Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea and was formed by a volcanic eruption.

The local population is around 15,500 which increases during the summer months peaking during July and August. Despite the low number of local residents, Santorini attracts more than 2 million tourists each year.

The island has more than 600 churches in all shapes and sizes which is more than the number of residential houses on the island.

Santorini is famous for its iconic whitewashed buildings and blue domed churches which you’ll be familiar with from those Instagram pics.

The Cycladic architecture isn’t only for looks. It also serves a purpose by reflecting the sunlight and keeping the interiors cool.

Yacht Cruise

The best way to explore the island is on a yacht cruise.

We got a guide tour who took us around and enlightened us with the history of island.

We got in the sea which was warm. It’s the opposite to what we have in Brighton. The sea here was clear, fresh and clean.. It felt so good. Whereas here it’s literally full of shit.

People on the boat were mingling with one another. It was a good mix. I met couples on their honeymoon and fellow solo travellers.

We were treated with unlimited food and drink which is dangerous!

Usually you wouldn’t expect food that’s included in excursions to be good. Generally it tends to be bite size or snacks. But they really went all out. We got grilled meat, spaghetti, seafood and the lot, accompanied by good beer and wine. It’s a struggle to beat the Greeks for hospitality.

One of the most entertaining things was seeing an old guy get drunk. His wife who wasn’t too impressed with him embarrassing himself. It got to the point where it became a bit awkward when he started making a few gestures here and there. Luckily it was towards the end of the yacht cruise. We’ve all been there when we’ve had one too many.

It was worth every single penny.

Sunset Spots

Santorini is known for being one of the best locations for a sunset setting. You have plenty of options if you want to see a sunset or sunrise.

Here are a couple of places to kick back and enjoy a sunset with a drink in hand.

Cavo Tagoo

Cavo Tagoo is a 5 star hotel with a roof top bar and infinity pool in Imerovigli.

I hired a quad bike because it was easier to get around the island and more cost effective than taking taxis.

It takes less than 10 minutes to get to Imerovigli from Fira where I was staying.

I went with Ana, a Brazilian lady I met on the yacht cruise. Ana was staying at the same accommodation as me and told me about Cavo Tagoo.

We sat by the bar with a view of the mountains and the sea watching the sunset with a cocktail in hand. For the most part the staff were nice and welcoming although there was one that looked at us like we didn’t belong. She looked at us like she was wondering how people like us could drink at a place like Cavo Tagoo as if we were riff raff.

When you’re drinking cocktails and taking in the sunset, you don’t tend to give a shit.

I’ve seen many sunsets on my travels and there aren’t many that will beat what you get here. I would easily put this in my top 5.

Skaros Rock

Skaros Rock is a rock formation and collection of ruins in Imerovigli.

To get there, you need to walk through a tiny village of houses, restaurants and hotels before you do the hike.

It’s around 25 – 30 minutes each way depending on how experienced you are as a hiker. Skaros Rock is a popular stop for people who do walk along the coast of the Island.

Take a case of your favourite beer or cider with you because you’ll have earned a drink or two for the hike.

It’s pretty cool sitting on a rock formation drinking and watching the sunset with barely anyone around. I was surprised there weren’t more people

Maybe many didn’t fancy the hike. It isn’t so bad so long as you’ve got good shoes. It’s worth the trip for the sunset.

You can’t compare watching a sunset on Skaros Rock with Cavo Tagoo. They’re different environments and it really comes down to personal preference.

It’s a good place to go if you want to change it up.

Oia

Oia (pronounced A-Ya) is on the north western tip of Santorini.

It’s the town with all the whitewashed houses and blue domes. So if you want those instagrammable pics, Oia is the place.

You’ve got several points to take pics. No matter where you go expect to queue.

Apart from that Oia is good for shopping. I’m not into shopping though it’s a nice place town to walk through. I believe every night there’s a firework display you can watch.

Unless you’re staying here there isn’t a reason to spend much time in Oia. There’s not much else to do.

Even riding the quad bike through here is a pain. There’s a one way system so you have to go the long way around to get back to Fira.

Beaches

Of course if you’re coming to Santorini you’re probably going to spend some time at the beach.

So here’s a couple of options,

Vlycada Beach

Vlycada beach is 13km from Fira in the southern part of Santorini and is easily reachable by car or quad bike.

There is parking and it’s a close walk to the beach.

Vlycada has polished pebbles, grey-ish white sand, shallow waters and you’re surrounded by cliffs.

It’s an ideal place if you want a diversion from the crowded areas in Santorini.

Perissa Beach

Perissa beach is the one with the black sand and is a 20-30 minute drive from Fira.

The black sand is the result of volcanic activity that created the island. It’s the longest black sandy beach in Santorini.

It offers clear waters and a vibrant atmosphere. It’s surrounded by hotels and restaurants and it’ll probably be one of the more crowded areas such is the popularity of the beach.

If you’re driving parking shouldn’t be a problem but this is where having a quad bike comes in handy if you spot a small space.

There are plenty of beaches but thought the two above offer different options.

Apart from searching other beaches, it’s also worth seeing what beaches the locals tend to go to as well although they choose certain beaches to avoid the influx of tourists.

Food

Now we all know that food is a big part of travel and even before landing I was looking forward to seeing what I could try here.

Katsaboo is a spot to enjoy local Santorinian cuisine in a sophisticated environment with a lounge pool and volcanic rocks.

The menu uses the founder, George Katsipis’s grandmother’s recipes using locally grown ingredients from their Maris Farm.

There aren’t many seafood dishes I could have had that would have beaten the seafood giouvesti (which is similar to spaghetti).

Brusco wine coffee deli place in Pyrgos is a good stop for lunch. Their mezes are perfect after you’ve walked around the town and the homemade lemonade gets a thumbs up as well.

Annoyingly I can’t remember the name of the last place, but if it helps it was a gyros place on the main high street in Fira where there are restaurants and bars. I remember it was close to an ice cream place called solo gelato.

It was here I discovered we are criminally overcharged for gyros in the UK compared to Greece. A gyros here cost less than €3 and obviously it’s going to be better here because it’s a Greek creation.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with Santorini but I enjoyed it. It’s a small island you can see in a couple of days.

Saying this as a solo traveller, if I came back here again, I would do so with a partner.

If you get the chance, Pyrgos is worth a visit for a few hours to walk around and grab lunch. It’s not busy and it’s a place to switch off.

Fira is the ideal place to stay as it’s central. There are food and drink options within walking distance and it’s well connected for getting around the island and excursions.

One piece of advice, don’t bother doing a day trip to Santorini on a cruise ship. You won’t be able to cover the island and it’s going to be a rush getting around. I went when it wasn’t even a popular time of year and it was still a busy island.

The best piece of advice I can give you is to hire a quad bike rather than a car. Although the roads are big enough for cars, parking can be a bitch. Parking a quad bike is easier and gives you extra options for parking spaces.