Oia, Santorini

Oia is Santorini's most recognisable town. It's the one that you will have seen in all the photos. The blue domes, the traditional windmills, the incredible sunsets - it's no wonder that hundreds of tourists flock to Oia every day.

After our long coastal walk from Fira to Oia, we finally reached our destination, albeit feeling rather hot and in need of an ice-cold beverage. The breathtaking views across Santorini's most beautiful cliff side town was quite the welcome though!

After a quick refuel on a fresh Greek salad and incredibly strong iced coffee, we were feeling energised and eager to see what all the fuss was about in Santorini's most famous town.

Safe to say it didn't take long to realise why it's so loved...

As with all of Santorini's towns, Oia is truly a feast for the eyes. Bigger and busier than Imerovigli but prettier and more romantic than Fira, Oia is the island's gem.

But as with all gems, beauty comes at a cost here. Tourism has overrun the town and consequently Oia is one of the island's most expensive areas. The lines of boutique shops certainly make that clear, but streets this picturesque were made for leisurely ambling, so we didn't mind a bit of window shopping.

Wander down the quieter alleys and you'll find a beautiful new view round every corner.

You won't be hard pressed to find spectacular ocean views, but the ones from Oia's crumbling castle are some of the best. Climb up, take a seat and look out over the endless blue sea and Oia's old port. It's a long way down!

And of course look out for Santorini's iconic windmills. It's incredibly easy to take a cliché photo here!

As the temperatures began to soar the sea was looking ever more inviting. Time to start the long descent down the steps to Amoudi Bay for a refreshing dip...

Love, Beth xxx