Villa Mitera Gi

Imerovigli is a beautiful village on the island of Santorini. It’s adjacent to the capital Fira and is most famous for its beautiful sunsets, welcoming atmosphere and cube-shaped houses lining the jagged cliffs.

Foodies will love the local tavernas and restaurants, serving everything from freshly-caught seafood to traditional moussaka, while nature fiends can rejoice in the breathtaking surrounds.

Spend your afternoons wandering the cobbled streets, browsing the boutique shops selling everything from souvenirs to home-made goods or visiting the sapphire domes in Imerovigli centre, a short stroll from the villa. Stop off for a traditional Greek coffee or a bite to eat.

By night, the village is usually quiet, and you can enjoy a drink or your meal under the stars. If you’re after a livelier evening atmosphere, the popular village of Oia with cosy café-bars playing lounge music is about a 10-minute drive away or you could go to the capital, Thira, with its upbeat bars and clubs.

Thira is also known for its shopping, and the capital’s streets are packed with clothes, shoes and ceramics, while Oia has lovely art galleries and places to pick up handmade pottery and amber trinkets.

To experience the beauty of Santorini from new heights, the walking trail from Thira to Oia is an ideal option. It usually takes about three hours, depending on how often you stop for pictures, and goes along the majestic edge of the caldera, through the charming village of Firostefani, past the monastery of Agios Nikolaos and ends at Oia. On the way, there are little churches to see and plenty of tavernas for rest stops. For a shorter route, you can start the trail in Imerovigli itself.

Boat trips can take you to explore the island’s volcanic features and sandy swimming beaches. Adrenaline junkies might like to part in water sports like sea kayaking and parasailing, and scuba diving is also a popular choice in Santorini.

There are nearly forty dive sites, mostly around the caldera and its islets. Aspronisi with an abundance damselfish, a World War II wreck between the two Kameni islets or the well-preserved freighter with parrot fish is top choices.

Read more about Oia and the Caldera

Capture that picture-perfect shot of white-washed houses, windmills and terraces backed by the incredible caldera. Fairytale style Oia is on the north-western tip of Santorini Island and is also famed for its romantic sunset as the charming village glows in hues of pink, purple, orange and yellow.

In a perched position with rugged cliffs below, the pedestrianised village of Oia is utterly enchanting. Explore the narrow lanes with boutiques, souvenir shops, cave houses and taverna terraces, follow twisting cobbled staircases and come across glimpses of the famous blue domes of Agios Spyridon Church, the ruins of Agios Nikolaos Castle and the glistening water.

The most energetic of guests can brave the steep steps down to Ammoudi Bay, a charming little fishing village with tavernas serving fresh seafood by the water’s edge. There’s a little rocky bay within a short hike where you can sit and watch courageous tourists jump from the cliffs as yachts sail by.

Visitors from across the island gather on Oia’s iconic terraces at sunset. To avoid the crowds, there are many other beautiful places where you can get the perfect photo as evening nears – book a sunset cruise or a kayaking excursion, venture up to Mávro Vounó Hill or discover another spot along the rugged western coast facing the caldera and its islands.  

Beyond Oia, discover the most stunning vistas of the caldera by following the 10km long hiking path to Fira, walking along the rim of the caldera with the steep volcanic cliffs below, gazing out towards the volcanic islands. The sunken caldera is one of the oldest natural wonders of the world, formed during a devastating volcanic eruption in the Minoan era. Pack good walking shoes (some parts of the trail are more challenging than others), plenty of water and head off early or late to avoid the heat of the midday sun – the scenery is absolutely incredible (especially heading back towards the north-west at sunset).

As you approach the end of the hike, stop off in Imerovigli and climb the village steps for views of domes, belltowers and bougainvillea-clad terraces, again backed by the captivating caldera, then continue on to Fira, the welcoming capital of Santorini Island.