Santorini is postcard-perfect.
Well, almost, at least. At 90.96 km², this island whose photos we see in Instagram posts, postcards, posters often depict two prominent colors. All I had was to say I’m in a place with that blue dome-shaped roof of a church and my friend had guessed Santorini correctly.
More than its whitewashed buildings, the sky appears in different tints across the vastness. The sea is a hypnotic mix of blue and black. Rooftops of churches, doors of houses, beckon.
Why is Santorini all just shades of blue and white?
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At first, the bulk of the buildings in Santorini was made from volcanic stone. The material works well as an insulator, but its dark color also meant the buildings absorbed the heat, making it really hot to be indoors. The buildings were therefore painted white to reflect the harsh sun rays – a practical solution.
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Santorini’s location meant paint was hard to obtain. The stone walls were covered using a layer of plaster made from limestone. It was very bright, therefore toned down by using a blue-tinted household cleaning powder called “loulaki” – easily available. When loulaki is added to the plaster, the solution gets dyed blue. (information source)
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Photo Diary of Santorini
Santorini is more than just blue and white though. There’re also other pastel colors to complement the blue, which you can have a sneak preview in this post.
Half a year after leaving this Greek island, I still cannot get over the beauty of Santorini, and decided to put this entry together to commemorate Santorini’s shades of blue and white! Hope you enjoy the photos below!
Fira
Being Santorini’s capital city, Fira is where all the happening stuff is at. Over here, you’ll find cafes, pubs, restaurants, and shops. Fira is also where the cruise ships dock at, which means plenty of crowds during summer.
I stayed at Fira for a few nights. In sunny weather, the sky is always perfect. Stepping to the hotel pantry (read my Dream Island Hotel review) for breakfast every morning, I will delightfully pass by cute little doors painted blue. It was wonderful to be outdoors!
| Check available Fira hotels & properties for your trip! |
Firostefani & Imerovigli
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Oia
Oia is, hands-down the prettiest village in Santorini! Oia is where you see those photos via Instagram from, where people flock to see the most gorgeous sunsets of Santorini at, where I enjoyed the most fantastic view for my lunch (as featured in this post).
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A shop at Oia that’s closed for winter, but its white exterior is a lovely contrast from the background’s sky.
Thank you, Santorini. You have been a very inspiring place to be at. I’m so grateful to have visited you!
Another special part about Santorini is not having the usual blue seas and white sands. Santorini is famous for its black and red beaches too!
Have you been to Santorini? Or is it in your bucket list?
Share with me in the Comment section below!
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Travelled: Jan 2016
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Visiting Santorini? Here’s more posts!
• How it REALLY was like to travel solo in Santorini
• Everything you need to know about going Santorini in winter!
• Chasing the famous Santorini sunset alone
• Santorini hotel review: Dream Island Hotel
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29 comments
Gorgeous photos! This is definitely on my bucket list. Looks like you can walk around all day and never get sick of that view!
The best part is, there are many stunning views across different areas of Santorini!
Santorini has always been on my bucket list, the colors are brilliant and blinding and I’m afraid nowhere else will ever look vibrant and colorful to me again once I see Santorini in person 🙂
Same here, it’s really a very beautiful city. I can’t wait to go back and check out other villages in Santorini too!
I spent a day in Santorini when I was on a cruise a few years back and absolutely adored it. Your pictures are magnificent. Feel like I must go back and explore more, thanks for the inspiration.
Thank you Sandy! It must be so wonderful to dock at Santorini and explore the island!
Oh my word, your photos are divine! I have been to a few Greek islands and loved them all but I haven’t made it to Santorini yet and this makes me want to go right there!
You must visit Santorini, Lottie! I’m looking to visit other Greek islands when I have a chance too! =)
Thank you for explaining why the houses are blue and white. I had no idea! Your photos are stunning and definitely make me want to visit Santorini!
It was interesting information to me too when I went to read up on the reasons! Thank you Stella! Santorini is beckoning =D
Love the colors in Santorini, makes for beautiful pictures. I would love to visit one of these summers.
Thank you Anisa! It’s impossible to get a bad picture there =D
Wow your photos are amazing!! I’m dying to go here and hoping I make it a priority to visit next spring! I can’t wait and after seeing all this I’m even more eager to get there asap!
Thank you Christine! I hope you can visit it as soon as you can!
I’ve been to Santorini twice and both times, it took my breathe away. What I’m wondering is, how were you able to take these photos without any people in it? I’ve been there both during a peak season so it was impossible for me to not have anyone in the photos even if I wake up really very early. Did you go during the off peak season?
Hi Noemi! I went in winter in Jan, in low degrees and no guarantees of sunny weather (but I was there for enough days and was lucky to get some sun). There were really very few people around, in fact, the photos of Oia were in the afternoon. I could wander around on my own and get all these pictures!
Wow! I can see why you wanted to share these photos! They’re gorgeous!!
Such a fun post– thanks for sharing!
Yes! I was so happy to put up this post of the gorgeous island!
Such stunning photos of this beautiful place! Hoping to make it there next year!!
Thanks Bethan! Hope you can go!
Your photos are spectacular! I’m in love with agree e <3
Thanks Nicki! I’m looking forward to checking out more of Greece!
Absolutely stunning photography. You picture perfectly capture Santorini. It’s crazy that noone is in the photos!
Thanks Gabby! Hahaha, you’re right about no one in the photos! Well at least there was a dog.. and some cars LOL. There was one afternoon that I took a REALLY quiet walk along the road and saw all these stunning sceneries and it was just me facing them! Santorini is so breathtaking ^^
I loved these photos! Thank you for sharing! Santorini is a place on my bucket list! I am looking forward to taking my own photographs someday soon!
Thank you Simmone! <3 Wishing for you that your dream comes true soon!
Hi Kristine, I enjoyed reading your Santorini travel blog and those scenics photos taken were simply awesome. Some informations provided in your writings is really resourceful too. To my amazement, Santorini is really kind of deserted during the off peak season of which Dave’s Santorini travel blog does seems to include that there was slight improvement in winter travellers and more & more amenities & eateries opening up to cater for such. However, may I enquire are there ample souvenir shops & supermarkets/convenient stores that open in January? And what about Athens? Is it that quiet in and around the Plaka area? Thanks a million coz I am presently contemplating to pay a visit to Athens & Santorini in January next year and thats why I am anxiously doing some research here. Thanks again.
Hi Ivan! Thanks for coming to my blog! Happy to help!
When I went in January 2016, at Oia, I only found one (or at most 2) restaurant that opened for lunch, the rest were all shut. As for souvenir stores, I also didn’t see any open there, though there might be one as I saw lights coming from a little shop while waiting for sunset. Didn’t get to see closer as I was rushing to go wait for the last bus back to Oia after sunset. There’s a little minimart near the area where you wait for the bus. Oia is generally quiet during winter.
However, at Fira, at the square area (where the bus station and taxi station would be at), there would be ample eateries, convenient stores, also souvenir shops, for daytime or dinner too, so staying at Fira near the square is a good idea, unless you rent a car to get around. The cliff road from Oia to Fira has no road-lights though.
Imeroglivi is very quiet (I was there on a weekday afternoon). I saw a closed minimart, very few humans, though I did have a simple lunch of gyro at a small eatery.
If you haven’t seen, this mini guide about off-season travel in Santorini which I wrote when I got back, might provide you some insight!
https://thepetitewanderess.com/santorini-low-season/
As for Athens, I only transited at the airport and didn’t step out. Sorry I can’t answer about the crowd levels there.
Feel free to ask me anything further! 🙂
I can’t say anything but wow! I had no idea Santorini was such a beautiful place <3 I love your photos 🙂 I've always thought of Greece as a historic and cultural destination but Santorini seems like it has so much more to offer. Thanks for sharing your stunning photo shots!