The beautiful island of Santorini (also called Thera) sits in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of mainland Greece. Its volcanic origins make it a place of rugged beauty and spectacular scenery. It also, however, enjoys the very favourable Mediterranean climate, boasts a great many picturesque villages and provides a number of exciting and entertaining opportunities for holidaymakers to make the most of their visit. Taking advantage of the holiday rental accommodations available in the form of apartments, traditional houses, or villas allows the Santorini experience to be enjoyed at your leisure.

Although Santorini is a small island, it has various options available for your rented holiday accommodation. One is to rent a holiday apartment or house in one of the island’s larger villages such as Fira, the island’s capital. Renting accommodation of this type does not prevent you exploring the wonders of Santorini but it will give you easier access to the shops, restaurants and bars which you may wish to visit. A different option is to rent a villa in a more rural part of Santorini. Although the views from all of the villages are spectacular, renting a villa of this type may be better suited to those truly seeking the get away from it all type of holiday in tranquil yet stunning surrounds.

Getting around on Santorini is possible by bus or by taxi but, in order to make your time truly your own, you may wish to hire a car, or perhaps the little individual scooters which are popular on the island. This will allow you to explore the numerous villages, all of which are built by the sea on cliff tops and each of which has something to offer in its own unique way. Fira allows visitors to take a cable car ride down the cliff face to the old port of Santorini, or alternatively to negotiate the path on foot or on the back of a donkey. You may wish to visit the picturesque village of Oia and witness its spectacular sunset, or Akrotiri to admire its magnificent archaeological sites and largely unspoiled beauty. Megalochori is another village with beautiful ancient buildings to admire, including many cave houses. It is also located in the heart of Santorini’s wine producing area and is an excellent place to sample the local produce.

You should not miss admiring the island’s nearby volcano from various cliff-top vantage points and watch the gases escape from its active fissure. You should also take a dip in the hot springs caused by the volcanic activity and let the warm, muddy waters pamper you in style. Boat trips are popular on Santorini and one option is to go on the island’s submarine and explore beneath the waves. Those who prefer to stay afloat on the water, however, may wish to consider a trip to the nearby island of Thirassia and sample some of its legendary seafood at one of its small restaurants.