Megalochori

Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, Santorini

★★★★★

Vedema offers a different Santorini from the caldera cliffs, and for wine lovers and families it may be the better one. The resort grew around a winery about four hundred years old on the edge of Megalochori, one of the best-preserved traditional villages on the island, and its name means harvest in Greek. Rather than hanging off a cliff, it spreads across a gentle landscape of whitewashed buildings, courtyards, gardens and pools, with the bell towers and lanes of the medieval village just beyond the walls. There are seventy-four suites and villas, most with private terraces and many with hot tubs or private pools, and the Grecian and Corinthian villas, added in 2021, offer the most space and privacy. The winery heritage runs through everything. Alati, the signature restaurant, is set in the old winery cave and serves Mediterranean-inspired dishes; the Canava Wine Bar hosts a daily tasting just after sunset in a medieval-style setting, pouring wines from the resort's own vineyard as well as other Santorini labels; and Elios Spa occupies a wine cellar around a century old, offering massages, facials and body treatments. Trataro serves Italian-inspired food by the pool, Pergola covers breakfast, Greek dishes and barbecues, and Prive Dining offers advance-booked tasting menus of five or seven courses. There are two pools, a pool bar and the Circe Bar for low-proof cocktails with Greek flavours, plus a fitness centre. The concierge arranges beach days and private sailing trips, and the airport is only about seven kilometres away. Because Megalochori lies inland, there is no caldera view from the rooms, but a short walk through the village leads to a chapel above the caldera for sunset, and the wineries, tavernas and Lost Atlantis Experience of the area are on your doorstep.

Why stay inland: a caldera-view hotel is unforgettable, but it often means steps, small spaces and crowds outside your door. Vedema trades the view for space, flat paths, gardens and pools where children can swim, and a peaceful village setting where you can walk to dinner in a taverna square. It is ideal for families, for longer stays and for travellers who plan to explore the island by car, since Megalochori is central, close to the airport and on the way to Akrotiri and the southern beaches. For sunset, the caldera rim is a short walk away.

Choosing a room: the standard suites are generous by Santorini standards; villas with private pools and hot tubs are worth it for families and couples who want privacy. The Grecian and Corinthian villas are the most recent and the largest. Ask for a room near the pools if you have children, or toward the village edge for quiet. Breakfast is served daily at Pergola.

Practical notes: the resort is about seven kilometres from the airport, and private airport transfers are offered for a fee. As a Marriott Luxury Collection property, it earns and redeems Bonvoy points. It operates seasonally, so check dates for winter. Book the Canava tasting and a table at Alati early in your stay. The climate resilience fee applies per room per night at the five-star rate.