Santorini Video Travel Guides

Greece


Great Videos and Photos of the Best Places and Things to see in Santorini Greece. For the independent traveller who is interested in seeing places while planning their next trip. Or for anyone who likes to be close to nature and see the quieter parts of the country or city

Visit the picturesque island of Santorini and the small white washed villages perched on the edge of a volcanic crater.

Best Places and Things to see in Santorini

Kamari

Kamari Beach is a popular destination for tour operators on Santorini Island. The beach is long, though pebbly, and the area has many bars, restaurants and tourist shops. See Kamari and the other Santorini Beaches.

Weather

Planning to visit Santorini, looking for the weather forecast ? Wil it be sunny all day long ? The BBC weather forecast is usually very good. Wondering what Santorini looks like in the sun, then see some of our Moving Postcards. BBS Weather is at :

Things to do

Santorini has a huge range of things to do -- from sunset gazing over the Caldera, to visiting the buried city at Akrotri, to taking a small boat to visit nearly inaccessible white and red beaches, to lazing on the beach at Perissa or strolling through the narrow streets along side donkeys in Oia. See more about Oia.

Things to do

Santorini has a huge range of things to do -- from sunset gazing over the Caldera, to visiting the buried city at Akrotri, to taking a small boat to visit nearly inaccessible white and red beaches, to lazing on the beach at Perissa or strolling through the narrow streets along side donkeys in Oia. See more about Oia.

Perissa Beach

Perissa Beach is one of the black sandy beaches on the south of the island of Santorini. There is a regular bus service from the town of Thira( Fira ) to the beach. See the Moving Postcards of Perissa and the other beaches.

Tourism

Greece Tourism is one of the major contributors to the economy. The Greek Islands attract hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. The contrasting natural beauty of the Cyclades islands have made them the most frequented islands in the Aegean. See Santorini Island on these pages.

Santorini Map

Looking for a map of Santorini. See our Santorini Google Map below with the best places to visit mark and links to some great photos and videos.

Where to go

Greece has a diverse range of attractions for the holiday visitors - from the ancient monuments of the Acropolis, to the buried city of Akrotiri, to the amazing Caldera of Santorini or the lazy beaches of Paros. See the best places to visit on these pages.

Where is

Santorini Island is one of the islands in the Cyclades group, in the Aegean Sea. It is about 6 hours from Athens by ferry ( there are slow ferries, fast ferries and direct ferries ) and about 50 minutes by air from Athens. To learn more about Santorini see our Moving Postcards on these pages.

San Torini

Looking for the Greek Island of Santorini ? See some of the amazing island in our Moving Postcards on these pages.





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Caldera

The Caldera (old volcanic crater) is a large and partly submerged. The main island of Santorini forms most of the eastern arc, with the islands of Therasia and Aspronisi forming the western arc, and the Kameni islands in the centre forming the sulphurous volcanic core.

Caldera View

Caldera View

Caldera

After a volcanic eruption on the island, a large caldera or cater 7x12 km was formed. With two openings to the sea, the water rushed in to fill the void.

The cliffs surrounding the caldera on which the towns of Fira and Oia perch are about 300 m high.

The two Nea ( New ) and Palea (old) Kameni Islands are at the center of the caldera.

Perched on the top of the 300 metre cliffs accessible until recently by series of steps the two white washed villages ( towns ) of Santorini and Oia, set against clear blue skies, are a major attraction for backpackers, families and cruise ships.

Crossing the Caldera

Crossing the Caldera

Caldera

Boat trips take visitors across the caldera to the volcano and onwards to the opposite island and town of Thirasia - which also forms part of the caldera wall.

Volcano

Volcano

Caldera

The volcano is quiet at the moment, though steam and carbon dioxide is periodically given off from the current active crater. The last eruption was in 1950 - which was followed by an earthquake in 1956. The current volcanic island Nea Kameni was formed by an eruption in 1707.


Further Reading on Wikipedia : Caldera

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The Old Port

The old port lies at the base of the cliff below Thira. Access is by a long series of winding steps or by cable car. Until fairly recently, the old old way from the port to the town was up hundreds of steps in the searing heat. Donkeys were used to cart both goods and passengers from the boats. Now there is a lift from the sea to the caldera top and the donkeys are solely used for tourist rides.

Old Port

Old Port

The Old Port

The old port is used today as a tour boat centre and ferry port to the large cruise ships that visit the island. Access to the town of Thira is via steps or the new cable car.

Mule Transport

Mule Transport

The Old Port

Mules have transported goods and people from the old port up the winding steps to Thira for centuries. Today there role is in ferrying tourists, though this activity may soon be banned as it is seen by Donkey loving societies to be cruel to the donkey, particularly in the heat of summer. When asked to comment the donkeys simply Hee Hawed.

Cable Car

Cable Car

The Old Port

The ship owner Evangelos Nomikos paid for the installation of the cable car and handed it over the communities on Santorini, who benefit from the cable cars profits. The traditional mule drivers are paid a % from the cable car tickets in order to help maintain their traditional way of life.


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Fira

Explore the town of Fira with it's white houses almost hanging of the caldera walls. The almost daily amazing sunsets from April to October attract droves of tourists to the bars, restaurants and pathways on the edge of the caldera during the hour or so before the sun sets into a distant low haze sky.

Evening Light

Evening Light

Fira

As evening falls over the island of Santorini, the cliffs, caldera and the town of Thira is covered in a warm yellow hue.

Is there a better place to enjoy a sunset than sitting on a wall looking over the port of Thira and seeing the sun sink below a distant horizon?

Some of the restaurants on the edge of the caldera need to booked well in advance, as tables can be at a premium during high season.

Fira

Fira

Fira

Sitting 400 metres above and on the edge of the caldera, the town of Fira, with it's white washed houses presents a picturesque view to first time visitors and regular travellers.

The town can be very busy on the days when cruise ships arrive so it is best to visit in the earlier part of the morning.

Thira is the transport hub for the rest of the island, with buses departing regularly from the bus station at the back of the town for Oia, Kamari and Perissa.

If booking accommodation near the edge of the caldera make sure you have arranged for the hotel to transport your bags and carry them through the small narrow streets, as the cobbled streets are a bit of a maze.

Sunset

Sunset

Fira

With so many clear days throughout the year and with it's westerly aspect, Fira attracts many visitors to watch the sun set over the caldera.

New Port

New Port

Fira

The new port of Athinios located near Pyrgos caters for ferries and commercial traffic. A zig zag road has been hewn out of the caldera walls to provide access for lorries, buses and other road traffic.


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Akrotiri and the Coloured Beaches

Visit the archaeological site of Akrotiri. The town of Akrotiri was covered by lava after a volcanic eruption in 1627 BC. You can visit the town today as archaeologist slowly unearth the past. Close by are the coloured beaches know locally as the Red, White and Black beaches.

Akrotiri

Akrotiri

Akrotiri and the Coloured Beaches

Akrotiri a Minoan Bronze age town was destroyed in the 1627 BC eruption and buried in volcanic ash and lava.

Excavations started on the site in 1967 and some well preserved frescoes - which have been removed to the museum in Fira and Athens were found along with tools, pottery and other household goods.

The site is covered by a roof to protect the ancient walls, though luckily the visitors are also shaded from the searing sun.

Excavations are continuous. The site is open to the public. The site is not far from Thira and very close to the coloured beaches. There is a regular bus from Thira.

Thira Museum

Thira Museum

Akrotiri and the Coloured Beaches

The Archaeological Museum of Thera houses a good collection of artefacts including reconstructions of the frescoed rooms found at Akrotiri. Other findings are held in the Athens museum, though the Thera Museum is well worth a visit.

Akrotiri Beach

Akrotiri Beach

Akrotiri and the Coloured Beaches

Just a very short walk from the archaeological site of Akrotiri is a small stony beach with a number of fine restaurants. A ferry boat makes regular trips from here to the Red, White and Black beaches. A car park at the western end of this beach allows one to reach the red beach on foot.

Red Beach

Red Beach

Akrotiri and the Coloured Beaches

The red beach with it's impressive red cliff backdrop can be reached on foot from a car park close to Akrotiri or by ferry boat. The ferry boat ride is quite spectacular.

White Beach

White Beach

Akrotiri and the Coloured Beaches

The white beach with it's white backing cliffs can only be reached by boat and passengers must disembark into the water and wade through the last few meters. So come prepared wearing swim wear.

Black Beach

Black Beach

Akrotiri and the Coloured Beaches

The black beach is the least impressive of the three beaches though is easily accessible by car or ferry boat.


Further Reading on Wikipedia : Akrotiri (Santorini)

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Oia

Oia is a scenic village in the north west popular with tourist particularly in the evening. Visitors flock to the village close to sunset and sit on the walls and stand on the small pathways looking towards the west/north west to see the sun set. While some sunsets are better than others, they are almost a daily occurrence.

Oia at Eevening

Oia at Eevening

Oia

The town of Oia is located on the north west of Santorini island, on the edge of the caldera. The town is about 90 metres above sea level.

The village is a popular place for tourist to visit in the evening as the sunsets in the Aegean. There is a regular bus service throughout the day from Thira. The evening bus prior to sunset can be very busy.

During the late 19th and early 20th century Oia was a thriving fishing port. Today its economy is mainly based on Tourism.

After the 1956 earthquake just off Oia, the population declined due to emigration, till only about 300 remained. With the development of tourism since the 1970s the population started to grow again and is currently over 3000.

Oia Town

Oia Town

Oia

The town of Oia is built into the caldera wall, traditional cycladic houses, white washed and blue domed churches, restaurants and bars seem to hug the contours of the cliff face, many of which are carved into the cliff rock face. Narrow maze like passageways weave their way through the town.

Oia Sunset

Oia Sunset

Oia

With it's white washed houses, blue domed churches, red rocked cliffs Oia is becomes even more stunning as the sun sinks in the Aegean sea.


Further Reading on Wikipedia : Oia Greece

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The Beaches

There are a number of beaches on the south and east of the island, Kamari and Perissa are the largest. Both are black pebbly beaches. The small red and white beaches are sandier.

Kamari Beach

Kamari Beach

The Beaches

Kamari a black pebbled beach is the longest beach on the island. The beach comes to an abrupt end at the base of Mesa Vouna mountain, Santorini's second highest mountain. The town has a thriving tourist business and provides accommodation, restaurants and bars.

Perissa

Perissa

The Beaches

Perissa beach is on the south side of Mount Vouna, here the sand is black though finer than at Kamari beach. The area has lots of accommodation, restaurants and bars.

There is a regular bus service from Thira to the beaches at Perissa. The bus stops at various places adjacent to the main accommodation centres.

The beach stretches along the southern end of Santorini for about 7km, the waters lapping the dark sand are crystal clear.

Some of the volcanic pebbles are slightly magnetic so you may notice them sticking to your sandal buckles.


Further Reading on Wikipedia : Kamari

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Cliff Walk

A great way to spend some time on Santorini is to walk along the pathway close to the edge of the Caldera between Thira and Oia. This walk is rather long but you can just do a part of it and be over whelmed by the views.

Cliff Walk

Cliff Walk

Cliff Walk

It is possible to walk from Fira along the edge of the caldera to Oia - though it is a long walk taking many hours.

At most points above the caldera there are stunning views of the crater.

Even a short walk along the path from Thira towards the village of Firostafani overlooks some of the best scenery on the islands.

The cliff top is a great place to while away some hours sipping chilled wine or coffee and watching the world of cruise ships pass way below.

Firostefani

Firostefani

Cliff Walk

The village of Firostani is just a short walk along the edge of the caldera from Fira. It is an alternative location to Fira to use as a base and still be accessible to the bus station which serves the island.

Imerovigli

Imerovigli

Cliff Walk

The village of Imerovigli is a few km west of Fira. A large rock called Skaros lies close to the edge of the crater, there is a walking rack from the village to the rock. The village has plenty of amenities.



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