Santorini

Santorini is built around one of the most striking landscapes in the Mediterranean, a flooded volcanic caldera ringed by cliffs. The whitewashed villages of Oia and Fira spill down those cliffs in tiers of blue-domed churches and cave houses, and the famous sunsets draw crowds to the caldera's edge every evening.

Beyond the postcard views, the island rewards a little exploration. Its volcanic soil produces distinctive wines worth tasting at a cliffside winery, and the beaches come in unusual shades of red and black. Villages like Pyrgos and Megalochori away from the caldera offer a quieter, more traditional side of the island that many visitors miss.

This is a place that gets busy, especially when cruise ships are in port and around sunset in peak summer. The terrain is steep and can be hard going, and prices climb accordingly. Late spring and early fall bring warm weather with thinner crowds, making them the most comfortable times to visit.