When thinking about visiting Greece, we all first imagine Santorini and its amazing views of the calderas. I mean did you ever watched The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants? For me, after watching that movie and seeing the amazing scenery I knew when planning my trip to Greece that Santorini would be one of my stops.
To get to Santorini you can either fly or get there by ferry. Since I was already in Greece, I took a ferry from Mykonos that took about 3 hours and it cost around $40 one way.
#LaMariaTravelsTip: if you get seasick easily I recommend flying since depending on how the ocean current is, the ferry can move a lot.
Where I stayed?
If you think Mykonos can be expensive think twice, because Santorini can be even more expensive. Therefore staying somewhere central and not so popular is key when on a budget. I opted out of staying in famous Oia and chose to stay in Fira since it was more affordable and the capital of Santorini.
I stayed at Anamnesis City Spa Hotel and paid an average of $121 a night (divided by two people was $60 a night) and it included breakfast. This hotel was pretty central and walking distance to Fira town which had many shops and restaurants.
#LaMariaTravelsTip: after booking your hotel you can contact them and arrange for them to pick you up at the port or airport. You won’t find any bus or train at the port so it is better you arrange your pick up beforehand. This way you already know how much you will get charged otherwise you will end up going with any person out there and probably paying double.
How to get around?
Just like Mykonos, it is easier to get around in Santorini if you have a car or scooter/4-wheeler. I decided it is better to rent a car than a 4-wheeler since it was pretty windy and a little chilly. The cost difference was not that big so I opted for a small smart car. It was about $30 a day which divided by two it was only $15 a day.
#LaMariaTravelsTip: There are buses to get around the island as their public transportation but to be honest the stops are not in every corner like another city in Europe. So if you can afford at least one day to rent a car, I would recommend it for convenience.
What did I do?
Day 1: On my first day I went to explore Fira town. I walked around the town shopped a little and ate lunch. The town has the view of the calderas so be ready to have amazing views. Also be aware of many stairs and uphills. I also was on the hunt to find the famous “Three Bells of
Fira”, which I did find and the views where amazing. To be honest, one thing that impressed me the most about Santorini was how everywhere you looked the views of the calderas were always breathtaking.
Day 2: On the second day I wanted to visit Oia and other parts of the island which is was going to be easier to get there by car, so I rented a car for the day. Also, I was there in April so it was still chilly and that day it was pretty windy so a car was a must in order to enjoy the day!
Our first stop was the “Red Beach” which is called red because it is made out of volcanic rocks. To get to the beach point you first need to park and then head to a mini trial which will take you to the beach. To be honest since it was chilly we only got to the beach walked a little and then head back. In summer months it must be nice to hang there and get in the water.
#LaMariaTravelsTip: right before getting to the trail there is a small blue and white house that is perfect for taking pictures for Instagram!
After the beach, I went straight to Oia which is at the northwest end of the island. Oia is the famous town where EVERYONE takes pictures and where all the movies take place! Once I got there, I parked the car and went exploring. Surprisingly finding parking was not that difficult and it was free. Just like Fira the town has many shops and restaurants with the view of the caldera.
#LaMariaTravelsTip: make sure you take comfortable shoes to walk around since there are many stairs and hills in Santorini.
For the sunset, there is a famous spot in town in which you have to get there early otherwise it will be PACKED. Once I saw the amount of people that where there we decided that we would see the sunset somewhere else. I hope one day I can go back and stay in Oia in a hotel with the view of the caldera so I can see the sunset from the comfort of my room.
Day 3: On my last full day in Santorini I decided that I wanted to do something different, also the weather was not cooperating. So I booked a trip to a volcano that was right in from of the island. It would be a trip in an old-style boat with a stop in a hot spring and then a hike to the volcano. The tour was around $20 so I thought it was worth it.
Fun fact: The boat departed from the old port which to get there you can “rent” a mule to take you down the caldera or go walking. If you walk it can take you 30 minutes down and most likely 45 minutes up since it is uphill.
Last but not least, to finish the trip on a high note I went to Santo Wines Winery. Imagine being at a winery with the view of the caldera plus watching the sun setting in front you while tasting wine. It was an amazing experience I will never forget and I cannot recommend it enough. Also, you do need to get a reservation before going and you can eat if you want to. They have an indoor and outdoor area and you can choose where to go. For the flight of wine, I paid around $40 and it included some charcuterie.
#LaMariaTravelsTip: right outside of the winery there is a bus stop which is pretty convenient if you are only using public transportation. My recommendation is to get a cab to be honest because the buses do not pass that often.
*Please note all of this information is pre-pandemic and most likely things currently are a little different but I want to give you an idea of how things will be/cost once life starts getting more normal. Also, all prices shared are based on low season (November through April).