Description

Santorini is a volcanic island located in the country of Greece. This island is situated in between Los and Anafi islands. Santorini is full of beautiful landscapes, amazing beaches, lovely peaks, ancient buildings and archaeological sites. The resort of Perissa houses one of the best beaches in Santorini. The towns of Santorini have white washed houses that offer interesting sights to spectators. The amazing settings of Santorini have been captured on the big screen in many popular movies. There are many typical fishing villages in Santorini, where tourists can enjoy laid-back atmosphere.

Shopping

There are an ample number of shops in Santorini that sell keepsakes, artifacts, gift articles and other articles.The town of Santorini is worth a visit for shopping. There are many street stalls as well classy shops that sell interesting things. Natural sponges are found all through Santorini. Soft sponges can be used as body scrubs and the coarser ones are used for painting purposes. Santorini houses many jewelry outlets and chic boutiques that sell fashionable items. The capital of the island Fira has shops vending everything from toys to intricate jewelry. The commercial street of Fira is full of small shops dealing with designer clothes, sandals, leather ware, hand painted urns and t-shirts.

Restaurants

The restaurants and tavernas of Santorini cater to the tastes of all the travelers. Here there are fast food joints that serve pizzas and burgers. Fira has a great choice of restaurants that dish-out Portuguese, Italian, Chinese, Spanish and other international fare. The seafood restaurants of Santorini serve varieties of yummy fish dishes and sea foods.

Night Life

Santorini has numerous night clubs, where travelers can enjoy a frenetic nightlife. In most of the night venues internationally famed disco jockeys anchor the shows. Night spots on the island remain active till the late night hours. The entrance fee to these spots is inclusive of drinks. “Day club scene” is very common on the beaches of Santorini. The capital of the island, Fira has many night clubs that offer rocking nights to the travelers. Travelers can enjoy an Irish atmosphere at the Murphy’s bar. This bar has a vast collection of liquors from all over the world and serves cocktails that are sure winners. To listen to great music including jazz and pop, travelers can visit the Town Club and dance in the dance altar.

Activities

Tourists to Santorini can enjoy water sports like diving, snorkeling, swimming, wind surfing, paragliding and boating. Boat trips can be held to the neighboring resorts and to the interiors of the resorts. Travelers can also enjoy scores of off-water pursuits at Santorini. Beach volleyball is a common scene on the beaches of Santorini. There are a few dance schools in Santorini, where youngsters can take dance classes. Some of the local associations organize parachuting, in which travelers can take part.

Communications

The international access code for Greece is +30. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The city code for Athens is 21. Surcharges are applicable on calls made from hotels and it is generally cheaper to use OTE offices for local and international calls. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts and are cheaper.

Contacts

Greek Tourist Office: +30 210 3310392 or www.gnto.gr
Greek Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 939 1300
Greek Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7229 3850
Greek Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 238 6271
Greek Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6273 3011
Greek Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 430 7351/2/3
Greek Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 676 7254
Greek Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 473 7775/6
United States Embassy, Athens: +30 210 721 2951
British Embassy, Athens: +30 210 727 2600
Canadian Embassy, Athens: +30 210 727 3400
Australian Embassy, Athens: +30 210 870 4000
South African Embassy, Athens: +30 210 610 6645
Irish Embassy, Athens: +30 210 723 2771
New Zealand Consulate-General, Athens: +30 210 692 4136
Emergencies: 112/100 (Police); 112/166 (Ambulance)

Currency

EUR

Attractions

Tourists visiting Santorini should not miss the spectacular sunset views. During the sunset hours the skies of Santorini emerge into bright hues, offering colorful sights to the travelers. Trips to volcanic zones are a must while at Santorini. The lovely villages of Fira, Oia and Thirasis face the steep rocky cliffs. The neighboring island of Thirassia has many fishing villages and old cathedrals that are worth seeing. The lighthouse of Faros is located along the south of the island. Tourists can witness brilliant sights of the coastline from this lighthouse. There are a plenty of beaches and museums in Santorini that should be visited by the travelers.

Language

Greek

Language Description

The national language is Greek, but English is spoken and understood all along the country.

Tipping

Restaurants generally include the tip in the bill itself; if not, 10 to 15 % of the bill amount is considered a normal tip. Taxi drivers and porters expect loose change.