Hotels near Santorini, Greece

Santorini's caldera is the flooded crater of a large volcano that erupted thousands of years ago, and the shape it left is what makes the island distinctive.

The eruption blew out the centre of a once-round island, leaving steep cliffs that drop hundreds of metres to a deep bay, with smaller islets marking where the volcano remains active. Whitewashed villages such as Fira and Oia sit at the top of these cliffs, their cube-shaped houses and rounded domes stacked one above another towards the water.

The contrast of dark volcanic rock, white buildings and blue sea is the reason cameras come out as soon as people arrive, and why the same view appears on so many postcards. Sunset over the caldera, when the cliffs colour and the sky shifts through pink and orange, is the scene many visitors come expecting.

Two archaeological sites tell the story of how people lived on Santorini before and after its major eruption. Akrotiri is the more remarkable of the two: a Bronze Age town buried under volcanic ash, comparable to Pompeii, where multi-storey buildings, streets and frescoes survived beneath the layers.

Walking the covered site shows how developed the settlement was before the volcano forced its abandonment. High on a rocky ridge in the south sits Ancient Thera, a later town founded centuries afterwards, with the remains of houses, temples and public spaces along the hill. The climb up is rewarded with wide views over the beaches below.

Together, the two sites show how life on the island adapted to the land the volcano left behind. Akrotiri is partly indoors and manageable in most weather, while Ancient Thera involves a steep approach, so sturdy footwear and water are worth taking in the warmer months.

Santorini's beaches look different from the pale sands found around much of the Mediterranean, and the reason is volcanic. The eruptions that shaped the island left dark sand and pebbles, so beaches like Perissa and the long stretch of Perivolos on the south-east coast run deep black under the sun, which means they heat up quickly underfoot.

They are well set up, with loungers, cafes and watersports along their length. On the other side of the island, Red Beach takes its name from the rust-coloured cliffs above it, framed by the rocks. The water is clear and the swimming good, but it is the colour of the shore, rather than soft golden sand, that makes these beaches memorable.

Sandals are useful on the darker beaches in midday heat, and Red Beach is reached by a short walk over rough ground from Akrotiri, so it pairs naturally with a visit to the archaeological site nearby.

The walk along the caldera rim from Fira to Oia is one of the better ways to see Santorini on foot. The route runs for around ten kilometres along the cliffs, linking the main town with the villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli before quieter open stretches lead on to Oia.

The caldera and the sea sit below you on one side for most of the way, and you pass churches, viewpoints and the occasional cafe along the path. It takes most people three to four hours at an easy pace, and it is best done in the cooler morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat. Wear proper shoes, as some sections of the path are rough and uneven underfoot.

Many walkers time it to reach Oia for the sunset at the end. Carry water and a hat, as there is little shade on the open sections, and buses run back to Fira from Oia afterwards. Route conditions, bus services and expected walking times can change with weather and season, so check local official information before setting out.

Santorini varies considerably depending on when you visit. High summer, from June to August, brings reliable sunshine, warm seas and the busiest atmosphere, but also the largest crowds and the highest prices, with the narrow lanes of Oia packed by sunset.

Late spring and early autumn, roughly May and September into October, are many people's preference, when the weather is still warm but the island is calmer. Winter is quieter: cooler, sometimes wet and windy, with many seasonal cafes and shops closed, though the views remain and prices fall. The hillside vineyards turn green in spring, and the light changes through the year.

Choosing a season comes down to the kind of trip you want, lively and hot or quieter and more low-key. Ferry and flight schedules thin out in winter, while the shoulder months offer a workable balance of good weather and manageable numbers. Prices and ferry or flight schedules change by season, so check official operators and current travel information before booking.