Day 1: A caldera tour (submerged volcanic crater) through tripadvisor, which includes a hike up to the crater of Nea Kameni (a 130-meter-high volcanic island) and a swim/snorkel in its therapeutic hot springs. The hot springs contain minerals such as iron/manganese which can help protect from skin/musculoskeletal disorders.

End the day by visiting the Santo Winery: Book in advance for front row seats!

Day 2: Beach hop & spend more time on the beach that fits you! Each one of these beaches has a little bit of a different flavor but most of them share the characteristic of dark volcanic sand, pebbles, and colorful rocks. Be aware of falling rocks and make sure to have closed toed shoes for some of these beaches.

Red Beach: This beach is famous for its red sand and rust red cliffs with a backdrop of the beautiful blue Aegean Sea. It’s one of the most picturesque beaches in Santorini.

White Beach: One of the most unique beaches which gets its name from the white cliffs. It has black pebbles and a gray hue to the sand. Best way to reach here is by boat from the red sand beach. Enjoy swimming/snorkeling in its crystal clear waters.

Perissa Beach: Family friendly, organized with sunbeds and umbrellas, has fun beach/night clubs and it is popular amongst backpackers & younger crowds who are ready to party!

Perivolos: A continuation of Perissa Beach, this beach is one of the more luxurious beaches with upscale restaurants and hotels. It has options for many water sports.

Kamari Beach: Another Family friendly beach with black sand. It is very organized with sunbeds and umbrellas. It has restaurants, bars, and many options for water sports.

Other Beaches include:

• Mesa Pigadi Beach: A more private beach for those looking for peace and tranquility.
• Vlychada Beach: Cooler, quieter beach with mixes of white and black sand with beautiful rock formations
• Caldera Beach: Gorgeous views of the caldera, great for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
• Monolithos Beach: Quieter and more kid-friendly beach with sandy shores.

Spend the second half of the day on a beautiful sunset catamaran cruise available through viator which makes stops at the white and red beaches.

Day 3: Visit the village of Akrotiri in Fira. Learn about the Bronze Age, Cycladic culture, and Minoan civilization. This was a historical landmark famous for farming, fishing, and copper trade until it went through a volcanic eruption. Through excavation by archaeologists, many of the fine artworks, pottery, and frescoes were preserved.

Visit the Akrotiri lighthouse. It was originally built by a French company in the 1800s and it stopped operating after World War 2. It started its operations again in the 1900s when it was reconstructed by the Greek Navy. Great place to unwind and watch the sunset over the Aegean Sea.

Day 4: Hike the trail from Fira to Oia with sturdy shoes. Enjoy the view of the caldera and the Aegean Sea with stops in two beautiful towns, Firostefani and Imerovigli along the way. If time permits in Imerovigli, take a detour and hike the Skaros Rock. The Skaros rock was created by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. This promontory is another great spot for views of the caldera.

Watch the sunset at the Oia Castle which is one of the most famous & crowded spots to watch it. Another option would be to take 200-300 steps down from Oia to see Amoudi Bay. Walk along the trail and find a spot to jump in for a swim in its clear waters! Enjoy the sunset with a delicious meal.

Day 5: Visit the Village of Ancient Thera: Learn about the history, art, and culture of Santorini. Most of the history involves the Ancient Greek and Roman Empire time periods. This archaeological site also contains temples, churches, agoras, sanctuaries, homes, a theater, and a gymnasium

Visit the Santorini Wine Museum and book your experience!

• The island has gone through many different names including, Strongili which means round shape, and Kalliste which means the most beautiful one. After Greece’s independence, it was called “Thira”/ “Thera”, which comes from a Spartan leader who colonized it, and finally Santorini which comes from “Santa” or “Irene” named after a church in Perissa.
• The entire island is a volcanic rock created by thousands of volcanic eruptions and is still considered an active volcano today. It is the only inhibited caldera in the world!
• Santorini houses were painted white because the white paint contained limestone which acted as a disinfectant to stop the spread of infection due to its history of cholera outbreak. Another reason is that white absorbs less heat and makes hot summers more bearable. The addition of the blue colors to help represent the Greek Flag
• While there are 2 million visitors per year, the population of the city is just a little over 15,000.
• There are over fifty varieties of grapes, some of which are unique to Santorini and that is why this city has over 20 wineries and is famous for wine-tasting.
• There are over 400 churches on this island.

Hollywood Movies

• Santorini Blue
• Summer Lovers
• Chick Flick the Sisterhood of Traveling Pants
• Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life

Bollywood Movies

• Bang Bang
• Wanted

1. Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts
2. Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel
3. Kivotos
4. Oia Sunset Villas
5. Cavo Tagoo
6. Katikies
7. Katikies Chromata
8. Katikies Kirini
9. Adronis Luxury Suites, Adronis Boutique Hotels, Adronis Arcadia
10. Canaves Collection: Canaves Oia Suites, Canaves Ena, Canaves Epitome, Canaves Sunday, Canaves Elefas Villas
11. Nobu Hotel
12. Phos The Boutique Luxury Hotel
13. Astarte Suites Hotel
14. Athina Luxury Suites
15. Dream Luxury Suites
16. Aqua Luxury Suites
17. Pegasus Suites & Spa Hotel
18. Santorini Kastelli Resort
19. De Sol Hotel and Spa
20. Astro Hotel & Spa

• Church of Akathistos Hymn: On Google maps search this exact name
• Picture with the background of the Three Blue Domes
  On Google Maps search Church of Panagia Akathistos Hymn. Walk towards the sea (make sure church is facing behind you). Walk towards the street Nik. Nomikou and turn right. Walk about 250 feet, and you’ll see a blue domed church on your left. Turn left immediately after you pass this church. Follow the alley down to where you see a brown door. Go on both the left and right sides and snap your picture with the blue domes.
• Famous Blue Domes Viewpoint: On Google Maps turn on Melenio Cafe, when you are facing the cafe, turn right & then take the first street on your left. Walk down the street and you’ll see the private property sign. Open the gate and take a few steps down.
• Kastro Oia Houses- On Google maps search this exact name
• Windmills of Oia- On Google maps search this exact name
• Oia Castle: On Google maps search this exact name: Come early to get the best spot and sunset photos.
• Three Bells of Fira Church: On google search this exact name
• Anastasi Orthodox Church (Beautiful church with great caldera views): On google search for this exact name.
• Pictures with Santorini’s famous Bougainvillea flowers. For one location: Search Church of the Resurrection of the Lord in Imerovigli on Google Maps. Many locations in Oia have these flowers, but a few food spots you can find it near include Oia Gefsis, Lotza, and Elinikon Oia Restaurant

Santorini was a destination I had always wanted to visit for many years. After finding my significant other, I knew it would be the perfect destination for a honeymoon. I had told my husband about it, showed him the beautiful postcard pictures, and he was on board with my decision within minutes. We ended up staying at the Katikies Chromata where we were able to enjoy views of the caldera through our personal jacuzzi, room, and pool. We woke up to have brunch right in front of the Aegean sea! When we were there, I truly felt that every corner of the city was out of this world.. from the entire city being in white & blue to the bougainville flowers to the deep blue sea. It was just impossible to take a bad picture! Our trip started with a day hike up the Nea Kameni with a dip in its hot springs after. I did the entire hike in open toe/heel sandals which I highly do not recommend..my husband still makes fun of me about it today, but I never would have guessed that we would be hiking so much in Santorini! We were also able to enjoy many of the beaches and I loved the concept of getting food/drinks at restaurants nearby, and jumping up off our sunbeds to dance to a song and lie right back down when we liked. My favorite beach was the Red Beach because of its picturesque view, which I once again showed up in open-toe/heels sandals which I do not recommend. In other words, I always imagined Santorini to be more of a relaxation and honeymoon destination and that’s how I packed for the trip, but the island also has a lot of hikes/adventures to offer so I would highly recommend taking your favorite hiking shoes.

After taking IB World History/English and learning so much about Roman/Greek history I had always wondered what these countries were like. I knew visiting the Akrotiri and Ancient Thera would complete the historical picture of Greece for us. We spent our last day stopping at a lot of the instagram spots mentioned above, and finally took our honeymoon pictures! We ended each day by watching the sunset, and then enjoying wine and a fancy dinner.