Santorini in Summer

Tips on how to enjoy Santorini in August!

TRAVEL

Nozipho Wabatagore

11/17/20245 min read

The best place to enjoy the beach in Santorini is Kamari. However, bear in mind it is a volcanic beach, which is rocky. So, pack your water shoes or, like me, be prepared to buy them on your first visit to the beach. A clever hack to enjoy the volcanic beach is to sample the different seaside spots. Our hotel, Arion Bay, had extreme waves, making for a dangerous water dip. Caution is needed because it’s very easy to drown if you are not a strong swimmer.
That said, Kamari Beach offers a fun and different seaside experience. It’s also a must-do for geography/ geology nerds who want to caress the volcanic stone with their feet.
The ambience in Kamari is very laid-back and fishy. As a person with seafood allergies, the food options are limited. However, those who enjoy seafood are in the best place for fresh fish, crustaceans, and molluscs.

Fira is a wonderful town for walking. You can meander and get lost in sensuality and spectacular caldera views. The blue skies and sunny weather make a great summer vacation for hikers and people seeking to burn calories.
Fira offers diverse shopping experiences for valuable souvenirs, from exotic-looking jewellery to cushion covers, textiles, T-shirts, and jumpers. The Greek people are friendly and always ready to help make your shopping time simple.
If strolling in cobbled, narrow streets is your thing, then Santorini offers unforgettable routes for lone travellers, romantics, and lazy family walks. There are many hidden gems, like blue dome churches, cafes, and terraces overlooking the caldera.
For crazy nightlife, Fira offers great selections of bars and clubs. The music and environment are outstanding, except smoking is permitted inside clubs. So, be prepared to choke and cough as you dance the night away. As an asthmatic, I found this very unpleasant and cut my nightclubbing short.
Remember to visit the Museum of Prehistoric Thera. It was like travelling back to prehistoric Santorini and learning about the community’s artwork. The museum specialises in ceramics, mosaics, artefacts, and ancient paintings on walls.

Oia is the best town in Santorini to view the blue domes. The iconic three blue domes are featured in all the city’s advertisements, making it a must-visit place. It is also the most luxurious and expensive area to live in. With thousands of restaurants and bars, there is a wide range of places to eat.
My experience with Oia was one to remember. My husband spoiled me with a private candlelight dinner at Filotera Suites overlooking the caldera at sunset. We had a personal waiter who was so friendly and chatty. We ate a five-course meal and had personalised music, ranging from Cesaria Evora and Salif Keita. We got to dance to our wedding songs, and this date made for a memorable one-year anniversary.
A must-do activity in Oia is a photo shoot. I had a couple’s photoshoot with an amazing Albanian photographer, Jon. His warmth and friendliness made for one of the most cosy and easy-going photoshoot experiences.

One of the most memorable experiences in Santorini was hiking Nea Kameni Volcanic Mt. Many scenic moments took my breath away. It was an adventurous hike, which was not difficult. It was a romantic hike with my husband, but as we climbed it in conversation, it was evidently family-friendly, too.
It is best to wear trainers, as wearing sandals makes for a risky climb. By the end of the hike, my sandals were brown, and my toes were dirty.
It is also best to have plenty of drinking water, especially because hiking in August can be dangerous, and dehydration is one of the most common problems.

Fira is the best food experience in Santorini. With reasonable prices, Fira offers delicious, authentic Greek cuisine. I ate my first moussaka in a family-owned business, which was heavenly. Fira has many restaurants with scenic views of the caldera, making for one of the best dining experiences looking over the majestic dormant volcano.
Santorini’s cuisine is unique to the region. You must try Skordomakarona, a Santorini pasta dish. It is linguine in extra garlic-tomato sauce. Rich but simple, this dish is like Greek comfort food.
While in Amelot Art Suites, a private, adult-only four-star hotel, I tried their mouth-watering spinach and feta pie, “Spanakopita,” for breakfast. It was crispy on the outside, and the bechamel filling melted into your mouth. It was a highlight of the best of Greek cuisine.
Tomato fritters are a popular dish in Santorini. Our first try was a miss (too greasy). However, we tried them in an upscale, private dinner restaurant in Oia, and they were to die for.

Trying to see the sunset in the streets is exhausting because August is a high peak tourist time and guarantees disappointment as you are going to be shoulder to shoulder with people with selfie sticks poking you in the eyes.

Although Oia is not known for the best sunsets, we did experience an unusual but exotic colour-changing sunset. We did not see the sun directly; instead, we saw the changing light refracting onto the blue sea. The light kissing the caldera views went from orange-yellow to rosy pink to pinkish-blue until the only brightness left came from the candles of our private booth.

Although expensive, getting a private hotel that overlooks the caldera in Fira with a balcony and jacuzzi is the best sunset experience you will have. I enjoyed the warm water as the sun and temperature went down with my husband, making for a romantic and cuddly time together in the hot water while the different hues of the sun played in front of us.