Stretching for around 3 miles (5 kilometers), dark-sand Kamari Beach is sandwiched between the blue Aegean waters and the mountain peak of Mesa Vouno. With a bar- and restaurant-lined promenade behind it and lots of facilities nearby, it’s one of the best places to park yourself for a day of relaxation.
With gleaming white-and-blue buildings perched on a clifftop overlooking the glittering Aegean Sea, Fira (or Thera) is every bit the postcard star of Santorini. The island capital, the main port of call for holidaymakers, is famous for its stunning views, lively nightlife, and archaeological museums.
Set on the island’s highest hilltop, Santorini’s ancient capital was once a thriving center of commerce and culture. Today, visitors can enjoy views of the Aegean while walking among ruins from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine eras, including a central agora, temples, porticoed administrative buildings, and an impressive theater.
A small but impossibly photogenic port, backed by volcanic, red-hued cliffs, Amoudi Bay offers views across to rugged Thirasia and up to Oia, which teeters on the caldera edge. Catamarans come and go, waterfront tavernas serve up the catch of the day, and you can hike to a small beach with an islet cliff jumpers love.
Blue-flag and black-sand, Perissa Beach is one of Santorini’s most popular stretches of sand. About 20 minutes from Fira, the capital, this idyllic spot comes loaded with amenities, from beach chairs to seaside cafes to views of ancient Thera on a nearby mountaintop. Perhaps more importantly, Perissa also offers routinely calm conditions, crystal-clear waters, and plenty of room to roam.
An intimate winery on the Santorini beachfront, Gaia Wines majors on the island’s signature assyrtiko white grape. One of Santorini’s most innovative winemakers, founder Yiannis Paraskevopoulos produces aged vinegars, vinsanto, and elegant white wines, while techniques include wild fermentation, clay aging, and undersea maturation.
