Santorini, Greece Travel Community

The donkeys of Santorini

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acamp7

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These donkeys are famous! Hailing back from before Santorini was the biggest tourist hotspot, donkeys were used by locals to transport themselves and their goods up the hilly Santorini mountainside. Today, you may see a few donkeys used for these purposes but for the most part they are used for tourists to take a tour of the island.
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They are famous and it is a memorable experience taking a donkey to the top. My first time, I had a bit of a meltdown because my animal kept getting close to the wall - but it is perfectly safe, I just didn't understand Greek well enough to know what was going on.
 
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HeartSantorini27 said:
They are famous and it is a memorable experience taking a donkey to the top. My first time, I had a bit of a meltdown because my animal kept getting close to the wall - but it is perfectly safe, I just didn't understand Greek well enough to know what was going on.
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Hahaha that’s unfortunate!! Yes, the donkeys have been doing this for years
 
dimi_pat said:
Hahaha that’s unfortunate!! Yes, the donkeys have been doing this for years
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LOL - in thinking it through after it was all over, I realized the donkeys are good at what they do and are probably even used to tourists having meltdowns!
 
They were made for what they do! The last donkey I rode in Greece was actually very sweet. She kept nuzzling my foot! So adorable.
 
k_tsoukalas said:
They were made for what they do! The last donkey I rode in Greece was actually very sweet. She kept nuzzling my foot! So adorable.
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Ha ha, that is really sweet. I hope I encounter one like that!
 
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Is May a Good Month for Santorini?

I’m considering a trip to Santorini and would love some firsthand insight on visiting in May.

I’m hoping for a balance between pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and a more authentic feel of the island before peak summer tourism takes over. I’ve read that May can be warm but not too hot, with flowers still in bloom and restaurants starting to fully open for the season, but I’m curious how this plays out in reality. Does the island still feel calm, or is it already busy with cruise traffic? That's my main concern.

If you’ve visited Santorini in May, I’d love to hear what stood out, both the pros and any drawbacks you noticed.

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