Lost Atlantis Experience Museum

Did the eruption of Santorini inspire the legend of Atlantis? The idea has fascinated scholars and travellers for well over a century, and the Lost Atlantis Experience in the village of Megalochori turns it into an hour of entertaining, family-friendly storytelling. Billed as the first museum in the world devoted to the lost city, it occupies a modern building of around seven hundred square metres on the edge of the village and uses technology rather than glass cases to tell the story. You begin with Plato, whose dialogues Timaeus and Critias describe a powerful island civilisation swallowed by the sea in a single day and night; an animated hologram of the philosopher explains his account and invites you to weigh the evidence. Interactive and augmented-reality displays then connect the legend with what archaeologists know about the Bronze Age Aegean: the Minoan civilisation of Crete, the prosperous town of Akrotiri and the cataclysmic eruption that tore the island apart around 3,600 years ago and sent tsunamis across the Aegean. The centrepiece is a multisensory show in which the floor moves and the effects build as you experience the earthquake, the tsunami and the eruption, which children love and which is permitted for those over six. Hands-on activities teach younger visitors about Minoan life and Akrotiri, and there is a shop for souvenirs and books. It is not a substitute for the real archaeology at Akrotiri and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera, but it is a vivid introduction, especially for children, and a good indoor option in the heat of the day or on a windy afternoon. Tickets are sold through Tiqets on their own or bundled with Akrotiri or a volcano cruise.

Who it suits: families with children of school age get the most from it, as do visitors who enjoy myths and immersive exhibits more than ruins. Adults who already know the history may find it light, but the eruption sequence is fun at any age. Allow about an hour, with a little more if your children want to repeat the hands-on activities. The multisensory show has a minimum age of six, and it may not suit people who are sensitive to motion, loud sound or flashing light.

Getting there: Megalochori is an inland village on the road between Fira and Akrotiri, about ten minutes by car from Fira and on the bus routes to the south. It makes an easy stop on the way to Akrotiri or Perissa. Parking is generally easier than in the caldera villages. Afterward, walk into Megalochori itself, one of the best-preserved traditional villages on the island, with bell towers spanning its lanes, a small central square with tavernas and several wineries nearby.

Making a day of it: the most satisfying order is the Lost Atlantis Experience first, then Akrotiri to see the real Bronze Age streets, then the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira for the frescoes and finds; children who have seen the eruption show will look at the ruins with new eyes. Opening hours change with the season and may be reduced in winter, so check before you go if you are travelling between November and March. Tiqets bundles the museum with Akrotiri and with a volcano cruise at a small discount.