My Santorini… (by Mimmi)

Thoughts, tips, and experiences from people who love Santorini more than anything… When you love a place so much, sometimes you tend to be obsessed and even lose your objectivity while telling others about it. That’s Santorini for me.

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Ok…so I understand that you visit Santorini quite often! Could you tell me a little about yourself, where you are from, and when you first visited Santorini?

My name is Mimmi, and I am 28 years old. I am from Sweden. My mother started taking me to Greece from an early age. Almost every year!

It was not so hard to fall in love and keep visiting this beautiful place. In recent years, I have been visiting Santorini twice a year.

I prefer May and September because of the calmness. There are fewer tourists, and the sea is impressive in September.

I can’t say I remember much, but something inside me does. I think it was love at first sight…!

What is it that you like so much about Santorini? Is it the views? The people? The beaches? The food? The whole atmosphere of the island…?

What is there not to like about Santorini? To start with, the fantastic view.

Just Google “Greece” and 90 % of the pictures are taken here…for a reason. This island has some of everything you could ever need on a holiday.

I just love the black beach in Perissa/Perivolos. (read also: Best Beaches of Santorini)

The white houses along the cliffside in Fira & Oia. The scenery here is amazing.

The main reason I keep returning to Santorini all these years is the people. We found this great little family-driven hotel down at Perivolos with such hospitality.

My absolute favorite is fava. God, this heavenly made food….

Everybody working there is friendly, greeting you when you pass with a “kalimera” or “goodmorning”. And don’t forget that if you’ve ever seen a sunset in Santorini, nowhere else will be the same.

When do you think is the best time to visit Santorini? Which months do you prefer and why?

My favourite time of the year to visit Santorini is in May or September. I usually go to both of these months, but if I had to choose, it would be in September.

As I mentioned, the sea is fantastic this time of the year. It’s almost like you can’t feel the difference between the sky and the sea!

Also, this month is perfect if you like it a bit quieter (as I prefer to do on my holidays…no need to party every day). The restaurant staff usually has more time in the lower season, so you can chat pleasantly without stress. Because if you are like me, you’d like to make new friends everywhere!

How do you travel to Santorini…? Do you take a flight to Athens and then a ferry, or do you take direct flights? Do you have any travel tips to share?

The most common way for me to go to Santorini is by taking a direct flight from Stockholm Arlanda to Athens and then a connecting flight to Santorini. This inbound flight takes 30-40 minutes, and I think it’s better than the ferry.

Of course, it depends. You will see much more with the ferry, but I’m perfectly fine with seeing the airport of my second home!

We all know that Santorini can also be a bit of a tourist trap, really…but it can also offer some amazing and very secluded experiences. What are your favorite spots/locations to relax and have a “yourself” moment…?

Yes, last year I was there in June for the first time. Very crowded everywhere.

In the hotel, the restaurants, and on the beach. There is one place I can relax, though. It’s my favorite spot in the little town of Pyrgos.

There are lovely alleys to the top of the mountain. Up there is a little café called Franco’s.

How do you travel within the island? Do you normally rent a car, bike, quad, or just take the bus? What are your tips on that?

There are many great ways to travel and many to choose from. You can rent motorcycles, bikes, or cars.

I usually travel by bus because I don’t have a driver’s license. It’s a great way to travel if you visit towns like Oia or Fira.

Even the little town of Pyrgos. But there is one thing I could not be without while on Santorini: a bicycle!

This is the best way. It’s easy and lovely, and you can also exercise!

A question for our foodies: Do you have any favorite restaurants? Have you tried any local produce and wine? What’s your tip on that…?

I’m not so into all the big tourist restaurants with all these people eating spaghetti. If you go to an island with so many specialties, you should try to find the small local places instead.

I usually eat at the Honeymoon Beach Hotel, where I stay. Julia, who makes the food, always has specials for the day, so you know it’s always fresh.

You can visit it even if you are not staying at the hotel. You can try local food like fava, tomato balls, saganaki, gigantes, fasolakia, and more here.

They serve a lot of veggie alternatives, and they have a big menu, so a lot to choose from. I highly recommend their burgers. (And also their cocktails at night. I promise they’re the biggest and best you’ve ever seen!)

Here you can relax in one of the sofas under the roof or one of the hammocks. For those who just want a quick bite on the way, I like Pepito’s in Perissa.

When I’m done shopping for a whole day at Fira, there are so many restaurants to choose from, and the view of the volcano is great. But most of them are usually crowded, and sometimes expensive.

But I found one where I can always find a table. It’s called Rastoni. It’s located at the edge of Fira with (of course …) great views.

Many people think of Santorini as a relaxing and quiet place, but not many know that you can have some pretty crazy nights out. What’s your view on that? Do you have any favorite clubs or bars for a good night out?

If I wanna party, no need to worry! There are not only relaxing places in Santorini. Even though this is the main reason many people go there, the main town of Fira offers everything from small bars to bigger clubs with many different themes.

I like it better outside, so Koo Club is great. It’s like a big garden with many places to sit or hang out by the bar.

It is great to shake the hips to some modern music. I also like the bar called Casablanca Soul.

Now…we have to talk about the beaches…What’s your favorite beach(es) of Santorini and why?

My favorite is Perissa/Perivolos Beach. It is a long sandy beach with lots of space and many beach bars. Almost all offer sunbeds and great food.

It can get crowded during the high season, with many bars playing loud music. But the beach is so long that I’m sure everyone can find a spot they like there.

Can you describe your typical day while you are in Santorini? How do you like to spend your day?

My typical day means rest… Because at the end, that’s why I’m here, right? To relax! I like to enjoy a homemade breakfast. There are many nice fruits to choose from in the supermarkets, and you can make them as you want.

The typical day is spent at the beach of Perivolos, at Kelly’s beach bar. There, you can get full service from the staff. The button beside the sunbeds makes it easy to order whatever you wish to eat or drink; you don’t even have to get up!

If I have the energy, I love to ride my bike along the beach to Perissa for some after-lunch shopping. There are some nice clothes and jewelry stores.

There are no better days than Fridays in Santorini, when there are live performances at Waves Chill-Out Beach Bar, just down in Perissa. You can enjoy a nice dinner or just drinks and listen to Live Greek music at its best.

You are always welcome to dance along with the others, both Greek locals and tourists. This gives me a good feeling.

Have you visited any other Greek islands by using Santorini as your base? Do you have any tips or experiences on that?

Before staying in Santorini, my mother and I flew directly to Santorini instead of to Athens. This is from Sweden and is only possible during the high season (June, July, August).

This is great if you want to see as many Cyclades islands as possible. When I was younger, we travelled to many islands.

Antiparos was one of my favourites. This little island has one main street that goes through almost the whole island.

For someone who has never visited Santorini, what would be your TOP 5 things that someone has to do while on the island?

To start with, you must see this local winery called Santo Wines. There you can enjoy a wine-tasting menu with regional wines, and at the same time enjoy the amazing sunset. This I will never get tired of… (read also: The 16 Best Wineries and Wine Tours of Santorini)

Second, you have to see Oia. At the same time, we’re on the subject of sunsets. There will probably not be any other place to better see this beautiful island from.

This place will be crowded, for sure. But it is worth the wait.

They serve great food and drinks and have the perfect view. You need to visit!

And like me, sometimes I get restless and want some adventure. I would recommend taking one of the many trips by boat for one day. You can go diving or snorkeling around the island in spots you can’t reach in any other way.

And last of all… just enjoy the atmosphere of the island! You don’t always have to do something. When you feel Santorini at its best, it’s in a restaurant with local food and wine. Just feel the warm breeze on your skin, smell the salty ocean, and just breathe…!

Awesome!! For a final touch, could you give us 3 words that best describe Santorini for you?

My Second Home!

THANK YOU SO MUCH @mimm_i FOR SHARING YOUR LOVE AND TIPS FOR SANTORINI !!

(You can follow Mimmi on her personal Instagram account and also on her creative photo account)