Hidden Gems of Santorini
Discover Santorini through our eyes. Strongly attached to our local community, we have partnered with travelgems to travel with your mind while uncovering our list of the most curated experiences on the island.
Go to the picturesque village of Vlychada and taste fresh local fish in the traditional tavernas.
Visiting the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Kamari and the Archaeological Museum in Fira, is as if plunging into the long and rich history of the island.
Visit the ancient Minoan town of Akrotiri, an inspiring site overshadowed by an impressive medieval fortress, one of the most important prehistoric settlements of Greece.
Visit the traditional village of Emporio and admire its fortified castle.
Watch a movie under the starry night sky at the charming Open Air Cinema Kamari.
Watch the Caldera and the unique sunset of Santorini from the edge of your seat! A helicopter tour will offer you a breathtaking sightseeing experience away from crowds to marvel at the volcanic beauty of Santorini.
Invest an hour or two in Atlantis Books, a literary treasure trove in a cave house, and scour the shelves or catch a sunset reading on the sea view terrace.
Ride a horse on the beautiful Eros beach, under the shadow of a steep rock, carved by the artistic power of the sea, the sand and the wind resulting in an almost lunar scenery.
Dig your feet into the warm volcanic ebony sand of Perivolos beach. Breathe in the salt air and create your perfect Instastory series depicting this one-of-a-kind location.
Cozy up in the Secret Wine Cave of Mystique or the 400-year-old Canava Wine Bar of Vedema Resort and capture a selfie as you sample a selection of fine Santorini indigenous wines with an atmospheric backdrop.
Embark on a catamaran sunset tour of the caldera and amaze at geomorphological wonder that is the caldera during golden hour.
Arrange a tour of one or more of the island’s wineries and familiarize yourself with Santorini’s inimitable wines.
Take the road of the hiking path from Fira town to Oía and enjoy the spectacular panorama.
And of course, do not miss to visit the active volcano of Santorini!
Local Products
SOUVENIRS:
Ceramics from 1260 Ceramic Studio in Megalohori
Wooden objects from ‘Tonis Art’ in Perissa
Wooden objects and ceramics from ’’Ceramic Studio Art” Alefragis Andreas in Firostefani
LOCAL SPECIALTIES/DELICACIES:
Sundried tomatoes, fava (split peas), capers, ‘tomatokeftedes’ (tomato fritters), from Kali Kardia shop in Akrotiri, T: +30 22860 82247
WINES:
– Argyros Estate, Episkopi Gonias, T: +30 22860 31489
– Cava Mezzo, Fira, T: +30 22860 22318
– Gaia winery in Vrahies, T: +30 22860 34186
– Koutsogiannopoulos, Bothonas, T: +30 22860 31332
– Santo Wines Winery, Pyrgos Kallistis, T: +30 22860 28058
– Sigalas Winery in Baxedes, Oía, T: +30 22860 71644
– Venetsanos Winery in Megalohori, T: +30 22860 21100
Discover the most beautiful villages of Santorini
FIRA
The capital of the island, Fira, offers an array of shops with local and designers’ items, restaurants, cafés as well as the Archaeological Museum of Akrotiri and the Orthodox Metropolis.
OÍA
Promenade through the charming village of Oía, only a 5 minutes walk from Mystique, with the cave-style houses and blue-domed churches sprinkled on top of rugged caldera cliffs. Take in the breathtaking panoramic views of the Aegean Sea and the volcano that shaped Santorini. Picturesque streets host traditional Greek shops, lavish boutiques and cozy cafés ready to be explored.
ANCIENT THIRA
Ancient Thira is open from 8:00-15:00. The ruins of the city will take you back thousands of years, before the big eruption of the Volcano that destroyed half of the island took place.
PYRGOS
Explore the fortified settlement of Pyrgos, which is a typical fortress of the Middle Ages in the Cyclades. Traditional architecture, remains of neoclassical mansions, narrow winding paths leading up the hillside, small white houses and blue-domed churches led the village to be declared a protected settlement in 1995. To top the experience, drive at the top of the mountain of Prophet Elias for a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire island. The most insta-worthy spot to take pictures!
Beaches
NORTH OF SANTORINI
Ayios Nikolaos, Oía, , very well-kept secret, across the beach on swimming distance, there is a islet with a church
Baxedes, Oía, sandy and pebbly, easily accessible by car
Cape Columbo, secluded, shingle, accessible only by sea
Exo Yalos, pebbly, organized, easily accessible by car
SOUTH OF SANTORINI
Akrotiri, sandy and pebbly, with sea caves, accessible by car
White Beach, sandy and pebbly, accessible only by sea
Red Beach, Akrotiri, pebbly, enfolded by a red cliff
Perivolos Beach, impressive black sand beach, organized with beach bars and watersports, easily accessible by car
Vlychada, black sand beach, organized, easily accessible by car
Beach bars
Istoria Hotel beach club, Perivolos
Beach Bar Chilli, Perivolos
Beach Bar Jojo, Perivolos
Beach Bar Tranquilo, Perissa
Sea side by Notos, Perivolos
Theros, Vlychada
Yalos, Exo Yalos
Wet Stories, Perivolos
Cafés & Bars
AROUND FIRA
Kastro café, all day café
Kira Thira, jazz bar
Koo, club
Tango, bar
Venetsanos Winery, wine bar
AROUND OIA
ASEA Lounge, Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel, bar
Melenio café, all day café
Skiza, all day café
AROUND THE ISLAND
Canava Wine Bar, Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, Megalohori, wine bar
The Bar, Istoria, a Member of Design Hotels, Perivolos Beach, bar
Kantouni café, Pyrgos, café & casual restaurant
Top Fine Dining Suggestions
ASEA, Oía, https://mystique.gr/
ASEA is Mystique’s artisan Japanese restaurant offering fresh sushi with a Mediterranean flair in a dreamscape of unique infinity views to the deep blue sea.
Alati, Megalochori, www.vedema.gr
Alati Restaurant located in Vedema Resort, is built around a 400-year-old winery and features a unique Mediterranean menu made of locally sourced ingredients.
Charisma, Oía, https://mystique.gr/
Open-air dining with a Greek inspired mouthwatering menu that highlights the freshest local ingredients seasoned with regional flavors.
Mr. E, Perivolos Beach, https://istoriahotel.gr
Offering innovative Greek and Mediterranean cuisine, an exclusive setting and Istoria Hotel’s inspiring ambiance, Mr. E, is an experience not to be missed, facing the most famous black sand beach of Santorini.
Amvrosia, Oía, www.restaurant-ambrosia.com
In this special restaurant of Oía, you will be delighted by the Mediterranean cuisine and the very romantic ambiance as well as the infinite sea views.
Botargo, Pyrgos, www.facebook.com/BotargoSantorini
Botargo brings to life a world of sophistication, filled with smooth jazz, dreamy cocktails and high gastronomy, that truly satisfy even the most discerning palates.
La Maison, Imerovigli
La Maison Restaurant offers innovative Mediterranean cuisine ranging from simple dishes to molecular gastronomic approaches, within the picturesque village of Imerovigli, overlooking the Caldera.
Ovac, Imerovigli, https://www.cavotagoo.com/santorini/restaurant/
The restaurant of Cavo Tagoo, located in Imerovigli, Ovac, is right next to the hotel’s cobalt blue pool and offers Mediterranean fusion cuisine and creative cocktails.
The Athenian House, Imerovigli, www.theathenianhouse.com
Located in Imerovigli with breathtaking sunset views, the Athenian House offers creative Greek cuisine, using new and traditional gastronomic technologies.
Casual Restaurants – Tavernas
NORTH OF SANTORINI
Ammoudi, Oía, www.ammoudisantorini.com
A fish tavern right next to the sea, situated at the old port of Oía. The sunset view from here is unparalleled and the seafood paramount.
Fino, Oía, https://finosantorini.gr/
Fino offers creative Mediterranean cuisine and intriguing cocktails in minimal yet cozy surroundings.
Katharos Lounge, Oía, www.katharoslounge.com
On the road leading from Oía to Ammoudi, Katharos is a lounge restaurant by the beach, rarely crowded, ideal for relaxing and watching the sunset, in a bohemian setup.
Krinaki, Finikia, https://krinaki.gr/
A typical meat taverna in the purely traditional village of Finikia, only a 15-min walk from Oía. Fresh ingredients and a local ambience that grant an unbeatable casual dining experience.
Lefkes, Finikia, http://lefkes.gr
Lefkes is located in Finikia, a preserved traditional village of Oía, with impressive underground structures dug into the volcanic rocks – shaping what locals call ‘kanava’. In this charming setting, Chef Tasos Ntoumas will take you on a culinary journey of traditional dishes with a modern twist.
SOUTH OF SANTORINI
Delfinia, Akrotiri, www.thedolphins.gr
This Greek fish taverna is located on the seafront village of Akrotiri, right next to the excavations of the ancient town of Akrotiri.
Dichtia, Perivolos, www.tadichtia.gr
Ta Dichtia (the Nets) of Michalis Troullakis offer a unique experience to those who have an appetite from fresh fish and seafood right on the seafront.
Metaxi Mas, Exo Gonia, https://santorini-metaximas.gr/en
Located in the traditional village of Exo Gonia, here you will enjoy a local ambiance, as well as a variety of the island’s greatest starters, called ‘mezedes’.
Nicola’s Cave, Akrotiri
A typical taverna on a secluded spot by the sea, do not miss the fish, the moussaka, the tomato fritters and the aubergine salad ‘melitzanosalata’.
Psaraki, Vlychada, www.topsaraki.gr
Located in the village of Vlychada, next to the main black sand beach and overlooking the marina, Psaraki offers its guests Greek and Mediterranean dishes of exceptional taste.
