Looking for a majestic, peaceful getaway with your lover? Santorini is the perfect place! It is truly a romantic paradise for partners to spend time together. This is one of those rare places where everything really is as picturesque as the online photos! With everything painted royal blue and pristine white, it feels like you’re in Mt. Parnassus with the gods.
Helpful Apps
Google Maps allow for exploring Santorini easy! You can see places with the best reviews and see what else is around you.
Uber is a common way to travel throughout Santorini. However, it’s also common to hail a taxi or ride the bus. Taxis are everywhere and Google Maps will show bus stops and departures.
Food
Given the romantic nature of this island, there is a lot of delicious food with a STUNNING view! As captivating as the view is, the food is absolutely yummy too! There are so many different assortments of food including pasta, seafood, meat, risotto– there’s always something for someone! There’s also a handful of fancy and really popular restaurants, so it’s highly recommended to make a reservation in advance!
My husband and I thought we were being smart by going during off-season to avoid the crowd, but little did we know that a lot of these popular restaurants are closed during this time! However, no need to worry because there’s still many other incredible restaurants to visit! In fact, I highly recommend Kokkalo. They have a variety of unique options with great portion size! The food was delectable; some stellar recommendations are the lamb shank, mushroom and truffle risotto, and feta cheese in pie crust– WOW.
Activities
Admittedly, there isn’t a whole lot to do in Santorini (hence, the activities rating is a 6). Although this isn’t a personal issue for me (because I love basking in nature and feeling the serenity of the environment), my husband wanted more to do. Nevertheless, the island does offer some interesting excursions like…
- A photoshoot!
I know this is not everyone’s cup of tea, and TRUST ME, it’s not something that I would normally do either. However, my husband and I felt compelled to do a photoshoot for our engagement, and wow, was it worth it! No other place mimics the beauty of Santorini. The backdrop is ICONIC and cannot be mistaken for anywhere else in the world. Even if it’s with family or friends, I highly recommend a photoshoot with a local photographer. They will take you around the island to get the most striking photos. The most romantic spot is in Oia. These are photos that will be cherished for a lifetime!
- Boat Tours Exploring the Caldera and the Volcano
Did you know there is a volcano near Santorini that could erupt at any moment? Just kidding– maybe it won’t erupt at any moment, but it is active. Currently, it’s dormant, like us on vacation, but you can still see and feel the heat sizzling off. A tour guide will lead you up close and personal to check out the volcano while teaching the history of Santorini. I highly recommend this excursion!
- Take a Bus to Akrotiri
The bus is significantly cheaper than taking a taxi and can travel all around the island. Since we stayed in Thira, we took a bus to Akrotiri. This area feels much more rural and secluded than elsewhere on the island. It felt eerily quiet and desolate, but also immensely tranquil and simple. We barely saw anyone on the road except for the people we came with on the bus. Wandering around this region was an adventure of its own! You’ll find quaint churches, the most undisturbed beach you’ve ever seen, and lovely family-run businesses. One particular restaurant where you can sit right by the ocean is Asterias Santorini. As you eat your pita bread dipped in tzatziki and look out into the ocean, it feels like time slows down and just maybe, you’re warped into the era of togas and temples.
Scenery
The scenery in Santorini is un-beat-able. This is a location that you can identify immediately because of its iconic colors and famous blue domes. As a caveat, it is so white that your eyes might feel bleached! So don’t forget to bring sunglasses everywhere you go!! I always wondered how they were able to maintain such vibrant colors on this island, and I learned that during off-season, workers are going around repainting all of the buildings to ensure that everything looks immaculate for their busiest tourist season during the summer! Aha! It really does take a lot of work and devotion to keep this island so legendary.
Also, not to be dramatic, but the beauty of this place actually moved me to tears. I am not kidding. Every night, I would go out onto our balcony overlooking the caldera and the star-filled sky. I would gaze at this scenery for HOURS. I would think about its history and the celebrated people who came to this land for military, religious, or personal endeavors. It brought me to tears. I was so grateful to be at a time in our history where I can delve into the past and walk across the exact land that heroes have crossed thousands of years ago. Below are some UNEDITED photos that I captured from our balcony.
Lifestyle
The island lifestyle is always so peaceful and great. It’s like nothing can really ever bother you, and the people there definitely seemed the same! The pace of lifestyle is slow, and people are happy. They are hardworking, but seemed to have striked a good balance between work and leisure. All of the workers at the hotel, restaurants, or around town were super friendly! Something else that struck me was how appreciative the people were. Although there was a language barrier, it was enough to express so much gratitude for the smallest gestures– whether it was tipping them for their effort, showing appreciation for the food, or enjoying each other’s company during a quick taxi ride.
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