Oia is a stunning town on the north east edge of the Greek Island, Santorini. The town extends almost 2 kilometres along the top of the caldera, the edge of a collapsed volcano.. To say that Oia is stunning is an understatement. It doesn’t seem real…a gorgeous fairyland.
The houses and restaurants are built into niches carved into the cliff side.
I want to come back and stay in one of the places with its own tiny pool. We didn’t see anyone swimming in any of the pools despite the warm weather. I so much wanted to dive in.
The tiny streets that wind through the town were crowded even in early May. I can’t imagine how hot and squashed they are in summer. Every day huge ships sends thousands of people ashore. We could see 3 waiting off shore.
There are some very cute shops.
I particularly liked this terrace and its sun loving resident.
An old castle perches right on the edge…a popular place to watch the sunset.
The buildings are mostly white with the occasional splash of colour. Blue domed churches are dotted everywhere.
We had to have a Greek salad on Santorini.
300 steps wind down to the sea 100 metres below the town.
We didn’t walk down, or up. We were driven down to the port where we boarded a boat for a day of sailing around the island…another post.
Though we have never been to Greece, I just love the contrasting colours of white and blue. Great photos Debra 🙂
By: amindfultravellerblog on July 8, 2017
at 11:40 am
Thanks. This was our first trip to Greece, but it won’t be the last.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 8, 2017
at 11:43 am
How nice. It looks absolutely beautiful. X
By: amindfultravellerblog on July 8, 2017
at 11:46 am
Just stunning Debra 🙂
By: Cathy Powell on July 8, 2017
at 12:19 pm
It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 8, 2017
at 12:28 pm
Gorgeous place and photos! And that pool is to kill for…
By: Mulino Dominillo on July 8, 2017
at 12:28 pm
There were tiny pools everywhere. I wanted to jump into all of them.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 8, 2017
at 12:29 pm
Oia looks stunning, what a sweet old dog sunning himself.
By: janetknight57 on July 8, 2017
at 12:42 pm
I love the look on its face.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 8, 2017
at 12:47 pm
Wow … beyond stunning! I haven’t been to any of the Greek Islands. Was this town overly commercialized for tourists?
By: aFrankAngle on July 8, 2017
at 1:03 pm
Yes, it is very popular with tourists, and as I said it was already full of tourists in May. That takes nothing away from the stunning beauty of the place. We also went to Syros, an island that is probably where Greek people go on holiday. It was lovely too, in a completely different way. There will be posts on that island later.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 8, 2017
at 1:11 pm
This place is a postcard in it self everywhere you look. I would love to go to Santorini because of the houses and the location is just so beautiful.
By: ᴬᴰᴱᴸᴸ on July 8, 2017
at 4:58 pm
Santorini is stunning. I hope you get there soon,
By: Debra Kolkka on July 8, 2017
at 8:11 pm
What a gorgeous place! I want to visit. Pity about all the cruise ships and crowds though.
By: orna2013 on July 8, 2017
at 8:20 pm
That’s why we went early in the season. These gorgeous places attract lots of people. It is completely understandable, but it does take away from the experience…much like Venice. I avoid Venice in high season.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 8, 2017
at 8:24 pm
So beautiful it doesn’t even look real! More like a perfect movie set! The Greek salad photo made my mouth water. 🙂
By: Stacy di Anna Pollard on July 8, 2017
at 9:41 pm
It looks like a fairy land, not real at all.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 11, 2017
at 5:50 am
Your photos bring back wonderful memories of our time in Greece. It was always a dream to go to the Greek Islands so on our first trip to Europe in early September 2001, we flew to Athens. After a few days we took a flight to Santorini. As the plane touched down the passengers applauded! We had 4 blissful days on the top of the volcano and loved every minute. It is such a uniquely beautiful place. Crisp white buildings, blue domes, winding paths, stunning sunsets, blue skies, bright Bougainvillea, pretty pottery, pusscats, deep blue seas….. thank you for these beautiful pictures.
Cheers,
Robyn
By: italia4ever on July 9, 2017
at 1:52 am
We had 3 days there then went to Syros, a completely different experience, and also great. We also liked Athens.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 11, 2017
at 5:51 am
Debra it is really stunning. Just what one imagines when they think of Greek Islands.
By: Lorraine @Not Quite Nigella on July 9, 2017
at 5:41 am
It is a magical place. I want to go back already.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 11, 2017
at 5:52 am
Oh how I love this post. 17 years ago my husband and I were here on our honeymoon. We liked Santorini so much we canceled another island we were supposed to go to and stayed here for five days at a place called the Asta Hotel. It was in Oia and had an over edge pool. I will never forget the delightful Greek salads and walking along the little narrow paths at night to get dinner. Would love to go back!
By: thirdeyemom on July 9, 2017
at 8:18 pm
It is a stunning place. I would go back in a heartbeat.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 11, 2017
at 5:52 am
Fab photos Deb…seems such an idyllic lifestyle…
By: Jan Williams on July 10, 2017
at 1:52 am
It is an incredibly beautiful place.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 11, 2017
at 5:53 am
How really, really exquisite! I love the ‘mindful’ dog – very zen:). Was that a wedge of feta with your Greek salad or some other kind of cheese?
By: Jan on July 10, 2017
at 9:36 am
I don’t know what the cheese was. We tried several different types…all good.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 11, 2017
at 5:53 am
I so agree -Santorini is as spectacular as any photo you’ve ever seen and yours took me right back – also ready for that swim! 😀
By: PostcardZ from Victoria on July 11, 2017
at 4:45 am
I would love to have dived into one of those pools!
By: Debra Kolkka on July 11, 2017
at 6:00 am
It looks fabulous….the white with splashes of blue are so calming. It would seem impossible not to enjoy a visit to the island (perhaps the summer crowds would take some of the calmness away) but still…so lovely!
By: Kerry & Jim on July 11, 2017
at 12:52 pm
You would just have to ignore the crowds and get on with it.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 15, 2017
at 11:27 pm
Wow, Santorini is paradise, fantastic photos!
By: wizard3417 on July 15, 2017
at 5:23 pm
Santorini is one of the loveliest places I have ever been to.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 15, 2017
at 11:28 pm
Definitely, I also should try to visit there.
By: wizard3417 on July 16, 2017
at 8:35 am
Santorini is one of my favourite Greek islands! Oia is beautiful and the curve of the cliffs over the ocean as you look back to Fira is stunning.
By: thoughtsovertea on July 15, 2017
at 7:52 pm
Oia is magical. We will stay there next time.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 15, 2017
at 11:29 pm
[…] May we also went to Greece for the first time. Why did we wait so long!!! We loved Athens, Santorini and the quiet island of […]
By: A new year begins | Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on January 1, 2018
at 8:18 am