The best hotels in Santorini for soaking up the Aegean sunshine
Looking for the best hotels in Santorini? You're not alone. Santorini is always high on our hit-lists for idyllic getaways on the Med – and has stoked the wanderlust of many a would-be traveller – for good reason. Because, even in the middle of a busy week, the clear, crisp Cycladic architecture of Santorini somehow always evokes a sense of calm.
Athens may have the Acropolis, Mykonos a glamorous nightlife scene and Crete plenty of sandy beaches, but Santorini, with its iconic Caldera, offers plenty of romance, luxury and culture that would wow any visitor to the Greek islands. Santorini (also known as Thira or Thera) is a volcanic island believed to be the remaining link to the Lost City of Atlantis. Legend says that Euphemus, son of Poseidon, created the island after he made love to a nymph, giving the island of Santorini a certain mythical quality.
Your itinerary in paradise, sorted.
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What part of Santorini is best to stay in?
Fira, the capital of Santorini, is vibrant and filled with bustling tavernas that emanate the joyful smell of freshly cooked Greek food. In the evenings, the town’s buzzing nightlife scene comes to life, and you can dance the night away to a shot of ouzo (or six). Firostefani, which is just a short drive away, is a world away from the tourist trail and perfect for an afternoon of exploring. Imerovigli boasts some of the best views of the Caldera and some excellent fine dining restaurants, cafes and wineries, while Perivolos is home to the one of the vibiest beach bars this side of the island. Aside from being the best area for sunset views, Oia is filled with some of the best Santorini hotels, with infinity pools that look over the Aegean sea.
Is Oia or Fira better to stay?
Oia and Fira are undoubtedly the two most popular areas to stay in Santorini, but both offer quite different stays, and which one to choose depends on what type of holiday you're after. Fira is the livelier of the two, so perhaps more suited to groups of friends looking for buzzing nightlife and shopping. In Oia, you'll find the best luxury hotels and high-quality restaurants, which couples and honeymooners will undoubtedly enjoy.
Is 5 days enough for Santorini?
In our experience, yes, five days is enough for a holiday in Santorini. If you want to do the popular tourist attractions – Perissa beach, Kamari beach, the red beach in Akrotiri, exploring Fira and Oia (or hiking between the two), visiting the Venetian castle in Pyrgos, wandering around Kartedaros, taking part in water sports and boat rides – a weekend would probably be too rushed, and a week is likely the maximum amount of time on the island (though it's the perfect jumping-off point to explore other Greek islands, too).
Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to stay in Santorini that we’re sure will tick everything on your Greece wish list. Regardless if you’re looking for breath-taking sunset views in Oia, beautiful infinity pools in Fira, charming villas in Firostefani, beachside properties in Akrotiri, Perissa or Perivolos or Instagrammable moments in Imerovigli.
Scroll for our full edit of the best hotels in Santorini right now…
Nobu Hotel Santorini
Best for: Foodies
Address: Eparchiaki Odos Firon-Ias, Imerovigli, Greece
Price per night: From £400.
Why we love it: The signature Nobu design and cuisine, of course.Around 20 minutes from the airport and perched high on Imerovigli’s volcanic cliffs, newly-opened Nobu Santorini offers sprawling views over the bright-blue Aegean all the way to the jumble of white-washed Oia homes in the distance. The property is positioned along the epic 10.5km Fira to Oia walking trail and you’ll often see hikers passing by. If one of the (shorter) trails doesn't take your fancy, relax in the tiered pools (an infinity pool at the front and a larger swimming pool behind) or in your room; one of 25 multi-story caves, decorated almost entirely in pristine white, with touches of black and dark wood, most with private terraces with a private hot tub or pool. Don't miss Nobu's high-quality Japanese food – undoubtedly the best on the island – like yellowtail sashimi and black cod miso.
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Canaves Oia Suites
Best for: A romantic retreat.
Address: Main Street, Oia, Greece
Price per night: From £260.
Why we love it: The sea views from your private plunge pool.The Canaves group run six properties in Oia, the most popular of which is arguably Canaves Oia Luxury Suites, particularly amongst couples and honeymooners. This is the sort of stuff you hit 'save' on mid-scroll: white-washed caves built into the cliff that look over to the Caldera; a hilltop fine-dining restaurant with spectacular sea views; two pools and a cave spa. The location is great too, just off Oia's main street lined with shops and restaurants.
Andronis Arcadia, Preferred Hotel Group
Best for: Families
Address: Oia 847 02, Greece
Price per night: From £900.
Why we love it: The endless activities for kids (and grown-up kids).If you're wondering where to stay in Santorini, let us share a secret: Andronis Arcadia cannot be beaten. Part of the prestigious Preferred Hotel Group, Andronis Arcadia is a gorgeous family-friendly design-led hotel in Oia. The all-suite hotel is undoubtedly one of the best hotels on the island of Santorini. It sits away from the busy-iness of the caldera cliff and boasts the quintessential panoramic views that Santorini is known for. Named after the mythical home of the Greek god Pan, Andronis Arcadia promises to be an oasis for families looking for a truly memorable holiday. Each luxury suite has its own private pool and feature white-washed walls and earthy luxe interiors, with 90% of the furnishings made in-house with locally-sourced materials. There’s plenty of activities to enjoy for both the young and young at heart as families can enjoy yoga classes, kids’ spa treatments, cooking lessons, tennis, hiking trails and photo safaris.
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Mystique, A Luxury Collection Hotel
Best for: Wellbeing and some R&R
Address: Oía 847 02, Greece
Price per night: From £550.
Why we love it: One of the best spa offerings on the island.Described as ‘an exclusive hideaway in a natural world’ Mystique, A Luxury Collection Hotel, regularly tops the lists of best hotels in Santorini. One look at its awe-inspiring neutral-toned façade and it’s easy to see why. With two beautiful swimming pools, a vibey restaurant by Olivier Campanha, a rejuvenating spa and a brilliant new mind and body programme launched in partnership with OPO, it’s clear why this luxury hotel has been a long-time favourite for the international jet set. Not to mention, each of the 41 luxury suites boasts incredible panoramic sea views of the active volcano vista. Also, the personal touch and distinctive Greek hospitality of owners Kalia and Antonis Eliopoulos of Kanava Hotels & Resorts can be felt in every corner of the hotel, so wellness-loving guests can expect to be truly pampered during their stay at Mystique.
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Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection
Best for: Honeymoons
Address: Imerovigli 847 00, Greece
Price per night: From £900.
Why we love it: That infinity pool.Set against the sweeping caldera of Imerovigli and with the classic sugar cube style suites, Grace Hotel is the perfect Santorini hotel for loved-up honeymooners. Part of the Auberge Resorts Collection, Grace Hotel’s stunning clifftop setting makes it the ideal location for newlyweds to enjoy a glass of wine and watch one of Santorini’s spectacular sunsets.
The hotel’s infinity pool, which hangs above a cliff and with breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea, is just the spot for lovers to fall under Santorini’s spell. The hotel also offers bespoke honeymoon packages that include , private yacht sailing excursions, exclusive wine tastings at local wineries, private sunset picnics and wellbeing experiences, giving lucky newlyweds a honeymoon with almost mythological levels of luxury.
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Atoles Retreat
Best for: Views, views, views
Address: Imerovigli 847 00, Greece
Price per night: From £320.
Why we love it: The sunsets.Perched on the highest point of the Caldera cliffs of Imerovigli, Atoles Retreat is the best area in the island to enjoy the most amazing views. From Atoles retreat, you can revel in the majestic views of the volcano and the Caldera and of course enjoy one of Santorini’s famous sunsets. Atoles Retreat, which is part of the Epoque Collection, foregoes the usual white and blue Cycladic interiors for a more muted colour palette of beiges and greys. This intimate boutique hotel is a minimalist’s dream and has only six, individually-designed suites. Think bare foot luxury meets contemporary minimalism – that is exactly the vibe at Atoles Retreat.
Andronis Concept Wellness Resort
Best for: Spa lovers
Address: Epar.Od. Firon-Ias, Thira 847 00, Greece
Price per night: From £350.
Why we love it: The all-encompassing holistic approach to wellness.Andronis Concept Wellness Resort is located on one of the highest points in Imerovigli and has been touted as a wellness escape unlike any other. The hotel’s façade blends seamlessly into its natural surroundings and is a frequent favourite of Hollywood celebs looking for some A-list R&R. Each suite has a private ocean-facing infinity pool, giving guests the most spectacular sunrise and sunset views. This intimate boutique hotel boasts a holistic wellness concept that covers everything from hiking, tennis, yoga, personal training, CBD spa treatments and even nutrition-focused Greek cookery lessons.
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Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Santorini
Best for: Grown-up club kids
Address: Unnamed Road, Ag. Paraskevi 847 00, Greece
Price per night: From £250.
Why we love it: The buzzing atmosphere.Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Santorini is part of the Nikki Beach group, which popularised the day-time beach bar concept that club kids the world over have come to know and love. Located in the secluded village of Kamari, Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Santorini is perfectly set on the Monolithos black sand beach, giving guests unparalleled beachfront access whether they’re catching some rays or dancing the night away. The resort has 62 rooms and suites that are all walking distance from the beach. Some are complete with private Jacuzzis and private pools, each one offering gorgeous beachside views of the Caldera. It’s not all parties and cocktails too, because Nikki Beach is also just a short drive away from Oia, Fira and the nearby towns of Ancient Thera – where culture-lovers can explore the Museum of Prehistoric Thera.
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Vedema, A Luxury Collection Resort
Best for: A private, secluded retreat
Address: Megalochori 847 00, Greece
Price per night: From £400.
Why we love it: Off-the-beaten-track meets luxury hideaway.Nestled within the medieval village of Megalochori, Vedema is a luxurious retreat that was inspired and built around a 400-year old winery that sits at the heart of the property. Vedema is a Luxury Collection Resort that occupies a 100-year-old mansion in Megalochori, giving guests a ‘home from home’ off the beaten path in Santorini. Comprising 59 stylish villas, Vedema is fashioned like an old Greek village with native, hand-crafted architecture that moves away from the classic blue and white facades that have become synonymous with Santorini. All villas have private terraces and some boast Jacuzzis and private plunge pools. Don’t forget to go for sunset wine tasting in the hotel’s Canava Wine Cellar, where you can experience seven delicious wines from local wineries, accompanied by Greek cheeses and crackers. It is the best hotel for a truly private and relaxing holiday in a world of its own.
Save when you book one of the best hotels in Santorini with these booking.com discount codes.
Katikies Garden Santorini
Best for: A romantic break
Address: Fira, 84700, Greece
Price per night: From £260.
Why we love it: Great location, right in Fira centre.Located in Fira, Katikies Garden is a stylish contemporary oasis in the heart of Santorini’s bustling town centre. The hotel is a converted monastery and offers a different aesthetic from the usual white and blue stone facades of the Caldera. Part of the Leading Hotels of the World, Katikies Garden almost has a Venetian/rococo aesthetic with floral motifs and a sleek black and white colour palette. A stylish courtyard sits at the heart of the hotel which has is surrounded by a collection of 40 luxury suites and a rooftop pool with incredible views of the Caldera cliff. Katikies Garden is the perfect base to explore Fira, the largest town in Santorini, whose charming cobblestoned streets are filled with eclectic shops, quirky cafes and vibey tavernas.
Athina Suites
Best for: Cave suites
Address: Fira, Thira 847 00, Greece
Price per night: From £300.
Why we love it: One of the more affordable cave suites on Santorini.This stylish boutique hotel is tucked away in a quiet side street in Fira and boasts 19, individually-designed cave suites. Each suite boasts dramatic views of the volcano and the Aegean sea and are complete with luxury amenities and stylish contemporary furnishings. We like the Grand Cave Suite – which has a unique loft layout that can accommodate up to four people. Not to mention, all of Fira’s charming tavernas, shops, cafes and galleries are all within walking distance from the hotel.
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Mythical Blue Santorini
Best for: Boutique hotel lovers
Address: Nomikou M, Thira 847 00, Greece
Price per night: From £250.
Why we love it: The perfect base for exploring.Mythical Blue is just short walk away from Fira and a quick drive away from the black sand Monolithos Beach, the Nea Kameni Volcanic Park and Santorini Caldera Volcanic crater, making it the ideal hotel for guests with a hankering for exploring. This intimate yet fabulous boutique hotel is sat atop one of the highest points of the Caldera, with a gorgeous taverna-style restaurant and cliffside infinity pool. Cycladic charm comes to life at Mythical Blue which makes each stay special with an extra level of service that will make you never want to leave.
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Tsitouras Collection
Best for: Art lovers
Address: Firostefani, 847 00, Greece
Price per night: From £300.
Why we love it: You'll never stop snapping photos.The Tsitouras Collection, located in the quiet village of Firostefani, is a hotel that celebrates Greece’s old world charm. Set amongst the dramatic landscape of the Caldera, this intimate hotel has five individually-designed suites, each based on different legendary personalities (including Russian ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev). Designed by famous art collector Dimitris Tsitouras, this glamorous hotel breathed new life into a 1780 mansion and blends local architecture, elegant interiors, and plenty of museum-quality art. More is more is the name of the game at Tsitouras and there’s certainly plenty to feast your eyes on at the hotel.
Save when you book one of the best hotels in Santorini with these booking.com discount codes.
