SANTORINI, also called Thera or Thira, lies to the south of the central Cyclades group of Greek islands. It is considered the hottest holiday spot in the Cyclades in more ways than one. Born in a massive volcanic eruption, fumes still rise offshore.
Santorini satisfies the up-market end of the Greek island holidays market with many luxury Santorini hotels to be found. Cruise ships bring holiday visitors ready to gasp at the romantic sunset skies and turn on to the island's hot nightclubs.
Santorini also attracts large numbers of independent travellers who snap up good budget accommodation at Santorini hostels. Whichever way you arrive it's a good idea to compare the best deals for cheap travel insurance before you go. Santorini holidays are in huge demand and local prices can reflect the fact. Expect to burn a sizeable hole in your wallet to get the best highly charged views from the top clifftop tavernas and bars.
Hotels in Santorini are an ideal choice if you are looking for a lively buzz and exciting crowds. The capital town of Fira perches precariously on top of vertical cliffs. The view over the caldera and the romantic pull of those sunsets make this a favourite for honeymooners.
Spectacular is a word that applies more to Santorini than most. Visitors sailing into the flooded caldera are greeted by dizzying cliffs with dazzling white villages plastered like dollops of cream on the sky-hugging rim.
An island of extraordinary contrasts, Santorini can be both breathtakingly beautiful and deeply unattractive. The sheer cliffs of red and black can feel intimidating and the black volcanic sands hold the heat.
White cube houses and blue dome churches tumble attractively down the cliffsides but streets are full of expensive cafes, trendy shops and near nightmare swarms of tourists.
Most Santorini holiday visitors are here for the famous sunsets, viewed through a forest of heads and whirring cameras. Volcanic fumes are responsible for those gaudy evening skies.
Santorini
Santorini Airport takes charter flights throughout the summer and there are domestic flights from Athens and Thessaloniki.
Frequent ferry services link Santorini with Piraeus (Athens) and Rafina. There are links with many other Cyclades islands and also to Rhodes and Crete.
A good regular bus service services all the main resorts but taxis can be in short supply. Roads are generally good.
The main beach resorts are found in the south-east of Santorini and they are, characteristically, long flat belts of sharp, gritty sand.
Santorini beaches are black volcanic sand and they can get very hot underfoot. A few beach strips lie to the north but they are remote and have few visitors.
The west coast of Santorini is a sheer cliff that overlooks the caldera - the flooded crater of the island volcano.
Santorini is what remains of a massive volcanic eruption. It has an area of 96 sq km and a coastline of about 70km. The highest peak is Profitis Ilias at 550m.
One of the southernmost of the Cyclades group, Santorini lies about 63m north of Crete. About 13,600 people live there.
Santorini has short, mild winters and long hot summers. High summer winds keep the climate relatively cool but beach temperatures on the black sands can be very high.
Virtual tours of Santorini