Taking a little break from Costa Rica this week to bring you some extra content from my trip to Santorini!
On our last day in Greece, on the island of Santorini, Carolina and I decided to explore one last area. The Akrotiri peninsula includes a few nice highlights that are worth the bus ride down for part of the day.
We went to the red beach and to the Venetian Castle of Akrotiri. Both of these were free to visit. We had the option to also visit the Akrotiri Museum but we opted not to. Sometimes there are certain highlights that I choose to pass up on trips especially when they cost money. The fee and not feeling enthusiastic enough about the museum turned us away.
Otherwise we had a nice visit to Akrotiri before we departed for our next adventure in Sweden and Norway!
Visiting The Red Beach
Before heading to the town of Akrotiri, we made our way on the bus (for €1.80) to a bus stop on the south side of the Akrotiri peninsula. The walk from the bus stop led us through a small tourist area with restaurants and sourvenir shops.
Eventually we were walking along the coast and could already see the maroon-colored rocks here. Nowhere else on the island had I seen these rocks!
The beach was quite crowded. So we didn’t bother to go down and get a closer look. This happens sometimes with places I visit. I get there and decide “Nope!” It’s not worth it to me to see something further if I don’t want to deal with lots of people.
Also, another reason to perhaps motivate backing away from this location are the signs in the area. Apparently falling rocks are common here!
Plus, there was some nice entertainment right from where we were perched to take photos. Under an umbrella, a musician played the violin as we took in the scenery. What a nice way to set the mood before we decided to move on.
The Walk To Akrotiri
We were now ready to make the short walk to the village of Akrotiri. Before getting there, we stopped at the ticket office to see the price of accessing the Akrotiri Minoan Archaeological site.
This includes ruins of a Bronze Age settlement. At €16, tickets were a little more than we were willing to pay, especially when we already had the opportunity to see other ruins on Crete.
From here, our walk was only about 15 minutes into town. On the way, we found a little farm stand selling jams, oils, wine, capers, sun dried tomatoes, and more.
My first impression of Akrotiri was that is was much less touristy. This felt more like a real, lived in town but still with the typical white-washed buildings and pink flowered accents of the Cyclades.
The Views Up To The Castle
A highlight of Akrotiri town center is the Venetian Castle. Venetian occupiers built the castle in the 13th century, the first century of their rule, as a shelter and a refuge.
We had to climbs stairs and hills upward to reach it at the peak of town. It was formerly called La Ponta meaning “peak” in Latin.
I loved all the beautiful blue doorways featured along the pathways on the way up and all around the village of Akrotiri.
The way up shows some of the lower sections of the castle in ruins like the rest of its main parts.
These areas did not seem occupied but seating outside made it seem lived in!
The views from the stairs heading up were beautiful! And I was so excited to occasionally see lemon trees growing right along the sides of the pathway!
Another really interesting site was how lived in the homes were on the way up. I was used to seeing all the pristine, touristy areas of Fira and Oia with their resorts, restaurants and shops. This was a different view—people not just visiting inside these buildings but living there with laundry hanging outside their doors and all!
Of course, there were also more cats!
Exploring Akrotiri’s Venetian Castle
We finally made our way up the last paths to the back of the castle where we found its official entrance. It was a little challenging to find but with some signage and Google maps, we managed to get there.
The entrance was a dark space emerging to more steps up to others levels and passageways.
The castle wasn’t exactly very large. There wasn’t too much to explore because some doors were locked shut, too. The best part was climbing the walls to the lookout points and seeing views of Akrotiri and the entire southern portion of the peninsula.
The views here were great! Carolina and I couldn’t resist asking others who were up there with us to trade taking photos of each other with the Greek flag.
Overall, the views from the castle and all over Akrotiri were amazing! And the walk getting there was filled with unique surprises. I really loved it!
In Conclusion
I very much enjoyed my time visiting the Akrotiri area and village. There wasn’t a ton to do but enough to fill a morning and see some unique red rocks, beautiful views, and cool castle ruins.
I recommend it as an activity so long as you have already seen the other highlights of Santorini, including the hike to Oia, visiting the volcano and hot springs, seeing the sunset in Oia, and swimming at Oia’s secret spot. You also gotta keep eating and drinking your way around this island, including the spot we went to before departing Akrotiri which you can read about in my Santorini food experience here.
Add Akrotiri to the list if you have time—and enjoy!
