Santorini Travel Guide

Santorini really is picture perfect and even better in person.  This was my third time visiting the island and definitely the most enjoyable trip thus far. I wanted this post to feature a Santorini Travel Guide so you can visit the island and enjoy it as much as I did.

Dress: Lucky Brand, Shoes: Madewell (on sale), Hat: Cuyana

Although Santorini is a small island it can be a bit overwhelming deciding where to stay.  Let me save you some time and trouble, STAY IN OIA.  Hands down you need to stay in Oia.  Thira is the main city on the island but it is overly commercial.  Imerovigli is another popular place to stay because of it’s beautiful resorts but Oia is simply magical.  We booked our trip last minute and since it was high season found some difficulty finding resorts.  Either everything was taken, was over $1000.00 a night or was a room inside a cave so outdated your great grandparents would be like NAH, sry.  We ended up staying at Aethrio, which although was not the luxury I really wanted, ended up being perfect.  Our apartment was really cute and was truly in THE BEST possible location.  Beyond perfect location.

Where to Swim

While we were there we rented an ATV and drove down to the Black beach on the other end of the island.  Santorini is not known for its beaches but I really enjoyed the black beach.  There were a few tavernas on the beach so you can relax and have food delivered right to your lounge chair.  We also went swimming and cliff diving by Ammoudi Bay.  From you Oia you can walk down the steps to the bay (a bit more than just a flight of stairs, consider yourself warned) and then hang a louie.  Walk left through the restaurants and continue along the rocky path and you will come across a bunch of people lounging on the rocks and swimming around the bay.  I actually loved it there and preferred it to the sandy beach on the other side of the island.  It’s definitely less relaxing but it was really fun.  You can swim to across to a small uninhabited island that has a tiny church on top of the clip and then jump off the cliff into the sea.  Obviously, we did this…several times.

Where to Eat

Swimming and eating were my two favorite pastimes during our vacation.  I mean they are probably my two favorite pastimes all year round but especially during our trip.  Santorini was our first stop during our trip and I was a bit jet lagged.  If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw my sunrise posts.  I woke up before 6am every day we were there and it was the best thing I could have done.  Meandering the village streets during sunrise was so painstakingly beautiful I could cry thinking about it now.  God damn it why can’t I snap my fingers like Sabrina and transport myself there right now?!  ANYWAYS, while on a sunrise adventure I sniffed my way to the best bakery.

Artopoiia – Zaxaroplastiki Bakery is the name, but you will never be able to pronounce that, so call them 22860 71260 or ask your hotel concierge for directions.  You must go and you have to order 1 spanakopita (spinach pie), 1 tiropita (cheese pie) and 1 bugatsa (pastry with farina like sweet cream).  SO GOOD!  The spanakopitas and bugatsas here were the best I had in my two weeks in Greece!

One night we went to Sunset Taverna in Amoudi Bay.  Amoudi Bay is lined with seafood restaurants right on the water and is very sweet and romantic.  We loved everything we ate there but the highlights were the grilled octopus and the garlic white wine mussels.  Another night we went to Kyprida which is a Cyprian restaurant in Oia.  It’s a block off the main road so it’s not nearly as crowded and half the price.  This dinner might have been my favorite meal in Greece.  The moussaka was incredible!!! You should never order moussaka from a restaurant because it’s never even close to the homemade versions but this one was melt in your mouth, tell all of your friends amazing.  Every night should end with dessert at Lolita’s Gelateria.

Are you planning a trip to Greece soon?  If so, let me know what other questions you may have!! Would love to inspire and give you all great recommendations! My Zakynthos, Athens and Lemnos travel guides will follow!

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Cheers to fashion, seeing the world and always having fun!

Miss Zias