(Optional) Firostefani offers the same breathtaking view of the Caldera as from the capital. Still, in a quieter and more relaxed atmosphere, this makes it a great option to stay, as it is only a 15-minute walk from the center of Fira, meaning you can plunge into the nightlife from the central city. But still, get some peace. The coastal path between Firostefani and Fira is a beautiful and popular walk, especially in the early morning or evening when it is not too hot. There are many restaurants, bars, and shops in the village itself, mainly along the main street, so even if you don't plan to leave the resort, you have everything you need right on the doorstep; it would be a little vain to have Fira so close and not go there at least once. We recommend Firostefani to couples who want to visit the Caldera but also want a quiet and relaxing holiday. However, it is unsuitable for children, as it is a 20-minute drive from the beach, and toddlers have little entertainment.
Since the time of Byzantium, Imerovigli, one of the most impressive villages of Santorini, has stood on the highest point of the caldera. It is believed that the early settlement of Skaros was built in 1207 by the Venetian James Varotsi, who was granted Santorini after the conquest of Constantinople by the Crusaders in 1204. The modern village towers over an impressive volcano about 300 meters above sea level. It is about 2 km northwest of Fira on the road to Oia. In addition to the paved road, the village is connected to the capital of Santorini by a path offering endless views of the unique volcanic landscape. Today, Imerovigli is one of the most developed tourist destinations in Santorini, with first-class hotels, restaurants, and other shops. Tens of thousands of people visit it worldwide every year.
Go first to the island's northern part and embrace the best of Oia village. It is unique, with the most spectacular sunset (afternoon), iconic blue domes of churches, and panoramic views. One of the most photographed places in Greece, Oia is located on top of an impressive cliff and offers spectacular views of the volcano.
Go up to the monastery of the prophet Elijah and enjoy the most spectacular view from the island's highest point. From this vantage point, you can enjoy stunning views of the Aegean coast. The name of the mountain Profitis Ilias (Prophet Elijah) comes from the monastery of the same name on its top, built in 1711. In this stunning and peaceful setting, you can also taste the wine and local products prepared by the monks who live in the monastery.
The sights of Megalochori are two impressive churches standing on the village's central square. The Church of the Introduction of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with a wooden iconostasis and Byzantine icons of the Russian school and the church of Agia Anargiri, celebrates July 1, the day a big holiday takes place in the village. The village has been mentioned in written sources since the mid-17th century. It also appears on the map of 1801. Findings on the broader area indicate that it has been inhabited since the early Cycladic and Late Cycladic periods.
(Optional) The village of Emporio is the largest settlement on Santorini and is located 12 km from Fira. Unlike the cosmopolitan settlements of Fira and Oia, which are above the caldera, Emporio is situated at the foot of the mountain of Prophet Elias. Emporio is a Greek word meaning trade. It refers to the village's importance for the island's economy in ancient times, as it was the center of trade affairs." Thanks to its well-preserved characteristic architecture, the settlement exudes a medieval aura. The village resembles a fortress, as it was built to protect its inhabitants from marauding pirates. All the buildings were purposely built side by side so the locals could better defend their homes. When piracy ceased to be a threat, the village expanded and adopted its current layout. In the heart of Emporio is Kasteli, a unique castle town with walls made of cement and volcanic substances.
Red Beach is an impressive, colorful beach. Its name eloquently describes what visitors encounter when approaching it. Towering red rocks in the background and reddish sand with black pebbles on the coast create a unique landscape and testify to the island's volcanic activity. The best view of the beach opens when you approach and leave. From the top of the cliff, there is a stunning view of the beach, an excellent place to take photos.
(Optional) Visit the Akrotiri ruins by yourself and discover the Minoan era of Santorini. The Akrotiri Archaeological Site is open to visitors in a large, bright, and spacious building. The ash layer covering the city was 40 meters thick in places, so it took a lot of painstaking excavation and removal of a considerable amount of rock to descend to the original street level. A path leads down through some reconstructed houses, where you can see details such as the original Minoan toilet and a stone bath.
(Optional) During the tour, you will enjoy the best Santorini gastronomy and taste Greek dishes and wines. You will be introduced to the best places in Santorini, demonstrating the depth of the island's gastronomic and wine culture. You will explore the secrets and recipes passed down from generation to generation, learn about their historical significance, and tour the famous wineries of the family estate. Combine Santorini's food and wine Greek menu in a fantastic restaurant where you will enjoy local cuisine and wine. At the same time, you will learn about Santorini's food and wine culture with tips on Greek gastronomy. This experience is perfect for gourmets, adventurers, wine lovers, and anyone who wants to experience the whole gastronomic experience of Santorini.
The village of Kamari in Santorini is built on the seashore, on one of the most beautiful beaches on the east coast. It is located 9 kilometers from Fira and is located next to the airport, on the one hand, and next to the mountain of Meat - on the other. It is one of the largest villages in Santorini, with about 1300 inhabitants, while the beach is considered by many to be the most popular beach on the island. This is one of the most "modern" villages since significant reconstruction began after the devastating earthquake of 1956 when many residents of Episkopi-Gonia moved here to live. Within walking distance, on the top of Mount Mesta, are the ruins of ancient Tyre, which today is one of the two greatest archaeological sites of the island, along with the prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri. You can get to the ancient Shooting Gallery by climbing on a donkey. The ruins of the old seaside town And I, which was once the harbor of Ancient Tyre, are today in the sea around this area.
(Optional) Fira has been the capital of Santorini since the 18th century and is the most cosmopolitan settlement on the island. Before that, the capital was Skaros in Imerovigli, which used to be one of the citadels of the island. When Skaros was gradually abandoned, the inhabitants moved to Fira, which was then founded as the new capital. The city is located in the middle of the western part of the island, directly above the caldera and opposite the volcano, overlooking the sunset. It is a city of picturesque alleys, whitewashed houses carved at the foot of the caldera, numerous corners with breathtaking views, rich history, and enchanting beauty. The volcano is visible from any point, and the sunsets are fascinating.
I travelled with family from age 80 to 26. Wearing sneakers is a must!!!! Some of places was too much walking for some family members. The black sand beach was the best place to me. Definitely, should have spent more time there. However; we were only spending one day in Santorini so the tour hit us with the highlights of Santorini.
We wanted to take a moment to thank you for the wonderful tour you provided us on Mykonos. Your professionalism, deep knowledge of the island, and engaging style truly made the experience memorable. We appreciated the way you tailored the tour to our interests and ensured we had an enjoyable and informative time. Thank you again for your dedication and for making our visit to Mykonos so special. We hope to cross paths again on future adventures! Regards Orit , Orly , Rony and Menashe
I cannot give enough praise for this tour and our guide Mary. We were able to see almost the entire island, north to south, with walks through Oia and Fira, views of the windmills at the top of the mountains, visit with drinks at the black sand beaches, stop at the Akrotiri archeological site, and two wine tastings at a small family sized and modern middle sized vineyards. Perfect way to see the island and Mary was super knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating of all our requests!
Mary was absolutely incredible! We had the best time and she was so knowledgeable about the history and culture of the island! Highly recommend!!
My husband and I had a delightful day with our guide George! He is very knowledgable and informative. He took us to all the Santorini highlights while never making us feel rushed. He’s also a great photographer! He took fabulous photos of us, ensuring that we’ll never forget our wonderful day!
What a wonderful day in beautiful Santorini! Though a couple of us had been to Santorini before, we were introduced to some amazing places we had never been before thanks to our amazing tour guide, George. He was so proud and knowledgeable about this beautiful island and took us to places only a local would know about. Thank you, George, for a perfect day in a perfect place.
Excellent tour and best way to see the beautiful Santorini in a day in a smaller (private) setting. We were 4 (2 adults, 2 kids) and they came well prepared with car seats and extra water,. The views along the drive were breathtaking and had ample amount of time to stop for plenty pictures. Our guide (Mary) was super knowledgeable about the whole island and would highly recommend. They were also to make accommodations on their schedule when an emergency came up during the trip. Highly recommend.
Our guide was the best! Took us away from the crowds without missing any of the highlights! Our lunch spot she choose was gorgeous and great food!
We had a group of 75 people in 4 vehicles with guides. We did the same itinerary. Each guide was excellent. Some had secret places they took their groups which was well received. Another just took the group to a spot at each place and let people have free time. Everyone was very happy with the tour. The only problem we had was that the tour operator (who was excellent to deal with) wanted to increase the price by 30% after we had collected final payment and after we had confirmed the prices and all the details 3 months before the tour. The compromise was to keep the price the same but change from 5 vehicles with 15 people each and 5 guides to 4 larger groups with 4 guides. This worked out OK but should not have been necessary. We also changed from a cable car back to water taxi and this was a great recommendation as there were 6 ships tendered. Vehicles were excellent and so were the drivers.
We had an excellent tour of main spots in Santorini. Mr Takis is a very skilled driver. He drove with ease on the narrowest street around the hills. We were on a spacious van. We were 11 people but it could fit even more people. Special mention to our guide Minas, he is extremely kind, took all of our pictures. He was very patient and highly knowlageable. He kept asking of we need anything. Thanks to them we had one of the most memorable day that we will cherish forever. That’s the kind of team you want for your Santorini tour. I hope this review will reach them and put a smile on their face. - the 11 people from Paris, France
Amazing tour and guide. We did everything and we stop to eat in a local restaurant amazing Asterias on the water
We had a wonderful trip of Santorini. Our driver and guide were waiting for us at the airport. Our tour was very thorough and showed us all the santorini highlights. After spending an amazing day, we ended our evening with the beautiful sunset and got dropped back to our hotel area. Our guide was very polite and kind. Our driver was very safe and helpful. Highly recommend this tour!
What a great tour!! We get to see the whole island in 1 day. We get to see sights that we probably won’t get to see if we walk around ourselves. We did everything from the famous caldera, the cave where people used to live, the Red beach, etc. We even went to the local winery and get to do wine tasting. The tour guide was very knowledgeable about all the areas that we visited. We went with 2 children (9 & 5 yrs old) and the tour guide was very accommodating to that fact. I would definitely highly recommend this private tour if you want to experience the whole island at your own pace.
Helena and Nikolas picked us up ona beautiful morning in Santorini. The van was immaculate and AC worked perfectly. What made this trip special was our informative and talented guide. She was captivating and kept my adolescents interested, which speaks volumes. Nikolas went out of his way to find convenient stops gor us throughout the day. Her enthusiasm for the area, special personal insights made the day a home run for afukts and adolescents alike. In addition, she always volunteered to take pictures on my cell and camera without hesitation. Thank you Helena and Nikolas from the bottom of our hearts!
Great tour with Alex! Chilled atmosphere in the bus and the nicest driver! Thank you! We would book it again!
The white and blue architechture of Santorini is beautiful. The island itself is a rock, nothing special. It's all about the beautiful hillside towns. The views were spectacular. Our guide was a little late due to being stuck behind a bus/truck. Walking around the towns she took TONS of photos of us which we appreciated but it got a little old since there were 11 of us and it took a lot of time which resulted in us having to cut out some of our itinerary, i.e.: the beach. She was very knowledgeable.
I would suggest a private tour as you get to see everything that Santorini offers. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable. I would say of all the places we have visited Santorini was one of the best right up there if not better than the Amalfi coast. A must see.
Our tour guide and driver was exceptional! They are very flexible and accommodates all of our requests. My family and I had the best time in Santorini!! Highly recommended !
We went out for a day trip by bus and cruise with Kamari tours. The trip went out of fire. The bus arrived exactly on time, the route was exactly as promised, and the Vaso guide was great
I'll write, it's an amateur tour, it's not worth that much money and wasted time. All that remains is the satisfaction of having you there. Far away, the tours are quick, fleeting, of course beautiful views, but shooting only from certain angles. And it's also very hard to be there with the kids, it's hot, there's no wind at all, the kids get tired fast. And if anyone thinks of visiting the island, then sail on a fast ferry, it actually reaches the island from Crete in 2 hours, and the slow sailing goes 3.5-4 hours. Prices are the same.
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