POPULAR THINGS TO SEE AND DO SANTORINI
"Searching for the best experiences in Santorini? Jonathan and his family share some of their unique experiences in the Greek Islands..."
Santorini is about three things: relaxing in our home away from home at our luxury accommodation, Perivolas, taking in the majesty and spectacle of the Caldera, and enjoying the ancient, rustic charms of Oia.
Like most of the Greek Islands, Santorini is by and large the remains of a giant volcanic eruption about 3,600 years ago. The result was an oddly shaped island wrapped around the stunningly beautiful, harbour-like Caldera. The main town of Thira is situated fairly centrally on its edge, and the picturesque settlement of Oia where we spend most of our time is as far north as you can go on the island.
For a lot of people, Thira is the main attraction. It’s a much bigger and busier place than Oia. Missing out on the shops and the hustle and bustle of Thira doesn’t bother me at all because I’m completely happy just chilling out on our balcony, or the tiered, amphitheatre style public spaces of Perivolas.
One of my favorite things to do in Thira is to make my way down from the town to the old port. It’s a steep winding road to get there by car, but two far more interesting and exotic ways to get there are by cable car or by donkey.
The cable car (also known at the Teleferique) was built in 1979 and it can transport up to 1,200 people an hour to and from the port. It was actually a gift to the island from wealthy shipping magnate Evangelo Nomikos.
If the cable car isn’t your style, but you don’t fancy tackling the 800 steps down to the port on foot, for just 5 Euros you can make the journey on a donkey.
Once you’ve made your way down to the port, a really popular thing to do is rent a yacht. I’m a huge fan of sailing in the Aegean, and from the old port you don’t have to go far to find some spectacular little bays where you can drop anchor and have a swim or a picnic lunch. On most Greek Islands, there will always be parts of the coastline best seen, or only accessible, by sea - and these are beautiful waters to set sail in, with the arid, craggy cliffs and the white dwellings far above.
I’m not a huge fan of doing anything that is ritualistically “touristy.” I’d much rather avoid the crowds and march to the beat of my own drum. However, one of the few times where I’ll make an exception and join the masses, is watching the famous sunset over the Caldera in Oia.
On this 2007 trip, Sheira and I decide that we would stroll down to the point and join the crowds for this extremely popular daily evening ritual. It’s considered to be one of the most majestic sunsets anywhere in the world, and I must say there’s something very spiritual and mystical about the stillness of the waters of the Caldera as the sun sinks silently over the misty horizon.
To watch hundreds and hundreds of people magically drawn down to the port each evening is quite a sight.
It’s an odd thing, but as much as I dislike finding myself at such a clichéd tourist event, the beauty and the grandeur of the sunset somehow allows me to tune out everything else that’s going on around me. To be honest, even though there are hundreds of people searching for a vantage point, everybody is really cool about it. Everyone appears to be at peace. We’re all here for the same thing, so there’s a sense of unity and camaraderie as the crowd gathers. There are people from all over the world.
As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, you hear a crescendo of voices with different accents start counting down from ten, and then there’s a spontaneous burst of applause when the sun finally disappears at zero. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that you’ve just shared this unique Santorini experience with other travelers.
The walk back is a bit of a scrum, but we just decided to roll with it, and bask in the glow of what we’d just experienced.
I’ve gone running in some of the most exotic and extraordinary places in the world, but my morning run in Oia may well be my favourite.
To start with it’s warm, and the Santorini terrain is rocky and mountainous, so I know I’m going to get a good workout. I love the early morning silence and the shimmering sunlight bouncing off the amazingly blue ocean.
This is also one of the rare runs where I actually stop in the middle to take a swim. So whether it’s from the sweating or the swimming, I know I’m coming back wet!
I left our luxury accommodation at Perivolas, through the deserted streets of Oia and down to the fishing village at Amoudi Bay. To get there, I had to make my way down a goat track (I’m not kidding – it really is a goat track) before the reward of a swim at BAXEDES BEACH. What a sight this is, with its black sand and crystal clear water!
At this hour of the day it’s deserted. Floating in the bay, actually chained to a rock is a little flotilla of colourful inflatable lilos and other water toys. So there I am, a grown man, splashing around like a teenager in a deserted bay on the other side of the world. What a blast!
Of course, I now have to make my way all the way back up to Perivolas. I was soaking wet, but very happy. Once I was back in Oia, I made a stop at the deli to buy my traditional breakfast of mixed fruit and two bottles of water.
What a memorable run. I very rarely stop during my morning run. It’s different in Oia; my mind wants to stop and soak up the scenery, but my legs want to keep running. The mind keeps winning.
Join Jonathan Said and his family on their luxury travel journeys as they share their best restaurants experiences and luxury hotels and resorts holidays around the world. The comprehensive travel tips and ideas include some of the most popular things to see and do at each destination including a local shopping guide, photos, video, music and much more.
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