I stood at the top of the cliff on the edge of the island and inhaled the salty air of the Aegean Sea. In front of me, the blackened volcano stood forebodingly in the midnight-blue waters of the caldera, daring anyone to assume that it had become docile. Behind me stood the iconic whitewashed buildings and blue domes of Santorini, resting precariously on the rocky cliffs. They formed the facade of the delightfully confounding labyrinth of cobblestone and marble alleys from which I had emerged. This was what I had come here for. This was what I had dreamt about for aeons.
Santorini Port
Santorini was formed by a series of volcanic eruptions over thousands of years, giving rise to its unique beaches with white, red, or black sand. Adding to its mythical allure is the well-founded theory that the ruins of Akrotiri, a Minoan Bronze Age settlement on Santorini, are actually the unearthed remains of the lost city of Atlantis.
Alleys of Santorini
For a long time, whenever anyone had asked me what my dream destination was, Santorini was the first name that sprang to mind. It was the pictures of the scene I was witnessing that had imprinted themselves indelibly on my mind – that same pictures that sold Greece to the world and had sold it to me too.
Bric-a-brac Shop
Determined to get there, I found myself on a Mediterranean cruise with one of its ports of call being Santorini. When our ship finally docked there on a sunny October morning, I couldn’t believe that my dream was about to come true.
Book Shop
We disembarked and were taken by tender boats to the port then driven by bus up a steep and narrow cliff, ascending higher and higher to the town of Fira, while the views below became more bewitching… and hair-raising. Our tour guide, Lynne, a British woman who had been living there for the past 20 years (talk about a dream job) said that our driver was one of the best drivers in Santorini which calmed our nerves a bit – until she added that “The others are all dead!”
Winding road up the cliff
As we drove through Fira, I realised that the Santorini I was looking at did not quite look like the one imprinted on my mind. Santorini Island consists of several towns and villages. The world-famous pictures are of the sea-facing buildings taken in the village of Oia (pronounced Eeya). Nevertheless other parts of Santorini also boast stunning picturesque views, sun-kissed whitewashed buildings, and endless photo opportunities. As one of Greece’s most popular tourist destinations, much of the island is crowded as expected but yet it is still possible to find quiet spots where the silence and serenity allow you to hear your inner thoughts and be at one with yourself.
Coffee Shop
Bric-a-brac shops, eclectic clothing shops, and Greek restaurants with panoramic views of the caldera below lined the narrow pathways and the scent of Mediterranean cuisine wafted through the air. Newly-weds posed for photos in their wedding attire that conceals the comfortable flip-flops they’ve worn on their feet. Now and then a donkey crossed our path. As we turned off the main pathway we were rewarded with the bewitching view that the world associates with Santorini and found ourselves to be part of the postcard. It was everything that I had imagined it to be.
Restaurant
If you're lucky enough to have a longer stay, check out this Ultimate Travel Guide On How To Spend 4 Days In Santorini.
If you would like to visit a lesser-known beautiful Greek island, check out this travel guide to Milos , which includes information on how to get there from Santorini.
For the best accommodation deals in Santorini, click here.
For cheap flight deals to Santorini, click here.
This article was first published in the Sunday Times.
Sara Essop is a travel blogger and writer based in South Africa. She writes about family travel and experiences around the world. Although she has been to 50 countries thus far, she especially loves showcasing her beautiful country and is a certified South Africa Specialist.
Enjoyed every bit of your article. Thank you! Awesome.
This site is absolutely fabulous!
Beautiful weather you've got and stunning photos! Great write-up!
Thank you Kristine. The weather was stunning. I wish I could have spent more time there though. 🙂
Wow what a beautiful place! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for dropping by Aussiepursuit - I think that it is one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Mashaa Allah, sister... I want to travel more places like you do. In shaa Allah, after my graduation. . <3
So eloquently illustrated! And the photography is superb <3
Thank you Ayesha. It helps if the place is so photogenic!
Masha'Allah stunning !!
I've always been drawn to it as well.. It's so visually appealing
Lol.. The rest are all dead .. Way to calm your nerves !
Sounds like an awesome vacation hope you has fun!
Thank you Sahar. Haha, you can imagine how nervous we got when we heard that!
Your pics look like coming out of fairy tales and story books, so enchanted they look!
Love this vacation spot, hoping someday of visiting this place InshaAllah !
Thank you Random Bytes From Life. Hope you get to go soon!
Wooow, MashAllah it looks so beautiful. I would love to go there.
xo
Zeinab
Hope you get to go soon!
Masha'allah I never heard of this place until now! BUCKET LIST!
Definitely a bucket list destination!
Incredible!!! The deep blue-ness (just made up that word) of the sea is breathtakingly beautiful. Definitely on my bucket list too!
Thank you Umme Hafsa - One could stare into that deep blue-ness all day long! 🙂
Your pictures make me want to go there! Great photography mA!
Thank you Ruku. I really enjoyed taking photos of such a photogenic place.
Gorgeous subhanAllah! Adding it to my dream vacations list!
Thank you Suhaila - this is definitely a dream vacation destination!
Those photos are just amazing! So colourful.
Thanks Karima - it is certainly a very photogenic place!
I had never heard of this place before! It looks absolutely beautiful! Definitely a place to visit
For some reason, I kept on seeing photos of Santorini whenever I went on to travel websites and I added it on to my bucket list. It was definitely worth it.
Soo beautiful marshallah!! I want to go the pictures are soooo wow ?
Thank you Zainab. It is definitely a bucket-list destination!