travel
Well there are holidays and then there is beach holiday, relaxation its second name. I mean who doesn’t find lazing on the beach with nothing on mind sipping on some iced coffee, relaxing!!!! On our greece trip we went to Naxos the biggest of the cyclades island but a less touristy one just to be by the beach and relax. Naxos has sandy beaches and my favourite thing to do was reading. Finished 70% of ‘Murder is easy’ by Agatha Christie in 2 days sitting on the beach and haven’t turned a page since leaving Naxos. Well I think i can only read on a beach!!!!!! Ok now shall i start with the essentials to carry in case you are heading on a beach holiday.
- The white shirt- I cannot stress enough what a great companion a white shirt is specially on a beach holiday. A multi tasking piece that you can wear absolutely anywhere and with anything also works as a great coverup to wear over your swimwear. I also wear it to protect myself from the sun incase the sun rays get too strong at the beach. Just make sure the shirt is long enough to cover your butt and you will thank me later. (Click on the image to shop)
- A swimsuit- Well bikinis are good but trust me go with swimsuit. I actually packed and wore both on my trip but out of the two my vote goes to a one piece swimsuit because it just made me feel great. We indulge quite a lot on holidays and swimsuits are more flattering just incase you get a bulge here and there. And incase you have tummy issues like me don’t even have second thoughts.(Click on the image to shop)
- Books- Ah sitting on the beach playing with water with one hand and a book in the other is just one of the most relaxing things to do. I mean reading and not just holding a book!!!! Ok now i should admit I am not a reader but i do enjoy murder mysteries all the grip, plot and suspense gets me hooked but murder mysteries or not thumbs up to books for beach holidays.
- Sunscreen- To apply and reapply.
- Comfiest sandals- Lets just accept it beach or no beach holiday means walking so i am always stressing!!!
Do you like to read on the beach, if not i encourage you to do so on your next and trust me it will be relaxation at its best.
Suggested posts- What to pack for Greece.
Factors to consider before packing for any travel.
What to pack for London in summer.
Thank you for stopping by, see you with my next!
Love
Chichi
Beach holiday essentials
Well there are holidays and then there is beach holiday, relaxation its second name. I mean who doesn’t find lazing on the beach with nothing on mind sipping on some iced coffee, relaxing!!!! On our greece trip we went to Naxos the biggest of the cyclades island but a less touristy one just to be by the beach and relax. Naxos has sandy beaches and my favourite thing to do was reading. Finished 70% of ‘Murder is easy’ by Agatha Christie in 2 days sitting on the beach and haven’t turned a page since leaving Naxos. Well I think i can only read on a beach!!!!!! Ok now shall i start with the essentials to carry in case you are heading on a beach holiday.
- The white shirt- I cannot stress enough what a great companion a white shirt is specially on a beach holiday. A multi tasking piece that you can wear absolutely anywhere and with anything also works as a great coverup to wear over your swimwear. I also wear it to protect myself from the sun incase the sun rays get too strong at the beach. Just make sure the shirt is long enough to cover your butt and you will thank me later. (Click on the image to shop)
- A swimsuit- Well bikinis are good but trust me go with swimsuit. I actually packed and wore both on my trip but out of the two my vote goes to a one piece swimsuit because it just made me feel great. We indulge quite a lot on holidays and swimsuits are more flattering just incase you get a bulge here and there. And incase you have tummy issues like me don’t even have second thoughts.(Click on the image to shop)
- Books- Ah sitting on the beach playing with water with one hand and a book in the other is just one of the most relaxing things to do. I mean reading and not just holding a book!!!! Ok now i should admit I am not a reader but i do enjoy murder mysteries all the grip, plot and suspense gets me hooked but murder mysteries or not thumbs up to books for beach holidays.
- Sunscreen- To apply and reapply.
- Comfiest sandals- Lets just accept it beach or no beach holiday means walking so i am always stressing!!!
Do you like to read on the beach, if not i encourage you to do so on your next and trust me it will be relaxation at its best.
Suggested posts- What to pack for Greece.
Factors to consider before packing for any travel.
What to pack for London in summer.
Thank you for stopping by, see you with my next!
Love
Chichi
Greece is one of the worlds top travel destination with a record 30 million tourists in 2016. Let me put it straight if you are travelling to Greece i am super jealous of you because i miss it so much and If you have been, there is high chance that you share my excitement!!!!!!!
I have not been everywhere in Greece but i have been to 4 destinations, the 2 most famous and visited cyclades island Mykonos and Santorini, the biggest cyclades but less touristy island Naxos and the capital Athens. So i have a bit of an experience and confidence also because i was able to use and wear everything i packed for my trip and did not feel ‘i wish i had that’ so you know what i am trying to say right. So today i am going to share some tips to make your packing process for Greece easier. This list is relevant for Athens and destinations south of Athens. If you are going somewhere in the inland or north it might not work for you. Also the period of the year it will work for is late May to early October.
When it comes to the greek islands to name a few Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Crete, Kefalonia, etc and the capital Athens packing lightweight options that can be easily mixed and matched is the key.
- Colours to pack for Greece are hands down white and blue. As i said in my what i wore in santorini post, i was glad i packed majorly white and blue pieces because there is something about the place that you do not want to disturb the white and blue image, specially for pictures, so i 100% recommend going primarily with those two colours.
- Lightweight dresses- Ok the sun can be pretty strong so to keep comfy pack lightweight dresses that do not cling to your body. If you have anything fancy to attend keep one fancy dress but if not casual dresses are great. Greece is pretty chilled out and informal.
- Shorts and blouses- Make sure they fit well, denim shorts are great but i took cotton and linen shorts because they are roomier and longer. For blouse you can go for off shoulder and one shoulder styles or the trending statement sleeves but do remember to keep basic tees and a white shirt.
- A backpack or a tote with zipper- So you can throw in all your essentials for the day including your camera and water bottle. I say with zipper because its secure so you do not have to worry about things falling out and also safe from the point of view of pick pocketing etc. Additionally you can also bring a cross body bag. And the fashion lovers a straw tote.
- The most comfortable flat sandals- Another rule of thumb for any travel is to carry your comfiest pair of shoes. For Greece you will be fine if you only bring flat sandals. Its pretty casual out there so heels is not a dress code even to fancy places for dinner etc and i would not even recommend bringing wedges because the streets can be cobbled and you will have to go up and down the stairs specially in Santorini. If you plan to go hiking you can bring your sneakers but if you don’t flat sandals are enough.
- Swimsuit- Come on Greece is surrounded by the Aegean sea and beaches are everywhere so even though there is so much to do and see, its really hard to not take a dip in the sea and spend sometime chilling by the beach sipping on some iced coffee.
- Sunscreen- Not just Santorini but Greece in general is white so the light reflects back at you. With the sun super strong you need to apply and reapply sunscreen after every few hours. Don’t feel strange if you see people applying sunscreen in the open and you shouldn’t even think twice about not doing the same.
- Sunglasses are a must not just for protection but also because otherwise you wouldn’t be able to keep your eyes open. Hats are great too but if you do not want the hassle of packing them or wearing them to the airport you can always buy there if needed.
I wore this outfit to explore Athens, white breathable maxi with trending white flat sandals. I carried my white shirt in my backpack and it was quite useful in the evening.
Hope this post is helpful, i also recommend reading my post on factors to consider before packing for any travel.
Suggested posts- Instagrammers guide to Santorini
- What i wore in Santorini
- Why white works
- Mykonos travel guide
Thank you for stopping by, See you with my next.
Love
Chichi
What to pack for Greece
Greece is one of the worlds top travel destination with a record 30 million tourists in 2016. Let me put it straight if you are travelling to Greece i am super jealous of you because i miss it so much and If you have been, there is high chance that you share my excitement!!!!!!!
I have not been everywhere in Greece but i have been to 4 destinations, the 2 most famous and visited cyclades island Mykonos and Santorini, the biggest cyclades but less touristy island Naxos and the capital Athens. So i have a bit of an experience and confidence also because i was able to use and wear everything i packed for my trip and did not feel ‘i wish i had that’ so you know what i am trying to say right. So today i am going to share some tips to make your packing process for Greece easier. This list is relevant for Athens and destinations south of Athens. If you are going somewhere in the inland or north it might not work for you. Also the period of the year it will work for is late May to early October.
When it comes to the greek islands to name a few Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Crete, Kefalonia, etc and the capital Athens packing lightweight options that can be easily mixed and matched is the key.
- Colours to pack for Greece are hands down white and blue. As i said in my what i wore in santorini post, i was glad i packed majorly white and blue pieces because there is something about the place that you do not want to disturb the white and blue image, specially for pictures, so i 100% recommend going primarily with those two colours.
- Lightweight dresses- Ok the sun can be pretty strong so to keep comfy pack lightweight dresses that do not cling to your body. If you have anything fancy to attend keep one fancy dress but if not casual dresses are great. Greece is pretty chilled out and informal.
- Shorts and blouses- Make sure they fit well, denim shorts are great but i took cotton and linen shorts because they are roomier and longer. For blouse you can go for off shoulder and one shoulder styles or the trending statement sleeves but do remember to keep basic tees and a white shirt.
- A backpack or a tote with zipper- So you can throw in all your essentials for the day including your camera and water bottle. I say with zipper because its secure so you do not have to worry about things falling out and also safe from the point of view of pick pocketing etc. Additionally you can also bring a cross body bag. And the fashion lovers a straw tote.
- The most comfortable flat sandals- Another rule of thumb for any travel is to carry your comfiest pair of shoes. For Greece you will be fine if you only bring flat sandals. Its pretty casual out there so heels is not a dress code even to fancy places for dinner etc and i would not even recommend bringing wedges because the streets can be cobbled and you will have to go up and down the stairs specially in Santorini. If you plan to go hiking you can bring your sneakers but if you don’t flat sandals are enough.
- Swimsuit- Come on Greece is surrounded by the Aegean sea and beaches are everywhere so even though there is so much to do and see, its really hard to not take a dip in the sea and spend sometime chilling by the beach sipping on some iced coffee.
- Sunscreen- Not just Santorini but Greece in general is white so the light reflects back at you. With the sun super strong you need to apply and reapply sunscreen after every few hours. Don’t feel strange if you see people applying sunscreen in the open and you shouldn’t even think twice about not doing the same.
- Sunglasses are a must not just for protection but also because otherwise you wouldn’t be able to keep your eyes open. Hats are great too but if you do not want the hassle of packing them or wearing them to the airport you can always buy there if needed.
I wore this outfit to explore Athens, white breathable maxi with trending white flat sandals. I carried my white shirt in my backpack and it was quite useful in the evening.
Hope this post is helpful, i also recommend reading my post on factors to consider before packing for any travel.
Suggested posts- Instagrammers guide to Santorini
- What i wore in Santorini
- Why white works
- Mykonos travel guide
Thank you for stopping by, See you with my next.
Love
Chichi
Santorini is white, well 80% and the sun is pretty strong, those were the two things on my mind when i was packing for this stunning cyclades island. I visited early june, a good time to visit, why? check this post, it was the best decision ever, warm enough (around 28 degrees celsius) but not hot. When it gets hot all your outfits fail and probably you want to wear nothing which is not what you can do when you have to go out and see the place!!!! You think of santorini and the colours white and blue come to your mind. Now you may also think why should i wear white and blue in santorini when there is already so much white and blue in the place. I thought so too but i still went with my first choice of packing those two colours and after i was there i was glad i did because there is something about the place you just want to be harmonious with it.
Today i am sharing all my outfits from santorini to give you some idea on what to wear when you visit. Flowey dresses, breathable fabric, statement tops with shorts, talking of shorts i wore lots!!! And white and blue and some red!
Day 1
Had to start santorini with an all white look. You guys know all white is my favourite of all! Lol!!!! Lacey see through blouse with stunning statement sleeves paired with vacay vibes palm print cotton shorts and white flats. Earrings had to be statement and no better colour than red to make a statement. For a sweet touch i made a fishtail braid. This outfit is my favourite not just in Santorini but my whole Greece trip.
Get the look, just click on the image to shop.
Day 2
Flowey white and blue maxi dress to take pictures with the blue domes. Flowey dresses that do not cling to your body are going to be your friend. For info the dress is 3 years old also seen here.
Get the look, just click on the image to shop.
Day 3
Off shoulder embroidered top which i wore as a one shoulder. No genius its super easy. Paired with Navy cotton shorts and lace up espadrille flats. I was feeling a bit shivery in the morning when we were leaving for oia from our house in kamari so i wore my white shirt and carried the off shoulder in my bag, to change, in the hope that i will begin to feel better as the day goes, which is what happened. So i have two outfits from this day.
Tying a shirt is a great way to style it.
Day 4
Genius layering for summer. I don’t know if there is a better way to describe this look. Gosh i am in love with this trend of wearing a lacey bralet on top of a tee, a little late though but i am, totally up my alley. Another all white with a pop of red, maybe more than a pop!! This hairstyle is my favourite from santorini, very greece inspired and super easy to do, just make a braid from a chunk of hair under your ear and then just wrap on ur head!!!!!!
Suggested posts- Instagrammers guide to Santorini
- Mykonos travel guide
- Factors to consider before packing for any travel
I hope you liked my santorini lookbook of white and blue with some red! Which outfit is your favourite?
Thank you for stopping by! See you with my next.
Love
Chichi
What i wore in Santorini
Santorini is white, well 80% and the sun is pretty strong, those were the two things on my mind when i was packing for this stunning cyclades island. I visited early june, a good time to visit, why? check this post, it was the best decision ever, warm enough (around 28 degrees celsius) but not hot. When it gets hot all your outfits fail and probably you want to wear nothing which is not what you can do when you have to go out and see the place!!!! You think of santorini and the colours white and blue come to your mind. Now you may also think why should i wear white and blue in santorini when there is already so much white and blue in the place. I thought so too but i still went with my first choice of packing those two colours and after i was there i was glad i did because there is something about the place you just want to be harmonious with it.
Today i am sharing all my outfits from santorini to give you some idea on what to wear when you visit. Flowey dresses, breathable fabric, statement tops with shorts, talking of shorts i wore lots!!! And white and blue and some red!
Day 1
Had to start santorini with an all white look. You guys know all white is my favourite of all! Lol!!!! Lacey see through blouse with stunning statement sleeves paired with vacay vibes palm print cotton shorts and white flats. Earrings had to be statement and no better colour than red to make a statement. For a sweet touch i made a fishtail braid. This outfit is my favourite not just in Santorini but my whole Greece trip.
Get the look, just click on the image to shop.
Day 2
Flowey white and blue maxi dress to take pictures with the blue domes. Flowey dresses that do not cling to your body are going to be your friend. For info the dress is 3 years old also seen here.
Get the look, just click on the image to shop.
Day 3
Off shoulder embroidered top which i wore as a one shoulder. No genius its super easy. Paired with Navy cotton shorts and lace up espadrille flats. I was feeling a bit shivery in the morning when we were leaving for oia from our house in kamari so i wore my white shirt and carried the off shoulder in my bag, to change, in the hope that i will begin to feel better as the day goes, which is what happened. So i have two outfits from this day.
Tying a shirt is a great way to style it.
Day 4
Genius layering for summer. I don’t know if there is a better way to describe this look. Gosh i am in love with this trend of wearing a lacey bralet on top of a tee, a little late though but i am, totally up my alley. Another all white with a pop of red, maybe more than a pop!! This hairstyle is my favourite from santorini, very greece inspired and super easy to do, just make a braid from a chunk of hair under your ear and then just wrap on ur head!!!!!!
Suggested posts- Instagrammers guide to Santorini
- Mykonos travel guide
- Factors to consider before packing for any travel
I hope you liked my santorini lookbook of white and blue with some red! Which outfit is your favourite?
Thank you for stopping by! See you with my next.
Love
Chichi
Ah Santorini what a magic!!!! Cliff side white homes and peeking blue painted domes symbolic of Greece are truly a vision, one of the most romantic destinations in the world found on almost everybody’s travel bucket list and an instagrammers paradise. These pictures prove every bit but what they don’t tell is that those dream like instagram worthy pictures are not easy to get. Ok lets face it, being on everyones bucket list means loads of people, tourists to put it better, hoards of them and the reality is that you have to have a few things in place so your pictures turn out to be more frame worthy #createpostcards than just pictures.
First let me equip you
Visit off season - My first and the best tip is to visit off season, now you may say Chichi are you mad? why will i go to Santorini - the cyclades if i can’t have the sun. Well i don’t mean winter i mean just a little off season, the main season for Santorini as for all of Greece is mid june to mid september, so if you can, please choose dates a little off that time. Mid may to mid june (late spring) or mid september to mid october (early october). The weather is warm enough to enjoy and far less tourists which translates not only to more ease and time for taking pictures but also no worry of other people or their heads or limbs in them!!!
Visit early in the day- Around 8- 8.30 in the morning is a good time as the places usually start to fill up by 10.30 am. Being an early riser as they say has its rewards and in santorini its totally true.
What to wear in Santorini- When travelling to a touristy place with sun and walking involved it only makes sense to wear lightweight, breathable and comfortable fabric. Flowy maxi dresses or cotton/ linen shorts with off shoulder blouse are your best bet. The outfit colours that look great in Santorini pictures are white and blue, going with the whole mood of white and blue in the place. Also suggest having ur hair off your face in a ponytail or a braid or a bun. Heels are a big No. There is no way you can do those cobbled streets in heels even wedges, just wear ur comfiest flat sandals. Sunglasses or a hat whichever suits you better.
Before leaving for a day around Santorini, make sure ur camera battery is charged and your memory card is empty, so you click without worrying for memory space.
Now where to go to get the dream instagram Santorini shots
Oia- Most of the pictures that you see on social media of the iconic 3 blue domes together and the sunset on the aegean sea against the backdrop of the windmills and the white houses are taken in Oia a village in the greek island of Santorini. If you follow points 1,2,3 you are better equipped to take on this very touristy village. For that reason i will never suggest to stay in Oia. Whats the fun of chilling in a private jacuzzi when 1000 people are looking at you, yes thats how it is in Oia! Hardly any peace and privacy and on top of that the highest prices on the island. Not worth it!!! Anyways whether you stay or take my advice and do not you have to visit Oia for the pictures. Its a small village, you can go from one end to the other on foot in 30 minutes. So all the hot spots for pictures are very close. Whether you take the taxi or the bus to reach you have to get down at the bus stand and then do the island on foot.
- There are four top instagrammable spots and they are all on your left side after you enter the village in the following sequence.
1. first spot on the way is the 3 blue domes together - barely 300 mtrs from the bus stop a flight of stairs from the main street take you to this place if you follow point 1 and 2 there is very low chance of a cue.
2. two blue domes and a pink structure with bells- about 100 mtrs from the first spot. There is no one here because the gate through which you enter says private. If you are in luck there are two possibilities 1. you meet someone living in the houses at the gate and he lets you in 2. the gate is open and you are daring enough to ignore the notice and enter. Its all ok just remember to be respectful of the place and the people.
3. 3rd spot the pink houses with the blue door again just about 100 mtrs but from spot no 2. not many tourists here but the photographer has to be at a distance on the roof or the stairs of the opposite building to get the full shot.
4. The windmills- Best photographed around sunset, in the summer the sun sets on Santorini around 8 and after 5- 5.30 pm people start moving towards the windmill to get the best spots to experience the sunset, if you want to take the glorious pictures i suggest you move as early as you can. Another option is to book a table at a restaurant with a great view of the caldera near the windmill.
- Be ready to climb on the white roofs to get pictures like the ones below, and when you do so please take off your footwear to not spoil the white wash.
- Go down the staircases for shots like this, the whole village is terraced so you will find many such spots.
- Wander around for your own discoveries.
- Apart from these spots i also recommend visiting Lolita gelato not just for the pictures, which you totally will, but also because the gelato is the best in the world from what i have eaten, even better than anywhere in Italy and trust me i have had the chance to savour the best.
Santorini is not just Oia- There are so many other beautiful villages and towns in Santorini with their own unique characteristics. It is possible to witness the same kind of sunset from Fira the main hub where the bank and the main bus stand is and where the cruise ships arrive. Kamari on the eastern part of the island has the most beautiful volcanic red beach (think pictures) , super delicious food the skies are gorgeous around sunset and sunrise. In the southern part of the island is Akrotiri a roughly 3500-year-old Minoan town preserved in volcanic ash (like Pompeii) and at its southern end is a lighthouse used by the Greek Navy (photo opportunity). Take a boat ride for 15 mins from Kamari to Perissa for an almost deserted like white church with blue dome, we took our own sweet time around an hour to take pictures here and no one passed by! Unimaginable in Oia or even Fira for that matter. Santorini has many wineries (photo photo) thanks to the fertile volcanic soil for growing grapes. You can do a half day tour through the many wineries. Our kind Airbnb host took Vaibhav to one of his friends vineyards and the wine was pretty awesome.
How much time to spend in Santorini- We spent four days and visited all the places i mentioned above but i still feel it was not enough, wonder how people do Santorini on a day stopover on cruise ships!! One can easily spend 7 days. Taking leisurely dips in the sea eating good food and relaxing. Also adventure sports if you like.
Where to stay and what to eat- We stayed in Kamari and i totally recommend. Beautiful beach, less crowd, good connectivity to Fira and other parts of Santorini and great food. Our two favourite places to eat in Kamari were Bacchus and Captains Taverna. Real greek food where the greeks would eat, delish to say the least, you can try anything.
We had drinks and evening snacks at Cafe Irini in Fira- good food with stunning views and enjoyed lunch at Thaglassia taverna in Oia.
How to reach Santorini- Flights available but its best reached by sea, the midnight blue water of the caldera, the volcanic lava cliffs with the white houses are quite a sight as you approach this paradise.
Hard to believe that this spectacle of the mediterranean was just another volcanic island with a minoan town on its southern shore until 1620. Today its terraced white and blue dome structures offering the most breathtaking views of the Aegean sea totally make it one of the top most beautiful destinations in the world, very rightly frequented by honeymooners, filmmakers, bloggers and the likes, i have to go back soon!!!!
Coming up next a Santorini outfit lookbook.
Suggested posts- Mykonos travel guide
- Factors to consider before packing for any travel
Suggested posts- Mykonos travel guide
- Factors to consider before packing for any travel
Thank you for stopping by! See you with my next.
Love
Chichi
Instagrammers guide to Santorini greece
Ah Santorini what a magic!!!! Cliff side white homes and peeking blue painted domes symbolic of Greece are truly a vision, one of the most romantic destinations in the world found on almost everybody’s travel bucket list and an instagrammers paradise. These pictures prove every bit but what they don’t tell is that those dream like instagram worthy pictures are not easy to get. Ok lets face it, being on everyones bucket list means loads of people, tourists to put it better, hoards of them and the reality is that you have to have a few things in place so your pictures turn out to be more frame worthy #createpostcards than just pictures.
First let me equip you
Visit off season - My first and the best tip is to visit off season, now you may say Chichi are you mad? why will i go to Santorini - the cyclades if i can’t have the sun. Well i don’t mean winter i mean just a little off season, the main season for Santorini as for all of Greece is mid june to mid september, so if you can, please choose dates a little off that time. Mid may to mid june (late spring) or mid september to mid october (early october). The weather is warm enough to enjoy and far less tourists which translates not only to more ease and time for taking pictures but also no worry of other people or their heads or limbs in them!!!
Visit early in the day- Around 8- 8.30 in the morning is a good time as the places usually start to fill up by 10.30 am. Being an early riser as they say has its rewards and in santorini its totally true.
What to wear in Santorini- When travelling to a touristy place with sun and walking involved it only makes sense to wear lightweight, breathable and comfortable fabric. Flowy maxi dresses or cotton/ linen shorts with off shoulder blouse are your best bet. The outfit colours that look great in Santorini pictures are white and blue, going with the whole mood of white and blue in the place. Also suggest having ur hair off your face in a ponytail or a braid or a bun. Heels are a big No. There is no way you can do those cobbled streets in heels even wedges, just wear ur comfiest flat sandals. Sunglasses or a hat whichever suits you better.
Before leaving for a day around Santorini, make sure ur camera battery is charged and your memory card is empty, so you click without worrying for memory space.
Now where to go to get the dream instagram Santorini shots
Oia- Most of the pictures that you see on social media of the iconic 3 blue domes together and the sunset on the aegean sea against the backdrop of the windmills and the white houses are taken in Oia a village in the greek island of Santorini. If you follow points 1,2,3 you are better equipped to take on this very touristy village. For that reason i will never suggest to stay in Oia. Whats the fun of chilling in a private jacuzzi when 1000 people are looking at you, yes thats how it is in Oia! Hardly any peace and privacy and on top of that the highest prices on the island. Not worth it!!! Anyways whether you stay or take my advice and do not you have to visit Oia for the pictures. Its a small village, you can go from one end to the other on foot in 30 minutes. So all the hot spots for pictures are very close. Whether you take the taxi or the bus to reach you have to get down at the bus stand and then do the island on foot.
- There are four top instagrammable spots and they are all on your left side after you enter the village in the following sequence.
1. first spot on the way is the 3 blue domes together - barely 300 mtrs from the bus stop a flight of stairs from the main street take you to this place if you follow point 1 and 2 there is very low chance of a cue.
2. two blue domes and a pink structure with bells- about 100 mtrs from the first spot. There is no one here because the gate through which you enter says private. If you are in luck there are two possibilities 1. you meet someone living in the houses at the gate and he lets you in 2. the gate is open and you are daring enough to ignore the notice and enter. Its all ok just remember to be respectful of the place and the people.
3. 3rd spot the pink houses with the blue door again just about 100 mtrs but from spot no 2. not many tourists here but the photographer has to be at a distance on the roof or the stairs of the opposite building to get the full shot.
4. The windmills- Best photographed around sunset, in the summer the sun sets on Santorini around 8 and after 5- 5.30 pm people start moving towards the windmill to get the best spots to experience the sunset, if you want to take the glorious pictures i suggest you move as early as you can. Another option is to book a table at a restaurant with a great view of the caldera near the windmill.
- Be ready to climb on the white roofs to get pictures like the ones below, and when you do so please take off your footwear to not spoil the white wash.
- Go down the staircases for shots like this, the whole village is terraced so you will find many such spots.
- Wander around for your own discoveries.
- Apart from these spots i also recommend visiting Lolita gelato not just for the pictures, which you totally will, but also because the gelato is the best in the world from what i have eaten, even better than anywhere in Italy and trust me i have had the chance to savour the best.
Santorini is not just Oia- There are so many other beautiful villages and towns in Santorini with their own unique characteristics. It is possible to witness the same kind of sunset from Fira the main hub where the bank and the main bus stand is and where the cruise ships arrive. Kamari on the eastern part of the island has the most beautiful volcanic red beach (think pictures) , super delicious food the skies are gorgeous around sunset and sunrise. In the southern part of the island is Akrotiri a roughly 3500-year-old Minoan town preserved in volcanic ash (like Pompeii) and at its southern end is a lighthouse used by the Greek Navy (photo opportunity). Take a boat ride for 15 mins from Kamari to Perissa for an almost deserted like white church with blue dome, we took our own sweet time around an hour to take pictures here and no one passed by! Unimaginable in Oia or even Fira for that matter. Santorini has many wineries (photo photo) thanks to the fertile volcanic soil for growing grapes. You can do a half day tour through the many wineries. Our kind Airbnb host took Vaibhav to one of his friends vineyards and the wine was pretty awesome.
How much time to spend in Santorini- We spent four days and visited all the places i mentioned above but i still feel it was not enough, wonder how people do Santorini on a day stopover on cruise ships!! One can easily spend 7 days. Taking leisurely dips in the sea eating good food and relaxing. Also adventure sports if you like.
Where to stay and what to eat- We stayed in Kamari and i totally recommend. Beautiful beach, less crowd, good connectivity to Fira and other parts of Santorini and great food. Our two favourite places to eat in Kamari were Bacchus and Captains Taverna. Real greek food where the greeks would eat, delish to say the least, you can try anything.
We had drinks and evening snacks at Cafe Irini in Fira- good food with stunning views and enjoyed lunch at Thaglassia taverna in Oia.
How to reach Santorini- Flights available but its best reached by sea, the midnight blue water of the caldera, the volcanic lava cliffs with the white houses are quite a sight as you approach this paradise.
Hard to believe that this spectacle of the mediterranean was just another volcanic island with a minoan town on its southern shore until 1620. Today its terraced white and blue dome structures offering the most breathtaking views of the Aegean sea totally make it one of the top most beautiful destinations in the world, very rightly frequented by honeymooners, filmmakers, bloggers and the likes, i have to go back soon!!!!
Coming up next a Santorini outfit lookbook.
Suggested posts- Mykonos travel guide
- Factors to consider before packing for any travel
Suggested posts- Mykonos travel guide
- Factors to consider before packing for any travel
Thank you for stopping by! See you with my next.
Love
Chichi
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