Tourist guide to the Greek Island of Santorini
Santorini is a small island located in the southern part of the Cyclades, but it is surely one of the most interesting ones. Santorini is different from other Greek islands due to its geological morphology resulting from the activity of a volcano, inactive today. The archipelago is made up of five smaller islands. Fira is the capital of the island. There the landscape seems to be surreal: houses look like they are floating, like being suspended between heaven and earth.
Today we are going to present you a short tourist guide to the Greek Island of Santorini including the main settlements and tourist attractions.
Settlements and interesting tourist attractions
The old town of Thira is situated on a coastal hill between the beaches of Perissa and Kamari. A lot of relics found in the ancient castle of Thira can be seen at the Prehistoric Museum of Thira. You will also find here an old church dating from 1100.
Akrotiri is an ancient underground town in Santorini preserved by volcanic ash and called the “Pompeii of the Greek Islands”. The ruins were perfectly preserved, the stairs, streets, buildings being still visible.
Caldeira is the volcano crater sunk more than 3,500 years ago and also one of the most impressing attractions worldwide. Steep cliffs painted in amazing colors contrasting with the beautiful villages built on top of them.
The most beautiful beaches of Santorini
With large beaches and vegetation Kamari is an important point of the island, an attraction for tourists worldwide. The black Kamari Beach is situated on the Eastern coast of the island. You will find here a lot of pubs and restaurants as well as hotels, shops with souvenirs. Water sports lovers can practice here windsurfing and water skiing. The Monolithos Beach is located north of the Kamari beach. It is an ideal place for tourists in search of tranquility and relaxation.
One of the most popular beaches in the Island of Santorini is the Perissa Beach, is a place of unique beauty where you can practice various water sports. In the region of Perivolos, the Vlihada Beach is the ideal location for travelers who want to avoid the crowds.
Sport activities in Santorini
The villages of Kamari and Karteradio in Santorini offer tennis lessons. At Perissa you can practice mini-golf or roller-skating. At Fira and Kamari the volleyball and basketball courts are awaiting tourists. In most of the places on the island visitors can ride a bike. Horse riding is another activity possible in Santorini, tourists can take a walk choosing a horse from the stables of Ravani near Exo Gonia. Even a ride on the back of a donkey seems to be a pretty popular attraction for many tourists.
Nightlife and Music Festival
Nightlife in Santorini is pretty active, most bars and clubs are located in Fira, Kamari and Perissa. Among the most popular clubs are: Koo, Tithora, Tropical Tango, Dom or Taboo.
At the end of August, beginning of September you can attend the International Music Festival which will delight with plenty of artistic activities.