Santorini was originally named:"Kallisti" because it was considered as one of the most beautiful island of Cyclades.

Afterwards, the island was called “Thira” : the name of Thebes’ hero who left Sparta where he was reigning to settle in Santorini with a group of noblemen. Nowadays, the main town of the island has kept this name.

Before the earthquake, Santorini’ shape was particularly rounded and most of inhabitants would call it “Strogylli” meaning the round shaped.

Today, the island’s shape looks like a croissant, showing clearly the new contours created by the Volcano’s eruption 1600BC.

Santorini’s Island actual name derived from Santa Irini, the Latin name of Agia Irini Byzantine church.

The Minoans Civilizations turned Santorini Island into the greatest center of the Minoan Civilization and built the Minoan Settlement of Akrotiri.The Akrotiri is known as the Lost Continent of Atlantis, were lived Santorini’s most influential early inhabitants, followed by the Island’s occupation by Dorians, Venetians and Turks.

Around 1600 BC, a colossal volcanic eruption, amongst the most powerful in the world’s history, completely destroyed and sunk the center of the Island, creating the Caldera and changing the history of Santorini forever since it is believed that it destroyed the Minoan Civilization.

It has been said that after the eruption, the island was uninhabited for nearly two centuries. Santorini Island was integrated to the newly established Greek State in 1830, a date that marked the beginning of a new and prosper commercial era.

The Island of Santorini bears a great History; Santorini and the Caldera were formed some 3.600 years ago, following the area’s volcanic activity which changed several times the Island’s shape.

According to Mythology, Santorini Island was initially created from a clod of earth thrown to the sea by Euphemus, son of Poseidon, who dreamed one night that he made love to a nymph, the daughter of Triton, also son of Poseidon and the Goddess of Beauty and Love Aphrodite.

In his dream, the nymph who got pregnant and feared the angry reaction of her father, asked Euphemus to get a clod of earth from Anaphe, the Island he was at with the Argonauts, and to throw it to the sea so that she can hide there to give birth to her child.

Even if it was a dream, Euphemus followed the nymph’s request and suddenly, the Island of Santorini, initially named Kallisti, the most beautiful, appeared.

Santorini then took the name of Euphemus’ son, Theras, who was born there.

The Island became the settlement of Minoan Civilization until the dramatic volcanic eruption which destroyed Santorini along with the Minoan Civilization of Crete and buried the island under a thick layer of pumice and huge waves.

Many believe that this was the inspiration of the Lost Continent of Atlantis legend, describing a great civilization disappearing beneath the waves.   

Any stay on Santorini Island should feature a yacht cruise to the three islets which were violently created during the explosion of ancient times, namely Nea Kammeni, Palea Kammeni and Thirassia.

Their location opposite the western part of the island of Santorini gives visitors the opportunity to actually see the volcano and all of its wonders. Here, visitors can explore and trek around these rather barren, but nonetheless beautiful three islets. Fascinating in terms of their rock formations and colour, visitors are also able to swim in their hot springs. Some 5 degrees Celsius warmer than the surrounding sea temperature, these natural mud baths also have therapeutic properties due to their high levels of sulphur, a by effect of the volcano.

Away from the crowds, during the course of their sailing tour, visitors to the three islets, can also stop for a swim and sunbathe on some of the secluded beaches, all of them different little versions of paradise.

• Nea Kammeni
• Palea Kammeni
• Hot Springs
• Thirassia

Fira, the capital of Santorini, is perched on the edge of an impressive cliff 260 meters high, offering impressive views of the volcano. Fira town is full of small whitewashed houses of traditional Cycladic architecture, blue domed churches and stepped streets filled with all kinds of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars.

As the busiest touristic area of Santorini Island, Fira offers the largest choice for shopping, restaurants, bars, clubs and features many museums and sites to visit.

• Mansion Gizi
• Archaeological Museum
• Prehistoric Museum 
• Folklore Museum

No wonder why Oia village is one of the most photographed places in the world; its beauty is beyond imagination, with picturesque architecture with cave houses carved in the Cliffside called Iposkafa, medieval Venetian houses called the Captain houses, thousands of blue domed churches and color splashes of ochre, early red, oyster pink, green and fuchsia. Oia is also famous for its magical sunsets, famous as the world’s best, attracting hordes of visitors every day.

• Sunset
• Picturesque Village

Imerovigli village is built 300 meters over the sea at the highest point of the Caldera offering privileged views over the Aegean Sea and the volcano. Located north of Fira and south of Oia, Imerovigli is a quiet traditional village, featuring the famous huge rock called Skaros, which was the most important fortified settlement of Santorini.

• Skaros Rock 
• Volcano Views

When the volcano erupted 3.600 years ago, the ancient town of Akrotiri was buried. Today, Akrotiri, one of the five fortified settlements of the Island, is presenting a great interest to travelers, since the excavations have also revealed beautiful frescoes, tools and everyday life objects and the village itself features very good fish taverns, beautiful natural environment and the must-visit Akrotiri Castle and Akrotiri Excavations that brought to the light the remains of the Minoan town.

• Akrotiri Castle
• Akrotiri Excavations

Megalochori, located southeast of Fira, is an unspoiled authentic traditional village that combines Cycladic architecture and neoclassical mansions. The picturesque village is famous for its vineyards and wineries; make sure you visit Boutari, Antoniou and Gavala, amongst the most renowned wineries on Santorini.

• Vineyards and Wineries
• Picturesque Village
• Traditional Mansions

Pyrgos is located at the highest point of Santorini Island, offering panoramic views of the whole Island. Featuring neoclassical mansions, small whitewashed houses, churches and beautiful narrow paths, Pyrgos amazes travelers with its unique atmosphere of a forgotten era and entices visitors to visit the famous medieval fortress Kasteli and the Profitis Ilias Monastery.

• Neoclassical mansions
• Medieval fortress Kasteli
• Profitis Ilias Monastery

Perissa is famous for its incredible black sand beach which includes many beach bars, but more importantly, it is the place where you cannot miss to visit the remnants of the Byzantine Period, such as the Church of Agia Irini or Santa Irini which gave the actual name Santorini to the Island, the Church of Timiou Stavrou, one of the largest churches on the Island and the Museum of Minerals and Fossils where you will discover splendid minerals and fossils from Thira and the rest of Greece.

• Beaches
• Byzantine Churches
• Museum of Minerals and Fossils 

Kamari is situated on the southeast side of Santorini and is mostly appreciated and preferred for its beautiful and famous long beach with crystal clear waters and its natural green environment. In Kamari, you should absolutely visit the church of Panaghia Episkopi, built in 1100 and the church Panagia Myrtidiotissa.

• Beaches & envirmoment
• Church Panagia Myrtidiotissa. 

The archaeological site of Ancient Thira is located on top of a cliff above Kamari, offering, beside unique historical vestiges Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods, incredible views over the eastern coast of Santorini. Make sure to visit the Sanctuary of Artemidoros, the Agora, the Theatre, the Temple of Dionysos, the Sanctuary of Appolo Karneios and the Necropolis of ancient Thera.

• Ancient sites
• Temples & Santuaries

CLIMATE

In Santorini, the climate is affected by its location and its volcanic nature, but the temperature usually stays pleasant all year long. In the summer months, the weather is usually hot and dry during the day and cool during the evening. During the months of July and August, there is the meltemi wind blowing, therefore it is recommended that you carry a jacket with you if you go out for dinner or a walk.

TELEPHONE

National prefix for Greece is +30 if you are calling from abroad All numbers in the capital Athens start with 210 and are followed by 8 digits (e.g 210 3227400) Area Code for Santorini: +30 22860 xxxxx If you wish to call abroad, you have to start by dialling the other country’s national prefix (i.e Germany is 0049, England is 0044 etc.) and continue with the area code and the number where you wish to call.

CURRENCY

Euro €
Euro Coins: 1 and 2 euro coins (gold and silver colour) 10, 20 and 50 cents (gold colour) 1, 2 and 5 cents (copper colour) 1 euro = 100 cents/centimes
Euro Bank Notes: come in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. It is not always easy to receive changes for 200 and 500 euro notes.

BY AIR

You can reach Santorini by air and arrive at Santorini International Airport, located north of Kamari village, 6 km of Thira town, with regular flights of 45 minutes duration from Athens with the companies Olympic Air or Aegean Airlines. During the summer season, you can reach Santorini with direct flights from many European countries.

Santorini National Airport Tel.: +30 22860 28401/Fax: +30 22860 33349
Athens International Airport Elefterios Venizelos www.aia.gr

Olympic Air: For accurate timetables and tickets costs visit the Olympic Air website www.olympicair.com. Tel.: 801 801 0101/ +30 210 3550500
Office at Santorini Airport Tel +30 22860 31666  

Aegean Airlines: For accurate timetables and tickets costs visit the Aegean Airlines website www.aegeanair.com Tel.: 801 112 0000/ +30 210 6261000
Office at Santorini Airport Tel +30 22860 28500  

Athens Airways: Athens Airways is a new charter airline flying from Athens to Santorini during the summer season www.athensairways.com. Tel.: 801 801 4000/ +30 210 6696600

BY BOAT

Santorini Island features two ports; the main port is Athinios, where arrive all the ferry and commercial boats, and there is also the Old Port, mostly used for cruise ships.

The main port to take you to Santorini from Athens is Piraeus, but there are also ferries departures, especially high-speed ferries, from the port of Rafina, which is closest to the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport.
 
To reach Santorini by sea, there are two types of ferries; the high-speed ferry which takes approximately 4h30 and the normal ferry which is much slower and takes approximately 7 hours.

You can also travel to Santorini by ferry from/to main Cyclades Islands.

In Santorini, you will arrive to Athinios, the Island’s main port, which is 3 km south of Fira Town.

Blue Star Ferries Santorini (normal ferry) For accurate timetables and tickets costs visit the Blue Star ferries website www.bluestarferries.com

High Speed Ferry Santorini (fast ferry) For accurate timetables and tickets costs visit the Hellenic Seaways website www.hellenicseaways.gr

You can easily travel around Santorini if you take the local bus service which is air-conditioned, reliable and really low cost; however, if you intent to stay on the Island more than 4 days and in order to be independent to move whenever and wherever you wish, it is worth hiring a car from one of the many car rental services you will find almost everywhere on the Island.

LOCAL BUSES

http://www.ktel-santorini.gr (KTEL)
Tel.: +30 22860 25462

Travelling by bus within Santorini is safe but can be tricky as sometimes the timetables changes without prior notice. During summer, the buses depart every 30 minutes and the main bus depot is near the central square of Fira.

TAXI SERVICE

You can also get around Santorini by taxis; you will find the main taxi stand below Fira square. Taxis in Santorini are silver. You are advised to ask for the fare before getting in the taxi in order to avoid bad surprises. They can be hailed on the street or arrive by appointment.

Radio Taxi Service Tel.: +30 22860 22555/ +30 22860 23951

CABLE CAR

The cable car travels from Fira harbor up to Fira town. Tel.: +30 22860 22977

RENT A CAR OR MOTORBIKE

You will find a multitude of car rentals, with the majority of them in Fira Town and in the  Fira Harbor.

BANKS & ATMs

If you need a bank in Santorini, you will find most of them in Fira town’s main square. There is also a National Bank branch in Kamari and an Alpha Bank in Oia village. If you need an ATM, there are plenty of them all over the Island of Santorini. Note that all credit cards internationally recognized are accepted in most of the Island’s restaurants, bars and shops.

Banks opening hours: Monday to Thursday: 8.00 - 14.30 Friday: 8.00 - 14.00

MONEY EXCHANGE

Banks exchange all major currencies in cash, travellers’ cheques or Eurocheques; the commission is lower for cash. Post offices exchange cash but not travellers cheques, and usually charge lower commissions than banks. Travel agencies and larger hotels change cash and travellers cheques but usually charge higher commissions than banks. Banknote exchange machines can be found in most tourist areas.

POST OFFICE

The Greek post is called ELTA and you can find the main post offices of the Island in Fira, Emporio and Oia. Also, there are postal agencies in Pyrgos, Kamari & Perissa. Post Boxes in Greece are YELLOW for normal post, usually with 2 slots for INTERNAL POST (meaning inside Greece) and post for ABROAD. RED Post Boxes are rarer and they are used for URGENT mail. REGISTERED mail is always handled and given a receipt for at the POST OFFICE.

Post office in Fira Tel.: +30 22860 22238

POLICE STATION

In the village of Karterados, 800 meters away from Fira. Tel.: +30 22860 22649

MUNICIPALITY OF SANTORINI

In Fira Tel.: +30 22860 22231

•    Radio Taxi: +30 22860 22555/+30 22860 23951
•    Tourist Police: +30 22860 22649
•    Port authority: +30 22860 22239
•    Weather Forecast: 14944
•    Elpa (Car Breakdown): +30 26610 39504

INTERNATIONAL PRESS
You can find International Press in Fira: +30 22860 25301

EMERGENCY NUMBERS
•    Police: 100
•    Fire Department: 199
•    Ambulance: 166

HEALTH
•    Health Center At Fira: +30 22860 23123
•    Health Center At Kamari: +30 22860 31175
•    Health Center At Emporio: +30 22860 81222
•    Health Center At Oia: +30 22860 71277
•    Health Center At Pyrgos: +30 22860 31207
•    Health Center At Thirassia: +30 22860 22860
•    First Aid Fira: +30 22860 22237
•    First Aid Emporio: +30 22860 81222
•    First Aid Kamari: +30 22860 31175
•    First Aid Oia: +30 22860 71227
•    First Aid Pyrgos: +30 22860 31207
•    First Aid Thirasia: +30 22860 23191

PHARMACIES
•    Thira: +30 22860 23444
•    Messaria: +30 22860 32566
•    Oia: +30 22860 71464

Santorini Island has a rich tradition of wine production that dates back to Ancient times. You will be amazed to discover how a journey in the magical Island of Santorini is also an exclusive wine-tasting experience for wine lovers and connoisseurs, since the Island’s vineyards are recognized all over the world for their particular grape varieties’ flavor deriving from the rich volcanic soil and microclimate.

Get ready to be initiated, through organized visits in Santorini wineries and wine tastings in gourmet restaurants, to the secrets of the Island’s traditional wine culture and taste the famous local grapes varieties such as Assyrtikos, Aidani, Athiri, Nychteri, etc.

• Gavalas Vineyard, Megalohori, tel: 22860-82552
• Gaia Winemakers, Exo Gonia-Santorini, tel: 210-8055642/3.
• Canava Roussos, Mesa Gonia, Episkopi Santorini, tel: 22860-31349
• Antoniou Winery, Megalohori, Santorini, tel: 22860-23557.
• Santo Wines, Pyrgos, tel: 22860-22596, 25218
•  Ktima Argyros, Episkopi-Gonia, tel: 22860-31489.
• Ktima Sigala, Baxedes, tel: 22860-71644
• Boutari Winery, Santorini, tel: 22860-81011
• Hatzidakis Winery, Pyrgos Kallistis. tel 22860-32552, 32466, 6973-989158.

Santorini’s local products are worldwide famous for their intense and characteristic flavor coming from the Island’s particular ecosystem and rich soil, created from volcanic explosions. The volcanic ashes which made the soil porous, humid and very fertile bring a unique flavor to the local products which stand out for their excellent quality.

The Fava dip of Santorini is an exquisite Santorinian specialty prepared with a different variety of local fava bean forming a smooth paste of boiled fava lentils with onion and olive oil.

The white eggplant, called lefki melitzana, is a rare local Santorinian product with a unique sweet taste. Juicy and simply delicious, the white eggplant does not absorb oil and makes a delicious melitzanosalata, a white eggplant dip.

Capers, handpicked from the wild since they grow in the steep Cliffside of the Caldera, are extensively used in Santorini local cuisine, giving a particular flavor to salads and sauces.

Meletinia are small pies, like cupcakes, made of hand-made pastry filled with the creamy cheese called mizythra. They are usually prepared during Easter, but you can find them in several places on the Island.

The Santorinian cherry tomato appears as the most famous local product in Santorini. Delicious, juicy and aromatic, its unique taste will captivate you

Tomatokeftedes or tomato rissoles are tomato balls, made with the delicious local tomatoes and are usually served as a started; order them with tzatziki, you will be delighted!

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Each year, especially during summer season, Santorini Island offers a great selection of cultural, musical and religious festivals and events. You will find below a selection of the major festival and events not to miss.

Local festivity of religious character

Local festivity of religious character

Every year in July, The Santorini Jazz Festival in Kamari represent a major cultural event in Greece and attract music lovers from all over the world, since it includes performances from the finest jazz artists of the Greek and International scenes.

Local festivity of religious character

Local festivity of religious character

Each summer in August, takes place the impressing Ifestia Festival, a dramatically realistic representation of the volcanic eruption in Santorini with fireworks and sounds, including many cultural events, music concerts and traditional dance performances.

• On August 6th is held the Festival of Metamorphossis in Akrotiri
• On August 15th is held the Festivals of Panagia of Episkopi in Kamari
• On August 15th is held the Festival of Panagia in Akrotiri
• On August 15th is held the Festival of Panagia in Perissa
• On August 15th is held the Festival of Panagia in Megalohori
• On August 23th is held the Festival of Agios Georgios in Oia
• On August 29th is held the Festivals of Agios Ioannis in Perissa

Each early September, The International Music Festival welcomes famous International artists which perform for two weeks in Fira, at the Petros Nomikos Conference Center.

Local festivity of religious character

Local festivity of religious character

• Drink bottle water, since water in Santorini is not safe to drink.
• International recognized credit cards are accepted in most of restaurants & shops but don’t forget to have some cash, always useful in order not to look for an ATM at 3.00 in the morning in case you are in a place that does not accept it.
• Weather is usually good, especially during the summer month but make sure you carry sunburn cream and wear hat+ sunglasses because the sun may be threatening.
• Evenings can be fresh and windy in early July and September

Go to Zotos patisserie in Fira and taste the most incredible chocolate cake in the oldest Santorinian pastry shop.

Go the the Old Port of Fira, take the caique (kaiki) around the Caldera and discover the stunning cave houses and dive in the mystic waters to discover the lost Atlantis.

Go to the small undiscovered picturesque village of Karderado which is just 2 Km South of Fira, and visit the bakery of Kalimeris to taste the best kritharokouloura of Santorini.

Go to Ammoudi beach, the small port below Thira, and dive from the 6 meters high of the small church of Ai Nikolas that you will find if you follow the small path after the tavernas of the port.

Even if everyone states that the best Caldera View is in Oia, climb up to Firostefani, hanging 300m above Fira and discover the most spectacular sunset view of Santorini.

Many talented and renowned artists have selected the magical Santorini to get inspired, create and exhibit unique masterpieces of Art that you should definitely discover in the numerous galleries existing on the Island.

Most of Galleries are locatde in Fira, but alo in Oia, Megalohori and Kamari.