They say about Santorini that there is more wine than water, more churches than houses, and more donkeys than people. All this is quite true for Oia, the snow-white and blue city in the north of Santorini. Except that here you can still find ancient mills, often adorning postcards with views of Oia.

Oia is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Greece, along with the capital Santorini -. In 1981, in Italy, it was even awarded the first prize in the European competition for villages with the best traditional architecture.

One of the peculiarities of Oia is that here the magnificent view of the caldera of an extinct volcano is not spoiled by wires: all power lines are laid underground. The main observation deck of the city is located at its highest point - near the remains of a Venetian castle.

Oia - a snow-white and blue city in the north of Santorini

The city of Oia appeared on the map during the rule of the Turks at the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th centuries, but received its name much later. Three centuries later, at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Oia flourished, becoming a city of sailors: the inhabitants had up to 130 ships with a total population of about 2,500 people.

After the earthquake in 1956, the city experienced a period of mass emigration, so that by 1977 only about 300 people remained living here. Oia has been brought back to life by a massive renovation that has transformed the small island town into one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

There are separate houses for newlyweds here.

Oia is primarily a city of newlyweds who come here from all over the world to take the most beautiful wedding photographs. There are even separate houses for them. If you are simply looking for privacy in luxurious surroundings, then Oia is also perfect for such a holiday: in the evening on the terrace of your room you will not be disturbed by the noise of cars or the roar of parties to enjoy the silence - for fashionable parties it is better to go to Fira or to resorts.

How to get to Oia in Santorini

The largest number of tourists arrive to Santorini from Crete and Athens. Grekoblog wrote about how to get to the island in separate articles:

For now, we just note that from the airport (and Santorini has its own) the easiest way is to get to the capital of the island, Fira, and from there take a bus to Oia.

In summer in Santorini, buses are often overcrowded and only take passengers for seats

If you arrive to the island by ferry, you will be dropped off at the foot of the cliff where Fira is located. All that remains is to go up to the city by cable car, donkey or on foot and - again - take the bus to Oia. During the day, buses leave every half hour from the central bus station and will take you to your destination in 20-25 minutes. The fare varies between 2-4 euros (2017).

It is worth keeping in mind that in the summer, buses in Santorini are often overcrowded and only take passengers for seats. So if your hotel doesn't offer airport transfers, you might want to consider taking a taxi.

You can get from the pier to the city by funicular.

It is better to book a car in advance for the arrival of your flight (whether by ferry or plane), since there are few taxis on the island, and most of them are taken by the more efficient Greeks. By ordering a car in advance, you will be absolutely sure that the car will come exactly for you, and the driver will not be tempted by other passengers. You can calculate the rate and make a reservation on this page.

Taxi prices at Santorini airport (2017)

Another option for getting around the island is by car. Car rental on the island is extremely popular, although locals are not averse to raising prices for tourists. To avoid overpayments, it is better to order a car through a popular price comparison service. For example, through this one.

Hotels and accommodation

In all of Santorini, Oia is perhaps the most expensive city. The high prices for housing are justified by the location of the hotels approximately on the same line as the amphitheater and, accordingly, a gorgeous view of the caldera and sunset from almost every room.

Canaves Oia Sunday Suites Boutique Hotel has a total of 8 suites

Another characteristic feature of hotels in Oia is that they are mostly small family businesses with a few rooms. For example, the boutique hotel Canaves Oia Sunday Suites has only 8 suites, which are serviced at the highest level. Almost each of them has its own terrace; In addition, the hotel has an outdoor swimming pool.

In order not to go broke on hotels (which are worth the money), it is better to select accommodation from booking promotional offers. This way you can sometimes save up to 40-50% of the normal cost of housing. Below is a list of current offers:

Climate and weather

Like the rest of the island, Oia has a Mediterranean climate with hot, sunny summers and mild, rainy winters. The swimming season in Santorini opens in May and lasts until October, when the water is still warmed up to +20+24 C. In the summer months, the air temperature remains stable around +30+35 °C, in winter the air warms up to +10+12 °C.

Oia has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild, rainy winters

The bulk of tourists coming to Oia come during the high season, but the city welcomes travelers all year round. In the winter months, hotel accommodation and car rental will cost you several times less, and incredible sunsets and breathtaking views of the sea and caldera will not go away.

What to see in Oia and the surrounding area

And yet, the main reason why tourists from all over the world come here is, of course, the sunsets. Farewell to the sun in Oia has become a beautiful tradition: having gathered at the ruins of the fortress, guests and residents of the island celebrate the disappearance of the sun over the horizon with applause, exclamations, kisses, hugs and champagne - and so on every day!

The main observation deck of the city

If you still intend to diversify your leisurely holiday by visiting interesting places, pay attention to the Maritime Museum, where parts of surviving ships and navigators’ instruments are stored, as well as thematic photographs and models of sea vessels.

The works of contemporary Greek artists and sculptors are exhibited at the Oia Art Gallery, where you can not only admire the work of local authors, but also find an inexpensive and original souvenir.

Church of St. Sozonta - a shepherd executed for distributing the Holy Scriptures

Of the many churches scattered throughout the city, it is worth highlighting the Church of Saint Sozont, named after a shepherd executed by the emperor for disseminating the Holy Scriptures.

When heading to the Kamari resort, don't forget to stop by the Wine Museum, where you will not only be treated to a locally made drink, but will also be shown a cave for storing bottles at a depth of 300 meters. At one time, Oia was the main Greek supplier of wine to France, and wine was also delivered from here to the royal court in Russia.

You can have an interesting and fun time in Kamari

Oia beaches in Santorini

Oia is located quite high above sea level, so it is customary to go to the nearest resorts to sunbathe and swim. A car will come in handy here more than ever, because the variety of beaches on Santorini is amazing: with regular sand, red, black, and also many pebble beaches.

Entrance to all beaches of the island is free, only sun loungers and deck chairs are paid for

The most remarkable beaches of the island Grekoblog. Let us only add that admission to all beaches is free, only sun loungers and sunbeds are paid for. If they exist, of course.

Photos by: Michelle Maria, Pinterest, Fiveprime, cruisebe.com, grecotour.com, Holiday Warehouse, matt-holidays.com, thesun.co.uk, Ellines.com.

November 29th, 2015 , 09:19 am

So today is the second part of the trip to Santorini and today I want to show you the village of Oia or Oia, everyone calls it differently, and continue the story about the details.

How to get there?

There are two ways to get to Santorini: by air or by sea.
At the moment there are no charters from Russia.

Or you can take a ferry or catamaran, which sail to the port of Athinios on Santorini. The most common and fastest option is on the FlyingCat catamaran http://www.hellenicseaways.gr/index.asp?a_id=238 from Heraklion, a port city on the island of Crete (schedule here: http://www.ferries.gr/ hfd/). Just two hours and you are already in Santorini. It is better to buy tickets in advance on the Internet, for example here: www.ferries.gr

The Megadjet catamaran sails from Crete from Rethymnon two to three times a week, with one-day excursions. Eyewitnesses claim that sometimes you can buy tickets for it without purchasing a package with an excursion.

Where to swim?

Santorini, although not intended for a beach holiday, is famous for its beaches with black volcanic sand. Well, the sand, of course, is not black, but rather gray. If you have never been to such beaches, then perhaps you should visit them.
The most famous black sand beaches are Kamari and Perissa. The infrastructure is very similar: the beach, the road, taverns along the road, deeper souvenir shops and apartments.

Kamari
Perivolos follows immediately after Perissa, but is quieter, not so busy, there are a lot of apartments and a few shops with all sorts of necessities.

You can also go to Monolithos beach. Somewhat similar to Kamari, but not as crowded. There you can also find interesting rocks along the coast.

Monolithos
The island also has pebble beaches. The most famous are Red Beach (Kokkini Ammos) and White Beach (Aspri Ammos). They are located near the village of Akrotiri.

Red Beach is famous for its red pebbles and red rocks all around. The red rocks up close are truly a fantastic sight. To get to the beach, you need to overcome part of the mountain along a very difficult path. Therefore, sneakers or closed sandals with grooved soles are the most comfortable shoes for this.
From the Red Beach you can walk along the path to Kampia Beach. Access to White Beach is only from the sea (although many websites talk about a path, it is closed). Boats go there from Akrotiri very often; you could board a boat at Red Beach. The white beach has large gray and white pebbles plus volcanic sand. And white rocks around.

I learned about the legend of Atlantis from Jules Verne’s novel “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.” Then there was “The Last Man from Atlantis” by Alexander Belyaev, “The Abyss of Marakot” by Arthur Conan Doyle, “The Secret of Two Oceans” by Grigory Adamov.
The film “Leaders of Atlantis” and the Disney cartoon “Atlantis” remain in my memory.
Atlantis (Greek Ἀτλαντίς) is a legendary island (archipelago or even continent), which sank to the seabed one day as a result of an earthquake and flood, along with its inhabitants - the Atlanteans.
There is an opinion that the island of Santorini is the remnant of the lost Atlantis.

For the first time, the myth of Atlantis was expounded by Plato in the dialogues “Timaeus” and “Critias” with reference to certain legends. Plato gives the time of the catastrophe as "9000 years ago", that is, about 9500 BC.
Plato's story about Atlantis can be considered as a myth, the basis for which was historical events during which, as a result of a natural disaster (earthquakes, floods or some other cataclysms), or against their background, a previously successful civilization perished or fell into decay . Such a historical event could be the volcanic eruption on the island of Santorini and the subsequent decline of the Minoan civilization in the Mediterranean Sea.

Whether Atlantis is some kind of myth, or is it the real history of a lost civilization, has not yet been precisely established. The inhabitants of Atlantis were supposedly vegetarians, did not dream and communicated through telepathy. This myth is a source of inspiration for many writers, artists, and playwrights.

In Plato’s dialogue “Timaeus,” the Athenian politician Critias recounts the story of the war between Athens and Atlantis, allegedly from the words of his grandfather Critias the Elder, who, in turn, retold him the story of Solon, who the latter heard from the priests in Egypt.

The meaning of the story is this: once upon a time, 9 thousand years ago, Athens was the most glorious, powerful and virtuous state. Their main rival was the aforementioned Atlantis. “This island was larger than Libya and Asia combined.” A “kingdom of amazing size and power” arose on it, which ruled all of Libya to Egypt and Europe to Tyrrhenia (western Italy). All the forces of this kingdom were thrown into the enslavement of Athens. Following this, however, a huge natural disaster occurred, as a result of which the entire army of the Athenians died in one day, and Atlantis sank to the bottom of the sea.

The ancestor of the Atlanteans, according to Plato, was the god Poseidon, who met with the mortal girl Cleito, who gave birth to ten divine sons from him (led by the eldest, Atlas), between whom he divided the island, and who became the ancestors of his royal families.

For protection, Poseidon surrounded the island with three water and two land rings; The Atlanteans threw bridges over these rings and dug canals, so that ships could sail along them to the city itself or, more precisely, to the central island, which had 5 stades (somewhat less than a kilometer) in diameter. On the island there were temples lined with silver and gold and surrounded by golden statues, a luxurious royal palace, and also shipyards filled with ships.

Where Atlantis was located, and where to look for what is left of it, is still debated. They are looking for Atlantis in the Atlantic near Morocco, in the Andes, in Brazil, in Ireland, in Romania, and even in Antarctica.
Plato places Atlantis directly beyond the Strait of Gibraltar, near the coast of Spain and what is now Morocco. Morocco among the Greeks, as a country in the far West, is the seat of the titan Atlas (Atlas), to whose name the name of the ocean and the Atlas ridge go back. Undoubtedly, the name Atlantis - “the country of Atlanta” - goes back to it.

Many researchers searched for Atlantis in the area of ​​the Balearic and Canary Islands. Vyacheslav Kudryavtsev put forward the version that Atlantis was located on the site of the current British Isles and Ireland, and sank as a result of melting glaciers.

Researcher Robert Sarmast discovered a rectangular earth mass underwater 11 km from Cyprus, extending northeast towards Syria. He claims that it was the island of Cyprus that was the top of the hill, part of Atlantis.

The most plausible hypothesis about the sources of Plato's story is the destruction of the town of Helica in the Peloponnese in 373 BC. Gelika was submerged overnight as a result of an earthquake accompanied by a flood; for several centuries its remains were clearly visible under water.

The famous underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau almost managed to prove that the remains of the Minoan civilization discovered at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea are precisely the remains of the lost Atlantis. He also includes the group of islands of Santorini. On one of them - the island of Fira - the oldest population appeared around 3000 BC. and was pre-Greek. During excavations in the ancient city of Akrotiri in Fira, under a thick layer of volcanic ash, settlements of two or three-story houses were discovered, decorated with frescoes that resemble the wall paintings of Minoan palaces on Crete.
What to buy?

The main alcoholic souvenir from Santorini is local wine.
The most famous and popular wine is Vinsanto. Naturally sweet wine made from sun-dried grapes.
There are a lot of good summer cotton clothes on the island. The quality is very decent. Just right for the heat. Clothes are sold both in stores and in open shops on the streets.
There is also a lot of costume jewelry and cute silver items with enamel and mother-of-pearl.

What I remember in Greece, including on this island, is that in any restaurant, after breakfast/lunch/dinner, we always received compliments from the chef; in Santorini we received a jug of a delicious cocktail and a fruit bowl, Greeks Well done in this regard.

I can't tell you everything about Santorini. But I hope I reminded you of the beauty of the island. Or aroused interest in this unusual place. And finally, some interesting facts about Santorini.
- After the devastating earthquake of 1956, Santorini was practically rebuilt
- Capers grow on the streets of towns, which complement the taste of Greek salad very well
- In winter, only a few families live in Oia, everything is closed and you have to go to Fira for bread.
- The Santorini Volcano is active, as if reminding us that everything in this world is not eternal.....

Lastly, some goodies)

To be continued...

Basic criteria for choosing a hotel on the island of Santorini. The best Santorini hotels with beach access and volcano views.

How to choose a hotel in Santorini (Greece)?

Deciding which hotel to choose in Santorini is not an easy one, but it is a very important one. In this article, I have collected selection criteria for you, based on which you can easily decide on your choice of hotel.

If you don’t know much about Santorini, I must tell you that the most beautiful thing here is the view of the volcano and local sunsets. No matter how beautiful the islands of Greece are, none of them have such a strong passion for watching sunsets. It's something of a nightly ritual in Santorini.

Volcano or beaches?

This is the first decision that needs to be made.

Do you want to stay in towns along the mountainside with great views of the volcano?

Western part of Santorini and the famous view of the volcano. Here are the main cities of Santorini - Fira, Oia, Imerovigli and Firostefani.

Or do you want to stay in one of the coastal towns on the opposite side of the island? It’s also beautiful here, close to the beaches, but there is no view of the volcano and caldera.

On the one hand, there is a mountain with a beautiful view, on the other there is a lowland and beaches. The distance between parts of the island is small - 10 -15 minutes by car.

The eastern part, where the main hotels of Santorini with access to the sea are located.

If you chose the eastern part with the beaches, then it’s easier to decide here. There are only 2 large cities: Kamari and Perissa (Perivolos beach is a continuation of Perissa). Kamari is a more developed town with more shops, bars, hotels and restaurants. Perissa has better beaches. I recommend choosing Kamari because of its better infrastructure and it is closer to Fira. There is a boat service between Kamari and Perissa, so you can easily visit both towns in a day.

Which city to choose from the side of the volcano?

Most tourists stop on the side of the caldera. And I think this choice is correct. The volcano is what makes Santorini a special island in Greece. For a beach holiday, it is better to go to other islands.

If you are planning to stay in the western part, then you face another difficult choice - which city to stay in. The difficulty is that they are all good in their own way.

There are 4 main towns along the caldera: Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia. Each of them offers amazing views of the volcano, but Imerovigli is the most beautiful.

• Fira has the most restaurants and active nightlife.
• Firostefani – it is quiet and you can reach Fira on foot.
• Imerovigli is very calm here. Fira and Oia can be easily reached by bus or taxi. 6 great restaurants.
• Oia is the most romantic town in Santorini, there are many restaurants, but practically no nightlife.

Fira

View of the volcano from Fira

The largest city on the island is the center of cultural life. There are most restaurants and shops here, and a fun nightlife. Fira offers amazing views of the volcano, but the sunsets are a little spoiled by the island of Thirassia. Fira is the final stop for all buses. In other cities, buses only go to Fira and back. Therefore, if you need, for example, to get from Kamari to Oia, you will have to change trains in Fira.

If you come to explore the island's nightlife and love clubs, then you will spend the most time in Fira. If your hotel is located close to the city center, noise on the streets may interfere with your sleep. Along the caldera it is much quieter and you won't be disturbed by loud music in the middle of the night.

Best hotels in Fira

Aria Suites - large pool and good location.

More hotels in Fira

• Cosmopolitan Suites
• Aigialos Traditional Houses
• Anteliz Suites

Firostefani

Firostefani is a 15-minute walk from Fira. It is difficult to say where Fira ends and Firostefani begins. Many people spend the day in Fira and return to Firostefani in the evening. There are no nightclubs or bars here, but it is peaceful and there are good restaurants.

Best hotels in Firostefani

• Tsituras Collection
• The Belvedere
• Homeric Poems
• Mill House Elegant Suites
• Dana Villas

Imerovigli

The most beautiful views of the caldera open from Imerovigli, because this city is located above all the others in Santorini. Imerovigli is the quietest city among the listed ones; there are no nightclubs here. Even though the city is small, there are plenty of good restaurants, shops and markets. Fira can be reached in 20 minutes. Buses run every 30 - 45 minutes south to Fira and north to Oia.

Best hotels in Imerovigli

Astra Suites - stunning view, nice pool, each room has its own kitchen.

More hotels in Imerovigli

• Chromata Hotel
• Absolute Bliss
• Aenaon Villas
• Aqua Luxury Suites
• Grace Santorini

Oya

The most romantic and charming city in Santorini. It is full of beautiful alleys and intersections that invite you to explore its nooks and crannies. Every night people gather on the walls, steps and rooftops to enjoy the sunset. People are having fun, drinking wine and enjoying the views. During sunset there are always a lot of people on the streets, but without crowds or crushes. The restaurants in Oia are some of the best on the island. There are many bars where you can drink and sit, but for dancing you will have to go to Fira. The walk from Oia to Fira takes 2 hours, I strongly advise you to walk, it is a very beautiful path.

Best hotels in Oia

Katikies Hotel - nothing to complain about, I really love this hotel. Read the reviews.

More hotels in Oia

• Mystique
• Oia Castle Hotel
• Ikies – Traditional Houses
• Canaves Oia Hotel
• Perivolas

a couple more important points about hotels in Santorini

hotels with beach

Kastelli Resort - the best hotel in Santorini with a beach

Hotels on the beaches are worse than hotels on the caldera side. Kastelli is the best of them. There are large rooms and 4 swimming pools of different sizes. Beaches and restaurants are a 2-minute walk from the hotel.

Cheap hotels in Santorini

In Santorini you get exactly what you pay for. I mean that there are no hotels here that are overpriced out of nowhere. The best hotels in Santorini have beautiful views, swimming pools and good service. Therefore, if you want to save on accommodation, you will need to give up something.

Below is a list of hotels that are more affordable.

In Fira Keti Hotel and Kamares Apartments. Both offer beautiful views.

In general, on the island of Santorini

The Santorini archipelago itself consists of five islands of different sizes, compactly located in one place.

Story

As often happens in the ancient places of Hellas, the very first mentions of the island of Santorini were found in Greek myths and tales. It was there that a record was found that the brave Argonauts who went to Colchis to restore historical justice and return the Golden Fleece to their homeland were given a small plot of land by the son of the sea god Poseidon Triton, on which the Santorini volcano was located.

According to historical documents, at first the island was called Strongyl, which in Greek meant round. So it was, and until one of the destructive eruptions of the Santorini volcano in the 16th century BC turned the island into a crescent, it really had a round outline. Such an eruption of enormous force, to which scientists assigned a level of seven, caused part of the island to simply go under water, giving it from above the appearance of the open mouth of a strange creature.

By the way, many scientific luminaries studying ancient Greek civilization agree that it was this natural disaster that at one time sent the mysterious Atlantis to the seabed and put an end to the ancient Minoan civilization.

In confirmation of this fact, we can say that indeed in these places numerous examples of products specific to the Minoan cultural period were found. And many scientists in their written works call the Santorini volcano the Pompeii of Atlantis, by analogy with the death of the ancient Roman city from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Sights of Santorini

Excavations of the city of Akrotiri

If you do not have a lot of time to visit the island of Santorini, then you simply must see the excavations of the ancient city of Akrotiri. By the way, the real name of the lost city has not yet been established, but it was named after a small village located nearby.

The archaeological site itself is located on the southern tip of the island. The history of the discovery of the ancient city is also noteworthy. Back in the middle of the last century, workers who were extracting building material in these places for the construction of the famous Suez Canal suddenly came across the remains of an unknown ancient city, which was buried under a multi-meter layer of volcanic ash. As scientists have established, the disaster occurred 3600 years ago. And mind you, much earlier than the famous Pompeian tragedy.

A hundred years later, in 1967, employees of the University of Athens began excavations of the ancient settlement, which have not yet been completed. To date, more than four dozen buildings have been completely freed from ashes, which, according to scientists, is only a thirtieth part of those in the city.

The entrance to the ancient city itself is paid and is located in its southern part. This is followed by a hundred-meter section of ancient stone-paved pavement with houses located along the side of the road. Of greatest interest are the numerous wall frescoes depicting various aspects of the life of long-time townspeople. True, most of the frescoes were once transported to Athens, but Santorini does not lose hope of returning them back to Akrotiri.

According to most historians, Akrotiri, which originated about 3 thousand years BC, was a kind of outpost of the center of Minoan culture - the island of Crete, protecting it from uninvited guests. The high level of development of local culture can be judged by the surviving multi-story architectural examples of complex shape.

By the way, unlike the tragedy of Pompeii, archaeologists did not find any human remains or jewelry in Akrotiri, which may indicate that people left the city in advance, frightened by the approaching eruption.

The village of Fira is located in the western part of Santorini. This city acts as the capital of the island and has a population of about 1,600 people. You can still see here partially preserved buildings dating back to the architectural examples of the Doric era, tombs from the 9th century BC, as well as numerous buildings belonging to the Byzantine era.

The ancient sanctuary glorifying the Greek god Apollo is also worth visiting. The inscriptions with which its walls are densely dotted date back to the 8th century BC. As learned historians prove, these inscriptions represent a long list of names of boys who danced naked for the amusement of the public at traditional festivals of those times.

But to get to the Sanctuary of Apollo you will need to walk from Perissa or Kamari, or take a taxi to Mount Mesa Vouna. But at its top, as a reward for your labors, in addition to numerous ancient ruins, you will discover unusually exciting landscapes of the local surroundings.

Fira is simply an irreplaceable place for lovers of an active nightlife. It is here that you will find a huge number of restaurants that are open almost around the clock. The list of dishes offered is simply mesmerizing. Moreover, here you will find not only traditional local dishes corresponding to Greek cuisine, but also typical of a refined European table.

Elias Monastery

The monastery, dedicated to the ancient biblical prophet Elijah, is located in a town on the highest point of the island of Santorini - 566 meters separate it from the sea surface. From here, all five beautiful islands of the archipelago are clearly visible. And the most keen-eyed tourists on a clear sunny day claim that they can clearly distinguish the outlines of the island of Crete, which is located a good hundred kilometers from this place.

Nearby, on a slightly lower mountain peak, you can see the outlines of the ancient ruins of the city of Fira.

Only one thing spoils the magnificent picture of the buildings and structures of the monastery - these are the antenna surfaces of the radar installations that were installed here as part of Greece’s participation in the North Atlantic Alliance.

Communicating with the inhabitants of the island, you notice with what tenderness and love they treat their ancient monastery, a local shrine, which was founded here by two ascetics at the very beginning of the 18th century. It is interesting that it was within its walls, during the dark period of Turkish rule on the island, that there was a secret school where local children studied Greek literacy and history, which was prohibited at that time.

Today, this monastery houses a museum exposition, in which a school building, secretly located in one of the cells, as well as an ancient carpentry workshop and a forge have been reconstructed. There are very few monks left in the monastery itself, so its future raises serious concerns among local residents.

In general, on the island of Santorini more than 300 Orthodox and Catholic churches. On average, this means that every third building on the island is a snow-white church with a blue dome. That is why the views of the cities of Santorini are an amazing, breathtaking sight against the background of the same blue Aegean Sea.

The town of Oia - the pearl of Santorini

Going to the romantic town of Oia (Greek: Oia), which is the second largest settlement on the island of Santorini, you can feel the spirit of a lost civilization. The easiest way to get to one of the unforgettable beauty places of the legendary island is through the Aegean Sea, chartering a small yacht or choosing an organized excursion. Only when approaching the solid earth rising in the middle of the water surface, blood-red rocks catch your eye, and above them, on stepped terraces, are the snow-white houses of local residents, connected by walking paths.

The town of Oia is famous for its unusual architecture, and all the buildings erected on its territory are built from volcanic rocks and painted in snow-white tones, traditional for Greek cities. Among the white buildings of the old settlement, in which, due to its location, there is no place for cars or industrial enterprises, medieval buildings in the Venetian style and ancient houses that once belonged to sailors stand out.

It is because of them that Oia is often called the “City of Captains”, and now the Maritime Museum reminds of the glorious period in the history of the island of Santorini. Its exhibition is located in a restored mansion of the 19th century, and among the exhibits are interesting diagrams and drawings of ships, models of old and new ships plowing the Aegean Sea, sailing ships, rare photographs and a rich collection of rare books.

Among the attractions of the town of Oia, the ancient windmills, resembling rounded snow-white towers made of stone with huge wooden blades that begin to rotate when even a light breeze blows. Just walking along the streets of a small town, where time seems to have stood still, you can admire the village-type architecture with spacious courtyards for the limited space, umbrellas of local cafes, white bell towers and Christian churches with bluish domes.

In the middle of the narrow streets of the small town of Oia there are hotels with their own miniature swimming pools, Greek taverns and cafes, and from the stepped terraces it is worth admiring the views of the Aegean Sea and taking memorable panoramic photographs. But the particularly romantic village is famous for its beautiful sunsets, and to see the indescribable spectacle, travelers only need to book a table in one of the local taverns and have a camera or video camera ready in time.

Active volcano on Novaya Kameni Island

Visit to a still living and quite noticeably smoldering volcano located on the island New Kameni(Nea Kameni), attracts many tourists from all over the world. Moreover, everyone knows the harsh character of the local fiery mountains, which have buried more than one ancient city under their ashes.

Novaya Kameni is considered the largest of the two “burnt islands”. The excursion program offered to tourists includes a hike to the top of the volcano, which is located at an altitude of 430 feet above the sea. After which, thrill-seekers can walk along the very edge of the volcano’s mouth in order to see with their own eyes whether he has fallen asleep for a long time or is soon ready to show everyone his grumpy disposition. Let us recall that the last, fifth eruption of this giant occurred in 1956.

In the wide and bright shopping arcades you can buy goods from well-known brand manufacturers, including uniquely beautiful jewelry, at fairly reasonable prices. By the way, in jewelry stores and shops you will find a wide selection of a wide variety of local silver products, which belong both to our era and may be ancient rarities.

As souvenirs, tourists prefer to bring original handicrafts made of wood, leather and fur from the island, which they can always give to their friends and family. In addition, local wine has an unusual production technology. Among the special attractions of the island is dry wine made from grapes dried overnight, which is famous for its extraordinary aroma. Sweet red wines prepared by local winemakers are no less tasty.

Climate in Santorini

Santorini has a fairly long hot season and a short rainy season. The rainy seasons usually fall in November and February. Humidity is quite high throughout the year (in fact, it is the main source of water for vegetation). Temperature fluctuations are slight throughout the year, winters are very mild and snow is a rare occurrence. Temperatures on the island of Santorini: in spring 17°C - 22°C, in summer 22°C - 40°C, in autumn 25°C - 17°C, in winter 17°C - 7°C.

What else to say? Pleasant climate, paradise nature, places rich in historical monuments and significant events, beautiful beaches - what else does a person need to throw off the burden of worries and spend his free time with benefit for the soul and body?

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Oia (aka Oya and Oya) is the calling card of the island. It is the photos of the city of Oia on Santorini and its famous sunsets that lure you to Greece from postcards and advertisements. Although it’s more likely not even a city, but a village: it’s hard to call a settlement where less than two thousand people live a city. Yes, Iya is small. But incredibly beautiful. Let's walk along it with a camera and select the most beautiful photos of the city of Oia on Santorini, for which thousands of tourists come here!

Why Oia is the most elite village in Greece

Before we show you our best photos of the city of Oia on Santorini, just a few words about this town. As already mentioned, in size Oya is more of a village than a city; from one and a half to two thousand people live here. Exactly Oia is considered the place where the most beautiful sunsets in Santorini. Therefore, in the evenings, thousands of tourists from all over the world come here to admire the setting sun against the background of the volcano Caldera and the surrounding islands.

One of the attractions of Oia is the ruins of an ancient Venetian fortress. Finding it is very simple: as the sun begins to set, follow the crowd of tourists hung with tripods and cameras. It is from the fortress that a stunning view of the sunset opens up, so in the evenings there is nowhere for a Chinese apple to fall.

Another attraction that adorns many photos of the city of Oia on Santorini is the windmill on the top of the mountain. And of course, the beautiful Oya is famous for its colorful (primarily white and blue) houses, many of which are built on the slopes of the mountain and turned into fashionable hotels, where accommodation costs hundreds of euros per night. Here are the most beautiful of them:

It is thanks to the stunning views of sunsets and the Caldera, which opens from many hotels, that Oia is considered the most elite village (if not the whole city). Let's quickly stroll through the streets of the elite village, look into its elite Jacuzzis and enjoy the view of the elite sunset!

P.S.: We are also not born with bastard - to take these photos of the city of Oia on Santorini, we did not come there on foot, but used the services of elite transport for wealthy tourists. Come on, what a helicopter. Afterwards we went up to Oia from the embankment riding on donkeys. We'll start our photo gallery with them.

Photos of the city of Oia on Santorini: streets and sunsets, donkeys and cats

For many residents of Oya, donkeys have been and remain the main source of income.

Classic photo of the city of Oia on Santorini during sunset. It is this picture that adorns postcards with views not only of the island, but of all of Greece.

A this photo of the town of Oia on Santorini was taken from the sea when we were approaching the island after an excursion to the crater of the volcano.

The churches of Santorini with a round blue dome are one of the hallmarks of Greece. They adorn many photos of the city of Oia on Santorini.

And here is the same church, but from afar and against the backdrop of a good half of the “city” of Oia. In the background is another elite village, Imerovigli.

As you know, the most famous photos of the city of Oia on Santorini are those where the church flaunts against the backdrop of the volcanic caldera.

The same church, only with a view of the opposite bank.

Santorini is not just a very romantic island: newlyweds from all over the world fly here on their honeymoon.

A honeymoon in Santorini is a very expensive pleasure. A night in a hotel like this in Oia with a jacuzzi and views of the Caldera will cost several hundred (or even thousands) euros.

Not only small churches decorate photos of the city of Oia on Santorini. The local streets are also very picturesque and dotted with small, colorful houses, many of which serve as restaurants and souvenir shops.

And this is what all these hotels, cafes and churches look like from the sea, steps going down to the water along the slope of the cliff.

Everything is the same, a look from the inside: this photo of Oya was taken from one of her streets.

Photo of the city of Oia on Santorini: every house, every wall and every window is full of small but cute details.

In the evenings, Oia is filled with tourists who flock here from all over the island specifically to photograph a unique natural phenomenon - themselves.

And poor travelers, who did not have enough money for a selfie stick, gather with their DSLRs and tripods at the ruins of the Venetian fortress.

The Venetian Fortress is considered the most convenient of the best places to watch the sunset in the village of Oia on Santorini - this is where the most beautiful photos are taken in the rays of the setting sun.

For example, from the Venetian fortress you can take this wonderful photo of the city of Oia on Santorini at sunset. This is worth standing in a traffic jam of thousands of tourists for!

Yes, we didn’t steal these photos from the Internet, we were here! Yes, it really is as cool as in the picture. No, I won't tell you what's in my backpack.

The wall on Santorini can be either red or yellow. But the gates must be blue.

In many photos of the city of Oia on Santorini, local houses with sloping roofs and blue shutters are adjacent to the ubiquitous souvenir shops:

The sign on the wall says that you can rent a cat here, but we did not use this service; check prices on site.

As in all of Greece, there are many street cats in Oia. Satisfied with life and with all their appearance demonstrating how indifferent they are to all this tourist hustle and bustle.

These were the 20 best photos of the city of Oia on Santorini that we managed to take during our trip to this amazing place. And that is not all! In our other articles you will find even more beautiful pictures:

And of course, very beautiful photos of the city of Oia on Santorini, as well as the Caldera and sunsets, are obtained from its hotels. We have a selection of good accommodation options in Oia from different price categories that you can book on Booking.com.