We’ve all seen those sexy shots of white buildings, blue domed churches and emerald seas that Santorini has become famous for. Located in the middle of the Aegean Sea just off of the coast of the Greek mainland, Santorini is every bit as picturesque as you could imagine and it offers the most breathtakingly beautiful views from almost every point of the island.

Truth be told, Santorini is a destination most suited for relaxing, enjoying sunsets, and drinking wine. If you are looking for a party holiday we would suggest one of the other Greek Islands like Mykonos. If you’re looking to cram in a fair bit of site seeing then we would recommend hiring a car, as public transport isn’t the most efficient use of time and taxis can be rather expensive.

Here are five of our favourite aspects of the island:

The Sunset

Santorini has one of the best sunset views in the world. Watching the Sunset disappearing behind the horizon will without a doubt be a highlight of your holiday (it sounds too dramatic to say ‘of your life’, but realistically it could be).

But what is the best location to watch the sunset from we hear you ask? The sunset can best be seen from the top of the old castle in Oia, witness the sun setting over the ocean as the crowds applaud. If you are heading to the castle to watch the sunset during peak holiday season, expect crowds – and we mean lots of crowds. The old castle and its surrounding area get extremely busy and people can be seen arriving long before the sunset to secure a good spot.

However,  if you want to avoid the crowds and prefer something a bit more off the beaten track then head to Imerovigli or Faros Lighthouse in the tranquil village of Akrotiri. 

But it is worth noting that if you are scared of heights you will have to pass along cliff edges to get to the lighthouse, which can be very scary!

#FLOFavourite: Instead, why not enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants in Oia that offers ‘dinner with a view’. This way you can enjoy the gorgeous sunset whilst also enjoying delicious Greek food and local wine. We recommend Ambrosia or 1800 and Lauda in Oia.

The Red Beach

Located in the Akrotiri village, the Red Beach is a rare site and one of the most famous beaches in Santorini. The beach is beautifully unqiue with black and red volcanic pebbles instead of sand. The red rock is best viewed from above, where you can really capture the beauty of the beach and its contrasting colours. 

The beach is not the largest, however you will find sunbeds and umbrellas to rent during peak summer season. However, in the past, sections of rock have fallen from the red cliffs and so we would recommend checking local safety advice before venturing down to the beach.

#FLOFavourite: The colour contrast of red and blue sea is simply stunning.  

Santo Wines, Winery

Santos Winery is the largest producer of wine in Santorini. Located in the village of Pyrgos, Santos Wines offers an opportunity to explore the compound through a wine tour which is followed by a wine tasting session at their restaurant. The restaurant also has spectacular views from the top of the Caldera.

The entire experience includes a 20-minute tour and a variety of wine tasting options, whereby you could try 6, 10 or 16 wines. There is also an option to add cheese tasting in addition to the wine – incredible.

#FLOFavourite: You can also enjoy the Santorini sunset from Santos Wines. The scenery is dreamy in comparison to the crowds you may experience at other prime locations.

Tomato Industrial Museum

When you think of Santorini, tomatoes probably don’t spring to mind. However, Santorini is actually famous for its tomatoes! Dimitrious Nikos began producing tomato paste in 1915, and in 1945 his son built the Tomato Industrial Museum. The Tomato Industrial Museum takes visitors through a history of cultivating, processing and producing tomatoes in Santorini. There are displays of processing machines from 1890 and hand-written records from the workers who worked there. Sometimes they even power up the old machines for visitors.

The museum is also close to Vlychada Beach; this beach is utterly mesmerising and it looks like it has been purposely carved by people. It has gained the name ‘moon beach’ due to its shape and it is the perfect place for a walk – after you’ve visited the Tomato Industrial Museum of course.

#FLOFavourite:  Visitors will also get to press their own tomato can, where you can choose from a range of labels that were all used by the company over the years. These make for great pen holders / make up brush holders!

Hiking

Fira and Oia are two of the biggest towns in Santorini and there are also some beautiful hikes between the two. Hiking from Fira to Oia is 9km, which will take you about three hours, depending on the amount of breaks that you have. The walk itself is picturesque and offers wonderful views of the Caldera. But, be sure to wear appropriate footwear as the majority of this hike actually takes place on cobbled stones.

Megalochori Village

Santorini is home to several small villages; one of our favourites is the village of Megalochori. The village offers a nice escape from the main tourist trap, located a short distance from Fira and will offer a unique and fresh experience of Santorini.  The village is completely dreamy filled with cobbled streets, whitewashed houses, blue-domed churches and traditional cafes serving the very best in traditional Greek food surround the public square…

For more read our Quick Guides: Why You Need to Visit Megalochori, Santorini

Where to stay?

Porto Fira Suites

Located on the Fira Caldera cliffs and offering spectacular views of the island's volcano, the Aegean Sea and Santorini's famous sunset. Porto Fira Suites offers 13 stylish, unique suites and an unforgettable experience…

For more read our travel feature on Porto Fira Suites

Palm Tree Hill

WHERE?

Located in Foinikia Village of Santorini, Palm Tree Hill offers traditionally built, self-catering accommodation with views over the Aegean Sea and the islands of Ios, Folegandros and Sikinos.

AMENITIES?

The property is within perfect walking distance of restaurants and bars in Oia and the infamous sunset! The property owners can also help with sightseeing trips within and around the island, and also offer transfer to and from the airport and the port or any other area of the island (with an additional charge).

The property features a terrace or balcony, all units include a seating and dining area, as well as a kitchenette, fitted with a fridge and stovetop. Towels and bed linen are provided, as well as free WiFi.

For more visit the Palm Tree Hill Wesbite