You may have often come across pictures of whitewashed houses standing dramatically

over cliff tops overlooking the vast expanse of the sea. Chances are these photographs are

of the island of Santorini in Greece.

The Cyclades island of Santorini stretches for about 18 kilometres but within its compact

size contains a wealth of treasures for the visitors. The island offers a host of

accommodation options, the most popular being the Santorini holiday rentals. These are

quite popular with the visitors and it is wise to book them in advance; however even as a

last minute traveller, you will be able to find a comfortable lodging.

Santorini's main claim to fame is the dramatic landscape created by one of the most

violent volcanic eruptions ever witnessed in history. The eruption resulted in a crescent of

smaller islands around the caldera. The volcano is surrounded by water and the landscape

around it is pretty bleak.

There are several ways to reach the site. If you have the energy, you can make your way

down from the old port of Fira down the stairs that zigzag down the steep mountain side.

Do make sure to take plenty of water along especially since the temperatures can go as

high as 40 degrees Celsius. The other option is to ride donkey back to the site. A simpler

way is to take the recently introduced funicular – it is more convenient and also less

smelly.

If you are approaching from the sea (there are old-fashioned sailing ships that carry

passengers across) you will be able to see the signature white-washed buildings hanging

dramatically on the cliffs overlooking the waters of the Aegean Sea. On landing, you can

climb to the volcano site – the climb is gentle but again, do remember to carry along

plenty of water since the area is largely uninhabited.

Go to the other side of the caldera and you can dive from the side of the ship into the

water. A short swim away, you'll come to a shallow cove with some sulphur springs.

The sun sets over the caldera are equally mesmerizing – in fact they are considered as

amongst the best in the world. Experience the setting of the sun in the distant horizon

from a bar or a restaurant facing the caldera. Some of them even add in a bit of soulful

music to add to the experience.

The old towns of Fira and Oia are also worth exploring. You can enjoy a stroll through

streets whose stones have been worn smooth over the centuries. These streets are lined

with shops and give a nice market place feel. You can settle down in one of the bars and

watch the people go by. Then there are the vineyards waiting to be explored. And if you

are looking for some beaches, you will find plenty of them on the eastern coast of the

island. There is also a village nearby that serves delicious food – you can even rent sun

loungers and sea shoes.