Santorini is a Greek island, located in the Aegean Sea, 200 km southeast of Athens, 150 km south of Mykonos, and 140 km north of Crete. Santorini has a population of 15,500 and a land area of 76 square miles (a little bigger than Manhattan). The length of the island is 16 km and its width varies from 1 to 5 km. It takes about 45 minutes to drive from one end of Santorini to the other (i.e. Oia to Akrotiri). Flights to Santorini take 4 hours from London, 3.5 hours from Paris, 2 hours from Rome, and 1 hour from Athens. There are no direct flights to Santorini from the USA, Canada, or Australia.
Yes! Santorini is a safe place to visit as a tourist and so is Greece as a whole. Santorini has a low crime rate and is full of hospitable people who are hoping to make your visit as memorable as possible. My biggest Santorini safety tip is to keep your eye on traffic and if you are not comfortable driving winding roads and bust streets, do not rent a car. We rented an ATV and had a great time exploring the island that way, but we are comfortable driving internationally. If you are not, take the local transportation to get around the island.
We recommend you arrive on the island by Thursday, May 13th so you have time to explore and settling in before the celebrations begin on Friday early afternoon. The festivities will wrap up in the early afternoon on Sunday, and most guests will depart on Sunday evening (May 16th).
May is one of the best times of the year to visit Santorini, Greece, when the temperatures are high (68-75 degrees) and the chance of rain is low. Not only is the weather great during this month, but the island will also be relatively quiet compared to the busy summer months, resulting in cheaper accommodation, flight, restaurant and attraction prices. Typically, there is very little rain in Santorini in May, with 12 hours of sunshine every day.
Must Haves: Passport Black-Tie Optional Outfit for the wedding General Packing Tips: You'll need to pack plenty of light and airy clothing to ensure you're comfortable whilst on holiday. You won't need much more than shorts, skirts, dresses, t-shirts and swimming gear during the daytime, although you might want to bring a pair of jeans or trousers and a light jacket for the evenings, in case it's a bit cooler than expected.
Santorini is a small island, with a few larger villages and a number of little villages scattered around. It has a diverse number of attractions, beaches and historical sights to be found across the whole island. The total area size is roughly 38 square km, and it is connected by well-maintained roads. It is fairly easy to navigate around the island, and you have a few options including bus, ferries, ATVs, rental cars and taxis. A few things to keep in mind: Uber/Lyft are not available in Santorini. You don't need to hire a car/vehicle in advance. Once on the island, plan ahead for any late night taxi needs, as there is a limited number of taxis available. For more information: https://travel.usnews.com/Santorini_Greece/Getting_Around/ https://www.lonelyplanet.com/greece/santorini/practical-information/transport/getting-around/a/nar/c58c1dd9-641e-4751-8e24-ff5b6ef51ac7/359457
Bottled water is recommended for drinking. Tap water can be used for washing, bathing and cleaning your teeth. Tap water that comes from the local desalination plants is drinkable – please ask your hotel reception.
TBD
The currency in Santorini is the Euro. The current exchange rate is roughly $1.08 USD to 1 EUR. While much of the island accepts credit card, small local places are cash only. There are ATMs and currency exchanges available throughout the island, but they charge a higher fee than inland/in the U.S. We recommend you exchange money before departing.