Which is the prettiest Greek island to visit?

Cooing American and Chinese honeymooners line up to take selfies as the solar sinks at the back of Santorini's caldera, the flooded volcanic crater. That view can be a romantic cliché, however it still takes your breath away. A volcanic explosion blew out Santorini's coronary heart 3,500 years in the past, leaving black-sand beaches, vertiginous cliffs in psychedelic colorings, and swirling rumours about Atlantis in its wake. The eruption additionally preserved the historic metropolis of Akrotiri below layers of ash, and created fertile ground for first rate Assyrtiko grapes and Vinsanto wines. (Sample them at Sigalas and Vassaltis wineries, paired with delicate dishes that let the grapes sing.)

Apart from a boat ride to the smouldering crater of Nea Kameni and warm springs at Palia Kameni, there is now not an awful lot to do but gaze at the mesmerising perspectives from your suite, dangling on the edge of the caldera. Most places to live are focused in Oia and Imerovigli, but the inland village of Pyrgos is up-and-coming. Go for a twilight Bellini at Franco's or supper at Botargo, with perspectives in an effort to depart you mild-headed. Emborio is a smaller and even prettier village, with a smattering of vintage-school coffee stores and Airbnbs. For a glimpse of Santorini earlier than the onslaught of cruise ships and Instagrammers, explore the quieter south (however maintain your discoveries to your self).

Where to stay in Santorini: Trendier pretenders come and move, but Perivolas remains the most elegant and peaceful area to stay. If you have the coins to splash, and might’t stand the crowds, take over Perivolas Hideaway, a waterfront villa on Santorini’s undiscovered offshoot, Thirassia, or Erosantorini, a stunning clifftop property with a tiered pool plunging 1,000 feet to the sea. best greek islands to visit The series of suites at The Vasilicos, the previous summer time residence of a larger-than-existence art collector, nonetheless feels very similar to home, because of captivating personnel and effects stylish interiors. For a villa live, we like Eolia Superior Villa for its communal living area, quirky archways and glistening blue sea perspectives. You can also find particular Cycladic homes to hire on Airbnb, together with this superb cave house in Oia. For greater, see our edit of the satisfactory accommodations in Santorini.

On Syros, capital of the Cyclades, you received’t find sugar-dice villages and whitewashed lanes. The colorful nineteenth-century metropolis of Ermoupoli is built on twin peaks – one Orthodox, the other Catholic, the background of an extended Venetian profession. There’s still a sturdy Italian flavour in Ermoupoli’s marble piazzas, princely mansions, and miniature replica of La Scala, the showpiece of a yr-round cultural scene.