Piazzale Michelangelo is definitely worth all the hype. Just a short walk up hill (yes uphill, but trust me it’s worth it!), here you can get panoramic views of Florence and most of it’s spectacular monuments. Piazzale Michelangelo is also a great spot to watch the sunset – grab a bottle of wine, pizza, and take a seat on the steps to watch the sun go down.
Visit the town of Oia
This is personally my favourite town in Santorini. It is overwhelming how beautiful the view is from here. I highly recommend staying in this area when visiting Santorini.
Ride a quad bike to Ammoudi Bay
My friend and I accidentally stumbled upon this small village and were amazed to discover it was used for some of the movie Sisterhood of the Travelling pants 2. It is a fishing village and has around 5 cute restaurants with tables looking over the bay. To get here â keep driving through the town of Oia and you will come across a sign directing you where to go. *Beware parking is a nightmare so best to take a scooter or a quad bike!
Visit the Ancient town of Thera
Ancient Thera dates back to the 9th Century BC and has the most amazing views of the Island!
Perissa Beach
A black sand beach with cute artsy souvenier shops, cafes and restaurants. After a hard mornings shopping, you can spend the afternoon lounging on the beach with free wifi and a food and drinks menu. *Usually 5 euros to rent a lounge chair
Volcanic Crater Tour
A MUST do while in Santorini. The tour includes a boat ride to the island of Nea Kameni where the volcano is located (on a ship â how cool is that!?), there you have the opportunity to walk to the top of the crater, where you get to see Santorini from afar, and briefly learn about the history of the volcano. Afterwards you can go swimming in the hot springs that were created thousands of years ago, then you sail to Thirasia Island, where you can eat in the small taverns near the port, swim, or visit the village of Manolas on the top of Thirasia.
I did my tour with â click here
Red Beach
This beach is well known for its colour, hence the name. It can be reached either by boat or by foot, lounge chairs are available for rent to lie on the beach. Be prepared to pay for one as the sand is very rocky. Awesome place to visit, surrounded by red cliffs and clear water.
Try traditional greek food
When in Greece, you must try traditional food. Santorini was my first stop in Greece and I couldnât wait to try it all. Baklava is my favourite â a sweet nut filled pastry. If youâre on a budget and canât dine out for all meals like me, kebabs are only around 2 euros.
Watch the sun set in Oia
Follow the signs in the town of Oia and park yourself up to watch the sun set. It is a breathtaking thing to watch, but I recommend getting their early to secure yourself a spot as it gets quite busy.
Ride a donkey
Last but not least â have a go at the locals mode of transport and ride a donkey!
On the Island of Santorini, The ancient town of Thera (otherwise known as Thira) is located 360m high on Messavouno Mountain, between Kamari and Perissa Beach. You can either drive from Kamari – I recommend taking an ATV instead of a car, as the road is VERY narrow – or walk up the mountain from Perissa Beach.
Thera is only accessible by foot from a certain point, but the stunning view makes the hike worth it!
Ancient Thera consists of Roman, Hellenistic and Byzantine ruins. You can wander around these cobblestoned pathways, following footsteps from settlements as early as the 9th century BC!
For only âŹ2 entry – I highly suggest adding Ancient Thera to your Santorini Itinerary!
Rainy days have me pondering through Instagram dreaming of future travel adventures. Instagram is never short of spectacular photography to fuel your passion to travel. I always find myself discovering new destinations to add to my travel bucket whilst flicking through different accounts.
Here are 10 of my most favourite Instagram accounts to follow:
2. Farfelue Travel
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLwZM-2gkEY/?taken-by=trisataro
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKJZtswgPBb/?taken-by=trisataro
https://www.instagram.com/p/7nmflPjfzp/?taken-by=trisataro
5. Tara Milk Tea
6. Alexandra Carson
7. Matthew Hahnel
10. Girl vs Globe
https://www.instagram.com/p/BCqteAYJFZ-/?taken-by=girlvsglobe&hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/BAmrcKhJFVm/?taken-by=girlvsglobe&hl=en
In 1999, Peter Jackson knocked on the door of the Alexander’s home, proposed an idea, and decided that this was where the Hobbiton Movie Set would be created. Now, many years later, it is a phenomenon where hundreds of thousands of tourists and LOTR/The Hobbit fans come visit each year. The set is located near the town of Matamata in the Waikato region of the North Island.
The tour starts as you board a bus, then taken through the farm, heading out to the set. Walking into the Hobbiton Movie Set is like stepping into another world. The Hobbit houses are so life-like you feel like they might open their door and greet you as you walk by. There is so much detail put into each house – some even had washing hanging on the line!
The tour lasts about 2 hours long and as part of it you make a stop at The Green Dragon Inn, which is featured in the LOTR trilogy’s and you receive a complimentary drink exclusively made for Hobbiton.
I recommend either going early morning or late afternoon as it gets very crowed over lunch time. You can book your tickets online through their website here.
Where Kate Resides 