I had a magical trip to the island of Santorini this past April. If you’re dreaming of a magical, Greek escape but don’t want to plan every detail, I’ve done all the hard work for you. Keep reading if you want to know exactly where to find the best food, best wine, and best things to do on Santorini.
Did you know? The violent volcanic eruption on Santorini in 1600 BCE originated the myth of Atlantis, the ancient city hidden beneath the waves? I would liken Santorini’s archaeological site, Akrotiri, that dates back to the massive eruption to Italy’s Pompeii, as Akrotiri’s ruins were also long-submerged by a thick layer of volcanic ash and mud.
Everything on the island of Santorini is a 10 minute drive away, including Gavalas Winery. Family-owned for centuries, Gavalas Winery specializes in white wines, due to the hot temperatures and volcanic soil of the island.
At Gavalas we did a tasting of four wines (3 whites, 1 red dessert wine). Personally, I would skip the dessert wine, which was pretty saccharine. The vineyard paired our wines with a mild cheese. The whole experience was sublime. Post-wine tasting, we explored the village of Megalochori, a small town wreathed in mist and clouds. We thoroughly enjoyed the Alisachni Art & Wine Gallery where we shared natural-ferment orange wine and feta wrapped in phylo dough, drizzled in honey and topped with roasted grapes. (whoever thought to roast grapes was a literal genius). The sun that streamed into the courtyard was gloriously warm. My pale winter skin soaked it up with a greedy urgency.
On day three of our stay on Santorini, the wind calmed down, from the 30-40 mph winds we experienced our first few days, enough for us to hike from Fira to Oia (pronounced ee-ah). The hike from Fira to Oia is challenging. Do not underestimate this hike and definitely do not attempt this hike if it’s windy or rainy. If you’re starting from Fira, the first hour is all gentle rolling hills through the charming (but empty in April) town of Imerorvigli. The next two to three hours of hiking include steep inclines and declines on rocky, unimproved trails with no guardrails to speak of to keep you from tumbling down the cliff face into the cold, rocky waters below.
Guidebooks say the hike from Fira to Oia will take three hours. They are not lying. You should budget four hours for this hike. If you’re hiking from Fira to Oia, plan to leave at 10 am and book a 2 pm lunch at Mia’s in Oia. Wear closed-toed hiking shoes or hiking boots and reapply sunscreen midway through the hike because there are only a few trees and basically no shade on the hike. But the stunning views are 1000% worth it.
The donkey ride that you’ll stumble upon between hours two and three of your hike only costs 10€ per person because the donkey only takes you up one — albeit steep — hill. The donkey ride is not worth it. Sit down at the cafe across from the donkey stand, buy a cold drink, rest, and then keep hiking on your own two feet, unless, like us, you really want that “Greek Island donkey ride” experience.
On a sunny, low-wind day this hike is absolutely worth it. Unlike the quick, expensive taxi rides which divert you away from the winding caldera cliffs and down towards the highway that bisects Santorini’s low-lying farm fields, this hike hugs the cliffs, giving you hours of uninterrupted time to gawk at the stunning caldera views.
Only the best…
Best restaurant: Mia’s. We ordered…
- Handmade crispy potatoes with goat cheese mousse and Greek black truffle
- Steamed mussels with ratatouille and fennel jus
- Santorian white eggplant tart with cherry tomato confit, tsalafouti soft cheese, parsley oil, and rosemary
- Greek salad with cherry tomato confit, feta, black olive biscuit, and parsley oil
Best place to stay: in Fira (during the off-season) at the Cosmopolitan Suites
Best sunset views: Everywhere. The town of Oia is the famous sunset spot on Santorini, but even in April it’s crowded. Honestly, you can spot stunning sunsets just about anywhere on the island.
Best wine list: the Alisachni Art & Wine Gallery Megalochori
My top tips for exploring Santorini:
Favorite activity: Gazing at the stunning caldera views from our hotel and each new restaurant + café.
Getting around: Taxis are (unnecessarily) expensive. Each one will set you back 50€, one way! They are expedient but dumb-expensive. By contrast, the bus is 2-5€ (max) and new buses come every half hour to the busiest spots like Fira, Oia, and the airport. I would recommend you enlist your hotel to coordinate your airport pickup and drop off, unless you want to lug your bags a mile from the bus, through narrow, winding, steep streets to your hotel. Save a few Euros at the end of your trip to tip your porter.
When to go to Santorini: Shoulder season, in April/May or September/October. Shoulder season brings smaller crowds, warm temperatures, and most shops and restaurants are open. While we were in Fira the town was bustling with activity as every restaurant and hotel did final repairs in preparation for the summer season. However, if you want the quintessential Greek island, swim-in-the-Mediterranean experience on Santorini, put up with the crowds and higher prices and go in June or July. The water is simply too cold to swim in yet in April. In the summer months I would recommend staying on a smaller, less touristy island like Andros because the cruise ships can overwhelm these quaint Greek towns.
Skin care first: The sun in Greece is intense. I saw countless beet-red tourists on our April trip. I reapplied sunscreen every few hours and still tanned.
I want to hear what you think! Have you ever been to Santorini or is it on your bucket list? Let me know if you find these tips helpful in the comments section below.
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