Best Ways to Experience Santorini, Greece

There are thousands of Greek Islands (6,000 or so in fact), so planning a trip through them may seem a little daunting. If you spend literally five minutes researching them, however, you will quickly realize two things: that some of the islands are simply more popular than others, and that everyone (and I mean almost everyone) always goes to Santorini. And for good reason.

Santorini is the largest island in a small archipelago in the Aegean Sea. It is also positioned in one of the most active volcanic areas in the South Aegean Volcanic Arc. In fact, the island itself was the site of one of the biggest volcanic eruptions known to man back in the 16th century. The volcanic eruption did, however, shape Santorini's wild landscape, which is essentially made up of a mix of black, red and white rock, towering cliff edges, and a sprawling caldera (a crater that forms when a volcano collapses) that curves out across the sea.

It's not only this wild landscape that draws thousands and thousands of tourists to Santorini each year; the incredible villages that have been built on top of the landscape have a huge part of it, too. The village houses are mostly white stucco villas stacked on top of each other. They're also built at the top of the cliffs, hang over the edges, and offer spectacular views of Santorini's epic caldera. It's these incredible houses, the wild landscapes and the views that make Santorini not only an incredibly romantic place, but also one of the best experiences in all of Greece.

So, if you, like me and a lot of the other folks that have travelled to Greece, have decided that you must do Santorini, I don't blame you. In fact, I wish I was going back, too. There are tons of ways to experience the island's villages and landscape. If you're looking for a starting point, though, here are some of the best ways to experience Santorini to get your planning started:

Watch the Sunset in Oia

The sunset in the town of Oia is one of the best ways to experience Santorini, and for good reason. When the sun sets over the caldera and the white villas turn golden yellow, it is truly one of the most magical and spectacular sunsets you will see anywhere in the world. It is, however, also one of the most tourist-driven spots I've ever experienced. Literally thousands of people cram Oia's tiny, stone streets every night, causing extreme chaos. Some of the tourists are people staying in Oia, but a lot of them come on tour buses from other towns on the island.

To ensure you get a good view of the sunset, trek out into Oia's streets an hour or two before the sun sets. Better yet, bring a bottle of wine with you and some snacks. It'll be worth the early picnic to ensure you have a front row seat of the show. And it is a show. Expect the audience to applaud as the sun finally sets below the horizon.

Take a Catamaran Cruise

Since Santorini is an island surrounded by some of the most beautiful water in the world, it makes sense that one of the best ways to experience Santorini is by boat. There are several yachting companies that offer full day, half day and sunset cruises around the island. A lot of these cruises also take place on catamarans. The cruises typically take you to Santorini's volcanic hot springs for a swim, transport you to the island's beaches that can only be accessed by boat (White Beach and Red Beach), and allow you to snorkel in the perfectly turquoise and blue waters of the Aegean Sea. A lot of the cruises also offer an open bar and an on-board barbecue. The meal on our boat ended up being some of the best food we ate on the trip!

Hike from Fira to Oia

One of the best way to experience both the towns and views of Santorini is to hike from the town of Fira to Oia. The hike is about 10 kilometres long, and takes you through the town of Fira, along the cliff edge overlooking the caldera, and then into the famous stone streets of Oia. It's best to hike from Fira to Oia, and not vice versa, as the hike is mostly downhill if you start from Fira. If you are planning on doing this hike, keep in mind that it is near impossible to do it in the summer time, as it is simply too hot. You can attempt to do the hike in the summer if you leave very early in the morning, however the temperature can rise quickly. Make sure you bring a lot of water if you end up doing this between June and September.

Swim in Amoudi Bay

As mentioned above, most of the beaches in Santorini can only be accessed by boat. The good news is that there is a rocky swimming hole right beneath the village of Oia called Amoudi Bay. To get there, you need to hike down the pathways on the cliff, which is where you'll be watching the sunset from, cross through the restaurants in the harbor below, and then follow a path along the coastline. The waters here, like the rest of the island, are extraordinarily turquoise. They also offer one of the most spectacular views of Oia, as you get to look up at the town from the very base of the cliff. There is a massive rock outcrop across from Amoudi Bay, too, that has a platform for cliff jumping, if that's your thing.

Walk Around the Streets

This one's a given for I think any Greek Island, but definitely take time to walk around the streets, no matter what town you stay in. We stayed in the town of Oia, and the stone streets there were magical. Beautiful pink and orange flowers draped over the white stucco walls. Palm trees danced in front of blue steeples and doors. You could literally walk for hours hopping from cafe to bar to shop and never get bored. And, in both Fira and Oia, the streets that line the caldera offer some of the most spectacular views in all of Greece.

So, if you've started researching Greece and decided that Santorini is too cliche, then ignore all of this. If you, like so many others (including me), can't resist the romantic, wild charms of one of the most beautiful islands in all of Greece (if not the world), then check out some of the best ways to experience Santorini mentioned here. Or travel there, immerse yourself in the incredible Greek vibes, and discover your own best way to experience Santorini.

For more content like this, subscribe here or follow me on Instagram.