CTW Explores
Oia, Santorini
Country: Greece Language: Greek Currency: Euro (€)
Santorini is one of the most popular Greek Islands in the South Aegean Sea. The small island is home to the post-card town of Oia. Santorini is crescent-shaped due to the ancient volcanic eruption that created the geological caldera that remains. Santorini is the main island, with a central lagoon connecting Santorini to a couple of much smaller, uninhabited islands. The volcanic eruption that occurred was one of the largest in history, and Santorini remains one of the most active volcanic regions in the world.
Oia is a small town at the very top of Santorini that features the quintessential white buildings with blue rooftops. The Oia that stands today took the place of the village that was destroyed by an earthquake in 1956. After the earthquake, Oia was transformed into the popular tourist destination it is today.
From Oia, the top of Santorni, you can see all the way down to the bottom tip of Santorini. You also have incredible views of the largest island, Thirasia, and access to some of the best and most popular sunset viewing spots in the world!
The Oia to Fira hiking trail is challenging, but worth every step. Follow the hiking trail from Oia, along the island cliffs , through Greek farmland, and into the biggest city in Santorini in just a couple of hours. Be sure to bring plenty of water, and a camera with extra batteries, as the views from the hike are spectacular. See our post on Taking Better Travel Photos to make the most of your travel memories.
While in Oia, be sure to satisfy your taste buds and eat fresh Greek food. As Oia is a tourist town, there are plenty of good eateries around. Enjoy a fresh gyro, a delicious Santorini salad, a classic moussaka, and wash it all down with Greek wine by the carafe! The remarkable food isn’t the only reason to visit Santorini, but it certainly should be one of them! In between meals, enjoy the spectacular views, watch the donkeys at work, and soak up the fresh sea breeze.
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Santorini is one small island in Europe... Keep your adventure going and check out our city guides for some other popular European cities...
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