Stylish Santorini

Flight time from Dublin with Aer Lingus took 4 hours and private transfer to our hotel in Perissa was 20 minutes.

We received the warmest welcome at the Kouros Village in Perissa, a small adult only boutique hotel located 2 minutes’ walk from the beach. Our Junior Suite with limited sea view and hot tub (jacuzzi) is situated on the upper level of our hotel and offers sensational views. The newly refurbished Junior Suite is modern, bright, and splendidly comfortable, comprising one large double-bed with luxury memory foam mattress, stunning en-suite, all with signature forged cement décor. A delicious breakfast included and regarded as wholesome and hearty buffet of local and international delights. A lunch menu is available up to 4pm, from which we both highly recommend their delicious Burger, the Boa Buns, and the Greek Salad.

The staff at Kouros Village are the most pleasant, hospitable, friendly people and a huge asset to the hotel.

Perissa is a laid-back near typical Greek resort which runs into Perivolos. A coastal resort on the east of the island with a long black sand beach with ample free beds. We found a superb selection of restaurants, tavernas and bars offering choice of international and local cuisine. I do recommend a local family run fresh fish restaurant called Fratzeskos, and our favourite was Ntomatini. Nightlife is low key in keeping with the tone of the village.

Perissa is located remarkably close to the historical sight of Ancient Fira. You can rent bikes or quads, go horse riding on the beach, avail of water sports, book excursions to any part of the Island, visit museums, book wine tours, cookery classes and even yoga classes.

You can reach anywhere on the Island from Perissa, for example, we took a 15-minute water-taxi to Kamari. This resort is upmarket and trendier with an even larger selection of bars and tavernas all along the beach front. A number of hotels are located directly on the beach front and appeared quite salubrious. Lots of beautiful boutique shops and cafes to peruse in. I do believe some hotels are located on an incline in Kamari therefore more hills to navigate and the airport is in the vicinity so you will notice aircraft noise during the day and into the evening. I was impressed with Kamari.

No trip to Santorini is complete without a visit to Fira and Oia. These are the towns where you will view the famous sunset from each evening. We took a local bus from Perissa to Fira at a cost of €2.50 per person and takes approx. 30 mins to 1 hr. Fira is beautiful, totally cycladic and set onto the cliff edge. The hub of the town is so pretty with cobbled streets bursting with shops, cafes, restaurants, and Tavernas. I will not lie it is super busy, especially when the cruise ships arrive. Lots of walking up and down steps, so definitely not for the faint hearted. The views are incredible, you could sit and watch it all day long. We embarked on the famous cable car which takes you down to the old port. Here we enjoyed a local lunch experience of fresh fish, moussaka, and more Greek salad. Delicious! The bus depot in Fira is an experience, so my tip is to ask for your bus number and keep your eyes peeled.

You can hike from Fira to Oia, which is approx. 2-3 hrs walk, a taxi or bus will take a further 30 mins. Unfortunately, on this occasion we did not venture this far but that leaves room to return. I do slightly regret not booking a night or two in Oia for the experience, so that was a lesson learnt for me.

A highlight for us, was our coastal catamaran cruise with Spiridakos Sailing Cruises. Visiting both Red and White Beach, Hot Springs of the Caldera followed by a beautiful fresh cooked lunch onboard while viewing the Caldera. The views of the coast are amazing and a wonderful way to view the Island from a unique perspective. We chose the semi-private option with up to eighteen people, includes pick-up and drop-off at the hotel, lunch, local wine, beer, and soft drinks all day. Choose from morning or sunset cruise, semi-private or private. The staff are wonderful and highly informative along the way.

Another remarkable interesting visit is Akrotiri, known as the Pompeii of the Aegean. This prehistoric settlement is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. The oldest lighthouse is located at Akrotiri. I have been informed this is the best position on the whole island to view the stunning sunset!

The hidden gem village of Pyrgos is the largest preserved village in Santorini. You will be surrounded by a truly authentic Greek experience here. This area is extremely popular with organised guided walking and hiking tours for the more active adventure experience. Most of the local vineyards are in this area where you can book wine tasting tours. The Greek people are very proud of their local wine. Pyrgos is easily accessed by bus from all villages in Santorini.

Some other unique villages worth visiting include Megalochori, Emporio, and Monolithos to soak up the distinct whitewashed houses and alleys.

When people think of Santorini, they immediately think Sunset, however the island offers so much more and the smaller villages are so beautiful, not to mention more favourable on the pocket. There are endless options to explore, see and do along with enjoying some relaxing time by the pool or beach depending on where you stay. A week was not long enough for us to fit in all we would have liked to as we wanted to chill at the same time.

Santorini is a popular inclusion on a Greek Island-Hopping adventure; however, 3 or 4 days is just not enough to be honest. A 30-minute flight to Athens would be a perfect option to include a city-break as part of your itinerary.

I would recommend Santorini for Honeymooners, couples, groups of friends, solo travellers, adventure traveller, and families looking for a cultural experience.

For sightseeing, history, museums, stunning views, activities, culinary delights, unique experiences and much more, I 100% recommend this beautiful Island and will return for sure.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about Santorini, please don't hesitate to contact me.

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