The beauty of Santorini is absolutely mesmerizing and rightfully one of the top destinations in the world. This iconic Greek island has been on my bucket list for quite sometime so I made sure to save it as the “best for last” destination during our 3-week tour of Europe.

Based on the experiences we had during our trip, here is a two-day guide to Santorini and be sure to check out the “Next Time” section to see what we would have done with more time. I love to hear the travel experiences of others so let me know in the comments what you’ve done or would like to do while in Santorini, Greece!

STAY

‘Seascape’ Villa with Jacuzzi – Airbnb

Location: Imerovigli

View.View.View. This is the first word I search when looking for where to eat, drink, breathe, take a poo, because for anything and everything I need a view. So with Santorini being my dream destination, I was determined to find picture perfect scenery and this Airbnb provided that and more.

Upon our arrival we were greeted by a porter to carry our luggage down the 563,958,424 steps. I’m being dramatic, but just like everywhere else in Europe, Santorini is no stranger to stairs so prep those quads before traveling.

Once we entered our Cycladic new home, we opened the terrace doors and immediately discovered why this Airbnb was given the name ‘Seascape.’ The jacuzzi was perfectly placed to overlook the endless ocean and city of Oia (pronounced ee-ya). I learned that many tourists stay in the Oia area which seemed to be a busier side of the island. I preferred our location in Imerovigli because of its more intimate feel and close proximity to those instagrammable blue domed churches we all love to see.

There were so many unique highlights about this home including its authentic stone interior and gorgeous shower (definitely thought it was a tub), but what amazed me the most was being amongst the clouds. Literally. We unknowingly thought something was smoking until we realized that those rising clouds were just that, clouds! So amazing to feel as though you’re floating in the sky from day to starry night.

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DINE

Petra Restaurant

Location: Oia

Although I enjoy a good hole in the wall for local eats, you learned above that I put a breathtaking view above all. I tend to find the best at fine dining restaurants and at Petra I hands down had the best culinary experience of my life along with the most incredible surrounding scenery.

Located in the Canaves Oia Suites and Spa Hotel, this restaurant opens at a late 8:00pm so you will only see the ending hues of sunset which are still gorgeous. If you love wine and rather watch the sunset from beginning to end I hear the Santo Winery comes highly recommended.

At Petra restaurant, there are only 10 tables to ensure impeccable service, exclusivity, and an intimate feel so make sure to call in advance, however, we called two hours before and they had plenty of availability due to the lower season. 

As I raved before, the dining experience at Petra was phenomenal as each dish was bursting with flavor and made with local ingredients. See my food diary below for a closer taste.  

Avocado Restaurant

On our last evening we decided to eat at Avocado simply because it was the closest to our Airbnb. The restaurant was packed with other visitors staying in nearby suites but for good reason as the fresh Mediterranean food was amazing and the service was perfect.

EXPLORE

Have a Mini Photoshoot

To our convenient surprise a blue dome church was just a five minute walk from our villa. Since we traveled in May, we dodged heavy crowds and had plenty of picture space all to ourselves without having to wake up at the crack of dawn. Aside from those typical shots, Santorini is beyond picturesque so just stay photo ready during your stay and you’ll be flooding your camera with the found beauty around every corner.

Rent a Quad

Aside from being a load of fun, renting a quad comes in handy because you can ride them around the island like a car. We rented from Jimmy Rentals simply because they were a quick walk away from our Airbnb, however, my first choice was Tony’s Rent a Car and Moto in Fira because of their rave reviews on Google.

Catch a Sunset in Ammoudi Bay

Now I know I mentioned Oia to be the busier side of town but the sunsets there are worth the stay. We rode to Ammoudi Bay by quad and arrived around 6:30pm to find the streets packed with cars. The views here are unbelievably unique as you’ll find a collection of homes on a red mountainside. After we took a few drone shots, we left early to catch the sunset from our villa. Although, if I had another day I would have stayed because the sun appears close enough to touch as it sets right in front of you.

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NEXT TIME

Climb Skaros Rock

Just a 15 minute walk from our Airbnb, we set our eyes on trekking up this mountain to get a face front view of the beautiful city but unfortunately didn’t have the time.

Jet Ski Tour to the Volcano

I’m that person that prefers a jet ski to a boat, so to be able to zip across the ocean to see a volcano and relax in a hot spring or two, count me in!

Watch the Sunset by Sea

Yes I am mentioning sunsets AGAIN because in Santorini people gather in large crowds to stop and stare at these gorgeous events we may take for granted in our everyday lives.

When we left our Airbnb for dinner, we decided to leave a phone behind to snap a hyperlapse of the setting sun from our terrace. When we returned, we watched the video and saw many boats taking visitors out to sea and thought how special an experience that must have been.

Book Earlier for a Better Selection

I only realized this point recently when I visited the Airbnb site to search for a link. Turns out there were plenty of amazing homes with insane views, big turquoise pools, and most importantly were cheaper! Don’t get me wrong I loved our villa, but we booked our accommodations maybe a month out so I recommend booking earlier for a wider selection.