Fira is the capital of Santorini and stretches along the edge of the caldera, with narrow lanes, cafés, shops and views of the volcano. Gianna Suites is in a quiet area, 500 m from the main square, so you can walk around town in the evening and return to a quieter place to sleep.
The Lignos Folklore Museum is next to the guest house, and a little further away are the Gizi Mansion, with exhibits on the island’s history, the Archaeological Museum of Thera and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera, which houses finds from Akrotiri. Fira bus station is 700 m away, with buses to the island’s villages and beaches. The nearest beaches, including Exo Gialos, are 2.2 km away, and the airport is 3.5 km away.
The best time to visit the island is from May to October, and the sea is still warm in September, with fewer visitors. The meltemi often blows in July and August. One idea for a day out: walk above the caldera towards Firostefani and Imerovigli, take the cable car down to the old harbour, and go on a boat trip to the volcano. In the evening, the sunset in Oia, at the island’s northern tip, is worth seeing. Santorini is quieter in winter and some shops close. If you’d also like to discover the island’s wines, wineries producing Assyrtiko and Vinsanto organise tastings for visitors.