Finally sharing my Santorini trip from last year and I must say it was incredible and by far one of my favourite trips yet. Some of you may have seen the lovely Katikies Hotel, where we stayed, however, our entire trip to Santorini is one to remember and I honestly can’t wait to visit Greece again.
Santorini is famous for its incredible landscapes, white-washed houses and sunset views. And Oia is a luxurious little village most popular for weddings and honeymooners. I witnessed at-least 3 wedding on my stay. It is certainly the ultimate dream vacation, offering romantic dinning on the terraces and outstanding rooftop pools.
Visiting Santorini can be quite expensive, especially during peak times. So make sure you have a little extra to enjoy and experience the island to its fullest.
What to expect in Oia, Santorini
Location: Santorini is one of the cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. Famous for its extraordinary views, stunning sunsets in Oia, where I stayed. Also features sky-high towns, eclectic cuisine as well as excellent galleries.
Language: Greek is the language of the island but everyone and most establishments had English speaking staffs.
Currency: Euros is the currency in Greece but you can also use your debit or credit card. I would suggest having some change for taxis and local shopping. All the local shops prefer cash and will often offer a discount if you’re nice to them.
Peak Season: High season in Santorini runs from late June until early September. It’s ideal to book your hotel well in advance. Santorini sightseeing is best from March to June and September to November. I recommend visiting early summer months for the best experience and service.
Climate: Visited in May and the weather was perfect. Not too hot and not too cold. A bit chilled at nighttime and also needed the air condition during the day. It was just the ideal temperature for me. And don’t forget to take along your stunning sunglasses.
Hotel
Hubby and I spent 6 days and 5 nights at Katikies Santorini Hotel and it was everything I hoped it would be, from the breathtaking views to the amazing hotel staffs. The location was few minutes walk to all the action in the city, including; designer stores, independent boutiques, restaurants and bars. Furthermore, Katikies is about 15 minutes by car from Santorini International Airport.
Stayed in an excellent suite, which included a king size bed, seating area, bathroom with shower and a veranda with caldera view and outdoor jacuzzi. The total cost was a bit on the high side but the service and experience was well worth it. Also keep in mind this was booked just a little in advance.
Food
Katikies hotel had some of the best restaurants on the Island in my opinion. We had breakfast, lunch and dinner most days at the hotel. Breakfast every morning was amazing, you could eat by the pool or just order room service with no extra charges to your room. And all can be enjoyed from your private terrace overlooking the ultimate view.
Seltz Champagne Bar and Restaurant had the best wagyu burger ever. While the Pool Bar was a perfect spot for lunch or dinner. Mikrasia Restaurant on the other hand sets a four-course set menu. But we also dined at Thalami where the staffs were extremely lovely and I always got a free treat after every meal. And Paradox Chinese restaurant as I was craving Chinese food as usual and that was the closest nearby.
Getting Around
Katikies hotel was literally a walking distance to all the nice places, local shops and restaurants. We had an incredible view and lots to see around so we didn’t get the taxi to go anywhere. We pretty much walked everywhere.
What to do
- Katikies Hotel : most of my time was spent at the hotel, lol. We ate, partied and enjoyed the view. Kaitkies also has an amazing pool and we thoroughly enjoyed the jacuzzi too.
- Oia’s Main Street: This is basically where everything happens; from shopping, eating, and sightseeing. Its a huge area that took us days to get through, and I don’t think we saw it all.
- Beach: spending a day at the beach would have been perfection but I didn’t get to do this. However, I highly recommend it. Luckily, our suite was in fact, overseeing the beautiful mountains and sea which was just enough for us. I guess it was more of a chilled trip.
Extra Tips
While I’m all for solo travel, Oia is one place I recommend you visit with a friend or other half. But whatever you decide, here are a few more tips to note before going;
- Definitely have cash on hand as your debit/credit card may not be ideal in some places.
- A few days is enough to enjoy Oia to be honest unless you plan on touring other cities.
- Make sure you stay at a hotel with a Caldera view. There’s no point going Santorini if you can’t experience its famous view.
- Oia is super chilled, laidback and romantic so be ready to have a relaxing trip
I hope this was helpful! Thanks for stopping by, and of course I linked a few vacation looks below for when we are able to get out and travel again, enjoy!