Santorini

The former capital of Santorini is Pyrgos. Pyros, Santorini is a stunning Greek village located in the middle of Santorini. The village is home to the best-preserved medieval settlement on the island. Pyrgos offers panoramic views as it is the highest village on the island, and on clear days, you can see all the way to Crete.

The village of Pyrgos is just as beautiful as the village of Oia, but the best part is that locals still live here. Pyrgos also boasts some amazing restaurants, and many of them offer an amazing view of Santorini. Best of all, it is a Santorini secret as you won’t find many tourists staying here.

Why should you visit Pyrgos, Santorini? Pyrgos gives you a sense of what a traditional Greek village is. People say hello to you, the church bells ring, you see families chatting to each other and see them all go about their daily lives. Santorini doesn’t have too many of these traditional villages left, so this is one of the best opportunities to do so while on Santorini. This is great if you will not be visiting another island while in Greece.

Things to Do in Pyrgos

Pyrgos village is not large, but there are still a few things to do, and it is a great place to visit a more traditional Greek village. It is the perfect way to spend an afternoon on Santorini island.

Climb to the top of Pyrgos Kasteli

Sitting on the top of the hill in Pyrgos is a castle known as Pyrgos Kasteli. The Kasteli is a ruin, so you cannot go inside, but it is worth going to the top. At the top, you can get panoramic views of all of Santorini. It is also interesting to see that the castle was made of black volcanic rocks.

The top of the Kastel is a great place to watch the famous Santorini sunset. You can either watch from the top of the castle or visit one of the many restaurants that are located there. Two favorites for this are Rosemary and Franco’s Cafe.

Pyrgos Main Square

Like most villages in Greece, the main square in Pyrgos is a hive of activity. There are several restaurants to see in to watch the town activity. This is also where the public bus picks you up to take you to Thira. The supermarket is located here as well. If people-watching is a favorite activity of yours, this is the place to sit. Try it at different times of the day to see what differences you might see.

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Santo Wines

Santorini is known for its wine production, and one of the biggest wineries is located right on the outskirts of Pyrgos, Santo Wines. You can take a tour and have a wine tasting at Santo Wines. One of the most popular Santorini wines is the Assyrtiko. Santo has several wines made with the Assyrtiko grape and a few other options, including red wine. If you don’t have time for a tour, you can stop in their gift shop to purchase the wine and other products.

Pyrgos Restaurants

One of the best things you can do in Pyrgos is to eat out. For such a small village, it has an abundance of excellent restaurants. If you are spending a few days in Santorini, I recommended eating in Pyrgos more than once.

Brusco

Brusco is right in the main square of Pyrgos and offers a great spot for people-watching. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The lunch and dinner are a mix of mezedes, which are like tapas, and sandwiches. Don’t worry, the portions are big. It is also a great stop for a drink either before or after dinner. They offer a good selection of Santorini wines. My recommendations to eat are the vegan beetroot salad (I like it better than the regular one) and the talagani cheese with fig jam.

Rosemary

Rosemary is located at the top of the Pyrgos castle. The view from the restaurant is stunning. Not only can you see the whole island, but it is also a great place to watch the sunset. The menu features gourmet Greek food. Make sure to make a reservation to secure a view while eating!

Penelope’s

Penelope’s is another mezedes place but offers stunning views of Pyrgos and the surrounding area. It is also a top spot to watch the sunset while having dinner in Santorini. The location is not just great for the famous Santorini sunset view, but it is below the large church in Pyrgos, and some of the seats are under the bell tower. My recommendations to eat there are the spetsofai and the fava. Penelope’s also offers breakfast.

Cava Alta

Cava Alta also offers amazing views from their roof deck dining area as well as inside seating. Unlike many of the restaurants mentioned here, this restaurant serves Mediterranean food with a hit of Santorini taste. Of course, they offer amazing wines to complement their food.

Kantouni

Kantouni offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner! They offer huge omelets for breakfast and healthy salads for lunch. Dinner brings classic Greek dishes. The location is right next to Brusco and is a great place to people watch as well.

Where to Stay in Pyrgos

Demeter Cave House

Are you coming to Santorini on a romantic vacation? Demeter Cave House is just the place for you! This classic Santorini cave house has been fully restored. It is an adult-only villa with a private hot tub. There is also a roof deck that offers a wonderful view of the sunset. If you are lucky, you can see Crete on a clear day.

The bed in Demeter Cave House glows and is extremely comfortable. The cave house features a small kitchenette and a wonderful lounge area. While it is not a hotel, it is full service, and the owners are always available for anything you might need.

Use code agirlandherpassport to get a special treat when you check in at Demeter Cave House.

White Orchid Cave House

If you are coming with kids or some friends, there are few other cave house options. The first is White Orchid Cave House. It features two rooms. One is a self-contained studio that can fit two people. The other is a cave room downstairs that can sleep four people and has a kitchenette. These two rooms can be booked together if you are a large group as well. White Orchid Cave House is cute and clean.

If Santorini is on your list of places to go, I highly recommend visiting Pyrgos, even if it is just for a few hours. However, to get a real feel for village life in Santorini, consider making it your base while in Santorini. You won’t regret it!

Recently, I was invited by Demeter Cave House to experience staying in their stunning cave house on Santorini. I can honestly say that if you are looking for luxury in a traditional Greek village in Santorini, this is the place to stay. While I was a guest of the cave house, all views are my own.

Santorini cave houses or yposkafa are common in the villages, and they are built into the sides of the hills. The cave houses are built to keep the heat out in the summer and the heat in winter. They are then whitewashed yearly to help them maintain the white exterior and sun-reflecting properties. The cave houses are simply built and usually have built-in furniture. Many Santorini residents still live in these, and many have been turned into vacation rentals.

Demeter Cave House

Demeter Cave House is a luxury cave house but still maintains its simple charms. Demeter is an adults-only making the perfect place to come on a romantic holiday or honeymoon trip. The cave house has been built with couples in mind as well, with two of most things being present. It is located in the picturesque village of Pyrgos.

Entering the cave house, your own private jacuzzi greets you. While you don’t have a caldera view like you might in Oia, you have absolute privacy, which is not guaranteed in Oia. You and your loved one can share a glass of wine in the heated jacuzzi and relax after a day of exploring Santorini.

If you want to cook on your holiday, there is a kitchenette with all the amenities to cook a simple meal. A bottle of Santorini wine is chilling for you in the refrigerator on arrival, as well as bottled water. Demeter Cave House will ask you if you drink coffee or tea before your arrival, so your preferences are ready to make on arrival. Unlike many hotels, Demeter will even provide milk for your coffee or tea! I think this has something to do with the half British ownership and knowing the importance of milk in tea for the Brits!

Demeter Cave House offers breakfast as an option to order after you make your reservation. They offer Greek scrambled eggs or strapatsada, which is my favorite breakfast in Greece. Strapatsada is eggs, feta, tomatoes and oregano. The breakfast also comes with yogurt, fruit, bread, orange juice and coffee. You can take your meals in the private area next to the jacuzzi, inside or on the roof deck.

Book direct with Demeter Cave House and get a surprise gift when entering code agirlandherpassport.

The television is a smart tv, allowing you to watch Netflix if you feel like a movie night in. Or if you feel like having a dance, there is a wonderful speaker that you can play your own music on. The sound quality was so good; I will probably end up buying my own!

Ready for an amazing sleep? The bed in Demeter Cave House is simply amazing! Not only is the mattress extremely comfortable and covered in pillows for all your sleeping needs, but it also glows. There are soft lights under the bed that you can control for a warm ambient experience. In classic Greek fashion, all the light switches for the room are located next to the bed, so you don’t have to get up after you have laid down to sleep.

I have saved the best for last, and that is the bathroom. The bathroom features double sinks and double shower heads! Convenience and comfort are top priorities in the bathroom of Demeter Cave House. Not only can you shower together, but you can also relax on the bench in the shower area.

Santorini Sunset at Demeter Cave House

Trust me when I say you don’t need to be on the Santorini caldera or Oia to view the famous Santorini sunset. You can watch the stunning Santorini sunset from the beautiful roof deck of Demeter Cave House. Pyrgos village is the highest village on Santorini, giving it the best view of the sunset on the whole island. Also, you will avoid the crowds watching the sunset in Oia.

When you go up to the roof terrace, sit on the deck chairs that face the church, Agios Demetrios. The Santorini sunset will happen right over the roof depending on what time of year you are there, but this is a good spot for the summer. Enjoy it with some Greek mezes and wine for the ultimate Santorini sunset experience over Pyrgos village.

My biggest tip for watching the sunset in Greece and not just for the Santorini sunset is to wait for at least 20 minutes after the sunset dips below the horizon. The colors get better and better as the sun goes further past the horizon.

After the sunset, lay down on the soft cushy lounge chairs to watch the stars. These soft loungers are amazing to lay on. You might even fall asleep!

Services at Demeter Cave House

Demeter Cave House offers a wide variety of services that you might only expect to find at a larger hotel property. You can book things such as a couples massage, a sunset sail, or a honeymoon welcome package. Private pickups from the airport or the port can be arranged as well. Demeter is well connected to the local companies and can help you make reservations and suggestions on where to eat.

If you need a car rental, which I recommend for Santorini, Demeter Cave House uses Pyrgos Rent a Car. I used them while I was there, and they were great! Renting the car was very easy, and when I returned it, they took me to the airport. They can arrange to pick you up as well. It is an additional fee, but no more than a taxi to the airport would cost. You need an international driver’s license to rent a car in Greece, so make sure to get one before leaving home!

What I loved the most was that after a day of exploring Santorini, I could come back to the quiet village of Pyrgos and Demeter Cave House and completely relax. Everything was quiet, and I didn’t have to worry about where to eat or where to watch the sunset. It was all on my doorstep!

Check Demeter Cave House’s availability directly on their website. Get a surprise gift when you use code agirlandherpassport.