Santorini FAQ

[fmax]

I put my research together from my last Med Cruise and created a FAQ thread that people could add to. I thought I should create similar threads for my upcoming Greek/Turkey ports so will start here with a list of things I have uncovered on these sites.

 

So hopefully you summer cruisers can add to it on your return from the Greek Isles... tell us what not to miss, the must sees and the don't waste your time sites. Any amazing bargains that are not to be missed or previously undiscovered restaurants.

 

Tours / Things to See & Do

• Oia Villiage and Fira Town – funicular, by donkey, or by walking

• Akrotiri – Very hot during summer as it’s covered with a tin roof.

• Red Beach (short hiking trail)

• Lighthouse – south west tip of the island (left of akrotiri)

• Old Thira (primarily Roman-era remains) - opposite side of the island

• volcano hike and hot springs swim

• Santos Winery, next to pyrgos and opposite direction of Oia

• the Boutari winery

• Pyrgos http://www.greeka.com/cyclades/santo...-santorini.htm

• Kamari Beach (black volcanic pebbles)

• Ammoudi fishing village, with buildings made of red volcanic stones.

• Perrisa Beach

• Imerovigli

 

Restaurants

At the tip of Oia is an area called Ammoudi which has several restaurants

Sunset Taverna at Ammoundi Bay

Archipelagos in Fira (www.archipelagos-santorini.com/place.htm)

Skala in Oia view is AMAZING

Bar in windmill at northern end of Oia

Katina’s Taverna – Ammoudi

Fira at the Spinx. - sunset worth price of food..which was pricey.

 

Private Drivers /Companies/Getting Around

http://www.santorini.us/santorini_rent_a_scooter.htm

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=372168&page=2[/url]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=310815 (car rental)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=165421)

(http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=193176)

 

Purchases

gold charms

olive oil soap

 

Wineries

Boutari (Megalochori)

Canava Roussos (Kamari)

Canava S.A. (Megalochori)

Halaris (Perivolos)

Heliopoulos Vineyards (Megalochori)

Koutsoyiannopoulous (Kamari)

Santo Wines (Pyrgos)

Sigalas (Firostefani)

Antoniou winery http://www.greekwinemakers.com/czone...Antoniou.shtml

 

 

Useful Websites / message threads

http://www.santorini.com/holidays/cablecar.html

http://www.greeka.com/cyclades

http://community.webshots.com/album/206657814nAwpVB

http://www.greek-islands-santorini-greece.com

http://www.thiratours.com/index.html

http://www.greekhotel.com/cyclades/s...piridakos-car/

http://app.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/7201/

http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/12611/

http://www.*****/travelpa...asp?Ad_ID=2515

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=279181

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=309761

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=194281

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=193250

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=328256

[mountainmare]

I think Akrotiri may still be closed. The museum in Fira is interesting.

Rent a car!!! The drive though the countryside is amazing.

From the black beach you can see the very narrow very twisting road up to Ancient Thira, the views are incredable--but the drive down is intense.

Stop at Santos or another winery on your way to the lighthouse, then climb over the cliffs for red beach.

Sunset in Oia is a true happening, take a bottle of wine and get a seat on the castle.

[sushraya]

How does one get to the Red Beach? Sounds like a place the kids would love..

 

Thanks.

[Eileen G]

We stopped at Red Beach when we were in Santorini. We rented a car and drove all over the island. To get to Red Beach you head south to Akrotiri. You need to follow the signs carefully as there are no road names. Red beach is on the road to the Akrotiri excavations, which were still closed, you just follow it to the water, Once there you need to hike down the red cliffs to the beach. The sand is very hot so have good shoes. We were there in May and nothing was open yet but we had brought lunch with from the ship.

 

Picture of Red Beach

http://emgcruiser.adpictures.net/europe_gallery/large-147.html

[sushraya]

That's a beautiful picture - thanks! We'll have to see if we can get there. Can you get there via any public transportation at all?

[Eileen G]

No I don't think public transportation goes there. It's a few miles from the closest town.

 

Another picture of Red Beach

http://emgcruiser.adpictures.net/europe_gallery/large-146.html

[jbm375]

If you like to hike, there is a foot trail from Fira to Oia. It takes 3-4 hours and has some pretty steep hills but is SO worth it. The views are amazing and we saw views that hte bus ride definitely doesn't cover. THis link gives pretty detailed directions:

http://www.cycladen.be/Fira-calderaEngFrame.htm

[luvnorway]

Thanks for a wonderful link - this is exactly my idea of how to spend a great day in Santorini!

[fmax]

A webcam of Santorini

http://www.santorini.net/caldera.html

 

 

Matt Barrett's Travel Guide of Santorini

http://www.greektravel.com/greekislands/santorini/

 

360 Panorama's of Santorini

http://www.travel-to-santorini.com/360/

 

 

Frances

[paulpest]

what was the cost of renting a car,and how did it take to drive around ihe island?

[High C's]

Personally, I would not consider the volcano/hot springs tour if going to Santorini. Compared to the beauty of Thira and Oia, the volcano is just a dry, black, ugly, STEEP hill, and once at the top you see a pit of more black, dry dirt. I apologize to anyone who may have found this interesting, but I'm sure you can tell we did not!:eek:

 

The swim in the hot springs was fun, but be warned that you have to be a strong swimmer, as the boat lets you out quite a distance from the hot springs.

 

But IMHO, when at an island as beautiful as Santorini, you will be disappointed if you don't enjoy the beauty of being in Thira and Oia - simply amazing!

[marci22]

Lots of people say to rent cars on these smaller islands, but how many people can travel in these rentals? We are a family of 5 and the cars we have seen on the islands all look very small.

[irc2100]

We stopped at Red Beach when we were in Santorini. We rented a car and drove all over the island. To get to Red Beach you head south to Akrotiri. You need to follow the signs carefully as there are no road names. Red beach is on the road to the Akrotiri excavations, which were still closed, you just follow it to the water, Once there you need to hike down the red cliffs to the beach. The sand is very hot so have good shoes. We were there in May and nothing was open yet but we had brought lunch with from the ship.

 

Picture of Red Beach

http://emgcruiser.adpictures.net/europe_gallery/large-147.html

 

Doing Athens-Istanbul next week and really enjoyed your album.

[fmax]

Santorini was nice, but i didn't absolutely love it. Mind you I'm not a sea/sand type of person and for those that are I'm sure it's nice in the summer.

 

The donkey ride up was scary. My sister wanted to do it and I didn't really think anything of it. First her donkey moved as she was getting on and she nearly fell off. It seemed to almost fall several times, apparently. My donkey seemed to head for the walls and at some points my foot could almost rest on the top of the cliff wall - long drop on the other side. There were donkeys running loose on the way down and running into the donkeys going up. Definitely something I'm in no hurry to do again.

 

Took the bus to Oia. got one relatively quickly and journey out wasn't too bad. Journey back - no one seemed to know when bus was due and when it came people just rushed the bus, barely letting those off that were on it. Bus was crowded with lots of people standing and then the ticket person was trying to get up past those standing to collect money - would have made more sense to collect it on the way in!!

 

Highlight was lunch at a restaurant overlooking the water.

 

 

 

 

Frances

[agabbymama]

Princess also offers a tour at Santorini that you are tendered to a different pier where the buses are waiting. This tour eliminates the cable car ride or the donkey ride up the side of the caldera.

 

The bus stops at Fira at the end of the tour and you can either depart or stay on the bus back to the pier.

[Dona March]

Is it hard to get down to the Red Beach my DH has some foot problems.

Thank you so much for all the ifo you put together.

[Eileen G]

While the path down to Red Beach is not very far it is steep and uneven. There are a lot of loose rocks which make it slippery. If you look at the picture in post 4 look for the people on the path to give you some perspective.