Santorini Travel Guide
Where to Stay on Santorini
A village-by-village guide to choosing your base — the romance and crowds of Oia, the calm of Imerovigli and Firostefani, the convenience of Fira, the wine country of Megalochori and Pyrgos, and the black-sand beaches of Perivolos and Perissa — with the hotels that suit each.
On most holidays, the hotel is where you sleep. On Santorini, it is often the main event: the terrace, the pool and the view across the caldera are what many people come for. But the island is more varied than the postcards suggest, and the right base depends on whether you want sunsets, convenience, beaches, wine country or value. Here is how the main areas compare.
First, the big trade-off: caldera or not. A room on the caldera rim gives you the famous view from your own terrace, often with a plunge pool or hot tub, and it is unforgettable. The price is high, especially in summer; rooms are often compact; there are many steps; and the lanes outside can be crowded. Away from the rim, inland or on the beaches, you get more space, flat paths, bigger pools, easier parking and lower prices, but you will travel to see the sunset. Many visitors split their stay: two or three nights on the caldera for the romance, then a few nights on the beach or in the countryside.
Oia: the dream, with crowds. The village at the northern tip of the caldera has the most famous sunsets, the prettiest lanes and the most photographed hotels on the island. Stay here if the view is the point of the trip and budget is secondary. Canaves Oia Suites, at the top of the village, gives every suite a private pool and has the rare luxury of an elevator. Mystique, carved into the lower cliffs, is secluded, with excellent dining and Marriott Bonvoy points. Andronis Luxury Suites, in the heart of the village, has heated private pools and hot tubs and takes guests over thirteen only. The downsides: Oia is about thirty minutes from Fira and the ports, taxis are scarce at sunset and the lane is crowded in the evenings.
Imerovigli and Firostefani: the calm caldera. Between Fira and Oia, Imerovigli is the highest village on the rim, with views along the whole caldera and the drama of Skaros Rock below. It is quieter than Oia and Fira, with fewer shops and restaurants, which is exactly why couples love it. Grace Hotel, Auberge Collection, has the largest infinity pool in the village and Varoulko Santorini restaurant, and accepts children over fourteen. Firostefani, a short walk from Fira, is similar in mood and slightly more affordable, with easy access to Fira restaurants along the caldera path.
Fira: the convenient capital. The capital is the most practical base on the island: the bus station is here, the cable car runs down to the old port where boat tours leave, there are museums, shops and countless restaurants and bars, and it keeps the most places open in spring, autumn and winter. The caldera edge has many hotels with views; a few streets back, prices fall. Aressana Spa Hotel and Suites is a comfortable central option with a pool, a spa and rooms from classic doubles to suites with hot tubs. Fira is busy on cruise days and lively at night, so light sleepers should choose carefully.
Megalochori and Pyrgos: wine country. The inland villages are beautiful, lived-in and far calmer than the rim, with tavernas in their squares, wineries nearby and a central location for exploring by car. Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, is woven around a four-hundred-year-old winery in Megalochori, with dinner in the old wine cave, daily tastings, two pools and spacious villas, which makes it ideal for families and wine lovers. Pyrgos, the old hilltop capital, stays alive all year and has some of the best tavernas on the island. You will drive or walk a few minutes to the caldera for sunset.
Perivolos, Perissa and Kamari: the beaches. The south-east coast is lined with black volcanic sand, beach bars and tavernas, and it is the best area for a beach holiday and for value. Istoria, a Member of Design Hotels, sits directly on Perivolos Beach, with minimalist suites, Mr. E restaurant, a spa, free parking and a sister property on the caldera in Firostefani. Perissa has many simpler, cheaper hotels and studios, and Kamari, across the mountain, has a lively promenade. The beaches face the sunrise, not the caldera sunset, and it is twenty minutes or more to Fira.
Matching base to traveller. Honeymooners and couples on a big budget: Oia or Imerovigli. First-timers without a car: Fira or Firostefani. Families: Vedema, Perissa or Perivolos, where there are flat paths and bigger pools; many caldera hotels accept only older children. Wine lovers: Megalochori or Pyrgos. Beach lovers: Perivolos or Perissa. Winter visitors: Fira or Pyrgos, where most of the year-round hotels, tavernas and services are.
Booking tips. Book early for June to September, when the best caldera rooms sell out months ahead and minimum stays are common. Check whether the climate resilience fee, which is charged per room per night and is higher in the warm months and for higher categories, is included in your price. Ask about steps and luggage if anyone in your party has limited mobility; very few caldera hotels have lifts. Confirm opening dates for spring and autumn trips, as most resort hotels close for part of the winter. Finally, if your hotel is in Oia or on the caldera, ask whether transfers include porters, since cars cannot reach most cliffside doors.