Day 13: Exploring Santorini, Akrotiri, Red Beach and Fira

I woke up early as usual and headed down for breakfast around 8 am. The buffet had the usual spread—cold meats, cheeses, scrambled eggs, bacon, yoghurt, bread, and more, along with tea, coffee, and juice. After the nice buffet dinner last night, I had high hopes, but breakfast was a bit of a letdown. The bread was dry and flavourless, the orange juice tasted overly strong (I ended up watering it down), and the yoghurt didn’t have that usual rich Greek texture and didn’t mix well with honey. Still, I managed to fill up, and a few cups of tea got me ready to start the day.

Today, I planned to explore Akrotiri, so I packed my camera, some water, and extra sun lotion, and made my way to the bus station to catch the 9:30 am bus to the island’s southern tip. The ride was about 40 minutes with a few stops, but the views along the way were great. We were dropped off right by the archaeological site, and I bought a ticket to see the ancient Minoan Bronze Age settlement that’s been excavated since 1967. While the ruins were interesting, I was a bit underwhelmed; the entire site is covered by a large building with metal pillars supporting the roof, which made it feel a bit disconnected. It may be worth it for real history buffs, but I wrapped up my visit in about half an hour and left feeling it was a bit steep for the price.

The excavation site is large, but it doesn’t take long to see it all.

After Akrotiri, I took a walk to the nearby beach, where the black sand is typical of Santorini, and then hiked over to the “red beach” further west, famous for its striking red sands. After a good walk, I headed back to the bus stop and returned to Fira, ready for lunch. I found a little spot called Nick’s Grill, just a few steps from the bus station, where I enjoyed a delicious pork gyro and a refreshing Sprite. Recharged, I wandered over to the caldera rim to snap some classic Santorini photos.

The zig-zag steps down to the old port, where you can still catch a boat to the smaller islands dotted around the caldera.

The most expensive hotels tend to be those which cling to the side of the caldera, offering unrivalled views from the comfort of your own pool! I just hope there are no landslides…

Back at the hotel, I took full advantage of the pool and loungers just outside my room before retreating to cool off and rest a bit.

That evening, I strolled back into Fira and picked a random restaurant for dinner. I went for moussaka again, though it didn’t quite match up to the one I had in Tinos! With a full stomach and a happy heart, I made my way back to the hotel, ready for a good night’s rest.