Santorini: Our First Day in Paradise
This post is part of our Europe Travel Series. In my previous posts, I shared our experiences in Istanbul, Cappadocia and Athens. If you’d like to follow our journey from the beginning, you can start reading the series here. If you’d like to read the previous post, please read it here.
We were so excited to finally visit our dream destination, Santorini. One of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea, Santorini is famous for its dramatic volcanic landscape, whitewashed villages, blue-domed churches, and spectacular sunsets. The island’s most distinctive feature is its vast caldera, formed when a massive volcanic eruption caused the center of the ancient volcano to collapse thousands of years ago.
We started early from our Airbnb and had breakfast at the airport lounge. Our flight to Santorini was at 10:30 AM. By around noon, we arrived on the island, excited to finally see the place we had dreamed about for so long.
The hotel-arranged driver was already waiting for us at the airport, and since the distance was short, we reached our hotel quickly. We were staying at Agali Houses, located on the caldera cliffs in Firostefani.
A porter greeted us and took our luggage, starting his way down the steep cliffside steps. We followed him carefully until we reached the reception area. Thankfully, our room was already ready, and the hotel kindly allowed us an early check-in. After collecting the keys, we continued down what seemed like countless white steps to finally reach our room—nearly 150 steps down from the entrance. But the moment we entered, every single step felt worth it.
The room, the hotel, and especially the view was absolutely breathtaking. Santorini has a beauty unlike anywhere else—whitewashed buildings cascading down volcanic cliffs, deep blue domes, endless views of the Aegean Sea, and the dramatic caldera stretching across the water. The island almost feels painted rather than built, glowing under the sunlight in shades of white, blue, and gold.
After settling in, we headed out to explore. We first walked toward Fira, the lively center of the island. Along the way, we enjoyed uninterrupted caldera views, with cruise ships anchored in the deep blue sea below. Smaller boats transported passengers from the ships to the old port beneath the cliffs. From there, visitors could either climb the hundreds of steps to Fira, take a donkey ride, or use the cable cars that slowly carry passengers up the steep hillside.
Walking along the cliff paths was an experience in itself. Every turn opened up another stunning view of the sea, white houses, churches, and terraces overlooking the caldera. We stopped for lunch at a seaside restaurant. The service took a while, but we didn’t mind at all. We were too busy enjoying the atmosphere, taking in the views, and watching people pass by from all over the world.
On the way back, we took a different path lined with small boutiques, charming cafés, art galleries, and little local shops tucked into the cliffs. By then, all the walking, stair climbing, and afternoon sun had started to tire us out, so we returned to the hotel room to rest for a while.
Later in the evening, we explored Imerovigli, which was uphill from our hotel. Imerovigli is often called the “balcony of the Aegean” because of its elevated position and sweeping views over the caldera. The views from there felt different—more open, dramatic, and peaceful, especially as the evening light softened across the island.
That was how we spent our very first day on this beautiful island—a day filled with breathtaking views, endless walking, good food, and the feeling that we had finally arrived at a place we had dreamed about for so long.
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