No one should resist the temptation of staying in a cave transformed to a hotel room! Domelike roofs, narrow facades, long spaces inside, traditional decoration and furniture make them popular to tourists and famous all around the world.
Beaches Santorini main beaches have water sports. Santorini beaches are wide with mainly black, white and red sand. There are also lots of currents and the waves can get very high especially at the north east side of the island. Kamari and Perissa are popular beaches with their beautiful surroundings and black sand. If you seek calmer beaches, it is better to go to Monolithos, Vlichada or Agios Georgios. For snorkelling visit Amoudi.
Nightlife Santorini has a varied nightlife, and most bars and discos are in Fira, Kamari and Perissa. Kamari is probably the most popular place, and here you shouldn`t miss having a drink in one of the little cafes on the steep side. The amazing view, relaxed atmosphere and live music will give you an unforgettable experience.
Food and restaurants: You can get almost everything in Santorini – from traditional Greek food to international gourmet dinners. Try the local wine Visanto and see what you think!!! In Kamari there are numerous eateries and grill taverns where you can enjoy all kinds of food.The same setting of eateries can be found in Oia, Fira and all the other resorts of the island.
Shopping Santorini is a bit of a cosmopolitan island, just the number of luxury yachts that stop here is very high for such a small island, so it is quite expensive. Many artists live here, and you can buy a lot of original stuff – hand painted umbrellas, ceramics, jewellery, art etc. You can also get nice icons, but be careful, anything older than 1821 needs a special permit to be exported. There is also local wine worth trying and taking with you, the famous fava beans of Santorini (best in Greece) , local cheeses and caper. Of course if you stay longer in Santorini and would like to have your self catering, there are major international chain supermarkets like Lidle, mini markets, green grosser and all kind of shops you will find in a city.
Getting Around Santorini is quite a small island, and it is easy to get around. There are local buses to take you to most places, but of course you can also rent a car or a bike. There are also taxis on the island.
The harbour of Athinios where the ferryboats stop is connected to Fira and the rest of the island by a well made serpentine road. Driving up or down this road can be quite an experience for anyone afraid of heights. The old port of Fira under the town is used only for passengers from the cruise ships. You can also walk up or down that road (almost 900steps) or take a donkey ride all the way. There is also a cable car taking you straight to Fira. As you arrive at Athinios you can rent a car straight away from the spot. Santorini has a very good road network and a car or a bike will make your stay more convinient.