A Safe Haven in Santorini: Golden Sunset Villas and Ancient Thira

The Ancient City of Thira

One of the best places to visit in Santorini is the ruins at Ancient Thira. It is an ancient archaeological site in Mesa Vouno, the neighbouring village of Kamari. Before, the strategic placing of the village only attracted the Spartans to build their own colony. But now, it is a place every Greek value not only for its enduring history but also for the huge role it plays in improving their tourism.

The Ancient Thira: St. Stephen Church

Santorini is a collection of Venitian castles, traditional villages, and admirable churches. But traveling to the Ancient Thira offers every tourist the gift of time traveling. At the site, you'll be glad to be welcomed by the portico, old houses, and collonades in town. Most of the excavations and construction complex found in the site is aged since the Hellenistic and Roman period. Excavations in Ancient Thira revealed relief sculptures from Temenos of Artemidos.

The Arts

Since the Geometric period, the earliest record of arts in Santorini is pottery. This came from the excavated pots in Ancient Thira. The major influencers of the island when it comes to arts is their neighboring island, Naxos. Most of the designs are oriental in origin. Until today, the pots and jars found in the Old Thira are still in good condition, thanks to the traditional preservation or burial of early locals in Thira, we can always look back thru their past by admiring their work of art. There has been a time in the Ancient Thira where the sculpture is famed for after pottery.

The excavation at the Ancient Thira.

The archaeological site of Ancient Thira is open for public viewing everyday except Mondays. The entrance fee is around $5, yes, for that low price you can already look back in one of the most important places in Santorini and in Greece. Ancient Thira is accessible from Chora, from Kamari, or anywhere in the island, really. All you have to do is hop on a bus or a taxi ride will do, ask the driver to drop you off at Mesa Vouno, from there, you can start walking to the classical site of Thira. If you're a bit wary about going alone, you may join group tours or arrange one with other tourists! A tour with a local guide is also available if you want someone narrating the history of the Ancient Thira to you and your friends. But for real, there's no need for you to be afraid in traveling alone Santorini. It's a safe haven where you can enjoy a crime-free environment!

A Safe Haven: The Golden Sunset Villas in Santorini

The Golden Sunset Villas Hotel in Santorini features a unique way to enjoy a relaxing stay in Santorini. For this Santorini accommodation offers you the once in a lifetime chance to live inside a 200-year old, still functioning windmill villas even for a couple of days. Staying at the ancient yet cozy villa would grant your wish to see a broad view of the Caldera as well as the sunset. This windmill home at the Golden Sunset Villas is like no other! Indeed, with a traditional design of Cycladic architecture plus the complete set of facilities and equipment at the hotel makes the Golden Sunset Villas one of the best Santorini apartments in town!

The Windmill Villa at the Golden Sunset Villas Hotel in Santorini.

Low-Budget Santorini Accommodation For Backpackers

Who's up for an adventure to Greece? With the availability of cheap international airfares to Greece and the quintessential Santorini accommodation, there's no reason for you to not go. As the saying goes, "Life is short and the world is wide". So make it a point to travel to a new place you've never been to before! Who knows, this might be your chance to really get to know yourself. Keep the wanderlust in you, and let's set our sail to Fira, Santorini today!

How many of you have heard of Fira town in Santorini? A lot of you did. But how many of you have seen it in real life? Fira is the capital of Santorini island. There's no doubt it'll make you fall in love on your first day at the island. Fira hotels and restaurants have beautifully lined the crest of the uphill town. Most of the backpackers prefer to stay in Fira for it's the star of the night! Why? It's the center of the nightlife in Santorini. From bars to coffee shops, to cozy restaurants, to the local pride's tavernas. Fira is no doubt, the center of the social circle in Santorini.

A backpacker wouldn't settle for a luxury hotel. They would rather find a bed bunk where they can pass out, or find a local that'll make them crash in for the night for free (Couchsurfing). But you don't have to beg for a free couch since there are still affordable Fira hotels where you can stay as long as you like, without really giving up your comfort. Here's a backpacker's bestfriend when it comes to cheap accommodation where buddy sharing is not a problem.

Summer Time Villa in Santorini

The Summer Time Villa is perfectly situated in Fira where many of its visitors won't have a difficult time accessing the hotel. Thanks to its proximity to the Santorini port (10km) and airport (7km), it has become the first choice of many tourists in town ever since. If you want to seek vitamin "sea", the Summer Time Villa in Santorini is a few kilometers away to Kamari and Monolithos beaches, two of the most popular beaches in Santorini. Which gives us a hint why the name of the hotel is something to give us the idea of summer, the beach, the ocean, summer lovin'.

The Summer Time Villa in Santorini- A backpacker's haven.

Need more reason to chose this Santorini accommodation among others? Room sharing is available at your discretion. The Summer Time Villa Hotel offers competitive rates where you can split your bill into 3 to 6 persons. With a minimum fee, you can enjoy the air-conditioned room that comes with a fully-equipped kitchen, a private bathroom, a fridge, a phone, and a safety deposit box where you can put away your important stuff.

Here's a trendy interior of the Summer Time Villa in Santorini.

So what can you say about the trendy yet posh Summer Time Villa in Santorini? Send us your thoughts about this backpacker's choice! We wish you the best with your Santorini trip, by the way!

Art Galleries in Oia, Santorini- Walking Distance from the Hotel

The settlement of Oia in Santorini is famous for its dramatic sunset which everyone enjoys watching. Sunset watching is the number one activity you have to experience when staying in the beautiful island of Santorini. Do you ever wonder if there are other activities the island offers besides sunset watching and swimming at the beach? Of course, there are various things you can accomplish in a day of stay in Oia. Oia is the home of many of the Santorini Hotels, yet you can find little shops and merchandise everywhere! If you're interested in a free day trip at the museum, window shopping, or purchasing exclusive art products and souvenirs, read on and we will unveil these treasure sites to you!

The Mnemossyne Gallery in Oia, Santorini

It's not a typical day-museum. It is actually a shop converted to a museum. The Mnemossyne Gallery is open for public viewing, yet, the store owner doesn't pressure anyone on buying goods from the store. You can find all artsy products here ranging from jewelry, art photography, and homemade memorabilia. If you are looking to buy any cheap products from Santorini to take it home with you, the Mnemossyne Gallery has it for you! The elegant Mnemossyne Gallery is located in the heart of Oia, near most of the Santorini studios around.

The fine Mnemossyne Gallery in Oia, Santorini.

The Oia Treasures Art Gallery in Santorini

Shopping satisfies not only your desires but doing so rewards you a good mood for your entire trip too! The Oia Treasures Art Gallery is only a 5-minute walk from the previous Mnemossyne Gallery. See, shops and galleries in Oia are so much near from each other that you don't need to pay for a taxi to take you from one shopping site to another. Oia Treasures Art Gallery is a perfect place for hardcore art lovers who don't mind paying for a high-class art made by the most awarded Greek artists. You can find and buy elegant sculptures at the gallery that describes more of the culture of Greece, it is truly, worth treasuring.

The elegant exhibit inside of the Oia Treasures Art Gallery.

After a long yet gratifying day of buying the list of your wants and needs, you can take the rest of the day off at your lovely accommodation to critique the goods and art pieces you just bought from the art galleries. The Strogili Apartments in the heart of Oia is one of the most suggested comely places to stay for it is near the Mnemossyne Gallery and Oia Treasure Art Gallery. These aesthetic shops are only a three-minute drive or 15-minute walk from the Strogili Apartments. The Strogili Apartments give you access from nearby shops, restaurants, and attractions too.

A sneak peak of the interior of the suggested hotel in Oia, the Strogili Apartments.

Overall, you should pick the right and most accessible Santorini Hotel for your own convenience. Why? Because it is more practical to have the beautiful sights in Oia more obtainable from your hotel. On top of that, you can enjoy the galleries and attraction in Santorini easily and endlessly!

Santorini hotels in Akrotiri - Stay there and visit the nearby archaelogical site

Santorini is one of the most graphic islands that you will ever visit in your life. The reason that nowadays it offers this amazing view to its visitors goes back to the ancient years when the volcano erupted, making half of the – back then circle – island disappear.

Santorini by air

Today this part of Santorini’s landscape is pretty much what makes every visitor of this island to be astonished. In whichever of Santorini hotels you will be, it is certain that you will just end up staring once again the beautiful Caldera. A place from where you can get a great view of the Caldera is Akrotiri, a village located 15 kilometers away from the capital of the island. As far as your Santorini accommodation is concerned there are many alternatives from which you can choose and many great hotels in which you can stay. One of the best choices that you can make is booking a suite in Akrotiri and get to enjoy this unique landscape every moment of your vacation.

The Maison des Lys complex

 Maison des Lys is the one that you want to book. It is a luxurious complex located about 5 minutes on foot away from the village of Akrotiri. This location is great as it will allow you to feel alone and have your own privacy away from the village but on the same time you will be able to reach the settlement really fast at any time that you will need something. Furthermore, from the great facilities of the suite, you will enjoy daily the spectacular panoramic view of Caldera. Concerning the rooms, apart from having the great view mentioned, they are also decorated with modern taste while the beds and mattresses are of great quality and they can guarantee you a baby’s sleep. If you combine the view, the facilities and the top level of services provided it becomes clear why they are considered the best Santorini accommodation that you can find.

Akrotiri Archaeological site

 On the same time, while in your summer vacation, there of course more things to do than to just spend your time in one of Santorini hotels. While staying in Akrotiri what you should grab the chance to visit the local archaeological site and admire the ancient treasures of the island. Even if you are not the type of traveler that goes after the ancient ruins, this one will seduce you. The reason why is that this settlement has been stayed intact due to the volcanic ash and today you get the chance to take a look on exactly how it was more than 3,000 years ago. The way that you get to visit this site is by taking a peripheral route all around the settlement which is approximately 200 acres big. Therefore, prepare yourselves for some walking and get to explore a town of a totally different era.
Once that you will decide to visit Santorini one thing is for sure; that no matter why but this island will manage to make you love it. Santorini hotels and the great Santorini accommodation and services that they offer are definitely a reason why people keep coming back. However the true beauty of the island is its natural landscape, the great history and the unique moments that you can experience by combining all of them together.

Oia Santorini hotels - The true romantic experience

A very romantic island, ideal for some time alone with your other half is Santorini. The natural beauty of the island creates majestic scenery in order for you to enjoy the most magical time of your relationship. The great view that you can find in almost every place on the island will take your breath away and a dinner or a sunset will suddenly feel way more sensual.
In order to take the most out of this experience it would be wise to choose your accommodation accordingly. While there are many Santorini apartments offering great quality of accommodation, the best one for you is to go to Oia – a small graphic village which is said to have one of the best sunsets in the world. Oia Santorini hotels can give you exactly this; the opportunity to experience those breathtaking moments away in your own privacy – away from the overcrowded spots.

The romantic village of Oia

But what exactly you should go after? Something that you should definitely not miss is a dinner while staring at the magnificent view. If you want this to be more private and you can afford it, you can rent a private villa or an apartment and cook your own specialty for your loved one. Light some candles, pour some wine on your glasses and from there just let Santorini to do her part. The majestic view, the calmness of the night and the nice fresh wind will create a unique atmosphere which will make you feel like you fall in love for the first time.

The famous sunset of Santorini

Another thing that you should take advantage of is the sunset. It is no secret that sunsets have always been one of the most romantic moments of the day. In Oia the white houses of Cycladic style get little bit orange due to the sun which is disappearing into the blue sea. Those few minutes you can hug your partner and stay in silence getting full by the emotions of the moment. Later on you can have a small walk around the village and explore together the small secrets of Oia.
As far as you accommodation is concerned, there are several of Santorini apartments all around the island that offer a quality stay to their customers. However, what you are looking for is something that will combine not only a pleasurable stay but a good location as well, and Oia is the place that you should look for this.

Nikos Villas in Oia, Santorini

Among the other Oia Santorini hotels, the one that combines everything and can offer you a delightful stay is Nikos Villas. It is built straight on the mountain and it offers breathtaking view from almost every part of the complex. On the same time, the rooms and suites that are offered are luxurious and equipped with all the modern conveniences such as satellite TV and Wi-Fi. Last but not least, the best part of this hotel is that it is built in the classic Santorinian style. This way you will get the true feeling of being on this island 24/7, while you will also get the chance of enjoying the original way of living in Cyclades.
Nonetheless, Santorini can be the true romantic experience for you. Whether you have been together with your loved one for years or just for days, it is certain that this will be a unique experience for you relationship. Santorini apartments in general can offer you great accommodation; on the same time if you choose one of Oia Santorini hotels, you can be sure that you will enjoy the great view of Caldera at any given point of your day. So, just choose Santorini and fall in love again.

Santorini Accomodation - Find the best hotel and learn how to get to the island

Santorini is a majestic island with great natural beauty and many different attractions that will for sure make your vacation there special. The fact that hundreds of thousands of tourists are visiting every year is also the proof about it. There are several ways for someone to reach the island, either by air or by the sea and the easy access with the mean of transportation of your preference can be counted definitely as an advantage.

The majestic island of Santorini

It should be mentioned that while the island is overcrowded – especially during high seasons – there have been built great facilities and the countless Santorini hotels can provide you with a nice stay. You just need to be sure to book the one that will be the best choice for you in order to have a pleasant residence where you will be able to relax during your vacation there. Regarding the best Santorini accommodation, one of the best options is the Veggera Hotel as it is located exactly next to the beach which means that you will have easy access at any time of the day you will like.
As far as the access to the island is concerned, the first way to go there is through ship from the port of Piraeus in Athens. Especially during the summer months, there are daily routes from and to Santorini. Based on your preference you can choose either a high-speed ship or a normal one. In the first case you will need around 4-5 hours while on the second one around 8. However, while the 8 hours might sound a lot, you get the chance to be on the deck of the ship and enjoy the sea and the sun. Last but not least the price of those two routes is usually around 50 euros for the high-speed and 25 to 30 for the normal one.

The Veggera Hotel in Perissa, Santorini

The second way to travel there is through the air. The airport of Santorini is serving more than 60 international lines and it is certain that especially if you travel from Europe you will be able to find a flight close to you. Furthermore, from April of 2015 the low cost company Ryanair starts a new route from Athens to Santorini, so if you are a fan of this way of low cost travelling you should definitely take a look. In case you decide to search for you airplane tickets earlier (as is strongly advised), you should know that the airport of Santorini has code JTR.

Room in the Veggera Hotel

  Concerning your Santorini accommodation, one of the best choices is the Veggera Hotel. It is located very close to both the port and the airport of the island, only some meters away from the Perissa beach. Apart from being right next to the Sea and being able to have very easy access to it, the reason why it is one of the best Santorini hotels, is the top notch quality of services and facilities that it provides to its guests; two swimming pools for adults and one for kids, a garden, a pergola restaurant, a bar, a TV room and the free WIFI are only a few of the many comforts provided.
Altogether, Santorini is a guaranteed place that you can visit in order to have an unforgettable experience. It is a place that the natural beauty meets the great quality of facilities and services and this is something that you will manage to find in most of Santorini hotels. And this is exactly why you want to set the standards of your Santorini accommodation as high as possible and make this not only a good but the best experience of your life.