Perhaps Greece’s most compelling image is that of blue-domed churches looking out to sea from picturesque cliff-side perches. Though similar architecture occurs elsewhere in the Cyclades, these postcard-perfect churches are Santorini’s signature. The difference here is that they’re clinging to the rim of a massive volcano. Its sweeping, sea-filled crater gives Santorini its sense of magic, propelling the isle onto many a bucket list.
Beyond iconic views, Santorini appeals for its wines produced on the island’s gentler slopes, particularly in the south. This is also where you’ll find the ruins of ancient Akrotiri: a town smothered in falling ash when the volcano erupted over 3,000 years ago. The cataclysmic event forever changed Santorini’s geography, bequeathing it its one-of-a-kind scenery.
