The crescent-shaped island of Santorini is an active volcano and unlike any place I have been before. It has some of the most unique, luxurious hotels and arguably one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. It’s famous for its whitewashed and pastel-colored buildings along with a backdrop of the Aegean Sea. Santorini should be on every bucket list. I’d go as far as saying it’s one of the most amazing places I’ve ever visited!

Where to Stay:

We stayed at the trendy Loizos Stylish Apartments. It was perfectly nestled in the town of Fira, close to lots of shopping and restaurants. The best part was it’s right across from sunset and caldera views without having to pay a premium. It included a spread of a traditional Greek breakfast every morning, and the front desk staff was very accommodating! I booked here, and for three nights for three of us, it was $128 each.

What to Do:

Go on a Catamaran Tour
Santorini should be seen by both perspectives on land and by water, so what better way than to go sailing?! We booked this tour, 5-Hour Small-Group Catamaran Cruise, which ended up being $119 each, but when in Santorini, right? It included pickup, drop-off, alcohol, a greek bbq, and a local guide.

Walk from Thira to Imerovigli
On my last day in Santorini, I had some time to kill after my friends had left, so I did some sightseeing. There’s a paved walkway path from Thira that goes all the way to Oia, which stops in-between in the town of Imerovigli. It goes alongside the buildings, where you pass a ton of beautiful architecture on the way! It goes right along the caldera, so you get some great ocean views. I walked for about three hours roundtrip, and it was perfect, and I felt very safe. You can opt to continue to Oia if you’re feeling adventurous, but this would add several hours.

Eat the local favorites
Once we learned about the Santorini tomato, we knew we had to try them everywhere! They’re one of a kind tiny tomatoes exclusive to Santorini. The best way to try them is by ordering tomatokefedes (fried tomato balls), a delicious appetizer. Make sure to also have some spanakopita (spinach pie), baklava for dessert, and of course, all the greek gyros!

Wander through the picturesque Oia
The town of Oia is truly magical; there are hidden gems every turn, I couldn’t stop taking pictures. There’s a reason Oia is so famous and photographed! A few of the most iconic spots are the three blue domes, cliffside architecture, windmill, and church bells!

Try the local beer or visit a winery
Because of Santorini’s unique climate of volcanic soil, Santorini has some amazing wine! We, of course, tried the wine out of bottles but also drove through a ton of cute wineries. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to stop and explore. If I could go back, I’d stop at Santo Wines. It has the most beautiful patio overlooking the caldera and some nice wine tasting flights! We also missed the Santorini Brewing Company, which looked like they had a great line-up of local craft beers!

Catch a famous Santorini Sunset
It’s said that Santorini has one of the most iconic sunsets in the world. The magnificent sunset lighting makes the picturesque buildings look even prettier. However, we learned that not all Santorini sunsets are treated equally! The night we dined in Oia to watch the sun go down, it ended up being too cloudy. Luckily, we were able to catch one across the street from our Airbnb!

Where to Eat:

On our first night, we stopped at Theoni’s, which is a cute family-owned restaurant right next to our hotel. We ordered the tomato balls (amazing), calamari, and a got a delicious dessert of honey donut holes with ice cream on the house!

We had the best dinner in Oia overlooking the sunset at Pelekanos. Make a reservation as for dinner as they get busy since it’s the perfect view. The tomato fritters, mushroom risotto, and baklava were the highlights!

For a quick lunch before heading out, I’d recommend Falafeland. It wasn’t the most authentic Greek food, but it was a nice change of pace from the heavy Greek food. Not to mention it has the cutest walkup counter and is very cheap! If you’re looking for a casual breakfast, Lila’s Cafe was a cute breakfast spot to people watch and grab a quick breakfast.