Santorini is one of the world’s most famous and beloved holiday destinations that is at the top of a lot of bucket lists and lists of desired vacation spots. Its endless blue skies, crystal clear waters, cute white-washed architecture, flowers, and famous sunsets have been captured and shared by countless visitors and continue to attract more looking for a slice of that romantic perfection offered by this incredible place. If you have found a villa in the South Aegean, make time to head to this beautiful island in Greece and see what all the hype is about for yourself. You’ll encounter crowds that you might not have imagined in idyllic daydreams about the place but we think you’ll still be pretty impressed. It is quite the sight to behold, after all.
One of the key destinations in Santorini is Oia, the island’s northernmost village. This is likely the place that you will see pictured in most images of the island that are featured in articles, guidebooks, social media posts, and television shows. It is an exceptionally photogenic town that is a maze of little shops, restaurants, cafés, other businesses, houses, and those iconic white churches topped by blue domes. A pedestrian town, it is famous for its sunsets, the amazing sweeping views over the rest of the island and the caldera from its position along a cliffside, the crowds gathered to take in those views, and the chic and expensive restaurants and little stores. It is synonymous with style and glamour and is the destination of choice on the island today, particularly among the rich and famous.
One of the key destinations in Santorini is Oia, the island’s northernmost village. This is likely the place that you will see pictured in most images of the island that are featured in articles, guidebooks, social media posts, and television shows. It is an exceptionally photogenic town that is a maze of little shops, restaurants, cafés, other businesses, houses, and those iconic white churches topped by blue domes. A pedestrian town, it is famous for its sunsets, the amazing sweeping views over the rest of the island and the caldera from its position along a cliffside, the crowds gathered to take in those views, and the chic and expensive restaurants and little stores. It is synonymous with style and glamour and is the destination of choice on the island today, particularly among the rich and famous.
While the most famous activity in town is to simply walk the length of the cliffside (it is the only settlement on the island that can boast a marble avenue crossing its whole length) and to take in the views and sunset from various points around the town, there is plenty to see and do. As noted before, the town caters to a well-to-do crowd and, therefore, there are some excellent restaurants to choose from. Restaurant 1800 is located in a beautifully restored 19th century mansion on the main street in Oia and is a Golden Chef’s Hat award winner that serves up incredible Santorini dishes using locally sourced ingredients, accompanied by an extensive wine list. Ambrosia, meanwhile, has a more unique menu to choose from and Ochre is famous for its sunset views to accompany your meal as well as hundreds of wines from all over the world to choose from. All around the little port of Amoudi there are lots of little local restaurants serving up excellent fresh seafood at somewhat more reasonable price points.
Those interested in shopping will find that most of the big designer labels are in town, again because of that subset of the visitors who are attracted to Oia, but there are also lots of smaller little gems to uncover as well. Among these little gems is the famous and beloved Atlantis Books; a passion project established in 2004 by two young American students, Craig Walzer and Oliver Wise, who fell in love with the island but were saddened when they ran out of reading materials in Oia within a week. Located in one of those iconic whitewashed buildings with a decorative mural of books haphazardly arranged on shelves on the exterior wall, it is stuffed floor to ceiling with books in English, as well as some in Greek, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Chinese. It is well curated and a beautiful place for bibliophiles to browse and, additionally, boasts a rooftop terrace with incredible views over the surrounding area. Another unique shopping experience is afforded by the Weaving Mill in town where you can still buy locally woven products as well as traditional canned and bottled agricultural products.
Those interested in shopping will find that most of the big designer labels are in town, again because of that subset of the visitors who are attracted to Oia, but there are also lots of smaller little gems to uncover as well. Among these little gems is the famous and beloved Atlantis Books; a passion project established in 2004 by two young American students, Craig Walzer and Oliver Wise, who fell in love with the island but were saddened when they ran out of reading materials in Oia within a week. Located in one of those iconic whitewashed buildings with a decorative mural of books haphazardly arranged on shelves on the exterior wall, it is stuffed floor to ceiling with books in English, as well as some in Greek, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Chinese. It is well curated and a beautiful place for bibliophiles to browse and, additionally, boasts a rooftop terrace with incredible views over the surrounding area. Another unique shopping experience is afforded by the Weaving Mill in town where you can still buy locally woven products as well as traditional canned and bottled agricultural products.
When it comes to culture and attractions, there are lots of interesting bits around town to check out. You can visit the Panagia Platsani Church (Virgin Mary Platsani), a cathedral in the main square of Oia that is filled with icons, including two that are miraculous icons of the Virgin Mary. You can head to the St. Nicolas Castle (Kastro), which is a ruin of what remains of a medieval castle perched high on a cliff and which is a famous spot to take in those famous Oia sunsets. There are also the Captains’ Houses, which are beautiful mansions in different colours decorated with red volcanic rock mostly found in the area of Sideri, in a flatter part of town, to be seen, as well as the famous Cave Houses. For something more unique, be sure to check out the Worlds’ Free Runners Championship that takes place in Oia in October and sees participants jump from building to building across town. You can also explore Ammoudi Bay with its iconic and pretty 214 stairs descending from the Castle (which are often seen being used by donkeys and mules) and its striking setting and richly coloured waters. If you’re interested in getting more active, you can head to Armeni Bay where you can (though not easily and one needs to be prepared with footwear appropriate to climbing over rocks and rocky surfaces) actually access the sea to go for a swim, a rarity in this clifftop town.
Not only is Oia a beauty, it has a lot more to offer visitors. If you have found a vacation rental in the South Aegean then come to the island and visit the town for her striking looks and stay to discover Oia’s many other charms. This heavenly part of Greece really is a must-see!
Not only is Oia a beauty, it has a lot more to offer visitors. If you have found a vacation rental in the South Aegean then come to the island and visit the town for her striking looks and stay to discover Oia’s many other charms. This heavenly part of Greece really is a must-see!