Santorini
Greece
- Coastline
- Azure waters of the Aegean
- Coast life
- Lazy days and candlelit dinners
This rugged Aegean beauty, the southernmost of the Cyclades, is famed for its sunsets, wine and the turquoise sea that surrounds it.
From its terrifying birth in the apocalyptic volcanic explosion of 1450 BC to the snow-white cubist villas hugging its sheer cliffs, Santorini (also known as Thira) is arguably the most dramatic of all the Greek islands. Barhoppers and gourmets will love its lively tavernas and outstanding restaurants, where just-landed fish is always on the menu. Shopping urges can be similarly sated in the glamorous little town of Oia, with its smart jewellery boutiques and cute narrow streets. Take a hotel room facing the vast volcanic bay (the caldera) and, as you watch ships criss-cross below, you’ll realise that you’re looking at one of the most awe-inspiring, and romantic, views on the planet.
Pictured: Astra Apartments and Suites
Boutique hotels in Santorini
Our round-up of the hippest hideaways and boutique hotels in Santorini
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Getting there
Planes, trains, automobiles, or maybe even helicopter – we tell you the best way to go.
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Worth getting out of bed for
Highlights the best Santorini has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.
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Eating, drinking & dancing
We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Santorini. All you have to do is make sure you've packed your favourite threads…
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Smith Maps
Here is the map of Santorini; each Mr & Mrs Smith hotel is marked by a flag; click it for more details.
moreLocal knowledge
- Taxis
- Order one by phone or pick one up at a designated rank.
- Tipping culture
- No big tipping culture, but ten per cent is always nice. Taxis don’t expect a tip. It’s good form to tip the hotel staff at the end of your stay – a bit of cash in an envelope will be appreciated.
- Packing tips
- Comfy shoes and an oxygen mask for smokers – your hotel is likely to be on the side of a steep cliff, which makes for lots of marching up and down stairs. In the middle of summer it gets very hot but cools down considerably come the evening; bring something to throw over your shoulders.
- Recommended reads
- Captain Corelli’s Mandolin or Birds Without Wings, both by Louis de Bernières. If you’re feeling intellectual, try Plato’s The Republic – the Greek philosopher speculated that Santorini was created by the volcanic explosion that destroyed the lost city of Atlantis.
- Cuisine
- Classic Greek food such as cheese pie, hummus and tzatziki, meatballs, barbecued meat and, especially in these parts, lots of fresh seafood.
- Currency
- Euro.
- Dialing codes
- Code for Greece: 30. Santorini: 22860.
- Do go/don't go
- The high season is April through to October, but if you can find a hotel out of season you’ll see the real Greece. Our reviewer travelled there in the second week of October and described it as ‘quiet, but busy enough to give the restaurants a good buzz'.