Perivolos Beach

Istoria, a Member of Design Hotels

★★★★★

Istoria is the answer for travellers who come to Santorini for the sea as much as the sunsets. It stands directly on Perivolos Beach, on the south-east coast, a stretch of about three kilometres of black volcanic sand lined with beach bars and tavernas, and it brings the polish of a design hotel to a part of the island that is otherwise known for simpler beach accommodation. The name means story, and the hotel tells it through materials: the suites are minimalist and calm, with stone columns, wooden roofs, handcrafted textiles and arched openings leading onto bright verandas, many facing the sea, and the overall effect is closer to a private island home than a resort. There is an outdoor pool a few steps from the sand, and the beach itself is right in front of you, with sunbeds and service. Mr. E, the restaurant, takes a freestyle approach to Greek cooking, highlighting local produce from the island and the Cyclades, and it has become a destination in its own right for food lovers staying elsewhere on the island. Elios Spa offers holistic treatments with organic, locally sourced ingredients. The hotel also has a sister property, Istoria Cliff, with elevated suites in Firostefani on the caldera rim, where guests can enjoy in-room breakfast and book dinner at Mr. E, so it is possible to split a stay between beach and caldera. Self-parking is complimentary, which is a real advantage on Santorini, where parking is scarce. The airport is about thirteen kilometres away, and the hotel does not run a shuttle, so arrange a transfer or rent a car. Perissa village, with more tavernas, is a stroll along the beach, and the path up to Ancient Thera starts nearby.

Beach or caldera: staying on the beach means waking up to the sea, swimming before breakfast and walking to dinner along the sand, with none of the steps and crowds of the caldera villages. The trade-off is the view: the east coast faces the sunrise rather than the caldera sunset, and Fira and Oia are a drive away (about twenty minutes to Fira, longer to Oia). Many guests solve this by booking a sunset cruise or dinner on the caldera one evening, or by splitting their stay with the sister property in Firostefani.

Who it suits: couples who want design and calm, food lovers, and families with older children who want the beach on the doorstep. Because it is a small hotel, it feels personal, and the beach setting is more relaxed than the formal luxury of some cliff hotels. Book a table at Mr. E when you reserve, as it is popular with outside guests too.

Practical notes: free on-site parking makes renting a car easy; the bus to Fira stops along the beach road. The beach bars of Perivolos can be lively in July and August, though the hotel itself is calm. Like most beach hotels on the island, it operates seasonally, so check dates outside the summer months. The climate resilience fee is added per room per night.