Karterados village is a mix of quiet countryside and little houses. The area borders the lower main road to Fira and stretches down Santorini's eastern shoreline. The main entrance to Karterados, but not the only one, is unassuming; 'Erotokritos', perhaps the best bakery on the island, sits on the opposite side of the main road alongside a supermarket and a line of shops, cafes and eateries. Fira is so close you can walk it.

The village's name derives from the Greek word 'karteri' - it means to wait in hiding or ambush. Presumably, the name originated from counterattacks to combat the scourge of piracy that plagued Santorini for decades.

Inside Karterados proper, there are little shops, restaurants and coffee places. The road leads through the village and down to the sea. Karterados has a traditional windmill and a memorial plaque honouring those who died in World War II.

Just after the village square, a turning on the left (diverging from the main road) arrives at the Steps of Galaios and the village's traditional settlement. Built around a shallow ravine, a dried-out remnant of a once free-flowing riverlet, official records date back to the 17th century. In the 19th century, Santorini saw a boom in maritime trade; Karterados became one of the island's prominent sea captains' villages - its inhabitants, seafarers and merchant shipmen. Until today, captains' houses and cave houses populate the labyrinth of winding pathways.

Karterados' beach, Exo Gialos, is home to Boho-style East Breeze Beach Bar and Yalos Beach Bar. The Santorini Tennis Club is a short drive from the village centre. Visitors are welcome to rent a court, take a lesson, or enjoy refreshments and snacks at the cafe.