Santorini
It may be winter, but you can enjoy the island in its authentic state!
If you visit the island in December, you will be pleased with what you will discover: the majority of the sights are still open and just without dozens of people in the background!
Where to Go & What to Do:
1.In Fira the town’s cathedral and beautiful churches, or its museums, the Archaeological Museum of Thera and Museum of Prehistoric Thera to discover more about Santorini’s storied past.
2.Definitely sample some of the island’s wine: when visiting one or more of the several renowned wineries, go for Aidini, Assyrtiko, and Athiri if you are into whites, and Mandilaria and Mavrotragano if reds are more your thing.
3.You might also appreciate a trip to the Nea Kameni hot mineral springs.
4.Visit the remains of the ancient Minoan city of Akrotiri in the island’s southwest. Sometimes referred to as the “Pompeii of the Aegean” and one of the key archaeological sites of the Greek islands, Akrotiri’s ruins include pottery, frescoes, and a complex drainage system illustrating how advanced this civilization was for its time.
5.Hiking can be a good option: try the challenging 8 mile hike between Fira and Oia. It should take you about 2.5 to 3 hours -depending on your fitness level and speed- and includes stops along the way, like quaint Ekklisia Profitis Ilias church.
Mark your Calendars with these December Events:
Feast of St. Nicholas: On December 6, islanders head to church for ceremonies and festivals to honor St. Nicholas, patron saint of sailors.
Feast day of St Anne: December 9. Celebrated in the village of Vothonos.
Feast day of St Spyridon: December 12. Celebrated in Pyrgos, Emporio, and Oia.
Christmas Day: Second in importance to Easter in the Greek Orthodox calendar, December 25 is celebrated as elsewhere in Europe, with church services, street caroling, and family parties; and every town will be festooned with traditional decorations.
New Year’s Eve: Santorini’s settlements launch fireworks, just as towns throughout Greece do.
Also note that a Christmas Village will be set up again this year, for the third time, by DAPPOS at the premises of the Indoor Gymnasium, from December 2, 2022. Skating, carousel, movie screenings, shooting, inflatables are just some of the activities and games that will be hosted in the courtyard of DAPPOS, where the Christmas village is set up. More info here: https://christmas-santorini.com
Athina Luxury Suites will remain open all year round and you may enjoy our luxurious facilities, in suite dining service and of course our large outdoor heated pool! You may book your stay here: https://www.athinasuites.com
Panagiotis Inglesis is the co-owner and General manager of Athina Luxury Suites, along with his wife Mrs.Artemis Argyrou. Together they had a vision to create one of the best boutique hotels in Santorini and today they continue their vision…Athina Luxury Suites is considered one of the top hotels on the island.