Five gorgeous alternatives to the crowded holiday island of Santorini

2024-03-12T16:23:41.229Z

Highlights: Five gorgeous alternatives to the crowded holiday island of Santorini. Tourists are particularly impressed by the white houses with blue roofs in the main towns of Oia and Fira. There are also white and blue houses in the village of Lefkes on the Greek island of Paros. Sidi Bou Saïd, Tunisia is an artists' village in Tunisia with striking similarities to Santorinis. There is also a white village in the Spanish town of Cádiz near Málaga.

As of: March 12, 2024, 5:15 p.m

By: Franziska Kaindl

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For many vacationers, Santorini is the epitome of a Greek vacation and therefore a popular photo spot.

But there are similar motifs elsewhere.

The picturesque Cyclades island of Santorini is a place of longing for many holidaymakers in Greece.

Tourists are particularly impressed by the white houses with blue roofs in the main towns of Oia and Fira against the backdrop of the Aegean Sea.

A video from an influencer on Instagram showed just how much a few years ago - despite the corona pandemic, a popular vantage point was completely overcrowded.

Before the pandemic, two million tourists a year were not uncommon on the small island.

This means that Santorini is overcrowded, overpriced and not all that idyllic, especially in the summer months.

However, beautiful fishing villages with white and blue houses are not only found in Santorini.

So if you can make do with alternatives that are a little less crowded but just as beautiful, you've come to the right place.

Paros, Greece – a Santorini not far from the original

There are also white and blue houses in the village of Lefkes on the Greek island of Paros.

Like Santorini, Paros is also one of the Cyclades islands - but is far less well-known and therefore still spared from crowds of tourists.

The port town of Naoussa and the village of Lefkes are particularly similar to Oia, both of which are just as pretty with white houses, blue shutters and colorful flowers on the facade as their counterpart only about 43 nautical miles away.

Picturesque alleys as well as enchanting churches, chapels and monasteries round off the experience on the island.

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Karpathos, Greece – still undiscovered and tranquil

Karpathos Town is likely to bring back memories of Santorini for holidaymakers.

Karpathos is also a Greek island that is very similar to Santorini.

It is located in the South Aegean Sea between Crete and Rhodes and is the second largest Dodecanese island.

Since it even has its own airport, it can be easily reached by plane - unlike many other islands that can only be reached by ferry.

Nevertheless, Karpathos still enjoys its status as an insider tip.

The main town of the same name has picturesque streets and cute white houses that exude the same charm as Santorini.

Other highlights of the island are the original mountain village of Olympos and the fishing village of Lefkos.

Sidi Bou Saïd, Tunisia – Greek flair on the Gulf of Tunis

Sidi Bou Said is an artists' village in Tunisia with striking similarities to Santorini.

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Looks like a lovely little fishing village in Greece, but Sidi Bou Saïd is actually located on the Gulf of Tunis.

With its white and blue, colorful houses it also has a lot of similarities to Santorini.

The architecture that characterizes the place comes mainly from the Moors, who also gave their face to many Andalusian cities in Spain.

Once a religious center, Sidi Bou Saïd developed over the years into an artists' village that is still known today for its craft shops, galleries and cafés.

Thanks to its location just 20 kilometers northeast of Tunis, it is also the perfect place for a day trip from Tunisia's capital.

Frigiliana, Spain – white villages with Greek charm

A dream for tourists - the white facades in Frigiliana are somewhat reminiscent of the fishing villages of Santorini.

There are many “White Villages” (Spanish: Pueblos Blancos) in the south of Spain, particularly near Cádiz and Málaga.

They are characterized by their whitewashed houses, which are also somewhat reminiscent of the tranquil towns on Santorini.

An example of this is the mountain village of Frigiliana, about 60 kilometers from Málaga.

Its origins date back to Roman times, but its appearance comes from Arabic influences.

Tourists can stroll through narrow streets and visit sights such as the Palacio de los Condes, a 16th-century Renaissance castle.

Among the oldest buildings are the remains of the Arab castle Lizar from the 9th century.

Altea, Spain – blue domes and white houses on the Costa Blanca

Tourists should not miss Altea when vacationing on the Costa Blanca.

Further similarities to Santorini can be found in Altea, Spain, which is located between the holiday resorts of Benidorm and Calpe on the Costa Blanca.

The old town features a blue-and-white domed church - called La Mare de Déu del Consol - and the typical white houses nestle on a hill pierced by cobbled streets.

There is something to discover on almost every corner, including artisan shops, cozy restaurants and beautiful sea views.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2024-03-12