Santorini Overview

Considered by many to be the site of the mythical island nation of Atlantis, Santorini has a long and interesting history, not the least of which was the catastrophic volcanic eruption that forever changed Mediterranean pre-history. Santorini was once a single, round island named Strongili, whose inhabitants were very influential in the region and shared many traits with the Minoans of Crete. Then, in about 1500 BC, the volcano beneath Strongili erupted with such force that the centre of the island became a huge sunken crater and the explosion caused tidal waves and freak weather conditions that some hold to be responsible for the fall of the Minoan civilisation. The eruption was one of the greatest ever in the earth's history and its result was the creation of a huge underwater caldera ringed by islands. The volcano remains active and most recently, it erupted in 1956, causing more havoc and sending the impregnable fortress of Rocca and its village plunging into the sea. more...

Santorini Activities

Dating from the mid 17th century, this amazing monastery pays homage to three saints: Panteleimon, Zoodohos Pigi and Nicholas, the latter of which is captured brilliantly in a Byzantine sculpture. The monastery is located between Firostefani and Imerovigli. more...

Santorini Events and Festivals

Greek Orthodox Easter: calculated via the lunar calendar, but usually falling on a different weekend than Catholic Easter, this holiday can be in March or April, depending on the year. Most businesses on the island shut down over this important holiday and there are many different kinds of festivities. more...

Santorini Sightseeing

Offering a contrast to nearby Kamari is Perissa, this livelier beach resort is popular with couples. The beach here is quite nice and the village is picturesquely located at the base of a towering mountain. Perissa tends to attract budget tourists and backpackers, and there is an enormous campground to accommodate them. Hotels, condominiums and guesthouses are also in ample supply. Families can travel to the nearby Santorini Water Park for some safe fun for the kids. more...

Santorini Transport

Santorini (Thira) Island National Airport (JTR) is a small airport that serves domestic Greek flights as well as charters from across Europe and the UK. Situated near the town of Monolithos, approximately six kilometres southeast of Thira, the airport is centrally located near Santorini's eastern coast. more...

Santorini Travel Tips

Greece has made the change over to the Euro, which is now the official currency. Coins are divided into 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent denominations, while there are 5, 10, 20 50, 100, 200 and 500 euro banknotes. more...