Santorini

Iconic blue domes, volcanic sunsets and crystal-clear Aegean waters.

Santorini is the island that defines the Aegean aesthetic — the image of white cubic houses and blue-domed churches spilling down the rim of an enormous volcanic caldera is one of the most reproduced travel images in the world, and it is genuinely as beautiful as its photographs suggest. The island is the caldera of a prehistoric super-volcano, and the lagoon at its centre is one of the most dramatic geographical features in the Mediterranean. Oia, at the northern tip of the caldera rim, is where the classic Santorini images are taken — the blue-domed churches, the whitewashed sugar-cube architecture and the famous sunset that draws enormous crowds every evening are all here. Fira, the capital, sits on the caldera rim with excellent views and the island's main museums (the prehistoric town of Akrotiri, a Minoan city buried by the volcanic eruption of 1600 BC, is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Aegean). The cable car connecting Fira to the old port below runs continuously. Santorini's volcanic soil produces extraordinary wine — Assyrtiko white wine from pre-phylloxera vines trained in basket shapes low to the ground is one of Greece's finest. The cherry tomatoes and fava (yellow split pea purée) are excellent local products. The red and black volcanic beaches (Perissa, Perivolos, Kamari) are dramatic. Red Beach, below the excavated Akrotiri, is striking. Imerovigli and Pyrgos are quieter alternatives to Oia and Fira. Visit April–May or September–October to avoid extreme summer crowds.