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Santorini Inspiration

Santorini Inspiration, Santorini Inspiration

Santorini is calling and I must go

Anonymous

All most people need to draw them to visit Santorini are photographs of this visually magnificent destination. It is one of the most photographed locations in the world for a reason. The weather is near perfect, and the sea is the deepest blues. All this is perched over a gorgeous caldera that draws your eyes constantly to it. It is one of our favorite places in the world to photograph.

The crescent-shaped island is surreal in its beauty and has an energy that is hard to describe. The white-washed buildings with the backdrop of the deep azure Aegean sea are stunning. But Santorini is much more than that; it is home to ancient civilizations and archaeological sites of buried cities 2000 years older than Pompei. To add some added fun, Santorini is also one of the oldest wine-growing regions in the world. Enough said…

We will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Fun facts about Santorini follow the photo gallery or jump ahead now by clicking here.

Check out our blog post on Santorini, Greece: The Jewel of the Aegean Sea to provide even more inspiration and all the ins and outs of making the most of your visit.

Funs facts about Santorini that all visitors should know

  1. Along with the four smaller islets, nearby Santorini forms a small volcanic island archipelago. It is located in the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea. There are over 200 islands in the Cyclades.
  2. What we know as Santorini is the result of a volcanic explosion. It was so violent that it resulted in one of the world’s largest calderas with a diameter of over 6 miles. This massive eruption is believed to have occurred around 1600 BC, and only side pieces of the previous island remain. The powerful eruption caused severe damage to Crete Island, 70 miles away, and destroyed Knossos Palace.
  3. You may ask, what is a caldera? It is a huge depression in the top part of the volcano, resulting from a violent eruption destroying the upper part of the volcanic cone.
  4. It is assumed that the main cities of Oia and Fira have been around for centuries. This could not be farther from the truth. In 1956 a powerful earthquake destroyed most of the island buildings. Today’s structures are part of a grand design to bring more tourism to the island. We would say it was successful, maybe too much.
  5. One of the oldest civilizations of the Bronze Age, the Minoans, lived on the island before the mass eruption. This was a thousand years BC. These were amazingly advanced civilizations with indoor plumbing and sewers.
  6. The name of the island comes from the 13th-century character of St Irene. It was originally called Strongoli.
  7. Tourism is the number one source of income for residents. Demand has become so high many hospitality workers arrive seasonally from Athens. Tourist season was from May to September, but as Santorini’s popularity grows, so does the season.
  8. One of the biggest issues causing over-tourism is cruise ship traffic. On some days there will be 4-5 cruise ships arriving during a 24-hour period. Mass people load onto the busses, making it very difficult to move around in places like Oia and Thira.
  9. Santorini has a few beaches, but there are many more beautiful islands for beaches in Greece. There are three beaches that people visit, red, black, and white beaches. They are more of a rough pebble-type beach with black sand.
  10. Why are the buildings white-washed? Santorini gets hot, very hot. The white paint keeps the building cool. Test it to compare a non-painted or darker-painted building to a white one. The difference is surprising. There are other stories of why the buildings are painted white, but all we know is they are part of the Santorini Inspiration.
  11. Wine-making in Santorini is one of the oldest grape-growing regions in the world. The vineyards are virtually impervious to disease and grow under harsh soil and conditions. Local winemakers use the humidity in the air to help irrigate the vines. As a result, the harvest is very small as each plant produces a few grapes.

    The wines are fantastic and hard to find outside of Santorini due to limited production. There are dozens of wineries to visit on the island. The most popular wine is the sweet wine Vinsanto, which many restaurants on the island will offer a complimentary glass at the end of a meal. How is that for Santorini Inspiration?
  12. This is a profoundly religious island, and you find churches everywhere. Differing from mainland Greek Catholicism is the dominant faith in Santorini.
  13. There is almost no rain in Santorini, and it is pretty humid. The water on the island absolutely should not be consumed, and bottled water should be the only source of drinking water.
  14. Santorini is unique because it is one of the few civilizations on Earth built into volcanic rock.
  15. Enjoy visiting castles? Santorini has several. The Venetians were a strong presence here, evident in the Greco-Roman buildings, and used these castles as fortifications to protect against enemies.
  16. On the Caldera side of the island, there are two main ports. Fira Port sits at the base of steep sheer rock walls that rise 980 feet above sea level. The trip up is no small feat. The road itself is a crazy windy narrow road with one hairpin turn after another. But for the more adventurous, you can walk up the steep steps, ride a sky car or even hop onto a donkey.
  17. Renting ATVs is common for tourists on the island to get around. The island is only 11 miles long, and parking is a challenge everywhere. An ATV solves many of the issues that cars have, but they are also many stories of accidents. If you are visiting in the off-season, we would suggest a car, though, as there is so much to see on this island, and a car makes it more possible for a short visit.

Where to stay in Santorini

Our top recommendation is, if possible, to stay on the Caldera. Nothing beats that and having stayed in the interior once it is not even close to the same experience. Stay away if you can from the main area of Fira as it gets busy and noisy. Just a bit down along the Caldera there are lots of options. We stayed in Imerovigli and it was perfection.

It is important to price out properties on various sites. Expedia is a US-based company, whereas Booking.com is Europe-based. Not all properties appear on both, so check both. Our personal first choice is Booking.com. If the establishment has a website, check the price there as well.

Booking.com

Booking.com

Expedia

Santorini Inspiration, Santorini Inspiration

The Official Greece, Santorini tourism website, is a great resource and will provide even more Santorini Inspiration.

Santorini Archipelago

When to travel to avoid the crowds

Santorini, in peak season, can be a mass of people. We visited then and when it was empty. The huge crowds can be challenging to navigate, but we still fell in love with the island and the setting despite them. If it is the only time you can visit, don’t miss out.

Our second visit was when it was empty, as it was post-Covid; the experience was very different and by far more exceptional. We advise going off-season, especially when the cruise ships are not running, or looking for days when they are not in port.

We discuss the issues of over-tourism in our Santorini post. Check out how sustainable tourism is vital to the future of places like Santorini.

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Squaremouth.com

Our favorite travel insurance site!

If you book a trip, don’t forget to get travel insurance within 14 days of your first booking. We could not be stronger advocates of being well-insured. Not just for the little stuff but the big things like medical emergencies. We never leave home without it. Over the years, we have used many sites but have now found our go-to place. Squaremouth.com does a fantastic job; it has a user-friendly interface, uses top-rated and reputable insurance carriers, and most policies cover COVID-19 medical issues and cancellations. They also mediate on your behalf if you have problems with your policy.

To empower you as a consumer, we suggest you read our blog post on the importance of travel insurance and how to get the best coverage from top-rated companies for an affordable price.

MedjetAssist

Medical transport back home from anywhere in the world

They are the premier global air medical transport. One caveat to travel insurance is that medical evacuation usually gets you to the closest facility to care for you. Medjet gets you back to the U.S. to the hospital of your choice once you are stable enough to fly. They cover COVID-related transport as well.

Medjet carries its own policies. The policy is only for transport and no other aspects of travel insurance. They have individual trip policies starting at $99 and annual policies for around $300. Most of their policies limit the age to 74 and younger. Prices are not based on age below that.

To learn more about how Medical Evacuation membership with Medjet Assist works, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.  

Expedia.com 

Hotels, home rentals, BNBs, flights, and other transportation & tours 

Expedia is a US-based company whose mission is to power global travel for everyone and everywhere. Whether planning a family vacation, booking for business, or organizing the trip of a lifetime, they are a fantastic resource. Wanderers Compass focuses on independent travel, and using sites like Expedia makes that possible. Every aspect of travel you need, from airfare, accommodations, rental car, and cruises to activities to do at your destination, can be booked on Expedia.  

Booking.com

Hotels, Home rentals, BNBs, Flights, and other Transportation & Tours 

Booking.com connects millions of travelers to memorable experiences, various transportation options, and incredible places to stay – from homes to hotels and much more. It is one of the world’s largest travel marketplaces for established brands and entrepreneurs of all sizes.

We always check Expedia and Booking.com to verify prices. At times, one is sold out of rooms while another at the same place has rooms. As well we often find some European hotels, especially smaller ones, on Booking.com but not on Expedia. It could be they are a Europe-based company. Try both before booking accommodations.

Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO)

Are you traveling with a family or having an extended stay at your destination?

With over 2 million bookable vacation rentals, VRBO connects homeowners with families and vacationers looking for something more than a hotel for their trip. The VRBO community offers families or groups various rental property types such as condos, cabins, lake rentals, beach houses, etc.

VRBO is under the Expedia group ownership now, which many were worried about, but it hasn’t panned out to be a concern. It is a massive network with access to all lodging forms should issues arise. Joelle has used VRBO for many years with her family with no problems.

Viator

As the leading marketplace for travel experiences, Viator believes that making memories is what travel is all about. And with 300,000+ experiences to explore—everything from simple tours to extreme adventures (and all the niche, interesting stuff in between)—making memories that will last a lifetime has never been easier.

With industry-leading flexibility and last-minute availability, it’s never too late to make any day extraordinary. This one site has it all and has experiences throughout the world. We use them often during our travels, especially for food tours. We especially take the time to read the reviews provided.

Amazon.com

An excellent source for travel essentials and guides

We now have our own Amazon Storefront with all our favorite travel accessories and gear in one place. Check out our travel store at the link below.

Wanderers Compass Amazon Storefront

Amazon is one of the most comprehensive online shopping sources in the world. On behalf of their customers, teams worldwide provide lower prices, better selection, and rapid delivery. They offer a vast inventory, and their 1.7 million small and medium businesses worldwide selling on Amazon.com offer extensive options to customers.

We buy most of our travel books, accessories, and luggage from Amazon. We have ordered up to two days before travel and get what we need.

HYDAWAY

This is not your ordinary drinkware company. The HYDAWAY difference is what their products do when you’re not using them. Practical and portable, HYDAWAY doesn’t take up unnecessary space in your already-packed life or pile up in landfills. We all know that trying to pack light while being environmentally conscious can be difficult. Having the right items can make a world of difference. HYDAWAY provides that.

We have used their collapsible water bottle, carrying case for the water bottle, and collapsible insulated drink tumbler. They are all lightweight and durable. A conservation-focused product you can be proud to buy.

Use our Promo Code. WANCOM15, at checkout for 15% off your Hydaway order

Welcome Pick-ups
(Airport and sightseeing service)

A global leader in ground transportation for travelers. They help hundreds of companies worldwide enhance their services and boost their revenue with our 5-star ride experiences and hassle-free automation.

Founded in 2015 in Athens, Greece, Welcome Pick-ups goes above and beyond the standard transfer service as the first company to deliver a holistic, in-destination travel experience. From the moment a traveler arrives at a new destination until they return home, Welcome accommodates all their travel needs (transfers, travel products, things to do, information) as the easiest, friendliest, and most personalized solution.

PhotoAiD

Do you feel like you are wasting time visiting an on-site photographer only to be embarrassed by the photo? Would you like control of the final product? Get the perfect VISA or passport photo online with PhotoAID.

When traveling, you often need to apply for official documents such as a passport, ID, and different kinds of licenses or cards. Those applications require a picture that must meet specific conditions to be accepted, depending on the country. Now, it is possible to take this picture at home without the help of a professional photographer. PhotoAiD allows you to take the perfect biometric photo that will be approved by you without leaving your home.

This article contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

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