Greece – this country remains one of the most popular destinations for tourism and recreation for many years. Tourists strive to Athens with their architectural monuments and centuries-old history, families with kids – to the beach of Rhodes and Corfu, youth – to the rave of Crete. And only romantics choose Santorini – one of the islands of the Cyclades archipelago. Santorini is said to be “an island where there are more donkeys than people, more churches than houses, more wine than water.”

Santorini. Island history

Santorini Island
Santorini Island

Santorini Island beckons with its postcard views, mystery and uniqueness. Hundreds of couples from around the world come here every year to hold a wedding ceremony. And it was here that the Air Force TV channel filmed the sunset, which became a symbol of the passing millennium.

The history of this fabulous island dates back more than 5,000 years, the first population of the island was pre-Greek, and the island itself was called Strongila (Round), in fact, it was round, since the volcano located in the center of the island has not yet begun its destructive eruption. And only around 1450 BC, as a result of the strongest volcanic eruption, a giant funnel formed, which was flooded by the sea. Thus appeared the world’s largest caldera, which thousands of people from all over the world seek to see today. And, by the way, according to one of the hypotheses of modern scientists, the island of Santorini is that legendary continent of Atlantis, which disappeared due to a natural cataclysm.

Santorini island. How to get there

By plane.

how to get to santorini
Santorini can be reached by plane

 The most convenient way to get to the island is with a transfer in Athens . Many companies fly from Athens to the island, including low cost: Olympic Air, Aegean Airlines, Easy Jet, Ryan Air, check prices on the websites of these airlines, as well as on jetradar.com , often  you can find a cheaper ticket.

Ferry from Athens, from Crete and other islands

Since Greece is an island state (the number of islands in Greece is more than 1,400!), The ferry here is one of the most popular modes of transport, and sometimes the only one! There are several types of ferries – some only carry passengers, others take motorcycles and cars on board. There are also so-called catamarans (high-speed, usually small-sized ferries) by FlyingCat, MegaJet and Highspeed, and large classic ferries.

how to get to santorini from crete
Ferries run between Crete and Santorini

The journey time from Heraklion to Santorini Island (as from Santorini to Heraklion) by catamaran is about 2 hours, you can buy tickets either directly at the port (but in the summer due to the large flow of tourists there may not be enough tickets) or buy in advance on the sites : www.hellenicseaways.gr/en/, www.ferries.gr, www.paleologos.gr.

I looked for tickets on one of these sites, and eventually bought through www.seajets.gr (minus this site that it displays flights of only one company). I must say that the tickets were immediately sent to the post office, and an additional letter from the company came about the change in the flight time and the ship. I was glad that the tickets could be returned (if I am not mistaken, a week before the trip without any fines). We sailed only from Santorini to Crete on the ferry, so we received the ticket (in exchange for electronic) directly in Fira – the company’s office right in the center, opposite the post office. You can also get a ticket at the port of Athinios.

Excursion to Santorini from Crete

If your vacation takes place on the island of Crete, and you really want to touch the beautiful and see the legend, then you have a great opportunity to visit Santorini as part of a one or two-day excursion from Crete. In Santorini you will be delivered by a high-speed catamaran (travel time is about 2 hours), and in Santorini you will travel by bus. You will see the most popular cities of the island – the capital of Fira, charming Iyu, if you wish, you can swim on the black beach of Kamari. Of course, it’s better to go for two days, because one day for Santorini is very, very small! 

Santorini tours
Several cruise ships moor daily to Santorini

I will not consider the option of a cruise either, as this is a completely different story.

Santorini Airport. How to get there

So, you got to the island of Santorini, now you need to get to the hotel. Here, as elsewhere, there are several options.

The budget is the bus. Buses go from the Airport and from Port to Fira, so if you need to get to another city, then you need to change trains at the Fira train station. The average fare is 2 euros. The exact timetable can be found at www.ktel-santorini.gr

You can also order a transfer through your hotel (if it is not already included in the room price). This is what we did: I wrote to the hotel, wrote down the arrival date and time, we met us with a sign on arrival, drove us to the hotel and contacted the receptionist to help us with our suitcases (many hotels located on the caldera have many steps and the taxi does not always have the opportunity to drive directly to the hotel entrance). The cost to the center of Fira was 9 euros per person.

You can also get to your hotel by taxi, there are two options – either catch a taxi directly at the port / airport (but in the summer months this is quite risky, because there are only 39 taxis on the whole island!), Or order a car in advance, for example, through a Kiwitaxi (about 40-50 euros per car).

Well, and finally, rent a car. You can rent a car at Santorini Airport, or at the port, but since the island is small, it is better to book in advance. Do not forget to clarify in the conditions whether an international driver’s license is required.

 

I recommend you the article What to do in Santorini .

 

Where to stay in Santorini.

Santorini Island is a unique place, primarily because of the volcanic caldera, formed thousands of years ago, and tourists and travelers from all over the world seek this place. If you want to feel special, then of course it is better to stay in one of the hotels on the Caldera, and for this, choose a hotel in Fira, Ia or Imerovigli.



Booking.com

The most budget hotels are in Kamari, Perivolos, Karterados, Firostefani. These hotels are not located on the Caldera (Caldera is the hollow of the volcano), so there will be no traditional “postcard” view from there.

Non-Caldera hotels – from 18 euros per person (for double occupancy, for example, Sweet Dreams Rooms in Karterados (rating 8.2), Marousi Rooms apartments in Perissa (rating 8.7), Villa Dimitris (rating 8.7) there same.

Hotels on the caldera are more expensive. This is no coincidence, because the most beautiful views open from there, and most tourists want to feel special, having settled on the slope of the volcano. The most affordable hotels in Fira. The views are no less beautiful than in Oia (but not from all hotels), the service is no worse, plus fewer tourists, and the bus station is a stone’s throw from where buses go in all directions.

Hotels in Fira – from 25 euros per person without a view of the Caldera, for example,  Plastiras Rooms (rating 8.4), Pension Petros (rating 8.1), Galatia Villas (rating 8.6)

Hotels in Fira overlooking the Caldera – from 85 euros per person. For example, Theoxenia Hotel (rating 8.8), Reflexions Volcano (rating 7.8), Atlantis Hotel (rating 9), or  Tzekos Villas (rating 8.9), where we lived – a hotel with a picture, a wonderful view, a two-story room (my dream!), the only nuance (but it is typical of many hotels on the Caldera) is a lot of steps (first you need to get to the villa from the road where cars stop, and then go down to the reception or your room).

Hotels in Oia (or Oia ) are usually the most expensive. It is this city – the most popular one, namely the sunset in Oia – a symbol, perhaps, not only of Santorini, but of the whole of Greece, it was there that the Air Force channel came to shoot the sunset, which became a symbol of the outgoing second millennium.

Hotels in Oia without a view of the Caldera – from 50 euros.

Hotels in Oia with views of the Caldera – from 75 euros, for example, Olympic Villas (rating 8.5).

Hotels with a beautiful view of the middle price category:

Residence Suites – from 170 Euro per person for 2 nights

Lava Oia’s – from 200 euros per person for 2 nights

Theodora Suites – from 280 Euro per person for 2 nights

Alta Mare by Andronis – from 360 euros per person for 2 nights

Canvas Suites – from 375 euros per person for 2 nights

Luxury hotels

Secret & Suites santorini Spa is – from 650 euros per person for 2 nights

Andronis Boutique Hotel – from 600 euros per person for 2 nights

Maregio Suites – from 640 Euro per person for 2 nights

Filotera Suites – from 640 Euro per person for 2 nights

Choose a hotel in Santorini >>>

Choose a hotel to your liking and affordable and welcome to Santorini!

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