Santorini is part of the island complex of Cyclades, at its southern most end, in the Aegean Sea. It extends in an area of 73 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 14,000 according to the 2001 census.
Human presence on the island has existed since the middle of the 3rd millennium B.C. until the eruption of the volcano around 1500 B.C, when all traces of human activity vanished until the end of the 13th century B.C.
The island started to develop as a tourist destination around the end of the 1970s and has since then climbed at the top of the favourite destinations worldwide list.
Lovers of ancient history, sea sports, entertainment, unique scenery, traditional settings, good food, lovers of the past and of the present, life enthusiasts in short, must make a point of stopping over at this very unique Greek island, because it has it all!

Useful Telephone Numbers

Police.: + 30 22860 22649
Health Center: +30 22860 23123
Hospital.: + 30 22860 23123-4 / 23333
Port Authority.: + 30 22860 22239
Community Offices.: + 30 22860 22231
Post Office.: + 30 22860 22238
Taxi.: + 30 22860 22555
Electric Company.: + 30 22860 22258
Telephone Company.: + 30 22860 22121
Bus Station.: + 30 22860 25404
Veterinary Surgeon.: + 30 22860 31482
Archaeological Museum.: + 30 22860 22217

Time and Currency
Greek time is GMT +2 hours.
The currency is euro.

Health
Travelers will not face any major health risks in Greece. During the summertime though, visitors should be prepared to deal with the Greek climate. Be sure to wear a hat and sunglasses, and to apply sun-block while touring and sunbathing. Wear light and airy clothes and always have a bottle of water handy.
If any health problems do arise during your stay in Greece you will not have any difficulty in dealing with the situation. For minor injuries and illnesses, just go to a pharmacy, where they will be able to assist you immediately. Pharmacies can dispense most over the counter drugs. For more serious conditions, you should go to a Health Center or a Hospital. Health care in Greece is free and you will not be charged for treatment. Hospital and clinic facilities are first rate and the medical personnel is efficient.

Electric Current
The standard in Greece is 230V AC (50Hz). Appliances from North America require a transformer and British ones an adaptor.

Public Holidays 2008

1 January: New Year’s Day
6 January: Epiphany
10 March: Ash Monday
25 March: National Holiday
25 April: Good Friday
27 and 28 April: Easter
1 May: May Day
16 June: Whit Monday ( Holiday only for public sector)
15 August: Dormition (Assumption) of The Virgin
28 October: National Holiday
25 and 26 December: Christmas

When entering Greece, EU citizens are not required to carry their passports. An EU Identification Card provides adequate information. UK citizens need to carry a passport, but otherwise the entry conditions are the same as other EU nationals.

Citizens of the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and several South American nations require only a valid passport to stay in Greece for up to 90 days without a visa. Nationals from a number of other countries are permitted to remain in Greece for 60 days without a visa. Visa extensions can be easily acquired by an application and payment of an extension fee to the proper authorities, while you must also be able to show bank documentation or other evidence which states that you have the means to support yourself without employment. Staying in the country with an expired visa is prohibited and subject to prosecution.
 
Lastly, Greek authorities prohibit entry to individuals whose passport states that they have visited the occupied region of Northern Cyprus after November 1983. 

For more information , you may visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece