You may be wondering why come all the way to Santorini and not stay on the caldera. Sceptical?
Then head inland a couple of kilometres to the authentic village of Pyrgos and a whole new side of Santorini is guaranteed to capture your heart. Away from the snapping crowds of the caldera, it’s not about seizing the day but letting it caress you like the warm waters of the Aegean Sea. If this sounds like you read on….
Pyrgos is The Best Preserved Traditional Village on Santorini
Once the administrative centre for Santorini, Pyrgos is now the most beautiful preserved village on the island.
To say it’s postcard perfect is an understatement. With a medieval castle, no less than 46 churches and whitewashed houses set around squares draped in bougainvillea, Pyrgos showcases a different side of Santorini. It’s so laid back, tranquil and traditional that even the local cats basking in the sunshine seem to embrace the relax and recharge vibe. Tavernas and quirky shops spill onto the streets, locals play backgammon in the bars, and mesmerising views of the blue Aegean are straight ahead.
Unlike the towns on the caldera, Pyrgos maintains a smart balance of local life and tourist must-haves. Your ‘neighbour’ is more likely to have grown up in the village, and the friendly shop owner will share with you the best places to eat, swim and enjoy the iconic sunsets.
Even though it’s just 2 km from the caldera, a strong sense of community has taken Pyrgos down a different development path. You won’t find tourist traps here, nor overdevelopment. It’s more refined, more thoughtful and simply more authentic.
Pyrgos is Away From The Crowds
There’s no doubting that Santorini is a unique place. The caldera (the crater rim) with its whitewashed houses, blue-domed churches and infinity pools has become the iconic image of Greece. The problem with iconic images is that they pull in the crowds. The solution is quite simple. Travel just 2 kilometres from the volcanic rim, and you’ll find Pyrgos. It still feels relatively unspoilt, and the lack of crowds makes it so much more appealing.
Pyrgos Village Has a Tremendous Wining and Dining Scene
Pyrgos is renowned for its excellent choice of restaurants bars and tavernas. It’s no surprise that four out of the ten best places to eat in Santorini as voted by Conde Naste are located in Pyrgos.
Lunchtime is particularly popular when people gather for ouzo, or Santorinian beer and excellent local meze plates. Afternoon attracts the iced coffee and cake fans as they sit and chat under the shade of the pine trees in the main square. Early evening is a great time to head up to the old castle and Franco’s bar. Bag a table and watch the blood-red sun sink into the horizon, cocktail in hand.
As night falls, tables start to fill up at the friendly tavernas dotted around the village. Delicious home cooked food arrives to eagerly awaiting diners as they share their day’s experiences. Couples enjoy innovative cuisine and Santorinian wines on candlelit terraces. It might sound cliché, but foodie life doesn’t get much better than this.
Location, location, location
Pyrgos’ central location means you’re well placed to explore the whole of Santorini. Even though to be fair you could easily spend a whole week doing very little. While we recommend car hire for extra flexibility, the cheap local bus service is a sound alternative. You can easily reach Fira, the capital, the ancient site of Akrotiri and the black sands of Perissa beach by local bus. The airport and port are just 15 minutes away by car or taxi. Walkers too will find plenty of trails to neighbouring villages like Megalochori and Emporeio. The jaw-dropping caldera can be reached on foot too and is just a 15-minute stroll.
Wonderful Places to Stay
Staying in Pyrgos also means you can choose to stay in one of the traditional cave houses which Santorini is famous for. Many of the Cave Houses have been lovingly restored and boast mod cons and home from home comforts you value the most. The other benefit is that you get so much more for your money in Pyrgos. The money you save on your accommodation can be used on eating out, maybe booking a semi-private catamaran cruise or car hire.
Is Pyrgos a Good Place to Stay in Santorini?
For us, the location was perfect: in a picture-perfect village away from the crowds, but with stunning views.
Pyrgos is quaint little town bursting with fabulous restaurants around every corner. We are so glad we chose to stay here rather than Fira and Oia.
Pyrgos is beautiful and we are so grateful we found this space and this neighborhood. It was the highlight to our entire travels through Greece!The village of Pyrgos itself is already a very good choice to explore the island and stay away from the busy Oia or Fira.
Authentic and pretty Pyrgos, the highest village on the island, with its superb panoramas and stunning sunsets, winding medieval streets and blue-domed churches; all cobbled roads lead up to the oldest castle on the island
The location is absolutely perfect. Close by you can find a lot of authentic, chilled and delicious restaurants.
Yet a mere five-minute drive from Santorini’s famous, bustling caldera lies the charming village of Pyrgos. Relatively untouched by the tourist hordes, here you’ll discover Santorini’s true ‘hidden gem’, bursting with culture, history… and four of Santorini’s Conde Nast-voted ten best places to eat!
Real comments from guests’ reviews
