How to Visit the Archaeological Sites of Santorini
There are many different attractions available when you visit Santorini, but one of the most interesting resides in its many archaeological sites and traditional villages. There, you can connect to the history that has taken place over the centuries on the island, and explore, either by foot, buggy, 4x4, helicopter, bus, or even scuba diving!
Akrotiri, Thera, Oia, Emporeio. These are just some of the most well-known archaeological sites that Santorini is home to. This Greek island isn't only a paradise for beautiful beaches and stunning sunsets, it is also a place with a long history, from the volcano eruption 3600 years ago that created its unusual geography, the Caldera, to as recently as the 1950s, Santorini has a variety of historical and archaeological sites worth knowing and visiting once you're there. Here, we are going to tell you how you can reach them.
Hiking
Using your own two legs to explore and discover the archaeological sites of Santorini is a great way to get to visit hard-to-reach places and really end up in the areas you are truly interested in.
But a hike is always better when it is guided by an expert who might be able to tell you more about the places you are visiting and take you to the right sites to learn about the history of a place like Santorini. With this in mind, you can take a sunrise hike from Kamari to the Ancient Thera.
At a height of 369 meters, this ancient city sits at the top of Mesa Vouno Mountain. Its historical importance is a great one: from the Lacedaemonian (Spartan) colonists who came to build the town in the 8th century BC, to the Ptolemaic dynasty who took it over in the 4th century BC, excavations from the 19th and 20th centuries show that this once was the religious and commercial center of the island. However, Thera started declining around the 3rd century AD, as residents started finding the coast as a more convenient, and accessible place to live.
Now, with this guided hike, you can explore the ruins of this once-vibrant town, as you observe the Aegean Sea from up high, and see the sun rise out of the horizon and illuminate the remnants of these impressive ruins.
Through hiking, you can also reach the striking remnants of one of the greatest castles of the Byzantine Empire: Skaros Rock. Located at the top of some high cliffs on the western side of Santorini, this challenging, but rewarding activity will transport you back in time, as your guide tells you all about the history of the place.
In a hiking excursion to the Skaros Fortress from Imerovigli, you will reach an impressive geological formation that comes from the same volcanic eruption that gave Santorini its crescent shape, and at the top, you'll find the ruins of a Byzantine fortress that collapsed in an earthquake during the 19th century.
Strategically placed, this fortress was never conquered, even through the many different power struggles that tried to take over the whole of Santorini. Now, it might be in ruins, but the majestic view and small indicators of what once was, remain, and the chapel and monastery of Panagia Theoskepasti will welcome you in, to give you a taste of an ancient building that has survived the ages (and many natural disasters) of Santorini.
Buggy Tours
Taking a tour in these off-road vehicles can be the ideal way to get to know places that are too far to walk, and too hidden in nature to reach by bus or car. In this case, you can take a quad discovery tour from Perivolos and ride around for a few hours, while you get to know the wonderful landscapes and ancient ruins of Santorini.
During this amazing buggy tour, you'll be visiting the village of Emporeio, the largest settlement on the island, and home to one of the five fortified castles in Santorini. This town, like the rest of the island, has a long history, but the most attractive feature for people who are visiting is the Goulas Tower, built during the Venetian occupation around the 15th century AD. The whole of Emporeio is well-preserved, and the windmills built in the 19th century are a huge attraction for visitors and locals alike.
You will also stop by the most picturesque town in Santorini: Megalochori. This town with beautiful white houses and tiny streets dates to the 17th century and is a reminder of the locals' fight against pirates since the small, labyrinthine road organization was meant to slow down pirate raids, that were plaguing the village during the 18th century. Now, it's a place to explore with an interesting and rich history to get to know.
4x4 Tours
For a similar, but more comfortable and relaxed route around the island, you can try an off-road Jeep tour around Santorini.
You'll visit several places around the island such as the Emporeio Village, the "Lunar landscape" on Eros Beach, and eat a traditional Greek meal in Megalochori. It's your opportunity to drive around with your loved ones and get to see the incredible ancient and modern places Santorini is known for.
One place you'll be able to visit thanks to the facility of having a car, is the White Beach; a beautiful natural place, 10 minutes away from Akrotiri and its famous lighthouse. But particularly, Akrotiri is home to an incredible archaeological site of the same name, that you can visit while on your tour, as well as the Castle of Akrotiri, La Ponta, another one of the five fortified settlements of Santorini, dating back to the 13th century.
Scuba diving
As an island, Santorini has been witness to wars, shipwrecks, and pirate invasions, among other sea-related historical events. With this in mind, exploring the sea around the Caldera of Santorini might be one of the most interesting ways of discovering its history.
If you are a certified scuba diver, for example, you can depart from Akrotiri for an adventure dive into the Aegean Sea. There, you'll have the opportunity to observe not only the amazing marine life and biodiversity around Santorini, but also have the possibility of running into sunken boats, lava formations, and other natural (and historical) wonders.
A helicopter ride
Take a helicopter flight over Santorini and all of its beautiful, impressive sites so that you might observe them from above. You'll be able to see wonders such as Megalochori, and the Nea Kameni volcanic island.
Then, you'll go over Thirassia, and more specifically, Oia, also known as Pano Meria, a beautiful town built on the steep slope of the Caldera, looking towards the ocean. Perhaps, while you're hovering above it, you'll be able to see the ruins of Agios Nikolaos Castle, the third of the five settlements of Santorini that have been mentioned in this article.
A helicopter ride is a quick and effective way to see as much of the island and its ancient wonders as possible in a short time.
But, if none of these wonderful activities interest you, you can also choose to take the many varieties of historical and archaeological buses or walking tours around the island of Santorini, like this private historical tour that will take you to the Archeological Museum of Fira and the Museum of Prehistoric Thira.
If you are interested in history and archaeology, Santorini is one of the best places where you can go and actually explore ancient sites. Whether it is through your own two feet, if you decide to take a vehicle or even explore through the sea or the air, you can be sure to find something to satisfy your curiosity and connect you to the many different kinds of peoples and empires that settled and lived on the very same ground you're stepping on.