A-Z Guide to Santorini
The very thorough A-Z Guide to Santorini by Tony Oswin is now in its 15th edition, a sure sign that the guidebook is both popular and kept up-to-date.
At 173 pages, the A-Z Guide to Santorini is one of the most thorough Santorini guidebooks around. In fact if you check on Amazon, there are only a handful of guides that deal purely with Santorini, and of these the longest we could see was the Marco Polo guide, which came out in 2018 and is only 136 pages long. Other guides are under 100 pages.
One advantage the author has is that he lives in Greece and has done since 2006, giving him a deep insider knowledge of the way of life. He doesn’t live on Santorini but on Thassos, which is about 500km (311 miles) due north, making regular visits to update the guide quite easy. Needless to say, the first of his four current guides to Greece was to Thassos (the others are to Kos and Rhodes).
A-Z Guide to Santorini Contents
The author is obviously a history buff as the A-Z Guide to Santorini begins with almost 20 pages of history and mythology. It was a bit too much for me and I began skimming, although Santorini does have more history behind it than most other small Greek islands. At the back of the book there are also six pages of a Greek Timeline, which starts in 2700BC but curiously ends in 1453, the fall of the Byzantine Empire. Did nothing happen in Greece after that?
Practical Information
It’s for the practical information that people will want to buy this book, and in that respect it scores really well. There’s a section on culture, another on how to get to Santorini, eight pages just on beaches, another ten pages on activities, and advice on hotels, camping, tavernas, and Greek food generally. There are, however, no listings of hotels or restaurants.
Places of Interest
The main section of the book is the Places of Interest, which is very comprehensive. There are several pages on Akrotiri, plus a map (though the map is at the back of the book and would be more helpful next to the text,) Ancient Thera gets three pages, and a map at the back, and the rest of the island’s main attractions, from archaeological museums to wineries, is listed alphabetically.
Some Cool Santorini Gifts
Shower Curtain
Personalised IPhone 14 Cover
Wireless Charger
Luggage Tag
A-Z Guide to Santorini Photos
In short, there are none. The author uses a POD (Publish on Demand) service, which keeps the cover price down, but if you start to add photos, especially colour photos, the cost of the book rockets. I would have done exactly the same. For a guidebook, facts are more important than photos, and there are several black and white maps and tables. And if you want to see what Santorini looks like, check our Pictures of Santorini page!
Keeping Up-to-Date
If you want up-to-date information on Santorini then that is no problem. Buying the A-Z Guide to Santorini also provides you with free membership of the Travel Club which the author runs through his website: atoz-guides.com. This provides you with bonus information and updates on all the A-to-Z guides. As if that wasn’t enough, the author also provides his email address in the book so you can send him any questions you might have directly. That’s the advantage of buying a book from a small-scale publisher.
See Our YouTube Video of Santorini
In short, although this isn’t a glossy guidebook with lots of colour photos (and a price to match), we definitely recommend is as a very thorough guide to everything you might want to know about Santorini.
Buying the A-Z Guide to Santorini
Other books pages
Heaven on Earth
Heaven on Earth is a collection of 19 travel pieces about Greece by Mike Gerrard.
Books About Greece
If planning a trip to Greece, what are the best books about Greece to read before you go, or to take with you, to give you a sense of place?
A Thing of Beauty
A Thing of Beauty by Peter Fiennes describes ‘Travels in Mythical and Modern Greece’ and places the Greek Gods in the context of modern-day Greece.
Greece Book Reviews
Greece Book Reviews on the Greece Travel Secrets website with reviews of the best guidebooks to Greece, the Greek Islands, Athens, Crete and elsewhere.
Taverna by the Sea
Taverna by the Sea is an account by Jennifer Barclay of her summer spent working in a taverna on Karpathos and a welcome new book of Greek travel writing.
Wild Abandon
Wild Abandon by Jennifer Barclay and published by Bradt Guides is A Journey to Deserted Places of the Dodecanese islands in Greece, including Rhodes and Kos.
The Summer of My Greek Taverna
The Summer of My Greek Taverna by Tom Stone is a memoir of his time on the Greek island of Patmos in the Dodecanese, running a restaurant.
Northern Greece Guide
The Bradt Guide to Northern Greece is a detailed guide to Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, Macedonia, Thrace, The Pelion, The Sporades and the rest of Northern Greece.
Monemvasia Book Review
Greece Travel Secrets reviews the photography book Monemvasia with extracts from works by Yiannis Ritsos and Nikos Kazantzakis.
Mermaid Singing: Kalymnos Travel Writing
Mermaid Singing by Charmian Clift is a fine example of 1950s travel writing about the Greek island of Kalymnos in the Dodecanese.
Margarita’s Olive Press
Margarita’s Olive Press is a modern gem of a book of Greek travel writing, in which the author falls in love with and renovates a property on Zakynthos.
Lonely Planet Greek Islands
The Lonely Planet guide to the Greek Islands is a thorough and helpful guide to all the Greek island groups, with Athens included.
Lonely Planet Greece
The latest edition of the Lonely Planet travel guide to Greece is a comprehensive 750-page guidebook to the whole country.
Lonely Planet Crete
Lonely Planet Crete is an excellent and thorough guide of almost 300 pages to the largest of the Greek islands.
Ikaria Book Review
Ikaria by Meni Valle, brings together the best and healthiest Greek recipes with an evocative travelogue about Ikaria, one of the world’s Blue Zone places.
Hydra Travel Writing Classic
Peel Me a Lotus by Charmian Clift is a Hydra travel writing classic, describing her family’s life on this tiny Greek island near Athens in the 1950s.
Great Greek Poets: Cavafy, Sappho, George Seferis, Odysseus Elytis
There are many great Greek poets, with two authors winning the Nobel Prize for Literature and names include Sappho, Cavafy, George Seferis and Odysseus Elytis.
Fire on the Island
Fire on the Island is a romantic thriller novel by Timothy Jay Smith set on a fictionalised version of the town of Molyvos on the island of Lesbos.
Eurydice Street
Eurydice Street, A Place in Athens by Sofka Zinovieff is an honest account of what it’s like to move to Athens and live as a foreigner, learning Greek customs.
Culture Trails
Greece Travel Secrets reviews the book Culture Trails by Lonely Planet, which has a section on Artistic Athens and 51 other perfect weekends for culture lovers.
Bradt Guide to the Peloponnese
The Bradt Guide to the Peloponnese is the best book on the Greek region which includes attractions like Mycenae, Epidavros, Olympia, Monemvasia and Nafplion.
A-Z Travel Guide to Kos
The 2022 edition of the A-Z Travel Guide to Kos is the 15th edition of the best and most comprehensive guidebook to Kos in the Dodecanese islands of Greece.
A Rope of Vines
A Rope of Vines by Brenda Chamberlain is an evocative memoir of the author’s time living on the Greek island of Hydra in the early 1960s.
Latest Posts
-
Storm Elias continues, bringing heavy showers and thunderstorms until Thursday
The Elias weather system was affecting several parts of the country on Tuesday, with heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail and lightning. -
EasyJet Launches New Route and Package Holidays to Skiathos
British low-cost carrier EasyJet and tour operator easyJet holidays have announced the launch of flights and holidays to Skiathos from London Gatwick, Bristol and Manchester for next summer. -
Highway to Athens from Eleonas Toll re-opened to traffic
The highway to Athens from the Eleonas Toll Station was opened to traffic by opening a lane on the opposite side of the road following its closure due to mudslides. -
This Less-Visited Region In Southern Greece Has Stunning Beaches & Almost No Crowds
On my first visit to the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece, I don’t remember what exactly prompted me to jump in a rental car and start exploring. I do remember the route: it was a narrow road… -
Best Restaurants on Mykonos
Greece Travel Secrets picks its best restaurants on Mykonos, choosing those gourmet restaurants known for their fine dining, and some with tasting menus. -
Things to Do on Mykonos
There are plenty of things to do on Mykonos, one of the most popular Greek islands, such as nightlife, beaches, churches and visiting the ancient site of Delos. -
Mykonos
Mykonos in the Cyclades islands in Greece has cheap and luxury hotel accommodation, car rental, ferries from Athens, Santorini, Crete and other Greek islands. -
Tsikoudia: Cretan Raki and the Taste of Tradition
With its distinctive fruity aromas, tsikoudia is more than just a drink - it is a symbol of conviviality, hospitality, and the rich heritage of Crete. -
New Maria Callas Museum to Open Soon
A museum dedicated to the legendary Greek opera singer Maria Callas, located in the heart of Athens, will open its doors to the public later this year. -
European Heritage Days 2023 at the Acropolis Museum
In celebration of this year's European Heritage Days, the Acropolis Museum in Athens will offer free entry and host a special guided tour for children.
Why not join our Greece Travel Secrets Club? As a member you'll get emailed our regular Greece Travel Secrets Magazine for news, information, and inspiration for planning your travels in Greece.
As a welcome gift you'll also get a free e-book, Heaven on Earth. This contains 19 of Mike's favourite stories that he's written about travelling in Greece for newspapers and magazines over the years.
You'll find it over at Substack. Check out one of the Archive issues to find the Subscribe button.
CHECK OUT THESE COOL SANTORINI SANDALS!
BUY A JOURNAL TO RECORD YOUR OWN GREECE TRAVEL SECRETS!
FOLLOW OUR GREECE VIDEOS
ON YOUTUBE
Best Greece Guide
Of all the many guides to Greece we've seen, this is the one we recommend as best of all:
Greece Travel Inspiration
Buy our book of inspirational travel stories from our travels in Greece over the years.
Take a Look at Our Corfu Guide
FTC Disclosure : If you make a purchase via a link on this site, we may receive a small commission on the transaction - at no added cost to you. Thank you!
Latest Posts
-
Storm Elias continues, bringing heavy showers and thunderstorms until Thursday
Sep 27, 23 01:24 PM
The Elias weather system was affecting several parts of the country on Tuesday, with heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail and lightning. -
EasyJet Launches New Route and Package Holidays to Skiathos
Sep 27, 23 04:07 AM
British low-cost carrier EasyJet and tour operator easyJet holidays have announced the launch of flights and holidays to Skiathos from London Gatwick, Bristol and Manchester for next summer. -
Highway to Athens from Eleonas Toll re-opened to traffic
Sep 27, 23 03:44 AM
The highway to Athens from the Eleonas Toll Station was opened to traffic by opening a lane on the opposite side of the road following its closure due to mudslides. -
This Less-Visited Region In Southern Greece Has Stunning Beaches & Almost No Crowds
Sep 27, 23 03:44 AM
On my first visit to the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece, I don’t remember what exactly prompted me to jump in a rental car and start exploring. I do remember the route: it was a narrow road… -
Best Restaurants on Mykonos
Sep 23, 23 07:06 AM
Greece Travel Secrets picks its best restaurants on Mykonos, choosing those gourmet restaurants known for their fine dining, and some with tasting menus. -
Things to Do on Mykonos
Sep 23, 23 06:21 AM
There are plenty of things to do on Mykonos, one of the most popular Greek islands, such as nightlife, beaches, churches and visiting the ancient site of Delos. -
Mykonos
Sep 23, 23 06:18 AM
Mykonos in the Cyclades islands in Greece has cheap and luxury hotel accommodation, car rental, ferries from Athens, Santorini, Crete and other Greek islands. -
Tsikoudia: Cretan Raki and the Taste of Tradition
Sep 23, 23 04:06 AM
With its distinctive fruity aromas, tsikoudia is more than just a drink - it is a symbol of conviviality, hospitality, and the rich heritage of Crete. -
New Maria Callas Museum to Open Soon
Sep 23, 23 04:06 AM
A museum dedicated to the legendary Greek opera singer Maria Callas, located in the heart of Athens, will open its doors to the public later this year.
No words or images to be used without prior permission.
We do not sell personal information: see our Privacy Policy.
California Consumer Privacy Act - CCPA: Sale Of Personal Information
Greece Travel Secrets does not sell any information it gathers for any reason. It has not collected or sold any personal information in the last twelve months or ever in the past.
This website was built using Site Build It!
