Dreaming of Santorini
Currently, I’m dreaming of the most picturesque place in the entire world. Santorini, a precious gem in the middle of the Aegean Sea, took my heart in 2019 when I visited with friends during a spring break trip while studying abroad in London.
From its magical sunsets to the myriad of white buildings sitting atop cliffs, Santorini is truly a dream to visit. Ever since I was little, I dreamed of visiting the Grecian island someday. While studying in London during the spring of 2019, I came across inexpensive place tickets to Santorini and a beautiful Airbnb on the cliffs of the village, Imerovigli and had to go. Luckily, my friends were on board too! Come along as I take you around the island where we had the incredible opportunity to explore during the low season as some of the only tourists visiting.
Let me start off by saying that March is a very different time in Santorini than June or July. From October to May, the locals are preparing for the summer season, when Santorini is filled with visitors from all over the world. From building new restaurants to fixing up the roads and sidewalks, there is always a lot of work to be done. The weather in March is rather mild, averaging around 60°F and sunny, which honestly felt incredible compared to what we were used to in rainy London.
Upon arriving, I could immediately feel a sense of magic to the island. It’s hard to describe, but you can just feel it. I decided to rent a car after researching everything I could about the island because of its bus system not running properly during the low season. Let me tell you, that was one of the best decisions I made on the trip. As a result, we were able to explore the entire island, from Oia to Fira to Kamari to Akrotiri. I hear that parking is impossible during the summertime, but if you’re a confident driver (the roads are pretty crazy), I can’t recommend renting a car enough. It gave us so much freedom to do everything we wanted to do in a short amount of time and allowed us to check out parts of the island we wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.
My friends and I stayed at an AirBnb in one of Imerovigli’s cycladic houses. It was absolutely perfect, complete with a jacuzzi and outdoor built-in sofa overlooking the cliffs. Our host was very kind and knowledgeable. He provided us with recommendations and even made us a reservation for a boat excursion.
The AirBnb was a short walk to the famous Fira village, which is known for its to be heavily populated with visitors during the summer months because of its many bars, shops, and restaurants. However when we were there, there were no other people around as we walked along the paths… we were able to get so many amazing pictures, obviously! Highlights in Fira during the low season include dinner at Naoussa around sunset overlooking the caldera view and Sandalopoieio Workshop where we bought inexpensive handmade leather sandals.
Dinner with a view at Naoussa
Visiting Oia is an absolute must. The entire village was virtually closed when we went to Santorini, but the views were absolutely impeccable and we were able to take so many amazing pictures since no one was around!
Restaurants are very limited during the low season, however we managed to have many incredible meals during our 4-day stay on the island. Other than Naoussa, we also dined at Pelican Kipos and Kokkalo Fagopoteion for dinner. For coffee and breakfast, we tried Graffiti, which is common amongst the locals as well as a breakfast overlooking the caldera at Blue Dolphins Veranda.
Drive around the island to see the famous Red Beach, the museum of Ancient Akrotiri, the rocky beaches of Kamari, and ancient Thera. There is so much more to Santorini than the iconic white cycladic villages on the cliffs of the island (although they are quite amazing, I must say). Funny story, we actually drove all the way to the top of a steep, 360 meter high Messavouno mountain to see the city of Ancient Thera, all for it to be closed. If you’re traveling during the low season, know that hours of operation for many tourist sites may not be updated on Google!
One of the most memorable days in Santorini was the Catamaran boating excursion we took with a local tour guide. We were able to see the entire island from the Aegean Sea and even had the chance to swim to a hot spring (spoiler alert: the “hot spring” was freezing cold). The traditional Greek lunch served on the boat was to die for. It included tzatziki, greek salad, souvlaki, and so much more. Not to mention, unlimited wine! Talk about paradise.
I dream of returning to Santorini one day. In the meantime, I’ll continue to reminisce on one of my most favorite trips of all time through all of the memories and photos I have.
