Five of the Most Romantic Things to do in Santorini

*This Post is brought to you by Purple Travel but all content and opinions herein are my own*

Forget about the more touristy islands such as Mykonos– Santorini really is the place to be for couples heading off to the Greek islands. There are gorgeous little towns with white-washed buildings and churches, the landscape is pretty spectacular and the sun is always shining. It’s truly one of the most romantic places in Europe. Here are five reasons why:

Image by Klearchos Kapoutsis via Flickr

Sunset

It’s a well-known fact that Santorini offers one of the best sunsets in the world. Just check out the picture above! The best places to see it are in Oia and Fira, both of which offer numerous bars and restaurants to relax in and admire the view. Find out when the sun is actually setting (usually around 8pm during the summer months) and make sure you get a table before then as it understandably gets pretty busy. There’s no better way to enjoy the view than with a glass (or better, a bottle) of local wine and a tasty Greek dish.

Hot Springs

If you’ve never floated in Hot Springs before, Santorini is the ideal place to try it. Nearby the Palea Kameni volcano, you’ll be able to jump out of the boat and float hand in hand in the wonderful springs there. The sulphur in the water is said to be great for the skin and helps with arthritis, and it’s always fun to scoop a dollop of the mud from below in your hands and rub a bit on to each other to take advantage of its wonderful properties.

Volcanoes

There are few places in the world where you can walk over the top of a volcano, so make the most of it in Santorini. After a boat trip to the Nea Kameni, you’ll be able to climb the volcano and see its many craters. It’s also an active volcano (although it’s not erupted for thousands of years) so you’ll be able to see the steam coming out of one of the craters. You’ll probably visit the Nea Kameni in a large group so why not trail off at the back for a bit, take a seat on a bench together and admire the view – you should be able to see both ends of the island from the top of the volcano which is pretty cool.

Mountains

Ok climbing up a mountain might not sound like the most romantic thing to do. But climbing Mesa Vouno – the mountain that separates Perissa and Kamari – is well-worth doing. You might be a bit hot and sweaty once you reach the top, but you’ll be able to appreciate some of the best views of the island together, as well as the ruins of Ancient Thira. You’ll also be able to revel in the fact that you managed to climb this huge mountain (369 metres tall), helping each other along the way. What could be more romantic than that?

Red Beach

Red is the colour of roses and hearts, but it’s also the colour of one of the beaches in Santorini. So if you’ve climbed mountains and walked over volcanoes, you probably deserve to chill out together on the Red Beach in Akrotiri. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can go snorkelling in the sea there – and it’s also a great way to cool down!

If you’re hoping to book a trip to Santorini or another romantic locale, be sure to click here for more great deals.