How to Spend 48 Hours on Santorini, Greece

Start your first day on Santorini on the southwest coast. Here, you’ll find one of the most important archaeological sites in the region, as well as the island’s most popular and impressive beaches. Take the public bus (KTEL) from Fira or rent a car to reach the village of Akrotiri. The main draw here is not the charming village itself, but the ruins of a Minoan Bronze Age settlement, nicknamed Santorini’s Pompeii, after it was dstroyed during the Theran eruption in the 16th century. Excavations in the late 1960s shed light on life in this prosperous prehistoric settlement, which was one of the most affluent societies in the Aegean. Look out for the intricate frescoes on the walls, the well-preserved remains of multistorey structures and the elaborate drainage system.

Spend your evening in Ammoudi, Santorini’s picturesque port, which lies 300 stairs below Oia village. Yes, you’ll have to walk down there, but it is well worth it. Here, elegant restaurants and luxury cruise ships give way to traditional tavernas and small colourful wooden boats. Perched on the northwestern tip of the island, this charming bay has preserved a traditional atmosphere – a visit here is like stepping back in time to the Santorini of the 60s. Savour a glass of ouzo and a plate of meze at the Katina fish taverna and watch the sun setting below the horizon.