Sorry for the delay in posts this week…real life has been hectic and completely overwhelming. But for now, back to Santorini…..here’s a list of places to make sure you check out if you visit this gorgeous island (you may have heard me mention some of these here, here, here or here).
The Wine Museum- The only natural underground wine museum in Greece (it is six meters under) that shows every aspect of the wine making process from as early as the 1600′s via automated effigies. { Photos-Above: me entering the cave; Below: outside the museum, old winery equipment, in the cave, jars holding varieties of grapes}
Ammoudi Bay- Whether you go by day (and take the walk down the 300 plus steps, or as you can see in the picture that zig-zag line down the hill) or night, you will get a beautiful view and hands down the freshest, best seafood ever!
Akrotiri-One of the most incredible places I’ve ever seen. You literally feel like you’re standing in the middle of a history book. Akrotiri is similar to Pompeii, in that was buried and well-preserved by a volcanic eruption in the middle of the second millennium. They have been working to excavate the site since 1976, and though they still have a way to go, they have discovered three-story buildings, furniture, pottery, drainage systems and artwork, but no skeletal remains. Work was halted in 2005 when a roof protecting the site collapsed. We were super lucky because they had just reopened right before our visit. It was only 8 euros to enter and we took the bus from our hotel to get there (it’s a bit of a ride from Oia but it’s only around 2 or 3 euros a person, the buses are super comfortable and clean and you get great scenic views of the whole island as your drive).
Red Beach- After you visit Akrotiri, take the 1/2 mile walk down the road to check out the famous Red Beach. It’s super rocky (aka not ideal for catching some rays) and can get crowded, but it’s definitely worth seeing. Side note: Make sure to wear comfy shoes and clothes and bring snacks and water, as there aren’t many restaurants or stops by here.
Shopping- Fira is the more popular tourist stop for shopping (it’s directly above the cruise ship port) and it was a place that was really pushed by the locals and hotel staff as “the place to go”. However, we enjoyed shopping in Oia much, much more. The selection of products and stores were relatively the same, if not better (I think there may have actually been more stores in Oia), but it was less crowded, people were nicer and not trying to push every product on you, there were more restaurants to choose from for a lunch time/afternoon stop and you can’t beat the sunset view from here. It’s also where I picked up my new favorite bracelet (seen here). And bonus for us: it was only about a mile walk from our hotel!
Other activities (we didn’t have time for)- donkey rides, boat tours to the hot springs and the volcano or around the entire caldera, cable car ride up and down from the seaport below Fira
