Month on Santorini?
 

My husband and I are looking to spend about two months living in Europe. I'm choosing the word "living" instead of vacationing because we truly want to feel like we're living there while we're there. We will be buying groceries, eating many meals at home, and completely relying on public transportation.

Before our plans changed, we were just going to hit Greece for a vacation. We were going to Athens, Hydra, Mykonos, and Santorini. Now that things have changed, we still have to fly in and out of Athens (nonrefundable tickets), so we're planning on spending a few days in Athens. Now, this is where it gets a little difficult.

We're going in September and plan on returning home in November. We want to spend the month of October in Florence. With the exception of the few days in Athens, we aren't sure where we want to commit to in Greece for September. We want to be on the beach, we want it to be beautiful, and other than that, we don't require a whole lot. Walking to the local grocery store, a couple restaurants, internet access.. that kind of stuff.

We're considering staying on Santorini for the month. I know that it's full of tourists, but it looks BEAUTIFUL. I think it's a dream location.. but could we be happy there for a whole month? We really aren't looking to do much--we don't need museums or anything like that. We just want to relax..

Is there a better island to consider?

Due to our budget, we don't want to bounce all around. It isn't the hotel fees so much as all the city transfer fees that are getting to us! We were considering two weeks on Santorini and then two weeks on Corfu, but the extra traveling costs/time concern us. Is this a better idea than a month on Santorini?

Any help you can give would be fantastic.
Thanks!

I'm sure the Greece experts (brotherleelove and travelerjan, for two)can help you with your plans better than I can, but I must say I can't imagine a month on Santorini. We loved the island for 3 days, but -- a month? For one thing, I saw no lovely beaches on Santorini although it does have glorious views over the caldera and gorgeous sunsets. Greece experts, help this lady!

You have a nice long time to enjoy Europe wherever you stay. A month in Tuscany would be wonderful, and you will never be bored for things to do or see. Transportation by train and bus will get you around Tuscany easily and inexpensively. Trains are a particularly good deal. Athens has some wonderful historic sites and a few days there makes a lot of sense;however, I think a month in Santorini much too long. Yes, it is beautiful and often jammed with tourists. I don't think you will get the experience you are looking for. The beaches there are not impressive. They are rocky and uncomfortable to sun on or go in the water. Stay a few days and then reconsider other places. Sicily has much nicer beaches and southern Italy also has some lovely places for that time of year. I know other posters will have some suggestions also. Good luck with your planning.

I think Santorini is one of the most beautiful places on earth . . . but a month? It's a very small island and "looking at the caldera" is the main activity. I could probably spend a month there with a lot of books to keep me company, but most people would get pretty bored. There would be better choices with more to do imho.

I also would not go there if I wanted to be on a beach. The beaches there are disappointing imho. Have you seen photos of the beaches on Santorini? They aren't sandy and white. It's the cliffside villages that have the great view over the caldera that you see in all the photos, not the beaches.

If you want a month on a Greek island, have you considered Crete? It's bigger and has more to do - but try to avoid the resort areas.

I second the idea of Crete, the western side, perhaps around Chania. Santorini is the most beautiful place I have ever been, but I cannot imagine spending a month there.

stonest, Santorini is 12.5 miles long; Crete is 125 miles long and home to an amazing civilization (Minoan/Bronze Age), a heroic past of centuries of struggle for freedom ... amazing ruins and stunning landscapes, sandy beaches -- and then there is the food! the markets! the people!

After 3-4 days max on Santorini, You take a fast-ferry from to Heraklion... and then, the world is your pomegranate!! ... I can suggest a complete itinerary on public busses at €1 per ride, with spots to stay, things to see, food to eat ...but not in this tiny little answer-box. It would take me hours days?) and pages! Click my name, get in touch, and perhaps we can rough out an itinerary... and then put it up on this thread for other Fodorites to "tweak it" and add inspirations.

I've spent 6 months on Santorini, twice. I have to admit that both times by the end of the 5th month I was pretty much ready to move on, but until then I loved it. Now I always go for a month, and I love it. To this day I consider Oia my home-away-from-home and I'm always excited to return.

What it really boils down to is what you want from the experience. If you're into a lively bar/disco scene you can have that every night if you want all through the summer season at least until the end of September. But if you have a short attention span, if constant stimulation and diversion appeals to you, you might decide that there's not enough on Santorini for you, that you can see and do more by visiting other islands.

If you think you'd be satisfied with an uncomplicated daily routine that will put you in touch with the rhythm of life there that can only be experienced after the 'honeymoon' period of discovery and awe subsides then it's possible you will enjoy staying for a month. Perhaps you'll make some lifelong friends as I have. It's a great experience recognizing and being recognized by the locals, greeted with genuine openheartedness, picking up fresh bread and pastries in the morning at the bakery, buying supplies from your favorite little market, relaxing and taking in the timeless beauty day after day unique to the island and especially to Oia.

There's really no way anyone can predict what your reaction to Santorini will be, whether or not it strikes a chord in your heart and soul as it has in mine. My best suggestion is to tell you to go and give it a try. What's great about going in September is that the islands are all starting to wind down by then, so if you want to move on you won't have any problems spontaneously finding someplace to stay on another island. You can be a true "island-hopper" and just go with the idea of staying until the spirit moves you to leave......or not.

I spend over a month each year on Antiparos, and never tire of it. Like brotherleelove with Santorini, I have friends on the island, so every trip is like a homecoming.

Since this, I assume, is your first trip to Greece, I would recommend a different approach. The last paragraph in brotherleelove's post says it all - <i>spontaneity!</i> Forget detailed itineraries - just map out a basic plan, and take it from there. From your post it sounds like you are interested in settling in one place rather than hopping all over the Aegean, but it would be a shame not to sample a few other islands.

September is a perfect month for island-hopping - most hotels and restaurants are still open, and after the first week of September begging for customers. Santorini has a longer season, so stays busy later in the month. Target an island with a larger permanent population for the bulk of your stay -Crete would be a good choice. The classic and easiest route through the Cyclades to Crete is Paros -> Naxos -> Santorini -> Crete (Heraklion). There is no need to book ferries in advance, and all islands have hotel vacancies in September. You can easily find a room, studio, or apartment at bargain prices from the hotel reps waiting at each port.

In my opinion, you will need a car in Crete if you want to get off the beaten track a little and have access to beaches and small towns. Crete is not a lush tropical island. It is barren in spots and is almost desert like. The wonderful ruins more than make up for that scenery. You will need reservations in September, particularly in Chania. Good luck with your planning.

Thank you so much for all your detailed responses!

No one has mentioned Corfu even a little. I know it's typically a long weekend spot, but it looks beautiful in pictures and I'm very intrigued. What do you think about that?

This statement is exactly what I'm looking for:

"If you think you'd be satisfied with an uncomplicated daily routine that will put you in touch with the rhythm of life there that can only be experienced after the 'honeymoon' period of discovery and awe subsides then it's possible you will enjoy staying for a month." Thank you, brotherleelove!

Perhaps no one has mentioned Corfu because it does not meet your criteria for a month stay. You need to do some serious homework. Islands are romantic, but most do not merit a month stay. I guess I don't understand your concern about transportation and costs. Having talked to many people who want a great travel experience in greece consider looking into the island of Rhodes. I have not been there but have seen pics and read reports. This might be what you are looking for. Enjoy your planning.

Also look at Cyprus as a possibility.

Corfu wasn't mentioned because it is in a different island group from the one proposed in your OP, Santorini. In fact, it is in a different sea - the Ionian rather than the Aegean! And Cyprus, mentioned above, isn't even in Greece!

Corfu would be a worthy destination for a long stay, but it's not so much a long weekend spot as a package holiday destination. You would need to fly there from Athens, or go overland to Patras or Igoumenitsa for the ferry to Corfu.

The Greek royal family long had an estate, Mon Repos, on Corfu, and that's where Prince Philip, husband to Queen Elizabeth II, was born.

I realize that Cyprus is not in Greece, but the southern area is populated with Greeks, and it has historical ties to Greece. It is also located in the Mediterrean Sea,and from reports about the beaches--they are beautiful. Good luck with your planning.

Thank you all for your responses. Our trip dramatically changed when Olympic Airlines decided NOT to allow us to change our original plans. We are now back to our original plan--we are simply going to Greece for a 10 day vacation. We are doing three nights in Athens with a day trip to Hydra, six nights on Santorini, and then one more night in Athens before returning home. We are just going to head back to Europe in the fall to spend six weeks in Florence.

Brotherleelove, it was very cool to open up my Greek Islands book and see a quote from you!

Surprised the hell outta me! :-O