The islands near Santorini that every traveler should visit
Santorini may be one of the most beautiful islands in the Aegean sea as well as one of the most famous and most visited in the world, but it suffers from a rather significant drawback: it is quite small. In fact, if you rent a car from one of the many car rental companies that can be found on the island, like Santorini EasyRent, you will be able to visit all of the island’s major sites and its most beautiful beaches in three to four days. This is why a lot of people choose to spend a few days on Santorini and then take the boat or ferry to another island, luckily, Greece has thousands of them.
What you should know about Santorini however, is the fact that it is located near some very beautiful islands. Some of them are known for their beaches, others for their natural beauty and others for their nightlife. So, if you’ve enjoyed the wonderful sunsets that Santorini has to offer a few times too many, here are some islands that you can easily hop to. All islands mentioned in this article are a stone’s throw away from Santorini, which means that it will take a rather short boat trip to get there. You can also car hire in Santorini and take the car with you when visiting other islands near-by so you can explore as much as possible in the shortest time possible.
Thirasia
Thirasia is the island closest to Santorini. In fact, a long time ago the two islands were connected but they broke apart during the devastating prehistoric volcanic eruption. Thirasia is a very small island easily visible from the Caldera. There are not many hotels there and tourists usually get there only during their visit to Santorini’s volcano since the visit to Thirasia is part of the trip. The small island is quaint, quiet and full of friendly inhabitants and taverns serving very fresh fish. If you would like to relax for a couple of days away from the hustle and bustle of Santorini, Thirasia is the perfect choice.
Anafi
Anafi is another small island that is very close to Santorini, although not as close as Thirasia. It boasts traditional architecture and a gorgeous central plaza. Like Thirasia, it hasn’t been touched by the tourist boom of the last decades, which makes it a destination ideal for relaxation or a short family vacation. Its name means “land without snakes” and its residents swear that you will not find a single snake on the island. Not one. Ever. According to legend, the god Appolon ordered the island to rise from the sea in order for the Argonauts to rest from their long journey to get the golden fleece.
Ios
The island of Ios used to be called “Ibiza of the Aegean sea” during the 80s and early 90s but then Mykonos became the new Greek island of choice for jet setters and party lovers from all over the world. This however doesn’t mean that the people of Ios have forgotten how to party! The island is still home to some of the most famous nightclubs in Greece and the Mediterranean in general and it is still a very popular destination for alternative music lovers from all over the world. Just be advised that most of Ios’ visitors are quite young and are there to party which doesn’t make it the ideal destination for people looking to relax.
Folegandros
This is another rather small island near Santorini that stands out because of its traditional architecture and beautiful beaches and the fact that it has practically no roads. The only road on the island is the one connecting the port with the island’s capital. If you want to get anywhere else, you will have to walk. Folegandros is the perfect choice for people who like hiking.