SANTORINI, GREECE

I can’t say I’ve been to too many countries more than once, aside from Australia, so when I had the opportunity to swing through Greece again I was all for it. Santorini is infamous for its array of white buildings hovering over the cliffs of the Aegean Sea.

Oia, pictured above, is the best place on the island to watch the sunset. It’s always flooded with tourists so be sure to arrive early to get a good spot. It’s easiest to escape the crowds of Oia by staying on the outskirts of town, Fira being my favorite area. Fira is the most convenient area to stay in if you want to hop on busses throughout the day to get around the island. Fira also has the largest selection of restaurants and shops comparable to what Oia has to offer! My FAVORITE place to eat here is Bayiatiko in the town square which has the best gyros.

My number one recommendation for anyone visiting is to take a catamaran boat tour. This was so fun and memorable for me, taking the cake as my favorite day of our Europe trip! The one we booked on Viator picked us up from our hotel in the afternoon and took us around to different beaches and other hot spots until the sun went down. I specifically love touring by boat because you get some crazy cool views of the calderas you wouldn’t be able to see from land. Most of them provide a buffet lunch/dinner and ours even included free wine all day.

For our final day in Santorini we soaked in the picturesque views at my favorite winery, Santos Wines in Pyrgos. I actually visited here years ago and knew I had to go back! Aside from indulging at local wineries some other fun things to do on the island include renting ATV’s, hiking to the top of the nearby volcano, swimming in the hot springs or relaxing on one of the several unique beaches around the island. Santorini truly has something for everyone!