The Greek Islands have been on my travel bucket list for as long as I can remember, Santorini specifically. And it lived up to our expectations 100%. Everything from the friendly people, to the beautiful architecture and sunsets, and amazingly delicious food… it’s a spot that will forever be etched into my memory as one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been.
We spent 5 nights and 4 full days on the small islands, and it was plenty of time to see and do everything that was on our list… we had beach days, pool days, a boat day, and exploring days. So, depending on how much leisure time you want, you can adjust your days. If you want to go go go and maximize your time, I would say you could get away with 3 full days (I wouldn’t do less though).
We stayed a Dreams Luxury Resort, which was perfectly situated between Fira (closer to this town) and Oia… so less crowded. In hindsight, I think I would have preferred to stay closer to Oia, just because I am a sucker for a beautiful sunset, and they have the best spot on the entire island. Oia is crowded, but if you go into it knowing that, it’s hard to be disappointed or frustrated (that’s how I feel about traveling throughout Europe in the summer… just expect it to be crowded, plan ahead and make reservations, and then just enjoy yourselves… BUT don’t wait to make reservations places).
Back to the resort. It’s comprised of 6 luxury suits, all with spectacular views. We booked the Orfeas suite, which was perfect for our family of 4. It had an infinity splash pool, morning breakfast in the room (overlooking the water), and since there are only 6 suits the services was very personal. If I had to get picky and share a con, it would be that the A/C situation was a little odd and made the room feel damp, but really, that’s just splitting hairs. We truly enjoyed our time there and it was perfect for our family. If you’re looking for a larger resort, with a pool/pool service, this isn’t your spot!
I’ve broken down what we did by days, and then shared images below! I hope it helps if you’re considering a trip to this beautiful little slice of the world.
NIGHT 1 + FIRST FULL DAY
💫Watch the sunset at the Kastro Oia Houses or Viewpoint on the ruins of an old castle- to get there, head to the cliff at Amoudi Bay with the iconic mill… and either walk up to the ruins spot or stay below (which is where we were for these photos). Also, it will be *very* crowded, so be prepared for a long, and slow; walk back (but it’s also a good time to pop into the shops on the path back).
💫beach club: spend the day on the black sand beaches at fortyone santorini…. Such a chic spot… everything from the decor, plush lounge beds, live entertainment, and food/drink offerings (champagne anyone?!, also the sushi was delicious). The water is incredibly calm, making it easy to swim and play in the water (it was perfect for the girls).
💫dinner at thalami restaurant– great spot in Oia with sweeping coastal views. Reserve a 7:30/8pm table to watch the sunset, or go early (6pm) like we did to watch the sunset from the point recommended above. It will provide ample time to enjoy a leisurely dinner and then walk to the Amoudi bay cliffs.
💫dinner at lefkes santorini… if you’re wanting some amazing traditional Greek food, don’t sleep on this spot. Out of the hustle and bustle of Oia, it is beautifully decorated with some of the best food (the watermelon salad is a *must*).
DAY 2 + 3
💫We rented a car and drove to the town of Pyrgos- car rentals are easy- any hotel can help you set this up and with GPS on your phone, you can easily navigate.
💫Pyrgos is beautifully picturesque, and we walked to the top and enjoyed a simple lunch at Penelope . All restaurants claim to have *the best* Santorini Salas, but this was one of our favorites.
💫We walked around the village and stumbled across the most beautiful homemade ceramic shop- everything was made within the family, which has been making ceramics for 3 centuries. We picked up the prettiest bowls to bring home.
💫afternoon at Moon Beach- the hotel recommended we check out this beach spot, which literally looks like the moon with its black sand and rock formations. We spent a few hours at Theros Wave Barwhich had chic decor, good snacks, and beverages. Another calm beach perfect for swimming.
💫 a 5 hour catamaran tour around the island. They took us to white beach, red beach, and black beach (most of which are only accessible by boat) and we enjoyed swimming in the coves. Then we sailed around the volcanoes- and then a BBQ lunch aboard the boat. This food was 👌🏼👌🏼
💫dinner at sunset amoudi : probably one of our all time favorite dinners this entire trip so far. Right on the water, with gorgeous views, friendly service, and absolutely delicious food. We made reservations here a month ahead of time (highly recommended). Must tries on the menu include the grilled octopus, Santorini salad (another favorite), and lobster linguini pasta for 2.
DAY 4
💫we started the day walking through the town of Fira and picked up souvenirs (girls picked out postcards to send home to friends, which was a fun experience… if you do this, be sure to purchase the stamps at a local market, and then we had the hotel send them out in the mail)… lots of cute shops to explore. I also found the prettiest handmade leather bookmarks from a lady selling her treasures on the path between Oia and Fira.
💫Followed by our second favorite dinner experience in Greece at Barolo. Absolutely stunning, do not miss it. It fully lived up to our expectations- the tuna was delicious, and the views were unmatched. Another spot where we made reservations a month ahead of time… and they have you pick your “area” ahead of time (and you’re charged a fee based on where you choose). We were there early, 6pm, so we chose a spot that wouldn’t be ideal for sunset to get shade, but if you have a later 7:30/8 reservation, you’ll want a spot that allows you to view the sunset- just know that the sun will be in your eyes for the first part of your reservation (obviously not a big deal, but just an FYI).
WHAT I WORE
(Suit Top, Skirt, Hat, Sandals)
(Dress sold out from Dynamite Clothing)
(Dress)
NIGHT 1 + FIRST FULL DAY
DAY 2 + 3
DAY 5
