Santorini

Why Santorini is special
Yes, it swarms with summer tourists, but the setting of this Greek Isle is so picturesque and geologically striking that you should visit Santorini on your first trip to Greece.

The two most popular Santorini cliff-perched villages
Travel memories are made of this
The two white-washed villages listed below take root on the island's high steep volcano rim. They are immensely photogenic. Their views of sheer cliffs and the deep-blue bay are breathtaking.

• Fira
  It is the biggest, busiest and most touristed. Still, it has retained some of its alluring qualities.
  
• Oia
  This village is in northern Santorini. It appeals to those seeking a more peaceful and laid-back ambiance for their vacation in Greece.

Imeroviglia and Firostefani are also rim villages that attract tourists. They are located between Fira and Oia.

Popular Santorini seaside villages
Kamari and Perissa
They are moderate-sized sea resort villages. They are less charming than the cliff-perching towns, but have wide beaches directly on the Aegean Sea.

Restaurants, nightlife, and cruises
Restaurants
Santorini has many interesting restaurants. Some have outdoor terraces overlooking the caldera bay. They are great spots for viewing the celebrated sunsets. The experience will be one of your most treasured memories of Greece.

Nightlife
It's lively in Santorini, especially in the village of Fira. For the young, the clubbing-till-dawn culture is well entrenched.

Cruises
Many cruise ships call upon Santorini because it is cruise-ship friendly.

• Deep harbor
  Large cruise ships can sail into the caldera bay because it's quite deep.
  
• Landing
  Cruise tourists land at a wharf at the base of the caldera's cliff. Fira is directly above, but a long way up the cliff.
  
• Reaching Fira
  Cruise and yacht visitors can walk up a zigzagging pathway, but it's exhaustingly steep and long. On my first visit to Santorini, the only other option was to ride a donkey up that footpath. It was fun, but not for everyone. There is now a new option: modern cable cars. For those who want to make the ascent the old way, the donkeys are still around. They have been unofficially dubbed the taxi of Greece.