Everything You Need To Know Before Visiting Santorini 

The white houses with the blue-coated roofs look amazing with the sea view, and I am here talking about one of the dream destinations of many travelers who come here to observe the sunset from Oia town, and the place is none other than Santorini, a volcanic island in Greece. It became part of Modern Greece after its independence way back in 1830. 

It was a fishing and wine-making island before tourism erupted here in the 1970s, which makes it one of the most visited and photographed places in Greece. 

Every single traveler would love to visit this place, and if it's your dream destination, then you need to know a few things before visiting Santorini, which we are going to describe in the next section.  

1- How to reach Santorini?  

In my case, I booked my flight through Gatwick Airport as I am coming from the UK. It took me around 4 hours to reach the spot. 

I would suggest that you book early because the flights on that route are limited, and early booking allows you to get affordable rates. Last but not least, don’t forget that for the long stay parking Gatwick, your car will be in good custody while you enjoy your day in Santorini.  

2- Best Time to Visit Santorini 

There is one valuable advice from my side, and that is to avoid the peak tourist season, which usually starts from July to August. I would recommend you visit late April to early June, or you can also visit from September to October.  

At this time of the year, you will observe fewer crowds. Lastly, I don’t think it would be a good idea to visit in the winter season because most of the businesses are closed for the winter.  

3- Best Areas to Stay in Santorini?  

It's important to know where you can stay in Santorini, and the question becomes super important when you are here in the peak time.  

Oia, which is ideal for couples, but it's overcrowded most of the time. But don’t worry, you can also opt for Fira, which is the central capital and offers hotels, restaurants, and a vibrant nightlife. There are other small towns like Imerovigli, Kamari & Perissa where you can choose to stay.  

4- Weather Conditions in Santorini 

July and August are not only the busiest months of the year, but they are also the hottest months of the year, and the chances of rain are nearly zero. It's the best season for swimming and for beach activity, so don’t forget to bring sunblock. April to May and September to October are ideal, as you can see that the days are warmer and nights are cooler. All I would say is that it is the best time for relaxing, or you can try hiking there.  

The winter season (November-March) is not ideal for beach activity. During this season, you will observe rainfalls, and due to the off-season, most of the hotels are closed, so you will rarely find the best accommodation here.  

5- Best Foods to Eat in Santorini? 

Being a food lover, we can’t skip discussing food, and in Santorini, there are a few food items that are so delicious that everyone should give them a try. Here are some of those food items: 

1- Fava 

Start with a staple dish in Santorini. Here is Fava, which is made up of yellow peas which were boiled, and they usually mashed with some olive oil, lemon and onions. It tastes good and feel creamy.  

2- Tomato Fritters 

Have you ever tried tomato fritters? If not, then you should not miss this one in Santorini. It is one of the local signature dishes. What is special about this food item is that it is made up of locally grown tomatoes. The tomatoes are small and full of juice, which is why they are grown in the volcanic soil. Coming back to the fritters, they are juicy inside and crispy outside, usually they are made up of island fresh herbs and onions.  

3- Greek Salad 

A traditional Greek salad is famous across the world, and when you are on the island, how can you miss it?  It is usually made up of cucumbers, fresh tomatoes, red onions, green bell peppers, extra virgin oil, and much-anticipated feta cheese on top. 

Here you have an option, and you can replace the feta cheese with a unique goat cheese,Cholortyri, which is usually found here in Santorini.  

6- Some Essential Travel Tips 

Here are some essential travel tips that you need to keep in mind before visiting Santorini:  

• First things first, you need to keep a water bottle with you, because the tap water is not drinkable here. You will probably get an upset stomach, which may eventually ruin your whole trip. So, water bottle is a Saviour for you.  

• One of the most expensive things here is the hotel accommodation, which you can overcome with an early booking. 

• Some of us wonder about the language barrier here. It is obvious that Greek is their official language, but English is widely spoken in most of the tourist areas.  

• Credit cards are accepted here, but it would be a wise decision if you kept some cash with you.  

Conclusion 

Santorini is one of the dream destinations for many tourists, especially for couples. People came here to see the sunset from Oia town. In this article, I tried my best to guide you about the perfect scenario where you can visit Santorini. The summer season would be the ideal time, and you may avoid the winter season if you are looking to spend time on beach. I am saying yet again that you need to avoid drinking tap water and to get the best accommodation try to book as early as possible.