Santorini

Click on the map to see our photo gallery for Santorini.

The map requested shows only a limited number of the resorts on the island, if the resort you are looking for is not indicated on the map, please don't give up. If you are looking for a specific resort or place, you may find by browsing through our image gallery that you will find the location you are looking for and a brief summary of the place or image submitted.

We hope to give you a good idea about the location, hotels and places of interest to help you make your mind up and find the perfect holiday destination for you.

Click HERE to see our image gallery of the island you have chosen.

About Santorini

Santorini is a small, circular group of volcanic islands located in the Aegean Sea, about 200 km south-east from the mainland of Greece. It is also known by the name of the largest island in the archipelago, Santorini is the southern most member of the Cyclades group of islands, with an area of approximately 73 sq km, and in 2001 had an estimated population of 13,600.

It is the most active volcanic centre in the Aegean Arc. The name Santorini was given to it by the Venitians in the 13th century and is a reference to Saint Irene. Before then, it was called Kallistē ('the most beautiful one'), Strongylē ('the circular one'), or Thera.
The island was the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions of the last several thousand years when it erupted cataclysmically about 3,500 years ago. The eruption left a large caldera surrounded by volcanic ash deposits hundreds of feet deep, and its effects may have indirectly led to the collapse of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete, 110 km to the south.

The island has no rivers and water is scarce. Until the early nineties locals used to fill water cisterns from the rain that fell on their roofs and courts, from small springs as well as by importing it from other areas of Greece. Nowadays, there is a desalination plant that provides running, yet nonpotable, water to most houses. The primary industry of Santorini is tourism. The pumice quarries have been closed since 1986 in order to preserve the caldera of Santorini.

Santorini is home to a small but flourishing wine industry, based on the indigenous grape variety,. Assyrtiko grape vines are extremely old, as they are resistant. They are adopted to their native habitat by being planted far apart and their principal source of moisture is dew. They are trained in the shape of baskets, with the grapes hanging inside to protect them from the winds. Also unique is the red, sweet and extremely strong Vinsanto.

Santorini has stunning scenery of white washed buildings and towering cliffs, this with the fabulous black sandy beaches will leave you with a lasting impression and wonderful vacation memories.

Around Santorini Island

Thira

Perched on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the harbour where all the cruise ships dock is the islands capital and very picturesque Thira. Locals make a quick "buck" by transporting visitors up and down the steep village streets on mules. The village is now a mixture of restaurants, expensive shops and clubs mostly rebuilt after the earthquake that rocked the island during the 1950's.

Kamari

Kamari is a village on the east side coast of Santorini, the beach is a long black sand and shingle beach. The village has many restaurants, bars and clubs and can be just as noisey as it's near neighbour Thira. The beach has all the usual water sports associated with beach activities and local boats travel to from it's other neigbour Perissa. The resort does favour the younger tourist who are looking for good nightlife in one of the many clubs.

Cape Columbo

The beach of Columbo starts off as a wide stretch of dark sandy grit and narrows as the cliffs rise behind. The beach does not offer any of the regular facilities and therefore does not get so crowded as some of the beaches. The resort is only reached by car and car parking is restricted in a couple of areas on the cliffs and you need to walk down to the beach. The resort is quite exposed so the water can get quite rough, this makes the beach ideal for those who want to have a quite day but may not be ideal for the younger tourist.

Perissa

The village of Perissa has grown up around the beach and caters for the influx of tourists during the summer with many hotels and apartments. Because it has been built up around the tourist trade there are numbers of shops, restaurants, bars and clubs all trying to attract the tourists during the evenings. The beach itself is a long wide stretch of black sand and shingle with the cliffs rising steeply from one end. The water shelves quite steeply in places and young children need to supervised.

Perivolos

Perivolos is an extension of the major resort of Perissa, the resort is a small village made up of a number of restaurants, bars and shops. The beach is part of the long section of the eastern coastline that makes up the resorts of Perissa, Perivolos and Agios Georgios.

Monothithos

Monothithos is a wide stretch of grey sand and shingle beach with hotels and and apartments behind the beach. The resort is lose to Kamari and Santorini Airport so you do get some airport noise. The resort is fairly quite and ideal for couples. Because the beach shelves steeply in places children need to be supervised.

Red Beach

Red Beach is one of the most photographed and better known of the Santorini beaches, it is located near Akrotiri. This beach is like no other, the sand is redish black against a back drop of red cliffs. The rock formations in the water make this one of the best beaches for snorkelling on the island.

Vourvoulos

Vourvoulos does not have a lot to offer unless your looking for a beach to yourself. The beach is next to a small fishing harbour and the one taverna in the resort. The sand is very "gritty" and the sea can be very rough at times.

Paradise