Exploring the wonderful Greek island Santorini had been on our bucket list for quite some time. We stayed at a cute hotel in Perissa and rented a car for the whole week. We definitely recommend renting a car when your hotel is not in Oia or Fira because those are the two cities you have to see. The best choice was getting an automatic car because the roads are very steep and narrow at some points. You can easily explore the whole island by car; getting from one side to the other takes about an hour.
Our hotel was about 30 min from Oia and 20 min from the capital city, Fira.
We booked an apartment with a kitchen so we could make our own breakfast. In our experience, some hotels do not have the best food options for vegans. Since there were grocery stores near our apartment, we figured it would be best to shop and prepare our own food.
Oia is so beautiful and the sunsets are amazing. The city is situated on top of the island and the views are out of the world. The only downside is that there are many tourists, and it can get crowded during the sunset time.
You will see a lot of donkeys in Oia. They are used as an attractive means of transport for tourists. But PLEASE do NOT ride donkeys! These animals live in horrible conditions and are left on the street when they are too old or weak to carry tourists. Please keep that in mind and do not support such cruel businesses. You can easily take the stairs or the cable car.
If you love animals and are interested in helping them, there is an animal shelter that cares for rescued donkeys and mules from abusive owners. The shelter is not open to the public yet due to construction work but we will keep you posted. This animal safe haven is a “no-kill” shelter that rescues not only donkeys, but also homeless dogs. About 100 dogs, 10 donkeys and 2 pigs have found a new home where they can live a happy peaceful life. It was a wonderful experience to see all these animals.
We also visited a cat shelter in Santorini. The island has a massive epidemic with homeless cats. Thankfully, shelters take them in and care for them.
We also recommend you visit Santorini’s capital city, Fira. There are many restaurants, shops, bars and clubs. The sunsets in Fira are also absolutely breathtaking. If you are vegan, dining out can be a bit of a challenge because Greek cuisine typically consists of meat and dairy. Fortunately, we were always able to get something from each menu. Either pasta with vegetables, veganized pizza, salads, soups etc.
If you rent a car or four wheeler you can check out the Red Sand Beach in the south of the island. It is one of the most famous beaches in Santorini and well known for its red rock volcanic appearance and red sand.
We hope you got some ideas for your next trip to Santorini!
M&B ☼