We have a car, a week in Santorini, and a fascination with history. To explore Akrotiri, the Prophet Elias Monastery, etc., would you recommend getting a tour guide? Or would it be better to plan a self-guided tour? Any sites you definitely recommend that we hit? (Or skip?)
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Santorini is very small, mostly arid desert. You may find a week too long to stay there, over touristed and crowded. Our first time there, we stayed four nights and that was too long.
Akrotiri is an amazing site, and is the only reason we returned to Santorini was that it had reopened after repairs from it’s tragic roof collapse in 2005 where tourists were killed. Perhaps a Tour Guide would give you a better experience learning about pre-volcano Santorini. I would consider hiring one.
But do rethink the amount of time you are staying there. There are many better islands for a real Greek experience. And charming waterfront Napflion on the Peloponesean Peninsula, is surrounded by a wealth of antiquities which I believe you would enjoy.