These are the 5 Most Beautiful Villages of Santorini

Mother Nature’s work with Santorini has been both unforgiving cruelties and work in art. The Cycladic Island was created by the most powerful volcanic eruption in human history. It is like a postcard. The Cycladic island’s lunar landscapes, bluer-than-blue waters and views almost seem mythical.

There’s also the architecture. It is a marvel of human creativity and craftsmanship. There are many photo opportunities here. You can see the cascade of pastel-hued homes, the dreamy cobblestone courtyard covered in bougainvillaea or the quiet alleyway lined in cubes of sun-bleached homes carved into rock faces. Or the church perched high above the cobalt Aegean sea.

Here are some photos of Santorini’s most stunning villages in all their Cycladic glory.

Oia

Oia is undoubtedly the most beautiful village in Santorini. It is home to beautiful sunsets, charming art galleries, and chocolate-box architecture.

This whitewashed wonder is worth a visit for its views. It can be found at the northern tip of the island’s caldera rim. The sun-bleached cube-shaped houses drop to the sparkling blue Aegean Sea. Bright bougainvillaea covers the white walls, and endless staircases snake through the postcard-perfect cascades of pastels and whites.

You can take a walk along the cobblestone streets and see the sights, or you could descend the 300 steps to Ammoudi, a striking fishing port. Here, you can enjoy a refreshing swim and a traditional alfresco dinner in one of the fish Tavernas at the water’s edge.

Emporio

Emporio, located 12km south of Fira at the foothills of Mount Prophet Elias, is home to tiny stone-built homes and narrow, winding alleyways that lead up to a fortified Venetian Castle. Blue-domed Cycladic churches and flowery courtyards surround this peaceful settlement. Eight abandoned windmills guard the hill’s ridge, the Gavrilov.

Although Emporio is the largest village on the island, it has maintained its original character. The architecture of the Kastelli area, which is well preserved, is unique. It features tightly packed houses, steep staircases and narrow, needlelike alleyways that seem to go nowhere. The place has a whimsical Gaudiesque vibe thanks to its irregular shapes and rounded corners.

Megalochori

Megalochori is a charming village in Santorini. Megalochori is a charming village with stately, neoclassical mansions and time-honoured wine. Its location on a hill further inland means it is far from the tourist trail.

The town is known for its unique bell towers and marble-clad churches. It also has high walls, solid wood doors and numerous inner courtyards. The small square is shaded by bougainvillaea and surrounded by colourful bougainvillaea. It is a great place to relax, take in village life and enjoy authentic Greek food at one of the charming taverns.

Megalochori is home to fertile vineyards and a few world-famous wineries (Boutaris Gavalas, Venetsanos), offering tours and delicious wine tastings. It’s also an excellent place to learn more about Santorini’s winemaking history.

Imerovigli

Imerovigli, perched on the caldera’s highest point, is the ideal spot in Santorini for watching the sunset over the famous volcanic crater. It is like Oia and is known for its spectacular Aegean views and hypnotizing sunsets. However, it’s much more relaxed and peaceful than Oia.

It is located approximately 2km from Fira, the island’s capital. The village hosts beautiful sea-view churches and unique hotels with unique cave rooms. There are also a few gourmet restaurants. Skaros is also a well-known landmark, once the biggest fortified settlement of Venetian Santorini. It offers some of the best hiking on the island.

Pyrgos

It’s a delight to walk the narrow, winding streets of Pyrgos with its whitewashed buildings and ruins of neoclassical mansions.

The village is quiet, authentic and refreshingly free of tourists. It’s wrapped around a hill with the well-preserved remains of a Venetian castle. The village’s elevated position at the top of Santorini offers breathtaking views of the island, including pastel-coloured Oia.

The fortress-like architecture of Pyrgos is most spectacular on Good Friday when the whole town is illuminated with thousands upon thousands of tiny lanterns as part of the solemn evening procession.