Thira: My Quiet Power
Not the most popular spots. Not the secret ones either. Just places that hold up—day after day, season after season. No filters, no performance.
Hike from Imerovigli to Oia
Takes about two hours. Not a hidden trail, but not overdone either. Rugged cliffs, open sea, a few ruined chapels along the way. Good to walk when you don’t need to arrive fast.
Columbus Beach
Volcanic, open, and quiet. No setup. The kind of place where you don’t go to be seen. Just dark sand, rough sea, and space.
Agios Nikolaos – Ammoudi Bay
Small church built into the cliff. Clear water. A few tables nearby if you want something simple. Feels older than the rest of the island.
Oia (At the Right Time)
Before 9 AM or after midnight, Oia feels like its real self—stone paths, closed shutters, no one around. The version without the show.
And just up the road, Hassapiko bar: Unchanged in the best way. Music that’s not trying too hard. People that aren’t either. Just good vibes, no performance.
Monolithos
Flat coast, a tavern that does what it needs to, and wind that makes sense for a board. Functional in the best way.
Flat coast, a tavern that does what it needs to, and wind that makes sense for a board. Functional in the best way. My favorite tavern because it hasn’t changed—Skaramagas still runs the show.
Megalochori
A village to walk through without a plan. Narrow paths, stone walls, quiet doorways. Low-key and low-impact.
Vlychada
Cliffs like sculpture. Not for swimming, really—more for looking, thinking, or not thinking. Still. Sharp. Honest.
White Rock Spot (Akrotiri side)
Out of the way. No crowd. A place where the light falls well at the end of the day. That’s all.
Imerovigli
Where I grew up. Still my favorite part of the island—quiet, elevated, and not yet fully overtaken by tourism. Strong views, no noise, still feels like itself.
Right above the roof, Navagio Bar is more home extension than cocktail spot. Perfect for sunset, great drinks, and a view that pulls you back. If you hear laughter down the caldera, it’s probably not tourists. Some people go to therapy; others go to Navagio at golden hour.
These places don’t try too hard, and neither do I. They just work.
Enjoy,
Alexandra
Note: All photos are my personal ones.
