Santorini

Picturesque Santorini features highly on Greek promotional material and even a whistle-stop tour of the island will show you why. Bougainvillea pours off the sides of the white washed houses with their signature blue doors. A sunset boat tour of the caldera with some swimming in the coves around the (don’t worry dormant) volcano is an absolute must and on land we advise a watching the sunset once from Oia and once from Imervilgi so you can cast your vote as to where the views are best.

A huge volcanic eruption 3,500 years ago left a caldera which turned the then- circular Santorini into a crescent shaped island. The largest island in a small archipelago, wrapping its arms protectively around the largely uninhabited islands of Palea, Nea and Thirasia. Sheer cliffs hundreds of metres high shield coves and beaches made up of red, white and black sand.

Wander the streets of Oia, past the famous windmills and wind your way up to the ruined castle, which serves as a lookout point with views across the sparkling Aegean Sea. At sunset enjoy the twinkling lights of the town and the soft glow of the whitewashed walls. Take the over 300 steps down to the harbour at the bottom and reward yourself with some fresh octopus or a big carafe of wine before braving the steps home.

At the opposite end of the island lay the ruins of Akrotiti, a Bronze Age settlement that was destroyed in the Theran eruption and buried in volcanic ash. Beautiful preserved frescos were discovered during excavation and can be admired along with other artefacts in the Museum of Prehistoric Thira.