Santorini island: unique in the world (Thira)

Santorini with its striking geological appearance is very different from other Cyclades islands. It's unique in the world and very impressive: a half sunken volcano with its huge cliff-faces plunging into the sea. The legend of the lost continent "Atlantis", began here! The island attracts large numbers of visitors for its reputed archaeological sites like Akrotiri (a 'prehistoric Pompeii'), ancient Thira, (on a superb position overlooking the sea) and also for the old-world romantic charm of Ia, the black sandy beaches, the wine tasting and the many other monuments and villages. Its many romantic traditional lodgings, hotels, villas and cave-houses are situated on the cliff side of the Caldera.

Santorini,  also known as Thera (or Thira) is about 200 km (120 mi) southeast from Greece's mainland, is one of the great natural wonders of the world.

The roughly semicircular island is the result of an enormous volcanic explosion which occurred probably around 1630 bc,
literally blowing the top off the island and changing what had been a typical half-submerged mountain of an Aegean island into a flooded crescent caldera, in the middle of which a few small smoking islands still bear witness to volcanic activity. Some have speculated that this event was the inspiration for the myth of Atlantis.

Another popular reason for visiting to Santorini are the legendary sunsets, some of the most spectacular in the world.
Ia is one of the few places on the island which is both close to a sea and offers a good view to a sunset over the sea.
Be sure to explore the areas outside of the towns. There is beautiful countryside where tradition still survives.
Cave houses (both abandoned and occupied), gardens, vineyards, small family business, and tiny churches are there to be discovered, also Santorini ranks among top destinations for wedding celebrations

Check the web pages:
Fira: the Island Capital. Firostefani: on the northern outskirts of Fira Town. Imerovigli: a residential, quieter location on the Caldera Rim, but only 3km away from Fira. Ia (also Oia): charming romantic village with lots of restored and traditional local architecture.
Other areas on Santorini: black sandy beaches of Perissa, Kamari, Perivolos, + Monolithos, Pyrgos,  M.A.C. makes reservations at all top
 quality lodgings in other parts of the island.

Hotels and Lodging on Santorini:
Mykonos Accommodation Center strongly recommends properties along the volcano rim for their unique magical views.
From Fira the main town, to it's outskirts at Firostefani, to the residential area of Imerovigli,
or north to the famous village of Ia, or spelled Oia, each area has its own top lodgings with descriptions, photos and prices.

M.A.C. also includes a page on other areas of Santorini, which do not have such spectacular views:  
the Kamari, Perissa, Akrotiri, and Monolithos Beaches and some beautiful inland countryside settings: Messaria, Megalohori, Pyrgos.

Santorini hotel reservations: all quoted prices in Euro for 2010, per room or apartment (not per person)
and include breakfast and taxes.  Reservation form

By AIR:
Santorini (Thira) National Airport is an airport in Santorini/Thira, Greece (IATA: JTR, ICAO: LGSR), located north of the village of Kamari.
With regular flights from Athens by Olympic Airways, Aegean Airlines. Flight duration from Athens to Santorini is about 30 minutes. During summer, Sky Express connects Santorini with other popular islands such as Crete (Heraklion), Rhodes and Mykonos. Seasonal domestic flights are also operated from Thessaloniki.

By SEA
Take the ferry from Piraeus past Paros and Naxos to the new port on Santorini.There is also daily connection between Heraklion (Crete) and Santorini during high season.
If you prefer sea, most popular and recommended transport are high-speed catamarans, like Hellenic Seaways Highspeed (bright-red Vodaphone-logo boats).
The Pireaus-to-Santorini trip takes only 4.5hrs, comparable in duration to air, and more stress-free.
Ferries dock at the port of Athinios, where buses and taxis meet each arrival to transport passengers to Oia, Fira, and elsewhere.
All vehicles climb up a very steep, winding road (it makes seven 180 degree turns) to get anywhere from Athinios.
If you travel by cruise ship, the experience will surely leave you with lasting memories.
Cruise ships that reach the island of Santorini do not anchor at Athinios port, but one or two miles away from the old port of the island.

Excursions & Tours on Santorini: for 2009

M.A.C. also arranges reservations at recommended properties on other islands surrounding Mykonos.
It has a large choice of hotel and self-catering solutions for the Cyclades, Crete, Rhodes in the Dodecanese,
and for further distant Aegean islands: Click here for other islands.

reservations by,
MYKONOS ACCOMMODATION CENTER
e-mail: santorini-or-thira@mykonos-accommodation.com
Address: Enoplon Dynameon 10 (upper floor)
(end Matoyianni Street: main street)
Postal Address: P.O. Box 58 - 84600 Mykonos - GREECE
Tel: +30-22890-23160 / 2289023408 / 2289028160 & Fax: 22890-24137

Last updated 14/03/2012