessories is concerned, coming from great fashion houses are offered. In the center of Fira there is also a big cosmetics store offering a wide variety of perfumes and sun creams. The artistic aspect of the island can be seen in Fira as well as the rest of the island, where there are plenty of stores and galleries that house work of art by wonderful artists.

The market of Oia is equally important. In the picturesque little shops of the village you may also find clothing from a variety of labels, styles, and designers, souvenirs and objects and works of art coming from different cultures.

In Kamari, you will find clothing, accessories, gifts and souvenirs of all kinds. Souvenirs, which will remind you of your holiday, can be found in shops all over the island.

It would be an omission not to mention the art-loving side of Santorini’s market, since all around the island, there are numerous shops that have great works of art; you won’t be indifferent to these.

Shopping at Oia:

Besides being one of the most photographed destinations on Santorini, Oia is also one of the best spots to shop: it has a multitude of boutiques on its labyrinthine streets,  Besides being one of the most photographed destinations on Santorini, Oia is also one of the best spots to shop: it has a multitude of boutiques on its labyrinthine streets,  many offering high quality leather goods, arts and crafts, authentic produce, spices, ethnic souvenirs, jewelry, embroidery, rugs, and textiles.

For beautiful creations made of glass, reflecting the Cycladic art, visit Replica, a shop specializing in Hellenic art. All objects in their store are handmade and unique. They offer frescoes in any size, reproductions of vases from the middle Mnemossyne GalleryArchaic period (ca. 580-535 B.C.) to the early classical period (ca. 470 B.C.), Sgrafito ceramics, masks, and a unique collection of handmade glass. You can also order your favorite objects directly on their website.

Mnemossyne Gallery on Ploiarhon Street sells Greek jewelry handmade by local artists. They also have a unique collection of fine art photography by photographers such as Pavlina Mavropoulou, Andrea Motta, Elena Dika-Kaprissi, and others.

Another good store offering handmade jewelry is Athens Protasis. This, however, is a chain, with stores in many other Greek destinations. Still, everything they offer is handmade, designed, and manufactured in Greece.many offering high quality leather goods, arts and crafts, authentic produce, spices, ethnic souvenirs, jewelry, embroidery, rugs, and textiles.

For beautiful creations made of glass, reflecting the Cycladic art, visit Replica, a shop specializing in Hellenic art. All objects in their store are handmade and unique. They offer frescoes in any size, reproductions of vases from the middle Mnemossyne GalleryArchaic period (ca. 580-535 B.C.) to the early classical period (ca. 470 B.C.), Sgrafito ceramics, masks, and a unique collection of handmade glass. You can also order your favorite objects directly on their website.

Eponymo is the largest shop in Santorini that carries gold and silver jewelry from famous local artists. You will find also original mosaics, oil paintings, antiques, silver items, replicas of ancient Greek ceramics, hand painted wood objects, mirrors, and much more.

Poniros is another must-visit for outstanding jewelry design. Yiorgos and Fotis Poniros conquered the Vatican with their unique and award worthy designs. Yiorgos’s Akrotiri Collection is outstanding. The artist decorated his pieces with white and black diamonds, inspired by his great respect and love for the art and the Greek civilization. “The Jewellery Studio” by Poniros in Oia houses signature jewelry designs of the artisan, which are inspired by the beauty and tradition of Santorini.

For gifts and souvenirs, Nammidi Art Shop is a good choice. They also have a cute collection of paintings of Oia and other Santorini landmarks.

For handmade religious wood artifacts, Art Works Wood Carving is a must: here you can see the Mageiras brothers at work, carving crosses and other religious objects.

Epilekton is a great destination for antiques and vintage objects. They also have local art and souvenirs, but there are also treasures from all over the world on their shelves.

For trendy fashion, check out MOV&MAY, which is ideally found at the beginning of the main pedestrian street of Oia, near the Aghios Georgios church. They have all kinds of sun hats, sunglasses, bags, and fashion for him and her, in cheerful colors, perfect for exploring sunny Oia.

And finally, Atlantis Books offers an exclusive range of books, including their own “The Atlantis Books Guide to Santorini,” with general advice on best behavior on the island, suggested day-trip itineraries and how to make the most of any holiday in Santorini.

Quiet Vacations in Santorini

Atlantis books: A bookstore located at the basement of a house in Oia, it is an ideal place for bookworms!
Vineyards tours and wine tasting is an unprecedented exploration in local products!
Walking around the village of Pyrgos is a very beautiful activity, since it is a picturesque place to visit.
Tomato Industrial Museum is a flashback to the industrial side of Santorini, explaining the cultivation, processing and production of tomato paste.( https://goo.gl/maps/4mGLis3v4Xv )
The Ifaisteia Festival (August)
International Music Festival of Santorini

Santorini for adventurers

Santorini is an ideal destination for those seeking adventure! So here are some tips that you could follow:

If you’re an explorer, then the 2 ½  to 3 hours hike of the trail between Oia and Fira is meant for you. You can find more information here
Monolithos beach is the place to go if you want to try out kitesurfing.
Scuba diving that can be combined with sailing tour is the ultimate summerous experience. If you get nauseous though you better stay ashore!
Hiking Skaros rock is another activity for your adventurous character! There you will find the small chapel of Saint John as well as an amazing gaze of the infinite blue.
If you like fishing, then  the Santorini Fishing Tour is suitable for you! Experience the adventure on a traditional fishing boat! So, break a leg and catch a fish!

The island in the middle of the caldera is Nea Kameni, where is the Santorini’s active volcano. The crater is 130 meters up and takes about 20 minutes to walk to. It is the best choice for you, explorers! You can reach Nea Kameni island only by sea, so why not rent a jet ski to get there?

Wineries of Santorini

When visiting Santorini, the wineries are a must as they offer a unique tasting experience. Here you can find a list of the wineries as well as their exact location on Google Maps:

Santo Wines Winery: https://goo.gl/maps/jqF9cyTKcyk

Venetsanos Winery : https://goo.gl/maps/Yu7Ee3SZGdM2

Domaine Sigalas: https://goo.gl/maps/am77skspCVC2

Boutari Winery : https://goo.gl/maps/cS1dzhMfpmQ2

Hatzidakis Winery: https://goo.gl/maps/W6sGP33XRk72

ArtSpace Winery: https://goo.gl/maps/wKqVeNjFH8L2

Gavalas George: https://goo.gl/maps/zERVVb82oaK2

Ktima J. & M. Argyros O.E: https://goo.gl/maps/RXyBm6fBU332

Hermes S.A: https://goo.gl/maps/mvmYKAWw8HT2

Vassaltis Vineyards: https://goo.gl/maps/wvQ1bJQtucT2

Sights and Museums of Santorini

The island of Santorini was devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC, which formed its rugged landscape with the current geological caldera. It exhibits a wealthy cultural heritage, showcasing the influence of the Minoan civilization.

The Museum of Prehistoric Thira (https://goo.gl/maps/epn9jAJssi22)
The Maritime Museum at Oia (https://goo.gl/maps/beKYiGrwxeo)
Tomato Industrial Museum (https://goo.gl/maps/79HUReu1JWS2) where you explore the journey of tomato through cultivation, processing and production of tomato paste.
Santorini’s Vineyards are a must! Visit them and have a unique wine tasting experience.
Santorini’s Volcano (https://goo.gl/maps/US2Twrecb3F2) which it can be reached only by sea.
Akrotiri’s Lighthouse (https://goo.gl/maps/eQ7Ws9h3Dsx) which has a magical view.
Take Santorini’s Cable Car (https://goo.gl/maps/3ARAi7WFhNz) from Old Port to Fira.
Prophet Elias Monastery (https://goo.gl/maps/MP1DhongARt)  was built in 1712, at 565 meters above the sea.
Three Bells of Fira (https://goo.gl/maps/NiPGMpKJHBx) is the most photographed church in Santorini.

Where to take the best photos in Santorini

Santorini is globally known for its breathtaking sunsets, the cycladic architecture and its volcano! The island is the ultimate place to take epic photos for your Instagram profile! So, we will unveil to you the best spots for the best shots!

In Oia castle you will enjoy the best view of the sunset and you will take the most impressive photos. In addition, the Oia cliffside is a marvellous spot as its background consists of pittoresque pastel buildings.
Red Beach with its famous red and black volcanic pebbles is definitely a place that you need to visit and photograph! Nearby are also Black Beach and White Beach (Vlychada), so take photos to every different landscape!
Ammoudi Bay is a small and very beautiful port, ideal for capturing the everyday life of the locals and its crystal clear waters! 
The Blue Dome Churches of Oia dominate in each postcard from Santorini, so why don’t you  create your own?
The Church Bells in Fira Town that overlook the caldera is a shot that you should not miss.

You will find out that every corner of the island is an excellent candidate spot for your next best photo! So, capture the island’s magic and share your experience!