To answer this, it depends on how you get there in the first place. We arrived by ship along with four other vessels and nearly 13,000 people, my perspective is a little different to the guidebooks!
Arriving to the island by sea entails working out how you will get to the top of the mountain.
From the Port you have three choices,
I can report on the zig-zag road, having walked both ways.
The day was hot, so standing in a queue was not an option. The buses are few and far between and they are rather slow. Watching the poor donkeys struggling with people on their backs as their hooves clicked and clacked not forgetting them slipping and sliding on the polished stones, certainly did not appeal. It would be remiss of me not to mention that there was an hour-long queue for your ride to the top as well. The activity is downright dangerous for both riders and walkers.
Are you getting the picture that I was less than impressed from the outset?
Don’t get me wrong, once you have reached the top, the crowds seemed to thin out. All of the dining establishments were doing great business, and the view from the top was, as one would expect, just spectacular. But where are the famous blue roofs? Am I in the wrong spot? It appears that you have to catch a bus to Oia to locate them – or a taxi. I did, however, do a little bit of shopping here, always very tempting when on a Greek Island and as for the photos, well I did find lots of little nooks and crannies and some beautiful views which more or less made up for the blue mosque.
In conclusion, my memories of Santorini are rather tainted. Perhaps if you are staying for a few days, it will appeal, but for me, the other islands are more impressive.
