Strategically located on the rim of an ancient volcanic caldera, the crescent-shaped Santorini is a breathtaking island in the Cyclades archipelago, Greece. The island has a Mediterranean climate with dry, warm summers and temperate winters, making it a favorite destination all year round. Santorini is renowned for its iconic whitewashed buildings that are in striking contrast with black volcanic cliffs — an awe-inspiring sight often associated with Greek island beauty.

Santorinian life follows a laid-back Mediterranean pace, with locals practicing the art of slow living and embracing philoxenia, better known as Greek hospitality. The island's culture is firmly grounded in its volcanic history, maritime traditions, and wine-making heritage — with vineyards that date back to the ancient times.

What renders Santorini truly extraordinary are the unique geological features paired with centuries of human adaptation. The island's west coast offers the famous caldera views, where cube-shaped buildings defy gravity, clinging to the volcanic cliffs. The legendary sunsets in Oia town are crowd-pullers all year round, while the island's unique black, red, and white beaches narrate the tales of its volcanic origins.

Culinary wise, the island's volcanic soil plays a key role in defining its cuisine, which predominantly includes tangy cherry tomatoes, smooth white eggplants, and palatable fava beans. Sample the delicious tomatokeftedes, a type of tomato fritter, or fresh grilled fish complemented with the local assyrtiko wine, grown in the island's peculiar basket-shaped vineyards.

On your list of must-do activities should be hiking the caldera trail from Fira to Oia, exploring the preserved ancient city of Akrotiri — often referred to as Greece's Pompeii, and indulging in a sunset catamaran cruise around the caldera, making stops at the hot springs and the volcano.