Book Santorini hotels

Do you know what happens when an enormous volcanic eruption takes place in the southern Aegean Sea? You get the crescent-shaped island of Santorini, where houses with bright blue domes line the seaside cliffs overlooking the indigo water. This place is nothing if not colourful, especially when it comes to the locals. Santorini holidays are filled with baklava, ouzo and a whole bunch of wild Greeks looking to party.

That’s understandable, right? Because from that volcanic soil you get wine—so much wine!—and sugary, beautiful beaches where you can lounge (or party) on black, white or red sand. There’s even the obligatory nude beach. And then there are the ancient ruins from pre-Greek societies. Of course, if none of that sounds like fun, we’ll just stop right there.

Still here? We thought so. Now that you’re in love with this island too, all that’s left is to book our Santorini accommodation. That, and break out your thongs and sunnies.

Things to Do in Santorini

Black beaches, white beaches, red beaches, nude beaches…take your pick. Or don’t. Visit them all to enjoy sunbathing, swimming, sunsets and people-watching. Looking for something more exciting? Get your adrenaline pumping by diving off a cliff (there are plenty to choose from) or tanking up and scuba diving down to the shipwreck in the middle of the crescent.

Speaking of getting tanked, get your drinks the classy way on the Small-Group Wine of the Island Tour. You’ll get to visit some local wineries and taste ‘til you stumble back onto the bus. Buy a few bottles to take home—or to enjoy on the rest of your getaway. On second thought, maybe have the winery send a few bottles straight home. The ones you keep with you might not make it more than a night or two at our places to stay in Santorini.

If you’d like to add followers to your Instagram, head to the village of Fira and move your feet along the Fira Trail. It’s a three-hour jaunt up the trail to Oia, a village at the top of everything. You could say the views from the top of the hike are “breath-taking”, but this isn’t a Nicholas Sparks novel. The views are pretty incredible, though.

Getting To& Around Santorini

Santorini holidays begin at Santorini (Thira) National Airport (JTR), just north of the village of Kamari. Taxis are available kerbside at the terminal and can take you directly to any of the hotels in Santorini. Don’t forget to look into lastminute.com.au’s sweet car hire options in case you want to leave the confines of your room and explore the many villages poking out of the volcanic soil.

But the most popular way to move about the isle is to get on an ATV or moped, which are better-suited for some of the narrow streets.

Popular Events

You might be surprised to learn that Santorini has two distinct climate types: music season and feast season. Okay, they’re pretty much the same season and happen year-round.

Visiting Santorini in July? Then don’t miss the Santorini Jazz Festival. It attracts crowds and musicians from all over the world. Looking for something more, you know, Greek? Eat, drink and party it up with the locals for the Feast Day of the Holy Virgin, the Feast of PanagiaEpiskopis or the Feast of Agios. Then there’s the International Music Festival that stretches from July to September. You can hear anything from piano duets to opera to Byzantine music, because everyone needs a little culture now and then.

Party Zone/Nightlife

The capital of Santorini—and its nightlife—is Fira. Enjoy a cuppa at one of the cafes and a drink or six at one of the tavernas. Ready to shake it off? Head to the clubs near Monolithos, the umbrella-clad drinks at the resorts or the sand-floor bars of Agios Georgios. Of course, the best place to enjoy a drink, no matter where you are, is on the beach. Preferably at sunset. Or sunrise, if that’s how you roll. We won’t judge.

Hey, maitais and screwdrivers have orange juice in them. That’s a breakfast food, right?

Hungry? Head into the village of Oia and you’ll forget all about the diet you were on when you’re up to your eyeballs in baklava. And gyros. And fried tomato keftedes. And oodles of seafood. Better start fasting now to open up enough stomach space for the best food in Santorini!

Weekend Getaway

If you only have a weekend or one day in Santorini, what should you do? Drop the bags at your accommodation in Santorini then rinse off in Amoudi Bay—just heave yourself off its cliffs. If you have a fear of heights, get over it, because this is one plunge into the great blue yonder you have to take. Keep an eye out for the local octopuses that cling to the bottom of the cliffs. If you can pry one off, give it to a local chef and they’ll turn it into a tasty treat.

When you hit the water, keep an eye out for the lost city of Atlantis—the long-ago volcanic eruption here is rumoured to be the inspiration for that legend.

Speaking of legends, why not check out the 3500-year-old Minoan ruins? These guys predated classical Greece, started the myth of the minotaur in the labyrinth and very considerately preserved their ruins under heaps of volcanic ash just for you to explore.

Later, catch a sunset from Oia. If you have time, walk along the caldera from Fira to Oia, too. You’ll get some of those Nicholas Sparks-worthy views of beaches and NeaCaminiIsland.

Let the spirit of Zorba the Greek wash over you when you go Greek on holiday. Search through lastminute.com.au’s best offers for Santorini hotels and be sure to look into bundling packages with flights to Santorini in order to save oodles of dollars for extra bottles of ouzo. Zeus, Zorba, Hercules and now you have the chance to carve your own niche in its history. Want to see other parts of this fabled nation? lastminute.com.au has got you covered—book Greek accommodation today and set off for adventure tomorrow!