The charming village of Megalochori is located near the center of Santorini, filled with white-washed buildings, and surrounded by vineyards. Located on the southwestern side of the island, it’s slightly inland but close enough to go to many of Santorini’s famed black sand beaches in just a few minutes by car.
Vedema Resort is located on the edge of town, and rather than staying in the touristy cliff-side town of Oia, we highly recommend staying at this expansive resort where you can enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere. With several pools, a spa, and generously sized rooms with private patios, Vedema feels like you’re staying in a small village of its own.
The city center of Megalochori is just a few steps away, where you can find tiny shops, a handful of traditional restaurants around the town square, a lovely natural wine bar, multiple historic churches, and charming historic bell towers.
Each morning, you’ll have a stunning breakfast buffet filled with fresh fruits, yogurts, Greek salad, meats, cheeses, and pastries before heading off to your favorite activities on the island, which could include a horseback ride on the beach, sailboat tour of the island, exploring by 4×4, or just relaxing by the pool.
Our favorite place to spend time at Vedema is the infinity pool, located in the back of the resort with views of the helipad, vineyards, and the sea. It’s the perfect location to relax with one of Vedema’s signature cocktails in hand. It can get a bit windy, but the breeze is a welcome respite from the hot Greek sun.
For dinner, head to Alati, Vedema’s flagship restaurant, which is set in an ancient wine cave (the name means salt). A variety of salts are presented alongside the fresh-baked bread to start, and you’ll find seafood, meat, and vegetable dishes to suit any palate. We started with the restaurant’s signature tacos, the Santorini watermelon and feta salad (get the recipe here), and Santorini Story Greek salad (get the recipe here). All were very refreshing and the perfect way to end a hot day. For an entree, you can’t miss the ribeye served tableside with Gruyere mashed potatoes.
Vedema, Megalochori 847 00, Greece
Note: Vedema provided support for the reporting of this story.