Oia, Santorini, Greece

Santorini is actually what remains after an enormous volcanic eruption. This island slopes downward to the Aegean Sea. Several towns are perched along the cliff.

Oia is a scenic and popular village on the northern edge of the caldera (a large volcanic crater) that forms the island of Santorini within the Cyclades (an island group in the Aegean Sea). The town has clusters of white washed buildings, blue domed churches, bell towers, charming shops/ hotels, traditional Cycladic and cave houses that are carved into the rock on the cliff. It is set in a location with breathtaking views of the sunset over the white houses and the caldera.

The bus from Central bus station in Fira to Oia takes about 30 min. From the Oia bus stop, walk to the main square where you will see Ekklisia Panagia Platsani Church and to the famous 3 Blue Domes. The Byzantine Castle Ruins (Fort Londsa) is the pinnacle point of Oia and famous lookout point with a complete 360-degree view. The passageways and stairways, mostly made of cobbles or grit are narrow, sometimes curvy and can be congested with tourists. There are 300 steps down to the port from Oia. Here are some of the famous photo spots:

Photos by Valstasia Weddings (Lawrence and Benson) | Bridal makeup by Sharon De’ Beauty

The traditional houses are perched along the cliff, with the view of the windmills at sunset in Oia. The walkways are narrow and curvy on the slope.

You can get the most beautiful sunset over the horizon in Santorini

Rustic rooftop

Byzantine Castle Ruins, once used as a fortress (Fort Londsa)

A typical white and blue Greek Orthodox bell tower on the Mediterranean island of Santorini

REVIEWS
https://www.cheerfulegg.com/2017/05/07/how-to-find-the-famous-three-blue-domes-in-santorini/ May 2017 Santorini has dozens of blue-domed churches, but there’s only ONE place where you can take that famous picture you see on virtually every Santorini postcard. First, you have to find your way to Oia (pronounced ee-yuh) which is a town in Santorini famous for its spectacular sunsets. To get there, I’d suggest taking a bus from the central bus station in Fira, which takes about 30 minutes and costs 1.80 Euro. The bus will drop you in a small square in Oia, and from there it’s a short walk uphill to Oia’s Main Square. You’ll know you’re at the Main Square because 1) There will be crowds of tourists and newlyweds taking photos, and 2) You’ll see the Ekklisia Panagia Platsani, a Greek Orthodox Church. With the Ekklisia Panagia Platsani behind you, you’ll want to turn RIGHT and head down the street. In about 50 metres, you’ll pass the front of a church which has a bell tower with 3 bells to your left. Keep walking until you see a Bulgari Alexandros signboard ahead of you, right across a Gold & Silver store. Right before the Bulgari store, there’s a small pathway to your left that’s almost unnoticeable from the main street. Turn left and follow the pathway down then turn right.
https://theplanetd.com/photography-guide-santorini/ Jan 2015 If you walk a little farther East from the three domes, you’ll find a rooftop in Oia. It makes for a great vantage point for sunset and you can capture the sun going down over the city. The cross adds nice foreground interest to the photo. Every night at sunset crowds form at Oia Castle to watch the sun go down. It’s a bit of a zoo and not the romantic experience one would hope for. But if you wait a bit and go to the castle after you’ve taken your photos at the domes, you can capture this magnificent view of the town of Oia lit up at blue hour showcasing the windmill. Don’t look out towards the sun, instead look back at the city.;