10 Best places to stay in Santorini

There are few places on Earth that leave you speechless. The whitewashed village of Oia, perched high above Santorini’s spectacular caldera is one, and there is no better place to experience it than this pioneering cave-style hotel. Built on a slope under draperies of bougainvillea and a labyrinth of steps (bellboys carry your luggage), this is the standard-bearer of luxury cave hotels on Santorini.

The caves (or ‘canavas’ in local terminology) were originally dome-shaped wine cellars dug into the volcanic rock.

Andronis pioneered their conversion to suites that acknowledge local tradition, while providing sumptuous comfort: individual caldera-facing balconies with jacuzzis, Nespresso machines and bluetooth speakers – plus, amazingly, fast wifi with a router in every cave suite.

The Lycabettus restaurant, set on a balcony-like protuberance, is among the top three on the island, earning Greek Toques d’Or aplenty, under chefs Pavlos Kyriakos and Nikos Livadias. Their menu degustation is best enjoyed with their premium wine pairing.

An extraordinary-looking hotel, Andronis offers something very different to the usual white-washed Aegean buildings that characterise Santorini.

The main hotel building is a taupe, smooth-sided ‘hillock’ that blends perfectly with its surroundings. Luxury suites step down the hillside; most are designed as maisonettes, with sunset-facing balconies and infinity pools.

Its location – on the edge of Imerovigli – gives it a double perspective; public spaces, such as the pools, reception and the gardens face towards the gently sloping eastern countryside, while the suites face west towards the caldera.

This is one of the island’s ultimate fly-and-flops; the spa has a reputation as one of Santorini’s best, and the multi-awarded Throubi restaurant offers Michelin-quality food, with a super-indulgent tasting menu.

One of the more ‘affordable’ (a relative term on Santorini) caldera-facing hotels, the Avaton Resort and Spa offers caldera views and an excellent spa, housed in an atmospheric grotto.

The hotel is for adults only, and its semi-secluded location will appeal to couples seeking a romantic stay for all budgets. There is no restaurant, but plenty of good dining options within a ten-minute walk.

There’s good choice of rooms, ranging from a privacy-conscious lavish honeymoon suite to some affordable entry-level standard rooms by the infinity pool, all without sacrificing an iota of luxury.

The spa here is the big draw: grotto-like atmospheric, it comes complete with sauna, hammam, jacuzzi and a cold plunge pool that feels positively primeval.

A perennial tourist pleaser, the 5-star Katikies Santorini is located on a cliff edge close to the beginning of the snakelike Oia village at the end of the Fira-Oia trail.  

Facing slightly west, this is an ideal place to hang out by one of the three infinity pools, cocktail in hand to watch the sunset again and again, undisturbed by the throngs. 

There is an option of two illustrious restaurants: the Mikrasia, offering Greek Anatolian cuisine, as well as the Seltz Champagne Bar & Restaurant by Fleur de Miraval, a house co-founded by Brad Pit and Angelina Jolie dedicated to rosé champagne.

With a prime location overlooking the caldera, this understated hideaway combines traditional features with high-tech amenities. 

The complex of typical 300-year-old cave dwellings retains the original architectural features, (including low ceilings and doorways). 

The 14 individually designed rooms and suites are decorated in soothing, earthy tones, with top-notch beds and spa-worthy bathrooms. The infinity pool is on the small side, but the jaw-dropping views of the caldera more than compensate. 

Run by a young couple with deep roots connected to Santorini, it’s welcoming, authentic and good value compared to rival establishments. 

For sheer luxury and romance, this design hotel is a cut above the many ‘honeymoon resorts’ on Santorini.  

Brilliant white rooms with modern designer fittings spill down the sheer cliff, with private verandas and plunge pools perfectly placed for watching the sun set over the flooded volcanic caldera. All rooms have unobstructed views of the caldera and sunset – Santorini’s biggest draws. 

With two pools, a ridiculously romantic restaurant and champagne on tap, this is the ultimate stress-buster in the heart of a pristine, traditional village.

Located on the main caldera ring road, the Majestic is spread across the eastern slopes, meaning that the views are towards the black beaches, rather than the caldera itself. If you’re looking for somewhere to laze on your balcony watching the sunset, this isn’t the place. 

If, however, you want to explore the island it’s an ideal choice, with Fira – famed for its busy nightlife – and the central bus station both a short walk away. There’s also a number of limited parking spaces in the hotel car park, a rarity near Fira. 

The hotel itself is sleekly luxurious, with lots of grey marble and leather, and has the bonus of two heated pools (most rely on the sun to warm them). 

Add in a cosy, romantic restaurant for dinner, and breakfast as late as you like, and this is an ideal base for those who want to discover Santorini beyond its sunsets. 

If you want to unwind and recharge, look no further. This family-run hideaway is a labour of love – the owners built it themselves, with great respect for local traditions.

It’s blissful tranquillity – an aura of absolute calm surrounds this secluded hideaway. There are sweeping views of the caldera and Oia whichever way you look.

Carved out of the terraced cliff face, each of the 20 studios and suites is unique in layout and location. Splashes of fuchsia and lilac brighten up the dramatically sparse, whitewashed interiors.

The infinity pool has spawned countless imitators, but none can rival it.

Phenomenal views of the flooded volcanic caldera make it hard to leave your private patio. But there’s a superb spa, gym, yoga shala and lap pool should you feel the urge to move.

Those who want their holidays far from the madding crowds of Oia, Kamari and Fira, can look upon the Avant Garde Suites as the choice alternative.  

It offers spacious rooms with bright pop-art furniture, and resin-moulded chaise longues around an infinity pool stretching towards precipitous cliffs that makes you feel like you’ve booked into a Bond villain’s lair. There’s a spa and a pool bar that also sells snacks, but no restaurant.  

Unlike the conventional sunsets on Santorini, the hotel’s northwards view takes in the two volcanic islets and is considered – by Santorini cognoscenti – to offer a more complete view than Oia. 

The hotel is a short drive from Vlychada village and the nearby archaeological site.

It is near impossible to find an affordable hotel on Santorini, so Chez Sophie is exceptional.

It’s a budget-conscious, family-run boutique hotel that reminds you how hospitable Greeks can be. Just the sumptuous homemade breakfast will make you book your return visit before you’ve left. 

Set around a beautiful kidney-shaped pool that’s illuminated at night, it’s located at Kamari, one block away from its black beach.

It lies at the edge of the settlement, so close to the Kamari nightlife but far enough to feel like a peaceful retreat.