European Destination of the Week - Santorini
Santorini has to be one of the most beautiful of the Greek Islands. Formed by a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, the island is shaped like an inverted ‘c’. Towns and villages perch precariously on the hillsides overlooking the sea, dotted with blue domed churches.
Because it is so picturesque, Santorini is something of a tourist trap. Daily cruise ships dock in Thira and spill hoards of vacationers onto the island who throng the narrow cobbled streets. But don’t let this put you off. Once the tourist chaos dies down, Santorini is a hugely enjoyable place for a holiday.
Fira is the main and largest town on the island. Here you’ll find the most active nightlife, a variety of shops and a historic museum. Head to Oia if you want the typical Santorini experience. Oia (pronounced Ee-a) sits on the northernmost tip of the island. Traditional whitewashed houses nestle against the hillside and cobbled streets lead through the village to the castle overlooking the sea. On one side Oia faces the caldera, or lagoon, and the other side it looks onto the Aegean Sea with views to the other Cyclades islands.
Oia has some exquisite boutique hotels and lots of villa style accommodation. It isn’t a cheap place to stay, but it’s worth every penny to have a view of the famous sunset. A set of steps leads down from the castle to the beach village of Ammoudi where you can swim in the ocean and try the local fishermen’s catch of the day at one of the seafront restaurants.
Some airlines fly direct to Santorini but most stop off in Athens. Find the cheapest flights at FlightComparison.co.uk.