Santorini Holidays

After its volcano erupted and crumbled into the sea, the caldera of this South Aegean Island was left standing and Santorini was born. With pebble-strewn beaches at its feet and jaw-dropping views from the clifftop crown, this ultra-popular getaway in Greece has charm to spare.

Santorini’s capital, Thira, is as Greek as it gets. Sugar-cube white houses and churches are topped with blue domes to match the azure water below, so you'll be reaching for your camera non-stop. To the north, crater-edge Oia is the best spot for swoon-worthy sunsets – no filter needed.

Over on the east coast, fun and sun are served up in spades on the strips of black sand here that are dubbed Santorini’s best beaches. Kamari’s curve is ideal for sunbathing and seafood sampling, with loungers lined up along it and restaurants waiting in the wings just behind it. If you’re looking for watersports, head to nearby Perissa.

Like in a lot of Greece, Santorini’s summers are long and hot. Temperatures really start to rise in April, when the average is 19˚C. Then the heat peaks in July and August, when 28˚C is the norm. Right up until October, the mercury still hovers in the 20s, so there’s plenty of time to fit in a hot summer holiday to Santorini.