If you are considering Megalochori as a place to stay on Santorini, you can start with the village centre and its wine-growing landscape. A walk takes you past well-preserved houses, churches and squares, offering a glimpse of Santorini in the past. Vineyards surround the village.
Village Centre, Kánaves and Wine-Growing
Potamós is the name of Megalochóri’s central square. Together with the houses, churches and squares along the walk, it gives the village centre a tangible point of reference. The route connects more than individual sights: several features of the village offer a glimpse of Santorini in the past.
The old kánaves are buildings built into the rock that were once used as wine cellars. Their rock-built construction and former purpose sit alongside Gavalas Winery, located in the traditional village and one of Santorini’s oldest wineries. The landscape adds to this picture: Megalochóri is surrounded by vineyards. When choosing a destination, you can therefore consider village history, architecture and wine-growing as distinct but complementary interests.
Beaches in the Area
The beaches of Thérmi and Pláka are near Megalochóri. They feature hot springs and volcanic warm-water currents, and can be reached by boat or along a path. This adds a coastal option to your trip planning alongside a walk through the village centre. The two stated ways of getting there offer a practical comparison: by boat or along a path, depending on how you would like to approach this excursion.
Santorini Beyond Megalochóri
For further context, Santorini is the southernmost island of the Cyclades, an island group shaped by active volcanoes. Santorini’s caldera was formed by a massive eruption around 1600 BC. This geological history is a distinct topic to explore during a stay on the island, separate from the village character of Megalochóri.
Santorini’s culture and walking routes can also be explored according to different interests. Pyrgos was designated a protected settlement in 1995. In the monastery collection there at Profitis Ilias, an ecclesiastical collection opened as a permanent exhibition in August 1997. Walking routes connect Pyrgos with Profitis Ilias, Emporio and Ancient Thera. Another route follows the caldera rim from Imerovigli to Oia, offering views of the sea, caldera and volcano. Santorini therefore offers destinations with historical connections alongside a route with explicitly mentioned landscape views.
Santorini’s cuisine also offers plenty to discover. Santorini Fava is a PDO product made from the cotyledons of the legume Lathyrus clymenum L., which grows exclusively in Thera’s volcanic soil. The Santorini tomato is also a PDO product and has been cultivated since the early 19th century. The white Santorini eggplant has a sweet aroma and juicy flesh that does not absorb oil when fried. Chloro is a creamy goat’s cheese produced in very limited quantities on Santorini; local chefs also prepare tomato fritters called Tomatokeftedes using PDO cherry tomatoes. These specialities can help you make culinary discoveries a separate focus of your trip planning.
If you are planning a trip in September, you can also include the Ifestia Festival: it takes place on the third Saturday of the month and depicts the volcanic eruption with fireworks. Check the dates for your intended travel year. If travelling by air, the flight from Athens International Airport to Santorini Airport takes 50 minutes; check the flight schedule and duration before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Vothonas, Vlychada, Agios Georgios, Mesariá, Imerovigli, Manganari Ios, Agia Theodoti, Karavostásis.
For the broader travel overview: Santorini.
