The Monastery of Profitis Ilias stands on the highest peak of the island at an altitude of 567 meters above the sea level. It is located three kilometers away from the village Pyrgos in Kalliste, in the southeastern part of Santorini. You’ll reach it within 40 minutes when you drive from Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa.
The Lignos Folklore Museum is located in Kontochori, just a short 30-minute drive from Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa. It occupies a traditional cave house that dates from 1861. The house survived the earthquake of 1956 and was restored in 1976.
Christmas on Santorini? Why not? The island is delightful when the tourist crowds return to their homes. It is peaceful and romantic, nothing like the Santorini you may experience in the warm months.
Oia looks somehow deserted around Christmas time, but you can still enjoy Santorini if you find accommodation in Fira, which is the capital of the island and its largest city. Here there are still hotels catering to tourists as well as several restaurants and cafes that serve the local population.
But what is Santorini truly like at Christmas? As famous as the sunsets may be, the sunrise on Santorini is equally spectacular, especially in winter. Some of the most beautiful celestial spectacles take place when the tourists are far from the island. This is the best time to visit Santorini armed with a professional camera. Shots like these are rare, especially when you want them unperturbed by chatty foreign visitors.
Although not a tourist attraction during the Holiday season, Santorini does decorate in joyful Christmas colors to celebrate. There will be huge Christmas trees, and even donkey figurines dressed up like Santa to make you giggle.
The best winter activities in Santorini are nature hikes. The weather is cold, but not unbearable. The freshness of the air powers up the active traveler who loves discovering new itineraries.
“You will have the chance to see some of the most impressive views that are not blocked by crowds, and this also means there are lots of good photo opportunities,” explains Santorini photographer Anna Sulte.
Keep in mind that the average temperature in Santorini in December is 13°C. Ferries and boat trips depend on weather conditions. Most hotels are closed for the season and on Christmas Day in many bars and restaurants that remain open, you can enjoy a Christmas meal with traditional cuisine and drinks.
As far as how to get there, you can find ferry rides from Piraeus, Athens to Thira Direct flights are also available during Christmas and New Year. The simplest way is to book a direct flight from Athens.
If you are looking for the top things to do in Oia in 2018, these recommendations will help you plan the perfect vacation.
ABC News, a Disney company and the news division of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), has recently named Santorini “the Greek island you must visit before you die.”
A new Bronze Age settlement has been recently discovered in Therasia, an islet in the volcanic island group of Santorini, north-west of Nea Kameni, and part of the municipal unit of Oia.
The Santorini spring is one of the best seasons to enjoy the famous sunsets over the Aegean Sea and the landscapes of Greece’s most popular island.
Summers are busy on the island, with tourists roaming all over the place. They are so many, that the jewel of the Greek islands is overcrowded, with an average peak of 18000 cruise ship visitors daily, too much for the small destination to handle. They all flock to Oia, to see the sunset, transforming the otherwise tranquil village into a hubbub of voices and laughter. In summer, you cannot walk down the streets of Oia without rubbing shoulders with at least a hundred strangers in a hurry to get to the next sought-after sunset viewing spot.
But winters are different in Santorini. The crowds miraculously vanish as November creeps in, and, while the weather may be nippy at times, cold and rain have never stopped true nature lovers from seeking the next great adventure outdoors. Granted, most resorts, including Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa, will be closed, and there is virtually no beach life unless you count the occasional lovers walking hand in hand by the sea. Many restaurants are closed too. But the island is not deserted.
There are definite advantages to visiting Santorini in the “low season.” The best place to stay on the island is Fira, the capital. Here you will find good hotels, as well as cafes, restaurants, and bakeries that stay open. Exploring the city will also lead you to some shops that stay open, or, the locals, will be happy to share some “insiders'” tips for entertainment.
Winter in Santorini is a great season for people who don’t like crowds and for couples who enjoy privacy. You can always rent a car to get around the island, as public transportation is scarce. Bring enough cash, as even ATMs may be closed for the season. Finally, prepare to face the moody weather. A sunny day can turn into a nightmare of stormy skies and merciless winds in a flash. But if you are a nature lover, this is the time to take in some of the most spectacular vistas in the world.
Perissa Beach, famous for its black sand, is out of this world in the winter. It’s well deserted, and, with no tourist in sight, you can enjoy the spectacular blue of the skies in contrast with the charcoal of the shores till you capture that perfect Instagram moment to share with your friends.
The same is true all over the island when you spend the winter in Santorini: when the crowds are gone, the island finds is soul and peace, rewarding the fortunate few who visit it this season with landscapes beyond compare. You can still go for a wine tasting at one of the famous wineries of the island. You can even find a nightclub or two in Fira. But winters in Santorini are for poets, artists, and lovers. But don’t worry if you cannot come to see the magic of Santorini in the low season. Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa is your “far from the madding crowd” summer destination, offering you privacy and comfort even when the rest of Oia is flooded by tourists. So plan your summer vacation with us.
One of the greatest testaments for unparalleled customer service and satisfaction rewarding our longstanding tradition in the hospitality sector is the recent nomination of the Revival Spa at Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa as the Best Greek Resort Spa for 2017 at the World Spa Awards. If you already enjoyed our Spa you can vote for it here.
William Leonard Roberts II, known by the American public as Rick Ross is a popular rapper and TV personality, who, like many other celebrities, enjoys visiting Greece.