What is a yposkafa cave house?

A house dug horizontally into Santorini's soft volcanic pumice, with a barrel-vaulted front room and storage running back into the rock. Every cave hotel on the caldera rim is a converted one.

Why are Cycladic villages built inland?

Piracy. Until the nineteenth century settlements were built out of sight of the sea and packed into defensive kastelli, with the outer houses forming a continuous wall and lanes laid out to confuse attackers.

Largely rebuilt after the 1956 earthquake, using the same tradition and methods. It is a continuous tradition rather than a preserved ruin.

How does Santorini differ from Mykonos architecturally?

Mykonos is granite and built; Santorini is soft volcanic pumice and carved. The same vocabulary of white cubes and flat roofs, applied to completely different geology.

CYCLADES SANTORINI

Q: Why are Cycladic houses white?

Lime wash, renewed every spring. It reflects heat, it is mildly antiseptic and it was cheap because lime was burnt on the islands. The practice long predates tourism.

Q: What is theraic earth?

Santorini's volcanic ash, which sets hard when mixed with lime and water. A natural hydraulic cement, exported by the shipload in the nineteenth century, and the reason the island's stone vaults are possible.

Q: Where is the best cycladic architecture on Santorini?

The medieval kastelli at Emporio, the hill village of Pyrgos, the captains' mansions of Megalochori, and the cave houses still lived in at Vothonas and Finikia.

September 13, 2026 By Stelios Karamolegkos Leave a Comment

9 +1 places you should see in Santorini in 2022

You do not need special recommendations when talking about the island of Santorini in 2022. The volcanic island of Cyclades is famous all over the world for its magical sunsets, breathtaking views, surreal beaches and hundreds of white churches with blue domes. See 9 +1 places you should see in Santorini in 2022 while you spend your holidays there.

1. Fira

Fira, the capital of Santorini, is one of the best places to see on the island. It is the perfect Cycladic city that one would say is a real postcard landscape. Wander the alleys of the city and discover the famous white and blue houses, admire the wonderful view of the caldera and enjoy elegant boutiques and luxury hotels with wonderful infinity pools. If you are a lover of history or if you want to learn more about Santorini in 2022, you can visit the two museums of Fira, the Museum of Prehistoric Thera and the Archaeological Museum.

2. Oia

Oia is a traditional settlement of Santorini and one of the most famous places in Greece and the world. It is the best place to enjoy the sunset of Santorini in 2022 which is world famous and millions of visitors travel from all over the world to enjoy it. If you are looking for the perfect place for the sunset, you can either find a spot in the city itself or book a table in one of the restaurants overlooking the Aegean.

3. Imerovigli

Imerovigli or Merovigli is a village of Santorini located 3 km northwest of Fira, at the highest point of the caldera. Its name consists of the words day and vigla and probably comes from the existence of a diary, that is, a small tower that functioned as a day observatory. Imerovigli belongs to the most beautiful parts of the island to enjoy the sunset more quietly and without crowds.

4. Archaeological site of Akrotiri

If you are interested in the history of Santorini in 2022, the ancient site of Akrotiri is one of the best places on the island to visit. Akrotiri is an ancient Minoan city that was destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 1,613 BC. and was only rediscovered in 1967 during an archaeological excavation. The location is one of the most important in the Aegean Sea and is also characterized as the “Lost Atlantis”.

5. Three Bells of Fira

One of the most famous and most photographed places of the island is the Three Bells of Fira. The characteristic three church bells are found in photos of thousands of magazines worldwide and in millions of posts on Instagram. The view from there is unique. It is the place where you can calm down at any time of the day and be photographed overlooking the Aegean Sea and the colors of the sunset. The feast of the church is on the 15th of August.

6. Pyrgos

Pyrgos is the highest village of Santorini which is located 10 km southeast of Fira. In the village there are 48 churches and chapels with the most important being the church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary which was built during the years 1660 – 1661 and there on Good Friday becomes the most important epitaph of the village. The Tower, in addition to its traditional beauty, is especially popular for the procession of the Epitaph on Good Friday night, when fires are lit in tin lamps throughout the village.

7. Ammoudi

Ammoudi is a small fishing village located below Oia. It used to be used as a port for sailing merchant ships carrying goods from all over the island and its buildings were mainly warehouses for these goods. To reach the bay you have to go down about 300 steps that will lead you to the beautiful beach with taverns and restaurants. If you want to take a dip in the sea, follow the path after the restaurants where you will find a nice place to swim and dive in the clear waters.

8. Red Beach

Red Beach is unlike any other. For a start, it is framed by striking red rocks along the black volcanic sand. It is located in Akrotiri, a short distance from the archeological site. Although small in size, there are many umbrellas and sunbeds to enjoy a dip in a surreal place with crystal clear waters. You can only get there in 5 minutes on foot. You can take a tour of Santorini!

9. Megalochori

Megalochori is another picturesque village of Santorini. You will not find too many visitors in this small village, so it is a great place to enjoy the quiet, the sun and to get to know the authentic beauty of the island. It is located 10 minutes from Fira and is associated with wine production as it hosts popular and famous wineries in Greece.

+1. Emporio

Emporio or “Nimborio” is the largest village of Santorini. It is located at a distance of 12 km from Fira, at the foot of the mountain of Profitis Ilias and very close to the beaches of Perivolo and Perissa. One of the characteristics of the village is the tower of Goulas, a square tower in the northern part of the village, which was built during the period of Venetian rule, probably around the 15th century. Picturesque streets, thousands of visitors, donkeys and traditional settlements are some of what you will see in this village and they will steal your heart.

More Places You Should See in Santorini in 2022

The nine plus one places above cover the island’s essentials, from Fira and Oia to Emporio. Beyond them lie many more corners worth your time. This section adds further places you should see in Santorini in 2022, grouped so you can combine nearby sights in a single day.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 at sea. The volcano, the hot springs and Thirasia across the caldera.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 inland. Ancient Thera, Profitis Ilias and the cave village of Vothonas.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 on the coast. Vlychada, Kamari, Perissa and the Akrotiri Lighthouse.

Each entry explains what makes it special and how best to visit.

+2. Skaros Rock

Below Imerovigli, described above as the highest point of the caldera, rises Skaros Rock. It is one of the most dramatic places you should see in Santorini in 2022.

The history. For centuries the rock held the island’s medieval capital, a fortified settlement whose cliffs protected the inhabitants from pirates. Earthquakes gradually destroyed it.

The walk. A stepped path leads down from Imerovigli to the neck of the rock in around 20 to 30 minutes.

Theoskepasti. A narrow ledge path continues around the rock to a small white chapel above the sea. It is exposed, so avoid it in strong wind.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 at golden hour. The rock and the cliffs glow in the late afternoon, and the sunset here is far calmer than in Oia.

Tip. Save energy and water for the climb back up the steps.

+3. Firostefani

Between Fira and Imerovigli, and close to the Three Bells of Fira described above, Firostefani is one of the quieter places you should see in Santorini in 2022.

The name. It refers to the way the village crowns Fira, sitting just above the capital on the caldera rim.

The view. Wide caldera views over the volcano and Nea Kameni, with relaxed tavernas and cafés on the edge of the cliff.

The walk. A paved path runs from Fira to Firostefani in around 10 to 15 minutes, continuing to Imerovigli and eventually to Oia.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 at sunset: Firostefani. West-facing terraces offer superb sunsets without the crowds of Oia.

Tip. Photograph the Three Bells in the morning from the path above, then walk on to Firostefani for coffee.

+4. Nea Kameni, the Volcano

In the middle of the caldera lies the island that gives Santorini its fire. The volcano is one of the most unusual places you should see in Santorini in 2022.

The island. Nea Kameni was built by eruptions from the 18th century onwards, with the most recent in 1950.

The walk. A marked path crosses black lava and gravel to the crater area, around an hour up and down. Wear closed shoes and bring water; there is no shade.

What you see. Craters, lava fields, steam vents and yellow sulphur deposits, with views back to the white villages on the cliffs.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 by boat. Excursions leave from the Old Port, Athinios and Ammoudi, often combining the volcano with the hot springs and Thirasia.

Tip. Choose a morning departure in summer to avoid the heat on the lava.

+5. The Hot Springs of Palea Kameni

Next to Nea Kameni, the older island of Palea Kameni hides warm springs in one of its bays. They are among the most memorable places you should see in Santorini in 2022.

The springs. Warm, iron-rich water rises into the sea, turning it a yellow-orange colour.

The swim. Boats anchor in the bay and passengers swim a short distance to the warmest water.

What to wear. An old swimsuit, as the iron can stain light fabric.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 on the same trip. Most boats combine the hot springs with the crater walk on Nea Kameni and lunch on Thirasia.

Safety. The swim is in open water; weaker swimmers should ask for a float.

+6. Thirasia

Across the caldera from Oia and Ammoudi lies Thirasia, the quiet island once joined to Santorini. It is one of the calmest places you should see in Santorini in 2022.

Korfos. The small harbour where boats land, with fish tavernas at the water’s edge.

Manolas. The main village, reached by steps from Korfos, sits on the caldera rim and looks straight across at Oia and Fira.

The pace. Few cars, few shops and almost no crowds; life follows the rhythm of the boats.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 from across the water. From Manolas, the white villages on the Santorini cliffs form one of the finest views in the Cyclades.

Getting there. Small boats cross from Ammoudi, the fishing village below Oia, and many volcano cruises stop at Korfos for lunch.

+7. Ancient Thera

If Akrotiri, described above, is the Bronze Age story, Ancient Thera is the next chapter. The ruined city is one of the most rewarding places you should see in Santorini in 2022 for history lovers.

The city. Founded by Dorian settlers around the 9th century BC and inhabited into Byzantine times, with houses, temples, a theatre and an agora along the ridge of Mesa Vouno.

The views. From the top you look down on Kamari on one side and Perissa on the other.

Getting there. A winding road climbs from Kamari to a car park below the site, followed by a short steep walk; fit walkers can hike up from Perissa.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 in the morning. Go early; the site is exposed, and opening hours vary by season.

Tip. Finds from the site are displayed at the Archaeological Museum in Fira.

+8. Profitis Ilias

As the article above says, Emporio lies at the foot of Profitis Ilias. The mountain’s summit is one of the best viewpoints and one of the places you should see in Santorini in 2022.

The view. At around 560 metres, the island’s highest point looks over the whole of Santorini, with the neighbouring Cyclades on the horizon on a clear day.

The monastery. The monastery of Profitis Ilias, founded in the 18th century, stands near the summit.

Getting there. A road climbs from Pyrgos, described above as the highest village, and a walking path offers a steady ascent of around an hour.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 for walkers. A ridge path continues from the summit towards Ancient Thera, best in spring or autumn.

Tip. Bring a light layer; the summit is often breezy.

+9. Vlychada

On the south coast, Vlychada looks like another planet. It is one of the most surprising places you should see in Santorini in 2022.

The cliffs. Pale volcanic ash, carved by wind and water into strange shapes, rises behind a long dark beach.

The marina. A small harbour with fish tavernas, sheltered from the wind.

The Tomato Industrial Museum. An old tomato-canning factory by the sea tells the story of the industry that once sustained the island.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 at sunset: Vlychada. The cliffs glow in the evening light.

Tip. The far ends of the beach are the quietest; some parts of the seabed are rocky, so enter carefully.

+10. Kamari and Perissa

As the article above notes, Emporio is close to the beaches of Perivolos and Perissa. These long black-sand beaches, with Kamari on the other side of the mountain, are places you should see in Santorini in 2022 for a beach day.

Kamari. A long beach with a promenade of restaurants and cafés, a summer open-air cinema and the road up to Ancient Thera.

Perissa and Perivolos. Several kilometres of dark sand with beach bars, water sports and a lively summer atmosphere.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 for families. Both resorts have flat streets, organised beaches and restaurants close to the sand.

Tip. The dark sand gets very hot in summer; bring beach shoes.

+11. The Akrotiri Lighthouse

At the south-western tip of the island, beyond the archaeological site and the Red Beach described above, the lighthouse is one of the most atmospheric places you should see in Santorini in 2022.

The lighthouse. Built in the late 19th century, it is one of the oldest in the Cyclades. The building is usually closed, but the headland is open.

The view. The sun sinks into the open sea beyond the cliffs, with the whole caldera stretching away to the north.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 for a quiet sunset. The lighthouse is far calmer than Oia.

Safety. The cliffs have no railings; stay well back from the edge.

Tip. Combine it with Akrotiri, the Red Beach and Megalochori for a full day in the south.

+12. Vothonas

Inland, between Fira and the east coast, Vothonas is one of the most unusual places you should see in Santorini in 2022.

The village. Built along a ravine, with houses and churches carved into its walls. From above, you see only doorways, domes and chimneys.

The cave houses. Called yposkafa, they were dug into the soft volcanic rock so that their thick walls would keep them cool in summer and warm in winter.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 off the tourist trail. Vothonas is rarely crowded, even in summer.

Nearby. Mesaria, with its 19th-century mansions, and Karterados, another village of cave houses, are also places you should see in Santorini in 2022 in this area.

Tip. Walk quietly and respect residents’ privacy.

+13. The Castle of Oia and Finikia

Oia is already on the list above, but two corners of the village deserve their own place among the places you should see in Santorini in 2022.

The Castle of Oia. At the western tip of the village stand the ruins of the Venetian castle of Agios Nikolaos. Its walls are the classic sunset viewpoint, with the windmills, the white houses and the caldera stretching away to the east. Arrive at least an hour before sunset in summer to find space, or walk a few minutes back along the main lane to a quieter terrace.

The lanes of Oia. Away from the main marble street, the side lanes lead past captains’ houses, blue-domed churches and cave houses carved into the cliff. Early morning is the best time to walk them, before the shops open and the day visitors arrive.

Finikia. Just east of Oia, the small village of Finikia keeps the look of old Santorini, with pastel houses, narrow lanes and a quiet church square. It sits away from the caldera edge, so it sees few tourists even in high season.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 for photographers. Oia at dawn, when the light falls softly on the white walls and the lanes are empty, is one of the finest photo opportunities on the island.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 on foot. From Finikia, a short walk leads down towards the coast, and the long caldera path from Fira arrives in Oia after around three to four hours.

Tip. If you want the Oia sunset without the crowd, watch it from a boat in the caldera or from Imerovigli and visit Oia in the morning instead.

+14. Panagia Episkopi in Mesa Gonia

Among the places you should see in Santorini in 2022, the Byzantine church of Panagia Episkopi is one of the oldest monuments still standing on the island.

The church. It stands in the village of Mesa Gonia, below the slopes of Profitis Ilias, and dates to the late 11th century, when it was founded under the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos. Inside, the church keeps icons and wall paintings from several periods.

The festival. On 15 August, the feast of the Dormition of the Virgin, the church hosts one of the most important religious celebrations on the island.

Mesa Gonia. The village around the church was badly damaged by the 1956 earthquake, and many of its old houses still stand empty on the hillside. Walking among them gives a vivid picture of how the earthquake changed the island.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 for history lovers. Combine Panagia Episkopi with Pyrgos, Profitis Ilias and Ancient Thera for a day that spans three thousand years.

Tip. Dress modestly when entering churches, with shoulders and knees covered.

+15. The Museums of Fira

Fira is already on the list above as the capital, but its museums make it one of the places you should see in Santorini in 2022 even on a rainy or windy day.

The Museum of Prehistoric Thera. It displays finds from the Bronze Age town at Akrotiri, described above, including painted pottery, tools and some of the famous wall paintings. Seeing them after a visit to the archaeological site brings the buried town to life.

The Archaeological Museum of Thera. Near the cable car, it holds sculpture, inscriptions and pottery from Ancient Thera and other sites on the island.

The Orthodox Cathedral. The large white cathedral in the centre of Fira, with its arches and bell tower, is one of the landmarks of the capital.

The Old Port. Below Fira, the Old Port is reached by the cable car, on foot down the stepped path or by donkey. Boats to the volcano and the hot springs leave from here.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 in one morning. Visit the Museum of Prehistoric Thera when it opens, walk the caldera edge of Fira and take the cable car down to the Old Port for a boat trip.

Tip. Opening hours of the museums and other places you should see in Santorini in 2022 change with the season, so check them before you go.

The Best Sunset Places You Should See in Santorini in 2022

The sunset is the moment everyone plans their day around. These are the sunset places you should see in Santorini in 2022, from the most famous to the quietest.

Oia. The most famous view, from the castle walls and the terraces facing west. It is also the busiest, especially from June to September.

Imerovigli and Skaros. From the highest point of the caldera, the sun sets beside Skaros Rock, with far fewer people than in Oia.

Firostefani and Fira. West-facing bars and restaurants along the caldera edge, easy to reach from the capital.

Pyrgos. From the top of the village, the whole island is spread out below you.

The Akrotiri Lighthouse. The sun sinks into the open sea, with only the sound of the wind.

From the sea. A sunset cruise lets you watch the sky change colour from the middle of the caldera, with the villages lighting up on the cliffs.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 at sunset without crowds. Choose Imerovigli, Pyrgos or the lighthouse, and keep Oia for a morning walk.

Tip. The sunset time moves by almost two hours between June and December, so check the time for your travel dates and arrive early.

Places You Should See in Santorini in 2022 by Season

The same island feels very different from month to month. Here is how the places you should see in Santorini in 2022 change with the seasons.

Spring (April and May). The countryside is green, and wild flowers grow between the vines. It is the best time for walking the caldera path, climbing Profitis Ilias and visiting Ancient Thera before the heat arrives. The sea is still cool for swimming.

Summer (June to August). The beaches of Kamari, Perissa and Perivolos are at their liveliest, and the boat trips to the volcano, the hot springs and Thirasia run every day. Oia and Fira are crowded, so visit them early in the morning.

Autumn (September and October). The sea is at its warmest, the wineries are calm after the late-summer harvest, and the light turns golden. It is one of the best times to see all the places you should see in Santorini in 2022.

Winter (November to March). Many hotels and restaurants close, but the villages are quiet, the museums are open and the views are clear. Pyrgos, Megalochori and Emporio, three of the places you should see in Santorini in 2022, are at their most authentic.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 in any season. The caldera view, the villages and Akrotiri can be enjoyed all year round.

Planning Your Route

Grouping the places you should see in Santorini in 2022 by area saves hours of driving.

The north. Oia, Ammoudi and Finikia, best in the morning or late afternoon.

The caldera centre. Fira, the Three Bells, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Skaros, linked by the path along the rim.

The south. Akrotiri, the Red Beach, Megalochori, Vlychada and the lighthouse.

The south-east. Pyrgos, Profitis Ilias, Emporio, Perissa and Ancient Thera.

The sea. Nea Kameni, Palea Kameni and Thirasia, by boat.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 in a single day. A private tour can combine Oia, Fira, Pyrgos, Akrotiri and a sunset viewpoint.

Suggested Itineraries

These routes link the places you should see in Santorini in 2022 in a logical order, so you spend your time exploring rather than driving.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 in one day. Morning in Oia and Ammoudi, midday at Akrotiri and the Red Beach, afternoon in Pyrgos and Megalochori, sunset in Imerovigli, dinner in Fira.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 in two days. Day one: Fira, the Three Bells, Firostefani, Imerovigli and the walk to Skaros, with a sunset at Skaros. Day two: a morning boat to the volcano, the hot springs and Thirasia, then Oia in the evening.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 in three days. Add a day in the south and south-east: Akrotiri, the Red Beach, Vlychada, Emporio, Perissa and Ancient Thera, with the lighthouse at sunset.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 in five days. Slow down: walk from Fira to Oia, climb Profitis Ilias, explore Vothonas and Mesa Gonia, spend a beach day in Kamari or Perissa, and taste the local wines in Megalochori and Pyrgos.

Practical Tips for Visiting the Places You Should See in Santorini in 2022

A little planning helps you see more of the island in less time and with less stress.

Start early. The most popular places you should see in Santorini in 2022, such as Oia, Fira and the Red Beach, are calm in the early morning and crowded by midday.

Watch the cruise days. When several cruise ships anchor in the caldera, Fira and Oia fill up quickly. On those days, head to the south, the inland villages or the beaches.

Getting around. The public buses connect Fira with the main villages and beaches. A car, a quad or a private tour gives you more freedom to reach places such as Vothonas, Mesa Gonia and the lighthouse.

Parking. Parking in Oia and Fira is limited in summer, so arrive early or use the bus.

Walking. Many lanes in the caldera villages are stepped and steep. Wear comfortable shoes with a good grip.

Heat and sun. In summer, carry water, a hat and sunscreen, especially at Akrotiri, Ancient Thera and on the volcano, where there is little shade.

Book ahead. Boat trips to the places you should see in Santorini in 2022 at sea, sunset cruises and restaurants with caldera views fill up in high season.

Places you should see in Santorini in 2022 with a local expert. An experienced local can explain the history of each village, time your visits to avoid the crowds and take you to places you might otherwise miss.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the places you should see in Santorini?

Fira, Oia, Imerovigli, Akrotiri, the Three Bells of Fira, Pyrgos, Ammoudi, the Red Beach, Megalochori and Emporio, plus Skaros, Firostefani, the volcano, the hot springs, Thirasia, Ancient Thera and the lighthouse.

Which places you should see in Santorini in 2022 are free?

Many of the places you should see in Santorini in 2022 cost nothing: the caldera path from Fira to Oia, the villages, the view of the Three Bells, Skaros Rock, the beaches and the lighthouse.

Which places you should see in Santorini in 2022 need a boat?

Of the places you should see in Santorini in 2022, you need a boat to reach Nea Kameni, the hot springs of Palea Kameni and Thirasia. The Red Beach can also be seen from the sea.

Which places you should see in Santorini in 2022 suit families?

For families, the places you should see in Santorini in 2022 include Kamari and Perissa, the volcano, the museums of Fira and Akrotiri, which is covered and shaded.

Which places you should see in Santorini in 2022 are best for sunset?

Oia, Imerovigli, Firostefani, Pyrgos and the Akrotiri Lighthouse are the sunset places you should see in Santorini in 2022.

How many days do I need?

Three days for the essentials, five for a relaxed pace.

Do I need a car?

A car or private tour helps for the south and the villages; the caldera villages are best explored on foot.

When is the best time to visit?

Late May, June, September and early October.

With Santorini Tours. Our private tours take you to the places you should see in Santorini in 2022 and beyond, timed to avoid the crowds. Contact us to plan your visit.

Cycladic Architecture – Why the Islands Look Like That

Cycladic architecture is whitewashed, cubic, flat-roofed building made from local stone, volcanic ash and lime, with walls a metre thick and no timber to speak of. On Santorini the soft pumice lets you dig a house rather than build one.

Cycladic architecture, an unsurpassed heritage in Santorini

This is what architecture makes of each building. The Cyclades have over the years developed a special architecture that is not found anywhere else in the world and complements the beauty of the islands that have preserved it. The Cycladic houses are built by simple means in order to meet the needs of life, but they are considered to be unique in aesthetics.

Visiting Santorini island is the best way to enjoy the unique Cycladic architecture with Santorini Tours!

The defensive characteristics of the Cycladic architecture

The islands of the Aegean sea faced security problems due to piracy, so the architecture was defensive. Houses were built in a fortified castle (Andros, Naxos), while the main villages were far from the sea, usually in a prominent position, so that threats from the raiders of the time could be spotted in time.

The factors that influenced Cycladitic architecture

Important factors that influenced the Cycladic architecture are the environment, the climate, the role of the water and the landscape. The settlement grew without planning, depending on the natural terrain. The construction of a village by design is very rare in the Cyclades. Thus, we mainly have “one-piece cubes” with an area of 3 × 4m. and a height of 2.5-3 m.

As no lumber was available, beams rarely exceeded three meters. The orientation of the house was usually south-east, so the house enjoyed natural light, while the walls were 60-80cm thick to ensure the desired temperature. For the same reason, on the north side there was almost always an opening to cool the house in the summer from the winds but also to avoid the cold air coming in winter.

In addition, the whitewashed walls offered clear appearance and relative cleanliness of the rooms, while the white color limits the absorption of heat in the summer months. Today, the development of materials, combined with the priceless architectural heritage of the Cyclades, enables us to build modern homes with a timeless character and style.

How to explore Santorini

You can meet every single part of Santorini and Cyclades by booking private tours in Santorini and Santorini private transfers! Out luxury mini buses can take you everywhere you wish and our qualified guides will give you all the information for every single village on Santorini.

See more about Santorini island:

Cycladic Architecture: What Defines It

Cycladic architecture is whitewashed, cubic, flat-roofed building made from what was on the island and nothing else. No timber to speak of, no fired brick, no grand plan – just stone, volcanic ash, lime and the shape that survives wind, earthquakes and pirates.

Six things define cycladic architecture. Cubes stacked without symmetry. Flat or barrel-vaulted roofs. Walls a metre thick, rendered and lime-washed white. Tiny windows and thick door frames. Outside stairs running up the face of the building. And no straight lines anywhere, because everything was built by hand against a slope.

On Santorini it goes further than anywhere else in the Cyclades, because the rock here is soft volcanic pumice you can dig. Instead of building a house, you cut one into the cliff. That is the yposkafa, and every cave hotel on the caldera rim is a version of it.

Below: why it looks the way it does, the building types, the materials, the truth about the blue, and where on the island to see the real thing rather than the renovated version.

Why Does Cycladic Architecture Look Like That?

Every feature of cycladic architecture is an answer to a problem. None of it was a style decision.

No timber

The Cyclades are treeless. There was never enough wood for pitched roofs, floor joists or wide spans, so roofs are flat or vaulted in stone and rooms are narrow. That single shortage shapes the whole of cycladic architecture.

The wind

The meltemi blows hard for months, and cycladic architecture is shaped around it. Buildings are low, thick-walled and huddled together, with small openings on the exposed side. Rounded corners and curved parapets shed wind rather than catching it.

Earthquakes

The Aegean is seismic and Santorini particularly so – the 1956 earthquake destroyed a great deal of Oia and Fira. Low buildings, thick walls, barrel vaults and interlocking cubes survive shaking far better than tall thin ones.

Heat and no shade

Whitewash reflects sunlight, thick walls hold the night’s coolness through the day, and small windows keep the sun out. A cave house sits at a steady temperature all year without any machinery.

No fresh water

Almost no rainfall and no springs, and cycladic architecture is built around that fact. Roofs are shaped to collect what falls and channel it into cisterns cut under the house. Half the flat roofs and curved parapets in cycladic architecture are really water catchment.

Pirates

Until the nineteenth century the Aegean was raided constantly, and cycladic architecture was built defensively because of it. Villages were built inland and out of sight of the sea, packed tight into defensive kastelli with the outer houses forming a continuous wall and lanes deliberately laid out to confuse an attacker.

Poverty

These were poor islands. Nothing was decorative that was not also structural, and everything was built by the family that lived in it, extended a room at a time as children were born. That is why no two houses are alike and why nothing lines up.

What Are the Building Types?

The yposkafa

Santorini’s own contribution to cycladic architecture. A house dug horizontally into the soft volcanic pumice of the caldera cliff, with a barrel-vaulted front room facing out and cool storage running back into the rock. It cost nothing but labour, it holds a steady temperature all year, and it is why the caldera villages look carved rather than built. Genuine ones are still lived in at Vothonas, Finikia and Karterados. Vothonas.

The kapetanospito

The grandest form of cycladic architecture on the island. When Santorini shipped wine to Russia and the Black Sea in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the shipowners built neoclassical houses behind high walls – two storeys, painted ochre or deep red, with pediments, courtyards and imported detail. Megalochori and Oia have the best of them, and they sit oddly and beautifully against the white cubes around them. Megalochori.

The kanava

Underground vaulted wine cellars cut into pumice, used to keep wine cool without ice. Several working estates are still built around one, and they are the industrial half of cycladic architecture nobody photographs. Wine tour.

The kastelli

The medieval defensive village: houses packed against each other with their outer walls forming a continuous rampart, one or two gates, and lanes that double back on themselves. Emporio has the most complete example on the island, with the Goulas tower at its centre. Emporio.

The church

Small, white, single-nave, with a blue or ochre dome and a bell wall rather than a tower. There are said to be several hundred on Santorini, many built by individual families in thanks or in memory and opened once a year on the saint’s day.

The bell tower

A free-standing arched wall with two or three bells hung in it, rather than a tower with a staircase. Cheaper, lower, and better in an earthquake. The three-bell campanile at Firostefani is the most photographed piece of cycladic architecture on the island. Firostefani.

The windmill

Round, white, stone, with a conical roof and cloth sails, set on ridges to catch the meltemi. Oia and Emporio both keep restored examples.

The dovecote

More a Tinos speciality than a Santorini one, but present: elaborate stone lattice towers built to house pigeons for meat and manure.

The outside staircase

Running up the face of a building to the roof or an upper room, because internal stairs waste space and timber. One of the most recognisable features of cycladic architecture anywhere in the islands.

What Is It Built From?

Volcanic stone

Whatever came out of the ground: basalt, scoria and lava rubble, laid up in thick walls with mortar and rendered over. Nothing is dressed or squared unless it is a door frame.

Theraic earth

Santorini’s own volcanic ash, quarried and ground, which sets hard when mixed with lime and water. It is a natural hydraulic cement and it was exported by the shipload in the nineteenth century – the Suez Canal was built partly with it. This material is the reason cycladic architecture on Santorini could span vaults that other islands could not.

Pumice

Light, soft, workable and a good insulator, and the reason Santorini’s cycladic architecture is carved rather than stacked. It is what the cave houses are cut into and what the lighter vault infill is made from.

Lime

Burnt and slaked on the island, used for mortar, render and the whitewash itself. It is mildly antiseptic, which is why lanes and steps were whitewashed as well as walls.

Timber, sparingly

Imported and expensive in cycladic architecture, used only for doors, shutters, window frames and the occasional beam. It is why openings are small.

Seaweed and reed

Used in roof layers on some islands as insulation under the earth and lime finish.

The barrel vault

The signature structural move in cycladic architecture. A curved vault of stone and volcanic mortar spanning a narrow room without a single timber beam. Every yposkafa and every kanava is built on it, and it is the single most important technique in Santorini’s version of cycladic architecture.

The cistern

Cut into the rock beneath the house, fed by the roof and the courtyard. On an island with no fresh water, the cistern came first and the house was built around it.

Why Is Cycladic Architecture White?

The whitewash

Lime wash, renewed every spring, applied to walls, parapets, steps and the lanes themselves. It reflects heat, it is antiseptic, and it was cheap because lime was made locally. That is the whole reason, and it long predates tourism.

The dictatorship story

It is often said that cycladic architecture was ordered white and blue by decree in the 1960s to match the Greek flag. There is truth in the idea that regulations encouraged a uniform look in the twentieth century, but whitewashing is far older than that and had entirely practical origins. Treat the flag story as folklore rather than fact.

The blue

Older doors and domes were painted with whatever pigment was cheap, which is why you also find ochre, deep red, grey-green and brown all over the island. Loulaki – a blue laundry powder mixed into the limewash – was common because it was available. The uniform postcard blue is largely a twentieth-century convention, not an ancient rule.

The other colours

Oia’s ochre and red houses are the captains’ mansions and the cave houses cut into iron-rich rock. Megalochori and Emporio have unpainted stone, pale grey render and dark red doors. Anyone who thinks cycladic architecture is only white and blue has only seen the caldera rim.

Why it matters

Because the inland villages hold the older and more honest half of the island’s cycladic architecture, of the island, do not look like the photographs at all – and they are the better half to walk through.

A Short History of Building Here

Cycladic architecture did not appear all at once. It is four thousand years of the same constraints producing similar answers.

The Bronze Age

The oldest cycladic architecture on the island. Akrotiri, buried in around 1600 BC, had streets, drainage and houses of two and three storeys with flat roofs, thick walls and small windows. The continuity with the villages above it is not sentimental – it is the same island, the same wind and the same absence of timber.

Antiquity

Ancient Thira on the ridge above Kamari is a different tradition: Greek, Hellenistic and Roman, with cut stone, colonnades and a theatre. It sits above the vernacular rather than in it.

The Byzantine and Venetian centuries

Piracy pushed settlement inland and upward. The five kastelli of Santorini – Emporio, Pyrgos, Akrotiri, Skaros and Oia – date from this period, along with the Goulas towers and the defensive layout that still confuses visitors today.

The wine centuries

From the seventeenth century the island exported wine in volume, and the money built the captains’ mansions, the underground kanavas and the neoclassical facades of Megalochori and Oia. This is where cycladic architecture on Santorini stops being purely poor and starts being ambitious.

1956

The earthquake destroyed much of Oia and Fira, emptied Skaros entirely and pushed a generation off the island. What stood was patched; what fell was left.

The tourism decades

From the 1970s onward the empty cave houses became the most valuable cycladic architecture in the Aegean. the most valuable property in the Aegean. Restoration, reconstruction and a good deal of new building in the old idiom followed, under regulation on height, form and colour.

Where that leaves you

Standing in a lane that is partly Bronze Age logic, partly Venetian defence, partly shipowners’ money and partly a 1980s restoration – and all of it recognisably the same thing.

Where Do You See Cycladic Architecture on Santorini?

Emporio

The best cycladic architecture in one place. A complete medieval kastelli with houses forming the outer wall, a Venetian tower, lanes built to confuse pirates and windmills on the ridge above. The largest village on the island and the least visited.

Pyrgos

A hill village stacked in concentric rings up to a Venetian castle, with thirty-odd churches and the whole island visible from the top. The clearest example of how cycladic architecture handles a slope. Pyrgos.

Megalochori

Walled captains’ mansions, arched bell towers, cave houses and vines growing out of the pavement. The best place to see the neoclassical and the vernacular next to each other.

Vothonas and Finikia

The most honest cycladic architecture on the island. Two villages built into ravines, with genuine yposkafa cave houses still lived in and churches dug straight into the rock. Finikia.

Oia

The caldera rim at its most photographed: cave houses in ochre and white, captains’ mansions, windmills and blue domes. Also the most restored, so what you are looking at is largely a careful post-1956 reconstruction. Go at seven in the morning. Oia.

Imerovigli and Firostefani

Cave hotels, barrel vaults and the three-bell campanile, strung along the cliff above the crater. Imerovigli.

Fira

The capital, with the Catholic quarter, the cathedral, and a mix of vernacular cycladic architecture and nineteenth-century civic building. Fira.

Akrotiri

The origin of all the island’s cycladic architecture. A Bronze Age town buried under ash in around 1600 BC, with paved streets, three-storey houses, indoor drainage and frescoes. Standing in it, the continuity with the villages above is obvious. Akrotiri.

Ancient Thira

Greek, Hellenistic and Roman building on a ridge above Kamari, and not cycladic architecture at all – a different tradition entirely, and worth seeing for the contrast. Ancient Thira.

The wineries

Underground kanavas, vaulted and cool, still working. Wine museum.

How Does Santorini Differ From the Other Cyclades?

The cycladic architecture vocabulary is shared across the islands; the grammar changes with the geology.

Santorini

The only island where you dig rather than build. Soft volcanic pumice makes the yposkafa possible, theraic earth makes the barrel vault possible, and a three-hundred-metre cliff makes the whole thing vertical. Nowhere else in cycladic architecture has houses cut into the side of a crater.

Mykonos

Granite rather than volcanic rock, so building rather than carving. Chora is flat, dense and famously maze-like – laid out to confuse pirates – with the windmills on the ridge and Little Venice built out over the water.

Paros and Naxos

Marble islands. Paros has whole villages of white houses with marble thresholds and lintels, and Lefkes and Naoussa are the set pieces. Naxos has the Venetian kastro in Chora and stone towers scattered across the interior.

Folegandros and Sifnos

Folegandros keeps one of the best-preserved kastro in the Cyclades, on a cliff edge. Sifnos has hundreds of small white churches and a strong pottery tradition, with the chimneys to prove it.

Tinos

The dovecotes. Hundreds of elaborate stone lattice towers built by Venetian landowners, and marble craft villages like Pyrgos. A different branch of the same family.

Amorgos and Anafi

Steep, spare and very close to the older version of cycladic architecture, with little tourism to smooth it over.

What they all share

White cubes, flat roofs, thick walls, outside stairs, small openings, blue or ochre domes, and villages built inland and out of sight of the sea. Change the stone and the slope and you get the local dialect.

What About the Cave Hotels?

The most commercially visible form of cycladic architecture today, and worth understanding honestly.

What they are

Genuine yposkafa – nineteenth and early twentieth-century cave dwellings, sailors’ and farmers’ houses cut into the cliff – converted into suites. The barrel vault, the thick walls and the cool interior are all original.

What has been added

Plunge pools, glass walls at the front where there was a small door, terraces cantilevered out, and a great deal of plumbing that the rock was never cut for. Some conversions are extremely careful; some are a modern box with a curved ceiling.

How to tell

Look at the ceiling and the wall thickness – the two cycladic architecture tells that cannot be faked cheaply. A real vault is uneven and the walls are close to a metre. Look at the depth: a genuine cave house runs back into the rock, and the back rooms have no windows because there is a cliff behind them.

The 1956 earthquake

It destroyed much of Oia and Fira and emptied the caldera villages for a generation. A great deal of what you photograph today was rebuilt or restored from the 1970s onward, which does not make it fake – it makes it a continuous tradition rather than a preserved ruin.

Preservation now

Building on the caldera rim is regulated, which is why the cycladic architecture there stays uniform. with rules on height, colour and form. The pressure is enormous and the results are mixed, which is a fair thing to notice while you are staying in one.

What to book if you care

A genuine converted yposkafa in Firostefani or Imerovigli rather than a new-build with a vault-shaped ceiling. Ask how old the cave is, and ask how many steps there are while you are at it.

How Do You Read a Village?

Ten cycladic architecture details that turn a pretty lane into something you understand.

Which way it faces. Older villages are inland and out of sight of the sea. If a settlement looks at the water, it is probably nineteenth century or later, after the pirates stopped.

The outer wall. In a kastelli the backs of the houses form a continuous rampart with one or two gates. Walk the outside and you will see it.

Where the lanes double back. Deliberate. So is the dead end.

Wall thickness at the door. A metre means old. Twenty centimetres means new.

The vault. Look up inside any old room. A curved ceiling means no timber was available, which is the whole story of cycladic architecture in one glance.

The outside stair. It tells you the upper room was reached separately, often because it belonged to a different generation of the family.

The cistern lid. A round stone cover in a courtyard or under a stair. The house was built around it.

The bell wall. An arched wall rather than a tower means earthquake country and no money for a staircase.

The colours under the white. Chipped render often shows ochre or red beneath.

What is dug and what is built. On Santorini the two sit side by side, and once you can tell them apart you cannot stop.

Cycladic Architecture: Frequently Asked Questions

What is cycladic architecture? The vernacular building tradition of the Cyclades: whitewashed cubic houses with flat or vaulted roofs, walls up to a metre thick, small openings, outside stairs and no symmetry, built from local stone and lime.

Why are the houses white? Lime wash, renewed each spring. It reflects heat, it is mildly antiseptic and it was cheap because lime was burnt locally. It long predates tourism.

Were white and blue made compulsory? Twentieth-century regulation encouraged a uniform look, but whitewashing is far older and entirely practical in origin. The story that it was ordered to match the flag is folklore.

Why are the roofs flat or curved? There is almost no timber in the Cyclades, so pitched roofs were impossible. Flat roofs and stone barrel vaults span without beams and collect rainwater into a cistern.

What is a yposkafa? A house dug horizontally into Santorini’s soft volcanic pumice, with a vaulted front room and storage running back into the rock. Every cave hotel on the caldera is a converted one.

Why are the villages inland? Piracy. Until the nineteenth century, settlements were built out of sight of the sea and packed into defensive kastelli.

What is theraic earth? Santorini’s volcanic ash, which sets hard with lime and water. A natural cement, exported by the shipload in the nineteenth century, and the reason the island’s vaults are possible.

Where is the best cycladic architecture on Santorini? Emporio’s kastelli, Pyrgos, Megalochori’s mansions, and the cave houses at Vothonas and Finikia. Oia is the most photographed and the most restored.

Is Oia authentic? Largely rebuilt after the 1956 earthquake, in the same tradition and by the same methods. Continuous rather than preserved.

How does Santorini differ from Mykonos? Mykonos is granite and built; Santorini is pumice and carved. Same vocabulary, different geology.

Can you visit the inside of an old house? Yes – several village museums, the wine museum’s cave and the working kanavas at the estates are all open.

What is the oldest architecture on the island? Akrotiri, a Bronze Age town buried in around 1600 BC, with paved streets, multi-storey houses and drainage.

See It With a Guide

We are a local operator and the days we most enjoy are the ones that go inland: the kastelli at Emporio, the castle at Pyrgos, the captains’ mansions and bell towers at Megalochori, cave houses at Vothonas, and a working kanava at a winery.

Tell us your dates and what interests you. Prices are per vehicle rather than per person, so a family of four pays what a couple pays, hotel pickup anywhere on the island is included, we guide in twelve languages, and an 80 EUR deposit confirms a date.

See the historical tour, the villages of Santorini, the full list of tours, or the FAQ.

Every Village and Site on the Island

Any of these can be built into a private day. Each has its own page with what to see and how long to allow.

Caldera villages: Fira · Firostefani · Imerovigli · Oia · Finikia · Baxedes

Inland villages: Pyrgos · Megalochori · Emporio · Mesaria · Karterados · Vothonas · Vourvoulos · Exo Gonia · Mesa Gonia · Pigadia

Beaches: Perissa · Perivolos · Kamari · Vlychada · Monolithos · Red Beach · White Beach · Agios Georgios · Agia Paraskevi

Sites and landmarks: Akrotiri · Ancient Thira · Akrotiri Lighthouse · Nea Kameni · Palia Kameni · Thirasia · Athinios Port

All our tours: All Santorini tours · Full day tour · Sightseeing tour · Personalised tour · North part tour · Horse riding · South part tour · Sunset tour · Shore excursion · Caldera tour · Food experience · Wine tour · Historical tour · Small group tour

Planning and services: Famous sights tour · Private transfers · Transfers to Oia and Finikia · Transfers to other villages · Villages of Santorini · History of Santorini · Tours near you · Languages we guide in · Food and fun tours · Gay friendly tours · Our tour buses · Daily tours · Day tours · FAQ · Gallery · Tour photo gallery · About us · Contact · Blog

August 3, 2021 By Stelios Karamolegkos Leave a Comment

9 things you should do in Santorini in August

The beautiful and glamorous Santorini invites you for another summer to explore it and experience a unique vacation combining a ride with donkeys, a visit to a volcano and a cable car. Book a Santorini Tour with us in August and have the time of your life!

1. Walk in the famous and picturesque Fira

The cosmopolitan Fira, the capital of the island, retains its interesting architecture and is one of the busiest places on the island. From the port you will go up 4-5 turns and you will be in the neighborhoods of Fira.

The village as it is located in an advantageous position above the caldera has experienced great tourist development. You will see the popular caves that were the residences of the poorest inhabitants of the island, but also the impressive public buildings and urban houses of the 18th and 19th century. It is worth approaching Theotokopoulou Square with its cafes and luxury shops. Look for different places from where you will enjoy the view of the chaotic cliff and the volcanic islands.

One of them is the orthodox cathedral of the Diocese. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Thira, the cultural center “Belloneio Foundation” and the Venetian Palace of Gyzi with its magnificent copperplates. In the upper Fira you will tour Frangomachalas with its well-preserved mansions and in Kato Fira, the church of Ag. Mina and the church of Christ. From here the cable car will take you down comfortably to the port of Gialos.

2. Walk in the famous Imerovigli

Imerovigli occupies the most privileged position and has the most breathtaking view of the caldera and Thirasia. It is famous for the luxurious hotels that offer their guests a natural balcony in the caldera, a calm atmosphere and a super relaxing landscape. You can have a Santorini Private Personalized Tour with Santorini Tours and experience the beauty of Santorini.

3. See rare finds in the museums of the island

A visit to the museum of Prehistoric Thira and the archeological site is like a dive into the long history of the island. The first houses finds from excavations in Akrotiri, such as furniture molds, bronze utensils and the only golden chamois figurine.

The Archaeological Museum houses collections of sculptures and inscriptions from the Archaic to the Roman period. Excavations have revealed parts of an advanced settlement of the 3rd millennium BC that was buried in the ashes of the great eruption of the volcano (15th century BC). It is considered one of the most important prehistoric centers of the Aegean and the Mediterranean.

4. Go to Pyrgos, the old capital

South of Fira you will find the village of Pyrgos which used to be (until 1800) the capital of the island. The settlement is located at the foot of Prof. Elias which is the highest mountain of Santorini.

In the center of the village dominates the medieval castle that is kept in good condition. There are picturesque taverns and beautiful cafes. Visit the monastery of Profitis Ilias or follow the path to the top of the mountain.

5. Visit Emporio and the nearby beaches

The village of Emporio is located in the southern part of Santorini and in the past was the commercial center of the island, as until a few years ago were located most of the shops.

Its medieval castle (Goulas) is well preserved. You will tour the labyrinthine medieval cobbled streets where in some cases only one person can fit. You will see the church of Evangelistria or Panagia Messiani (16th century) and the restored medieval buildings. You can take a tour of Santorini!

6. Plan a tour to the Volcano and the surrounding settlements

Prefer packages that include a visit to the Volcano, the Hot Springs and spend some time in Thirasia to discover the settlements of Potamos and Manolas, which are not touristically developed, and to swim in Korfos (old port), where you can enjoy a meal. However, the experience of seeing Santorini at sea is something you should not miss for any reason.

7. Opt for extreme sports

Only a diving enthusiast can understand the uniqueness of the experience of becoming part of this wonderful aquatic world. In Santorini you will feel this many times over, since at the same time there is the peculiarity of the seabed: the volcanic rocks and the awe from the bottom of the caldera.

8. Visit Red Beach, the wonder of nature

Santorini has good beaches such as Kamari sandy beach on the east side of the island, the famous Perissa with fine black sand, the busy beach of Monolithos near the airport, Columbus, Vlychada and many more. However, Red beach is considered the beast beach in Santorini.

This unique beach takes its name from the vertical reddish rocks that stand around next to the deep pelagic waters composing a landscape, almost unreal. It is approached from the great archeological site of Akrotiri where in the parking lot you will leave your vehicle and continue on a downhill path for 5 minutes to the sea. Of course you can also come by excursion boat from Akrotiri.

Be prepared for lots of people, especially in August. There are canteens, while part of the sea shore is occupied by umbrella loungers. It has a southern orientation and consequently the meltemi does not catch it. In any case, despite any inconvenience, if you choose Santorini this summer, know that swimming on the Red Beach is one of the best thinks you can do in the island.

9. Santorini is an excellent gastronomic destination

Santorini is probably the most gastronomic island of the Aegean with a series of excellent local products but also restaurants that highlight and give another dimension to the products and the Greek cuisine. So your experience on the island will be complete only by tasting the cuisine of some of the distinguished and award-winning chefs of the island, who passionately cook and give soul to local products. You can enjoy a Santorini Private Tour and Food Experience as well as a Santorini Wine Tour with us.

Have a romantic wedding in Santorini

Santorini is the ideal island for an unforgettable celebration of your wedding with the people you love. You can book a tour with Santorini Private Tours anytime in order to discover if it is the right place for your wedding. The blue sea, the impressive sunset, the white houses, the black sand with the whitewashed villages of the caldera and the red and black rocks of the volcano, create an extraordinary background for a unique wedding. If you want a romantic wedding with a magical feeling and the sunset, then Santorini is the perfect choice for you.

The perfect scenery for your wedding

Island weddings are characterized by their magical views and beautiful landscapes. Specifically, the beautiful Santorini is the perfect location for enchanting photos and an unforgettable wedding. The clear blue waters of the sea in combination with the white color of the architecture of the small houses, the greenery of the island and of course the wonderful sunsets are an attraction for many couples from abroad. Island weddings usually have lighter styles and shades that follow the color palette of the island, such as white, green, light blue and so on. If your wedding will be summer, then the choice of the island is the best.

It is not difficult to find what will satisfy your taste and needs because Santorini all the necessary luxuries for the wedding of your dreams. A very good idea is to choose Santorini for your wedding if you first met your significant other or if you went on your first vacation as a couple. It will be very romantic to have your wedding where you already have very intimate and sweet memories.

A wedding in Santorini is suitable for romantic younger couples who want something more relaxed, more casual, more special even if they follow the traditions of the island. Surely your wedding will be impressive, dreamy and original and will be engraved in the memory not only of the couple but also of the guests.

What you need to pay attention to is to have a great mood, not to worry about anything and to avoid exaggerations. When a wedding takes place on an island, the whole plan, from the style of the bride and groom to the decoration, must follow simple lines, relaxation, romance and no exaggerations.

Guests at a Santorini wedding

First, you need to be fully informed about anything related to the safety of your guests. Think that many may visit the place for the first time, which means that in an emergency they should know how to move. You do not have to cover the expenses of your guests. But this does not mean that you will not try to make deals with hotels, or room rentals, in order to offer them smart and economical accommodation solutions.

Of course, we do not forget to warn them in time for this big day in order to easily and equally economically book their trip. Prefer to send the wedding invitation at least 6 months in advance, together with all the details for this great journey.

Many couples are used to organizing a welcome event or a farewell gathering. Our suggestion in any case, is to think of something more casual, such as a relaxed beach party or a cocktail event without a formal dinner. You can also book them a full tour in order to enjoy their visit to Santorini. After all, your guests have given their all to be there with you and whatever you organize will give you the opportunity to spend more time with them and show them your appreciation.

The cost for a wedding in Santorini

Maybe for such an idea the cost of its implementation worries you. But there is a solution for this as well. You can do your wedding at a time that is not high season. Both the reception hotel and the center you choose will be able to give you better prices. Of course if you prefer the same place to continue staying on your honeymoon there then the cost will not seem so prohibitive.

The wedding venue

A wedding in Santorini usually brings to mind a small chapel in the most romantic part of the island with the best sunset. Definitely the chapels with a traditional architecture are the ideal choice when you want a dreamy romantic wedding on a Greek island. Of course, if you prefer to choose one of the largest and most central churches on the island due to its capacity, it is clearly up to you.

An island wedding is identified with a simple but impressive decoration either in a more traditional and retro style or in modern lines. You can decorate the entrance of the church with a garland or choose a classic and traditional decoration, such as an element of Cycladic decoration such as a jar. If there are steps in the church you can decorate them with some rose petals or small pots of herbs or baskets with your favorite flowers.

Depending on what the couple prefers and how many guests there will be, you can choose to have the wedding reception or party either in a more traditional style in a restaurant or tavern of the island with regular food on the table, or to take advantage of the beautiful beach spots of the island and to close a beach bar where you will have fun with music and dancing. Of course, if you and your loved one are even more relaxed and you can go with a few good friends on the beach to take your evening bath. You can take a tour of Santorini!

Choose Santorini for your wedding

In any case, the guests who will come will experience a very beautiful event. Your Santorini wedding will be a quick escape from reality. A trip in the summer in Santorini is never a bad idea, since they even have such a good reason to do it, your wedding! They will even be able to combine it with a short or a long vacation and book a private sunset tour with Santorini Private Tours.

An island wedding is like taking a vacation and is going to a very beautiful party with all your dear friends and relatives. The chances that the experience will not be beautiful are minimal. A wedding in Santorini definitely will be an unforgettable experience for everyone.