Santorini

Santorini is an Greek island belonging to the Cyclades group of islands, in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200km southeast from Greece's mainland.

Thira is full of cobbled streets, whitewashed houses and churches, with lots of jewellery and craft shops, and a small archaeological museum. For fabulous views down to the sparkling blue sea, try one of the numerous cliff top restaurants. Erythrou Stavrou is the main place shopping and restaurants.

Oia (pronounced Eeh-Ah) is a pretty village of pastel and whitewashed houses set into the cliff side. There are also paths leading down to two black sand beaches.

There are also a beach at Karmari, about 10km southeast of Thira. Here you will find plenty of watersports, bars and cafes.

The tiny volcanic island of Palaia Kameni, is famed for its therapeutic thermal mud baths.

Akrotiri is at the south-western tip of Santorini. It was covered in a sea of lava by Thera's cataclysmic eruption in 1450 BC and has now been partially excavated.

Local dishes include grilled red mullet and 'mezedes' - small portions of traditional Greek food such as olives, tsatsiki, bread and salata choriatiki.

Ships anchor off Santorini and tender passengers into Skala Fira port, below the capital, Fira (Thira). To reach Thira, you can either take the funicular or go up the steep, winding steps by donkey.