Fira
Fira is the capital and main town of Santorini island, located on the hill top, approximately 250 meters above the sea level. Most of the hotels, restaurants and bars residing in Fira, have expanded on the side of the Caldera rock offerring terrific views to the volcano, the Aegean sea and Thirasia island.
It is a very lively town during both the day and the night. Apart from the tourists that fill up the destination for about eight months a year, the town has about 2.000 people as local residents. There's quite a lot of commercialism, hundreds of retail shops (pawn shops, clothing, mini markets etc), restaurants, cafes, bars, 24 hours fast foods and everything the soul and the body may ask for. The outstanding Cycladic architecture has been applied to almost all buildings, creating a unique result. Some of these buildings were built back on the 17th and the 18th century, surviving the earthquake of 1956. Everybody who visits Santorini island will at least once visit Fira city. All the travel agents, the local authorities, the tourist shops etc are located there. Apart from that, you wouldn't want to miss the chance to walk on the old little streets of the town and explore the beauty of it by foot.
Most of the luxury hotels and villas are located here. Also, the vast majority of the gourmet restaurants and the busy bars and clubs are there too. At night, the town becomes the centre of clubbing and nightlife as the largest clubs of the island reside on its tiny, traditional, paved streets. A main characteristic is the central square which gathers everything around it. Very busy until the early morning hours as everyone is looking to grab something to eat or even drink at the end of their night out. So the square becomes the meeting point of the late night hours.
The main channels of the local transportation start and end at Fira so there are buses to all destinations and beaches at frequent time intervals. You can also book your day trip around the island or to the Nea and Palia Kameni and Thirasia by boat from the old port. The old port is now-days used only for cruise ships and for all other purposes it has been replaced by Athinios port. Taxis are mainly available in the town and so is the international press.
The current Archeological Museum is located in Fira and was established in 1960 in order to replace the one founded in 1902, which was destroyed by the earthquake in 1956. At this museum, visitors may admire sculptures and signs from the Archaic up to the Roman eras, together with ceramic and crockery items from the Geometric up to the Hellenistic eras. As in every typical greek island capital, many churches and monasteries can be found in the town or in the extended area.
Find yourself watching the sunset from one of the many fantastic views offered for this and you will leave the island having lived a unique experience.
Fira related pages
- Browse through the beauty of Fira in these great Fira photos
- Find some great Fira hotels here.
- Learn where you can eat in this Fira restaurants list.
- Santorini towns and villages