Santorini: The Most Pinterested Place On Earth

16th August- 2nd August 2019

The night we received our A-level results, my boyfriend at the time, and I set off for the tiny island of Santorini. We’d made a pack that come rain or shine, no matter our results, they wouldn’t ruin the trip. Maybe the results didn’t affect the trip, but the 6am flight wasn’t a good start. Leaving for the airport at two in the morning was unbearable but, giddy with excitement, we threw our bags into the taxi and headed for Gatwick.

A little head’s up before I get into my experience, the key towns on the island are widely spread out and walking is not an option! There are public buses which are very affordable but not the most reliable thing, so, make sure you leave plenty of time for buses to be late or not turn up, to avoid ruining plans. Also, this island is a dormant volcano and so the surface is incredibly hilly- pack comfortable shoes and a knee brace or two.

Accommodation

We’d booked a room in the ‘Fenix Hotel’ in Perissa. It was an idyllic oasis in the middle of near-enough desert. Not far from the beach, the hotel was situated along a very long road which happened to have minimal shops but that didn’t bother us. The hotel was gorgeous, if you were to imagine Santorini as a hotel, this would be it. White, stone walls; white, translucent drapes; plants everywhere. The hotel looked out onto the hills of Santorini and the pool had the same view. Our room consisted of a balcony, a bedroom and a bathroom- the bathroom being more of a wet room. Breakfast was only an extra euro a day, but quite honestly, it didn’t interest us as a result of the minimal selection. For breakfast most days we made the short trip down the road to a small but welcoming bakery called, ‘Santa Irini Bakery’. It had an overwhelming selection of pastries, pizzas and cakes and offered hot drinks, fresh juices or canned drinks. It was a lovely start to the day and I would recommend to anyone passing through Perissa to make the visit.

Oia

I should begin with the most acclaimed town on the island, Oia (pronounced Ia). I assume if you’re visiting Santorini, it’s because you’ve seen pictures of Oia. Celebrities from Angelina Jolie to the Kardashians have holidayed in Oia and it’s obvious why. A photogenic town at the most Northern point of the island, Oia is Santorini’s claim to fame. Everyone and their grandma have seen the photos of the hotels and villas practically falling down Oia’s cliffside, making for some of the most beautiful photos in Europe. Although incredible, Oia is very expensive and made for the wealthy so don’t expect cheap food anywhere near this town. There are lots of opportunities for shopping here, with plenty of jewellers, art shops and clothes stores- everything is traditional and there are only boutiques here, don’t expect to find an Urban Outfitters. A lovely surprise I found with Oia, and in fact many of the towns on the island, there are lots of bowls of cat and dog food left around to feed the strays. Apparently, the cats of Santorini are somewhat of celebrities there and aren’t hard to miss.

When in Oia, I’d highly recommend making the trek down to Ammoudi Bay- sure, there are 300 steps, but the view of the caldera is mesmerising. Watch out! Don’t be lazy and take a donkey down the steps, they’re evidently not looked after, so there’s no point supporting it. Ammoudi Bay is a tiny fishing bay with a small selection of restaurants, right on the water’s edge. This is a prime opportunity for a romantic dinner as the location is dazzling. On our agonising walk back up all three hundred steps, an applause began. It wasn’t for us reaching the top, even if it appeared to be, instead it was for the sunset. Every day as the sun sets in Oia, tourists and citizens gather to applause- a lovely tradition which exaggerates the spectacular nature of it all.

Kamari

A less spoken about, but equally as lovely, town is Kamari. Not too far from Perissa, Kamari’s is a beach front town with plenty of restaurants and shops to be enjoyed. The sea is protected by a large cliff, so the waves aren’t unbearable. To our joy, we found we could also enjoy a waffle and crepe on a sunbed as they belong to the restaurants along the water’s edge.

When in Kamari, I’d highly recommend taking a visit to the Open-Air Cinema in Kamari. Only a fifteen-minute walk away from the town centre, it’s an opportunity to enjoy a newly released movie in the warmth of the evening. All the chairs are directors’ chairs, and there’s a bar selling foods and drinks to accompany it. We managed to catch Tarantino’s most recent film, ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’, now, when I watch the movie I’m reminded of the experience.

Fira

A final town to visit is Fira. If travelling by bus around the island then it's difficult to miss as all bus routes begin here. It's another rather mountainous town which is filled with boutiques and restaurants- even a Sephora! Here, there is the opportunity to catch a boat to the volcanic island near Santorini. We attempted to make this journey, but the unreliable bus system made that a bit of a challenge. Fira is a lovely town, similar to Kamari but far busier, and is apparently the hub of nightlife in Santorini.

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Would I return to Santorini? Maybe when I'm older and wealthier and just for a weekend. You don't need too much time to see the sights of Santorini and , although it's a beautiful island, there's a lot of wasteland. I'd recommend lovebirds to go for a weekend away if there's money to spare.