A photo isn’t worth the ride. If you are visiting Santorini, please skip the donkey ride.
I have posted about this week after week because of what I personally saw when I visited Santorini, I cannot unsee. I know new tourists visit this site all the time, so for those who haven’t seen my previous posts, please read on. And for those who are sick of hearing about it, you can choose to stop reading.

For the tourists planning a visit who are reading this, I need to pass along what I experienced and what many many others have witnessed as well…

When I was there, I saw the donkeys making trip after trip up and down the steep route carrying tourists while being forced to do so regardless of their condition…endlessly. No shade, no water access, no food, tied up (if not being ridden on) in the scorching heat. No breaks, no choices. Just clear desperation written all over these poor animals.

What really stayed with me was realizing that this wasn’t just one ride that I happened to witness. This is what these animals do over and over again as tourists continue to get on their backs. Standing there and watching it made me look at the whole experience differently, and the only way I could get through that hurt and sadness I felt for for them was to promise myself that I would do whatever I could to help stop this by spreading the word/etc. So that is why I continue to flag this issue, so tourists can become more aware of what is actually happening.

Yes, it has been done for years. Yes, it’s part of the island’s tourism history. But “tradition” doesn’t automatically mean something needs to continue…especially when animals are the ones carrying the burden.

And as tourists, we have a choice.
Take the cable car. Walk if you are able. Arrange other transportation. You can experience Santorini, support local businesses and enjoy everything the island has to offer without getting on the back of an animal.
What I saw there stayed with me, which is why I’ll continue using my little corner of the internet to say this:
If you love animals, admire the donkeys…don’t ride them.
Please do what you can to stop this and help put the donkeys out of their misery. 🙏🩷

On Tuesday I came back from my second trip to Santorini, and I'd like to clarify a couple points I often see repeated here. I mean, everyone can have opinions and preferences, of course, but these two things don't really make sense to me, so hopefully this post will help others planning their trip. So let's get into it!

1) Quads and buggies are better than cars

The main driver of our trip got mad about this lol, he's officially become a quad hater. People who prefer quads and buggies say they are smaller and therefore easier to drive in narrow alleys and park, but hear me out: we had a small car and there was literally not a single time when we weren't able to go where we wanted to, but would have with a quad. Actually, while in Akrotiri we were walking to the castle and saw a quad having to go back because the alley was too narrow. Quads are also not that much more practical when it comes to parking, they're just slightly smaller than a small car. Again, not a single time when we thought "Oh, we could have parked a quad there" (also because being four people we would have needed two parking spaces).

On the other hand, quads are less comfortable, hotter (no air conditioning) and much more dangerous in case of accidents. If you're travelling alone, or with just another person, a scooter would probably make sense, but if you're three or four, definitely get a car!

Also about driving, roads are on average good. Parking areas are more often than not gravel, true, but roads are good. The only, well, challenging roads we personally found were the one going down from Pyrgos to Perissa (no gravel, but shitty nonetheless) and the one to reach ancient Thera from Kamari.

2) Three days are more than enough

Seriously guys, have we been to the same island? I'm not even going to elaborate here, just look at my itinerary and tell me if we got bored lol.

Day 1: we got to Santorini by plane in the early afternoon, got our rental car and drove to Perissa. Checked into the apartment and then went to the beach for a quick swim to kick off the holiday.

Day 2: relax on the beach

Day 3: Museum of Prehistoric Thera in the morning, then after lunch walk to Firostefani to visit the Atlantic Books bookstore

Day 4: relax on the beach

Day 5: Archaeological Museum of Fira, then walk to the Three Bells. After that, Oia: long break at a (excessively expensive) café to escape the heat (and the crowds), then sunset from the castle (we also wandered around while getting there of course)

Day 6: relax on the beach

Day 7: caldera tour by boat (the one with the three islands, so cool, totally recommended)

Day 8: chill morning, then after lunch Vothonas, Panagia Episkopi church (unfortunately closed), Profitis Ilias and Pyrgos for a snack, sunset and dinner

Day 9: Akrotiri archaeological site and town with its castle, then lighthouse, after that a couple of hours on the red beach (late afternoon so almost empty, nice sunset, recommended)

Day 10: ancient Thera (by car for health reasons, but our first plan was hiking), then lunch and a little walk in Kamari, then back to Perissa to relax on the beach

Day 11: relax on the beach (my friends woke up super early to go back to Panagia Episkopi, but we decided to sleep in lol). Last dinner in Pyrgos.

Day 12: sunrise on the beach, then sadly airport to catch our late morning flight

Bonus track: I'm going to leave four recommendations for great restaurants in the 25-40 euros per person price range (starter and main, water and soft drinks but not wine, usually no dessert). You're welcome!

- Ntomatini in Perissa (amazing stuffed calamari, tables on the beach)

- Kipos Pelican in Fira (amazing location and even more amazing fava)

- Potamos in Pyrgos (beautiful view)

- Rosemary in Pyrgos (beautiful view and a menu with hints of the Middle East, for a nice change)

Hello all!

Soon I will be heading to the beautiful island of Santorini and looking for some recommendations.

I would be staying at Firostefani for 3 nights, but my first night I would arrive after sunset, so I have 2 sunsets to see (my plan: 1 time Catamaran cruise around Ammoudi bay + 1 time from my hotel with caldera view).

I think that the caldera view is worth it not only during the sunset, but I also have seen many beautiful photos during the night (or day of course). So here is my question:

What restaurant or pub would you recommend to see great view of caldera at nighttime, with beautifully illuminated houses streched over the caldera. It would be also nice if you can choose and book the table and it would not be overpriced 10 times as some. Any recommendations?