Santorini Holiday Packages

The image of your Santorini holiday package will live on in your memory long after you've returned home. Said to be the Lost City of Atlantis, this unique, crescent-shaped island was formed by an ancient volcanic eruption around 1650 BC and possesses the most breathtaking views to be found on the Greek islands. So, what are you waiting for? Explore our selection of cheap holidays to Santorini, Greece.

Santorini really is a must-visit holiday destination and one everybody should add to their bucket list for its picture-perfect credentials. Take our expert Santorini holiday packages, sprinkle in some unforgettable experiences and you’ve got the perfect Greek holiday.

The island's volcanic past has resulted in a coastline of dark sandy beaches and the most spectacular interior imaginable. You won't find golden sandy beaches in Santorini, you’ll find grey sand paradises with tranquil seas bordered by striking backdrops of jagged cliffs. Seek out the towns of Kamari and Perissa and take some time out on the dramatic black sand beaches which can be found there. Kamari has been given blue flag beach status, and Perissa beach is the ideal location for water sports in Santorini.

Holidays to Santorini are perfect for those looking for a romantic getaway. It's an island perfectly crafted for weddings and honeymoons, with its breathtaking backdrops, beautiful beaches, and impossible sunsets. Santorini is famous too for its ancient ruins and archaeological heritage, and the Akrotiri Excavation Sites provide a lot for those looking to learn more about the island's fascinating history. So, whether you're looking for relaxation, romance or cultural enrichment, rest assured there is much to see and do for everyone on a Santorini holiday.

So, whether you're looking for relaxation, romance or cultural enrichment, rest assured there is much to see and do for everyone on Santorini holidays. As the Island Specialists, Olympic Holidays are proud to be the ones to assist holidaymakers with their package holidays to Santorini every year.

If you're looking for a fairytale wedding, Santorini is the dream pick. An island made for romance and beauty which is sure to satisfy anyone's desires for the perfect ceremony, anniversary or honeymoon.

To get more information, call our weddings team on:

020 8492 6789

The Mediterranean climate features a warm, dry summer, and the hottest months in Santorini are July and August when temperatures reach 27 C. For those who wish to visit in the slightly cooler months, the best time to visit will be in May, June and September. This also has the added bonus of being a quieter time of year in terms of tourism.

Did you know that the whole complex of Santorini islands is still an active volcano, the same as Méthana, Mílos and Nísiros, and probably the only volcano in the world whose crater is in the sea? The islands that form Santorini came into existence as a result of intensive volcanic activity; twelve huge eruptions occurred, approximately one every 20,000 years, and each violent eruption caused the collapse of the volcano’s central part, creating a large crater, or caldera. The volcano, however, managed to recreate itself over and over again.

The last big eruption occurred 3,600 years ago, during the Minoan Age, when igneous material, mainly ash, pumice and lava stones, covered the three islands: Thíra, Thirassiá and Asproníssi. The eruption destroyed the thriving local prehistoric civilisation, evidence of which was found during the excavations of a settlement at Akrotíri. The solid material and gases emerging from the volcano’s interior created a huge “vacuum” underneath, causing the collapse of the central part and the creation of an enormous “pot”, today’s caldera, with a size of 8 x 4 km and a depth of up to 400m below sea level.

Santorini Island consists of a semicircular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the southern Aegean Sea, between the islands of Ios and Anafi. In Greek, Santorini is also known as Thira or Thera. Santorini is a part of the Cycladic group of islands. The area of the island is 96 sq km, whereas the coastline surrounding the island stretches for almost 69 km. The capital of Santorini is Fira and the entire population is about 13,500 people. The main port of this island is Athinios and it gets extremely busy in summer.

This island has always been subjected to volcanic eruptions from ancient times. The view of the giant caldera and the impressive geology of Santorini Island reveals the dreadful volcanic activity that took place in the past. The best example of Santorini’s geography is the famous caldera, which is strongly connected to the history of the island. Circular in shape, this caldera is entirely filled with water. In fact, it is the only sunken caldera in the world. It resembles a lagoon, as the water depth here is 400 metres. This caldera is surrounded by gigantic cliffs, on top of which beautiful villages have been constructed.

According to geologists, the first known eruption took place in the year 1,645 BC. This eruption was responsible for the tsunami waves that hit the northern coasts of Crete and destroyed the Minoan civilisation that flourished at that time. It is also speculated that the seismic activity of Santorini volcano could be an explanation for the Exodus of Moses and the Jews from Egypt.

For almost 1,300 years after that eruption, the volcano was completely inactive. Later on, with its minor eruptions, it created the islands of Palea Kameni, Mikra Kameni, Macronisi, Aspronisi and Nea Kameni. The last serious eruption happened in 1957, when the earthquake destroyed many houses and public buildings on the island. Since then, the volcano of Santorini has always alerted scientists and geologists with startling proof of seismic activity down the years.

This extreme volcanic activity has formed the culture and architecture of the island. The villages of Santorini are perched on the edge of the caldera and give breathtaking views of the sea. In fact, you can try trekking from Fira to Oia and enjoy the wonderful landscape of the island.

Why should you go on a holiday to Santorini, Greece?

Santorini, officially known as Thira, is a beautiful island of stunning natural beauty in the exquisitely clear waters of the Aegean Sea southeast off the mainland of Greece. There are so many things that make holidays to Santorini so special.

Quaint whitewashed buildings, charming villages, archaeological sites, spectacular scenery, a delightful Mediterranean climate, and plenty of postcard-worthy beaches make Santorini the perfect holiday destination.

Rising high above sea level, the cliffs around the capital of Fira offer views that will never be forgotten, and its whitewashed houses are among the most photographed in Greece.

Every evening the sky over Fira burns bright with colour as the sun goes down. There are no beaches to be found here, but the location still affords visitors stunning views across the Aegean Sea.

There are some great views to be had from Fira, however the best view on Santorini can be found from the village of Oia, on the island's northern tip. We suggest you arrive early, take your seat outside a taverna, and drink in the view of a lifetime.

Airports/flights: We fly from numerous UK airports to Santorini Airport. Flights take around 3 hours, 45 minutes from Gatwick.

Bus: Frequent bus services are available throughout the island connecting the villages of Santorini with Fira.

Car: An excellent way of getting around during Santorini holidays.

Boat: There are direct ferries leaving from Santorini to Ios (1 hr) and Crete (6 hrs) with connecting ferries Paros (3hrs) and Mykonos (5hrs)