A local travel writer's ultimate guide to going off-the-beaten-path in Santorini
- I'm a Greece-based professional travel writer and hotel reviewer who visits Santorini every year.
- Here's my ultimate guide for every step of planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Santorini, Greece.
As a travel writer and professional hotel reviewer based in Greece for the past 15 years, I spend most of my summers in Santorini. I also head back there with my camper van for long, lazy winters.
Even Greeks I know who have all of Greece's 1,000-plus islands to choose from regularly flock to Santorini for its breathtaking views, gourmet restaurants, and spectacular boutique hotels carved out of stone that was once used to store wine.
As for me, I'm still dazzled every time I arrive on the ferry (which is the best way to get here, in my opinion). It docks at the heart of the caldera, which is the huge volcanic crater set beneath towering red-and-black lava-lined cliffs that are dotted with tiny villages. I love those stunning views and adore the island's hip hotels with their infinity pools, chic restaurants, and resident DJs. But the Santorini I'm really mad about is the one that few tourists see.
My secret Santorini is comprised of the in-the-know sunset spots or the warren of cobbled mule paths that take you far from the crowds to hike through fields where local sweet cherry tomatoes grow. The real Santorini, the one that I love, is in tiny hamlets where life goes on as it did 50 years ago. Locals say hello and bakeries still serve my favorite homemade treats — a creamy custard pie called bougatsa and the raisin-and-sesame treat, kopania.
To sample this slice of true Santorini for yourself, follow my guide to the best places to go and see on this lovely island, just like a local.