Where to Stay in Santorini (5 Best Places & Areas)

👉 Jump to: Best Places to Stay in Santorini | Towns & Areas | Tips | FAQs

I have visited Santorini several times, and I absolutely love it. Even though it’s extremely touristy and expensive, I believe it to be totally worth the trip due to its stunning and dramatic beauty. It’s unlike anywhere else in the world, and I’m happy to help you find the perfect place to stay.

If you’re coming here for the first time, I recommend you stay in either Fira/Firostefani or Imerovigli. They’re all centrally located along the caldera with incredible views and offer a convenient base. Fira is the most convenient of the three.  

Smaro Studios in Firostefani is my best overall pick for a place to stay. It’s run by a local couple and has incredible views from the balcony. Or choose Remezzo Villas in Immerovigli, which is an ideal stay for couples, with homey touches and a wonderful swimming pool.

But there are so many accommodation options in Santorini, depending on what you are looking for and where you want to stay. I’ll delve into that more below. First, I’ll begin with a short summary of the best hotel options.

Best Places to Stay in Santorini

If you’re short on time, these are my top hotel picks: 

• 🏆 Best Overall Hotel – Smaro Studios
• 📍 Best Location – Porto Fira Suites or Smaro Studios
• 💎 Best Luxury – Canaves Oia Suites
• ❤️ Best for Couples – Remezzo Villas
• 👪 Best for Families – Evgenia Villas & Suites by Calm Collection or Meroviglia Boutique Hotel
• 🛎️ Best Boutique – Zannos Melathron or Zoe Aegeas Traditional Houses

Ok, now scroll down for a deep dive into the pros (and cons) of each area of Santorini: 

5 Best Towns & Areas to Stay in Santorini

Santorini is actually an archipelago of mainly uninhabited islands that were created after a cataclysmic volcanic eruption about 3,600 years ago. 

The main island is typically referred to as Santorini (though officially, it’s called Thera). The second largest, Thirasia (or Therasia), sits opposite Santorini and has a population of roughly 300. The islets of Nea Kameni and Palia Kameni are uninhabited but can be visited on day trips. 

The places to stay covered in this guide are all on Santorini Island (Thera). 

Fira / Firostefani

👉 Best Area For First-Timers and Families | ✨ Best Fira Hotels: Smaro Studios • Porto Fira Suites • Aroma Suites • Evgenia Villas & Suites by Calm Collection

Fira is the hub of Santorini and it’s typically where people first arrive on the island. Firostefani borders Fira to the north but they are basically considered the same place by most people. Fira is just slightly busier and more vibrant.  

While it’s very touristy and kitschy in parts, this area has a myriad of options when it comes to hotels, dining, and shopping, along with absolutely incredible caldera views. Walk around the streets, meander along the cliffside paths, and take it all in. Stop at Three Bells of Fira lookout point for an iconic view of the Aegean over the top of a whitewashed church. Visit the museum of prehistoric Thera to see some ancient artifacts. 

Despite cheap souvenir shacks galore, there are also quality galleries like Mati Art Gallery and Jeannette House of Art. Stop into Atlantis Books, which is one of my favorite bookshops in the world. Grab a drink at a restaurant or bar with a view overlooking the caldera and settle in for sunset. Then wander around afterwards and admire the town lit up at night. It’s stunning. 

You can get to nearly everything here on foot. It’s also relatively easy to jump off from Fira and see the rest of the island. 

As for accommodations, I love Smaro Studios, and I have stayed here two separate times. True to its name, the rooms nearly all have kitchens and are more like studio apartments. It’s on the modest side but with a lot of character, and it’s run by a kind local couple. Plus, the view from the balconies is fantastic. They offer nice breakfasts, but do not have a restaurant or bar.  

Another great option that’s slightly more upscale is Porto Fira Suites. It’s in a great location and has a cool pool, great views, and pristine whitewashed cave rooms. Evgenia Villas & Suites by Calm Collection is good if you don’t stay along the caldera. It has a pool, bar/restaurant, and cozy rooms.

Pros of Staying in Fira/Firostefani:

• Centrally located
• Convenient and has everything you need, from restaurants to pharmacies
• Beautiful caldera views
• Bustling and more lively than other towns on the island

Cons of Staying in Fira/Firostefani:

• Extremely touristy
• Can be kitschy
• Many overpriced but lower-quality restaurants
• Can be crowded

Imerovigli

👉 Best Area For A Quiet Stay | ✨ Best Imerovigli Hotels: Kivotos Santorini • Afroessa Hotel • Remezzo Villas • Meroviglia Boutique Hotel • Santorini Princess Spa Hotel

Imerovigli is about a 20-minute walk north of Fira. It’s the highest village on the caldera, made up of classic whitewashed buildings tumbling down the cliffs and spectacular views. But it feels much different than Fira in that it is smaller, more compact, and less commercial. 

From Imerovigli, it’s easy to access Skaros Rock, which is a promontory containing the remains of a 13th-century castle. It’s a short hike out to the end, which will reward you with more incredible views. Just be careful where you step, as it’s easy to slide on the loose rocks along the path.

There are many good options for places to stay in Imerovigli and several restaurants to choose from. And if you need more options, Fira is not far away.

If you’re looking for a beautiful luxury hotel, Kivotos Santorini is a great option. It has gorgeous cave rooms, suites, and villas, an infinity pool, unique-looking plunge pools, and a bar on-site. Afroessa Hotel is another solid option, with its beautiful rooms, views, and poolside bar. 

For a charming boutique hotel, try Remezzo Villas. Family owned and carefully decorated, it feels like home. It has a swimming pool and great views of the caldera. 

Meroviglia Boutique Hotel is a lovely option with a central swimming pool. Not all rooms have views of the caldera, however. 

Pros of Staying in Imerovigli:

• Peaceful and calm
• Beautiful caldera views
• Close to Fira if you need more options for dining, etc. 

Cons of Staying in Imerovigli:

• Slightly less central
• Fewer dining options 
• Less convenient

Oia

👉 Best Area For Luxury & A Romantic Stay | ✨ Best Oia Hotels: Canaves Oia Suites • Zoe Aegeas Traditional Houses • Chelidonia Luxury Suites • Armeni Village

Oia is Santorini’s crown jewel. It’s so utterly stunning that it’s sometimes hard to believe it’s real. And its beauty has captivated the world. Probably too much. We’ve all seen the photos of the sunset crowds stretching down the streets or the photos of women wearing ridiculously long dresses billowing in the wind. 

There is more here, though. Oia has beautiful meandering streets and alleyways, walls covered in bougainvillea, adorable cats hanging around, and stop-in-your-tracks views. You’d be hard-pressed to find any reasonably priced hotels here, but that goes for the rest of Santorini, too. It is an expensive island, and Oia is its most expensive location. 

But if you want to go all out during your visit, stay in Oia. Plus, it’s conducive to romance. You’ll likely have a front-row seat to its glorious sunsets, and you can wander the streets in the pure morning light before the cruise visitors arrive. Spend the middle of the day visiting other parts of the island and return after the crowds have left. 

There is no shortage of incredibly beautiful hotels in Oia, which can be overwhelming. However, Zoe Aegeas Traditional Houses is charming, intimate, and cheerfully decorated with great caldera views. Armeni Village is a more modest option by Oia standards, but it still offers rooms with caldera views and a cliffside pool in a good location. Want to splurge? Canaves Oia Suites won’t disappoint. 

In addition to nice shopping and some good dining options, be sure to check out Oia Castle (just not at sunset), the two old windmills, and the blue-domed churches scattered throughout the village. The Virgin Mary of the Akathist Hymn Church is a nice cultural stop, as is the Maritime Museum. Walk down the steps below to Ammoudi Bay for lunch and a swim. But overall, just enjoy the beauty of a place like no other. 

Pros of Staying in Oia:

• It’s the island’s most beautiful and famous village
• Incredible sunsets
• Fantastic views and photo opportunities
• Convenience of being near dining, food, and other options

Cons of Staying in Oia:

• Can get extraordinarily crowded
• Touristy
• Very expensive

Megalochori

👉 Best Area For A Unique Visit | ✨ Best Megalochori Hotels: Vedema Resort • Angels Villa Santorini • White Harmony Suites

Most visitors to Santorini don’t venture south of Fira, much less to the island’s inland villages. But if you want to deepen your experience of Santorini, Megalochori is a great place to stay. 

Megalochori is a small yet beautiful village with whitewashed walls lining the curving streets. Its central square is small but inviting, with various restaurants and shops nearby. It’s the opposite of Oia, and it can be very quiet and peaceful during the day.

While it is not situated along the caldera, it’s a relatively brief walk to the sea cliffs from the village, along which you’ll pass the Chapel of Agios Nikolaos. There are several cave hotels here, plus larger mansions, some of which are now luxury hotels. 

Vedema Resort is a beautiful but very high-end option in the village, whereas Angels Villa Santorini is warm and inviting with a local feel. White Harmony Suites is affordable and more modest.

Don’t miss wandering under the beautiful six-bell tower, which straddles one of the lanes off the main square. The main square is also a lovely place to spend time in. You can visit a traditional cave house here if you catch the hand-drawn signs pointing the way along the main streets. Do a wine tasting in the village at Gavalas Winery, or venture to any of the vineyards that dot the hills nearby. 

Megalochori is a short drive from Fira and a good jumping-off spot to explore other parts of the island like Lost Atlantis Experience, Akrotiri, or the southern beaches. 

Pros of Staying in Megalochori:

• Experience a different side of the island
• Slower pace, beautiful, peaceful 
• Usually fewer tourists
• Convenient dining, shopping, cafes, etc. 

Cons of Staying in Megalochori:

• No caldera view
• No sunset spot
• Slower pace
• Can feel isolated without your own transportation

Pyrgos Kallistis

👉 Best Area For A Local Feel | ✨ Best Pyrgos Kallistis Hotels: Apikia Santorini • Voreina Gallery Suites • Zannos Melathron – Omilos Hotels

Pyrgos Kallistis, or Pyrgos, is sometimes called a lower-key version of Oia. I don’t completely agree with this assessment since I feel like it has its own unique charm. While it’s an inland village, it’s perched on a hill that offers viewpoints of the island’s eastern sloping coast as well as the caldera, depending on where you are. 

Pyrgos has whitewashed buildings, labyrinthine streets, and blue-domed churches. Built on a hill, the Kasteli of Pyrgos (the old Venetian fortress) sits at the top and offers caldera views and is great for sunset. There are some lovely little squares to sit in, along with plenty of cafes and restaurants. 

At the bottom of the hill, you can find supermarkets and other conveniences that would be amenable to renting an apartment and cooking on your own, for instance. There are several great hotels here, too.

Apikia Santorini is an elegant, modern hotel with beautiful views of the island and the caldera. Voreina Gallery Suites is also elegant with great views, but more traditional Greek charm and decor. The most special hotel here is Zannos Melathron, which is a beautifully decorated old mansion along a scenic square. 

I saw fewer tourists in this village and observed a great deal of interaction between locals, which felt different from the towns along the caldera and even somehow from Megalochori. This makes it a great place to stay if you want to feel like a local.

Pros of Staying in Pyrgos Kallistis:

• Lower-key and more local vibe
• Beautiful and quintessential Santorinian town
• Caldera and east coast views from different points
• Fantastic photo opportunities
• Good access to dining and shopping

Cons of Staying in Pyrgos Kallistis:

• Not located along the caldera
• Fewer hotel options, particularly higher-end
• Less central & convenient

Tips for Staying in Santorini

Avoid the High Season (Even Though You Can Never Fully Avoid the Crowds)

This probably goes without saying, but it’s the most important thing to take into account when planning your trip to Santorini. On an island as over-touristed as Santorini, it’s best to do all you can to avoid being caught up amongst throngs of other tourists. 

Try visiting during the shoulder seasons in April-May or October-November. There will be fewer crowds to compete with, greater availability, and the weather should still be good. But don’t forget that it’s Santorini, so there will always be tourists around.

Cheap Doesn’t Really Exist in Santorini

Santorini is expensive – more expensive than most other Greek islands. There’s really no way around it. Of course, there are cheaper options that can be pursued, but it’s best to accept that coming here will not be cheap. 

Instead, plan a trip budget you’re comfortable with and stick to it. And remember that it’s likely that you will only come to Santorini just once in your life. If you want to splurge on a trip, this is the place to do it.  

Stay In a Hotel on the Caldera (At Least for a Night)

This follows the previous tip: How many times in your life will you stay in Santorini? Once, in all likelihood. Waking up and going to sleep with the caldera as your view is really an incredible experience. This is the place to splurge on a room with a view. And if you can’t do it for your entire stay, try to do so for one or two nights at least. 

Don’t Make Santorini a Day Trip

I first came to Santorini as a teenager on a (budget) cruise of the Greek islands. We stayed for the day, and I still remember the beauty of that day decades later. When I returned as an adult, I was stunned and just wanted to devour it. 

While there aren’t endless things to do on Santorini, there is still a lot to see here. Avoid being a day-tripping cruise passenger and plan to dedicate more time to experiencing the island. 

Arrive by Boat

Flying to Santorini is convenient, especially when you are pressed for time. But if you can, try to arrive by ferry from another island. It’s quite enchanting to see the cliffs appear in front of you from the sea, with the white trim of villages along the top. 

Whether you take the cable car, cab, or transfer, it’s also quite striking to ascend the dramatic cliffs and see the birds diving through the air. 

Go Beyond Oia and Fira

Another pitfall many who visit Santorini make is that they don’t go beyond Oia or Fira. But there is so much more to see! 

From the inland villages like Megalochori and Pyrgos to the wineries to hiking to historical sites like Akrotiri, pick what interests you and try to branch out and explore more here than just the bare minimum. It will enrich your experience. 

Respect the Locals and Their Property

While in Santorini, you will see the signs placed here and there that read “Stay off the rooftop,” “Private, Keep Off”, etc. With incredible photo opportunities galore, it’s easy to forget that when you turn onto a side street in Oia to take a picture, you could be trespassing. 

Just remember that there are people who actually have the privilege of living here, and we are the guests. Be respectful and heed the signs and barriers.  

Don’t Be Afraid to Rent a Car 

I have read plenty of blogs and listened to podcasts warning visitors to avoid renting a car in Santorini to get around. While this depends on your preference and comfort level as a driver, I recommend renting a car for greater flexibility. 

There is public transportation to many places, but there is so much more you can do if you can get around by yourself. Overall, the roads are fine, and you will be fine, too, if you drive responsibly. You can use Discover Cars to find the best deals and ensure your rental will fit into your budget.

Beware of Unruly Landscape and Uneven Lanes

If you or someone you’re traveling with has any challenges with mobility, be sure to take that into account when planning your stay. Places like Fira or even Oia will likely be easier to navigate than a hilly village like Pyrgos Kallistis, for example. 

Also, be aware that if you are staying somewhere along the caldera, taxis and transfers may not be able to reach the front door of your hotel, which means walking down several steps to reach the front desk. In some cases, it might be better to book a place easily accessible by car or vehicle. 

Book Your Transfers in Advance 

You don’t want to arrive at the ferry dock and have to figure out a way up the towering cliffs on the fly. It’s best to arrange a pickup upon your arrival, which will save you time and stress. 

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FAQs about Santorini

How many days is enough for Santorini?

While it always depends on how much you want to see and your budget, I would recommend no less than 2 nights and 3 days in Santorini. Five days is a decent amount, and a week is ideal if you plan to really explore the place. 

What areas of Santorini should I avoid staying in? 

You should avoid Fira and Oia if you want to steer clear of crowds. Do not stay in Fira if you have a low tolerance for tourist kitsch and wish to be more off the beaten path. 

I also wouldn’t recommend staying near the southern beaches or in Akrotiri. Santorini doesn’t have the greatest Greek beaches. Stay in more vibrant areas and make the beaches a day trip. 

What are the best parts of Santorini to stay on a budget? 

Santorini, quite simply, is an expensive place. If you’re on a tight budget, there are hostels in places like Fira and Oia. Also, if you stay further from the caldera, you will likely pay less, but take into account how you will explore the rest of the island. 

Fira is likely the best bet for a greater variety of price ranges while also being very convenient. You can get nearly everywhere on foot and have access to public transport and vehicle rentals. 

What is the best way to get around Santorini? 

I recommend renting a car and exploring the entire island at your own pace. Some people also rent ATVs to get around. It isn’t an absolute must to have your own transportation because there are buses and taxis. However, bus schedules can be tricky, and it can be complicated to move between places at times. If you have use of your own car, it will be much easier.   

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Thank you for reading this guide. I hope I’ve helped shed some light on how to plan a trip to Santorini. Please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below, and I’ll be happy to get back to you! 

Up next, see Rebecca’s guide to staying in Athens.