SANTORINI: The must visit Greek paradise

I have just recently arrived home from the beautiful Greek Island of Santorini and I already want to go back. Four days full of relaxation, exploration, beautiful views and stunning food. What more could you want?!

If you haven’t heard of Santorini (where have you been if so?), but you may recognise it by the many photos of its white buildings with blue tops. It’s a world-famous volcanic island that often appears on Instagram feeds showcasing its gorgeous views.

My parents took me on holiday to Santorini when I was a baby, but obviously being a child I don’t remember much. In fact, I don’t remember a thing. So after seeing endless photos of Santorini’s beauty and after longing to visit for a few years now, me and my boyfriend Harry finally went!

And it was just like the many photos I had seen on Instagram. The picture-perfect, postcard-worthy rugged landscape (Santorini was devastated by a volcanic eruption, which shaped its landscape) possessed some seriously sensational views. The whitewashed buildings, crystal clear Aegean Sea and stunning sunsets made Santorini the perfect short break. It was peaceful, relaxing and tranquil and scents of freshly-grilled fish and souvlaki were never far away.

WHEN TO VISIT

Supposedly the best times to visit Santorini are from April to early November, with May to October getting nice sunny weather, and July and August being the hottest months. Peak season is August, but it can be very busy and is more expensive than other months. So for reduced hotel prices and good weather it is better to go in April/May time.

WHERE TO STAY

Santorini is full of unique hotels and elegant suites carefully carved into Santorini’s cliffs. I was lucky enough that my Mum had recently visited Santorini and had suggested that Imerovigli is the best place to stay. Although there is more going on in Fira and Oía, Imerovigli offers the best views of the caldera and isn’ overly busy/touristy, but instead is stunning and peaceful with restaurants just a short walk away.

After seeing Gizis Exclusive on Expedia, I was instantly in love. The four-star aparthotel had an outdoor pool and if you got a junior suite, which we did, you also get your own private outdoor jetted tub. So we booked a four-night stay in Gizis Exclusive, which is located in Imerovigli, in between Oía and Fira. The staff were really friendly and were always willing to go above and beyond with recommendations of things to do and places to eat. The rooms were really nice, fairly small, but comfortable and clean. And the view was spectacular. What was also lovely was the breakfast (continental and included in the hotel price) was served either inside or outside on a terrace, so whilst eating your delicious pain au chocolat you could soak up the stunning view of the caldera.

WEATHER

The weather was absolutely perfect. It was really hot, with most days around 30 degrees, but there was also a lovely breeze, which was perfect for sunbathing. Santorini’s climate is typical of the Mediterranean, staying warm and dry throughout most of the year, typically from April until October. So if you like sunbathing and want to get a tan, Santorini might just be the place for you!

THINGS TO DO

Santorini’s hot temperatures make sunbathing the perfect past-time, but if lying horizontal isn’t really your thing, there is plenty more to see and do there!

A boat trip is a definite must. Boat trips are the perfect way to see the beauty of the island, from lots of different viewpoints. There are a variety of boat trips on offer, all at a range of prices. Whether you fancy an all-day experience with unlimited food and drink, or just a couple of hours of exploration, there will be something for you. We did the half-day boat trip to Santorini Volcano and the Hot-Springs and it was brilliant. Even better, it was an absolute bargain – only €20 per person – and you got a three-hour boat trip, taking you first to Santorini Volcano, where you could get off and walk to the top, whilst having a tour guide inform you about the history of the volcano. You also got to go to the hot springs/mud bath – a volcanic island at the centre of the caldera where water temperatures reach 35 degrees.

In addition to a boat trip, going to Oía for the day is an absolute must. Oía is located north of the Island and is full of shops, cafes and restaurants. Its narrow streets offer breath-taking, picture-perfect views of Santorini’s blue domes and white houses. Do bear in mind that it can get very busy with tourists so it is best to go either early in the morning or in the evening (if you want to watch the sunset get there early to get a good spot).

Another place worth visiting is Fira, the capital of Santorini. Located in the middle of the island, just a thirty-minute walk from Imerovigli, it is a little town full of shops, bars and clubs. It can get very busy and is always abundant with tourists, so it is often recommended to visit during the evening during the peak Summer months.

If you like walking, then Santorini is the perfect place. There are lots of hiking paths leading you from each village to the next, and as long as you’ve got some comfortable shoes and water, you’ll be fine!

I’m not a major fan of wine, but if you are, there are lots of wineries and wine tours available in Santorini. You’ll notice Santorini is covered in fields full of grapes, making it the perfect place to sip your way through the Island’s vintage wines.

BEACHES

I am not a major beach fan, and considering we had our own private plunge pool and a gorgeous communal pool, visitng a beach wasn’t a top priority of ours. However, The Red Beach and the Black Beach are extremely popular and if you’re into beaches then you should definitely visit. They are composed of volcanic sand and pebbles, offering very unique scenery.

FOOD AND DRINK FINDS

Santorini is full of delicious restaurants, Greek Tavernas, Asians, Grills, whatever you fancy you can probably find it. The hotel staff were really helpful and gave us lots of useful recommendations for good places to eat.

On our first day, shortly after arriving, we were absolutely starving and in desperate need of some food. So we headed out of the hotel and just a stone’s throw away was Taverna Tasos. We both went for the chicken souvlaki which came with pitta bread, salad, French fries and tzatziki. It was delicious and really well priced. I would highly recommend this place if you want to try an authentic Greek Tavern. It is a hidden gem with lovely views of the water. Perfect for some lunchtime fuel.

As recommended by my Mum, we dined at Avocado for our first dinner. I love Avocado, so having a restaurant named after it, I was instantly interested. Just a 15-minute walk away from our hotel up the hiking path, Avocado is a Mediterranean restaurant with lots of delicious food to choose from. We weren’t overly hungry so decided to go for mains and desserts. I had the special of the day which was a lobster ravioli with a lobster bisque. Then for dessert I had the cheesecake AND the avocado ice cream which was to die for! The cheesecake was like no other I have ever had before. So soft and fluffy. A must-try.

For our second night, we went to Buddha Bar, a high-end Pan-Asian chain that can be found all over the world. If you like Asian food and don’t mind spending a bit of cash (it is fairly expensive compared to the Greek Tavernas), then Buddha-Bar is the place to go. The food is delicious, the views are wonderful and they have a DJ playing music giving it a really unique and special vibe. To start I had the tempura seafood sushi which although was €30 (I know…expensive) it was amazing. It was definitely some of the best sushi I have ever had and I would highly recommend it. Then for main I had the teriyaki salmon with rice which was delicious. For dessert I had a passionfruit tart, it was really fresh-tasting and had a very unique flavour. Although Buddha Bar is expensive, it is a brilliant place and has delicious food. It’s a must visit if you’re celebrating or want to treat yourself!

We paid a visit to a highly-recommended traditional Greek restaurant in Fera called To Briki for our third night. With wonderful views of the caldera it was the perfect place to watch the sunset. To start we shared the pan-fried cheese and the feta cheese in crust pastry. Both were delicious and if you’re a fellow cheese lover, I would highly recommend these. For main I went for the grilled shrimps and sautéed vegetables. The shrimp was absolutely stunning and really fresh tasting. Although I was slightly disappointed it didn’t come with any form of potato/fries, after stealing a few of Harry’s fries I was glad to realise that at least I had some room for dessert! When in Greece, you must try the Baklava. If you haven’t tried it before, baklava is a syrup-soaked pastry with nuts, cinnamon and cardamom. It is delicious. It is very rich and sweet but is an absolute must-try when in Greece. Harry had the chocolate soufflé which was also very nice. The staff were really friendly and the service was brilliant. I couldn’t fault it!

I soon realised that I had eaten fish every night of the holiday so far and was craving a bit of meat. What better place to go for our final meal than Rare Meat Restaurant?! We both had the meatballs to start which were absolutely amazing. They were probably some of the best meatballs I have ever eaten! Then for main I went for the fillet steak with potato puree (basically mashed potato) and mushrooms. It was divine and I was full I couldn’t fit in any dessert! I know...not like me!

There are so many incredible places to grab delicious food in Santorini. I know I’ve already recommended baklava, but also make sure you try a Gyros (essentially a chicken kebab – but with deliciously fresh meat, pitta bread, lettuce, dressings and French fries).

If this post and the photos haven’t made you want to visit Santorini, then I don’t know what will. It is a truly beautiful place, with lovely people, gorgeous food and amazing views. You better get yourself on the Easyjet website quick!