The Beautiful Island

Santorini, Greece

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“According to some theories, the legendary Atlantis said to have sunk beneath the sea in a great cataclysm, is in actuality the Greek Island of Santorini.”

– Laura Brooks

Santorini Highlights

Beautiful evening dusk in Oia village Santorini island Greece
Santorini's Most Iconic Towns and Villages

Santorini's clifftop villages showcase the island's famous whitewashed buildings and blue-domed churches that appear on countless postcards. Each town offers its own character, from sunset-watching spots to quiet traditional streets away from the crowds.

Greece, Santorini, cruise ship in  the Caldera sea area seen from the Fira village
Unforgettable Boat Tours and Cruises

A boat tour ranks among the best things to do in Santorini because it reveals the island's volcanic cliffs from the water. Most tours depart from Ammoudi Bay and include swimming stops, meals, and unlimited drinks.

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Spectacular Santorini Sunsets

Santorini sunsets rank among the world's most famous natural displays, drawing visitors to specific clifftop locations each evening. The island's volcanic caldera creates a dramatic backdrop as the sun descends into the Aegean Sea, casting golden and orange light across white-washed villages.

Santorini Island, Greece - July 19, 2012: Beautiful Santorini Beach. The beaches of the island are all unique and different because of the volcanic origin.
Dramatic Beaches of Santorini

Santorini's volcanic history created some of the most unique beaches in Greece, with colorful sand and dramatic cliff backdrops that set them apart from typical Mediterranean shores. The island's beaches range from striking red cliffs to long stretches of black sand, each offering something different for your visit.

A Standout Destination

Santorini sits in the Aegean Sea as one of Greece's most visited islands. The island formed from a massive volcanic eruption about 3,600 years ago, creating the dramatic caldera and cliffs that define its landscape today. You'll find white-washed buildings with blue-domed churches, black sand beaches, and ancient ruins spread across this crescent-shaped island.

 

The top attractions in Santorini include the picturesque village of Oia, the caldera views from Fira and Imerovigli, volcanic beaches like Red Beach and Perissa, the archaeological site of Akrotiri, boat trips to the active volcano, and wine tastings at local vineyards. Most visitors spend two to four days exploring the island, which gives you enough time to see the major sites and experience both the busy tourist areas and quieter traditional villages.

 

You can explore clifftop towns with stunning sea views, walk through ancient settlements preserved under volcanic ash, swim at beaches with colorful volcanic sand, and taste wines made from grapes grown in volcanic soil. The island offers a mix of natural beauty, history, and Greek culture that makes it stand out from other Mediterranean destinations.

Santorini's Archaeological and Historical Sites

Santorini's volcanic eruption around 1600 B.C. preserved ancient settlements under layers of ash, creating some of the Mediterranean's most important archaeological sites. These locations reveal advanced Bronze Age civilizations and later Greek settlements that thrived on the island.

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Kitchen Seen Through a Door Dating from the Minoan Civilization in the Archaeological Site of Acrotiri. Archeology, History, Travel. July 7, 2018. Santorini Island, Thera. Greece.
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AKROTIRI, GREECE - AUGUST 01, 2012: Exterior of the sign pointing to the Akrotiri archaeological site in Akrotiri, Greece.