The Best Hotels In Santorini If You're Dreaming Of A Cycladic Escape For Summer
The Greek island is the world’s undisputed champion of sunset spying – and also home to some seriously stylish Santorini hotels (from which to watch the sun go down, obviously).
The Cyclades may span hundreds of different islands, but few get more footfall than Santorini and Mykonos, and with just one glimpse of Santorini’s famous volcanic caldera from along its croissant-shaped coastline, it won’t take you long to see why. Whitewashed, cave-like suites are the standard here, but the island also has some more colourful hotels, many of which still focus, unsurprisingly, on sourcing the prime position for sunset.
Andronis Arcadia at the northern tip of the island has individual, plunge-pool-enhanced suites, for straight-to-your-terrace sunset perfection – along with an amazing sushi bar for poolside lunches that beat a club sandwich.
Down at the black-sand shores of Perivolos, Istoria tells a tale with former-stable suites, a creative restaurant and the beach (and beach clubs) on your doorstep.
The cruise liners may drop anchor for a certain time of day, but the island has plenty to keep its many visitors entertained while the sun’s up, too: there’s the archaeological site of Akrotiri, the caldera-edge town of Oia for blue-dome-church hunting and volcanic beaches.
Here's our list of the best hotels in Santorini for 2023 – enjoy!
(Kapari Natural Resort/Canaves Oia Sunday Suites - Hearst Owned)
On Santorini’s sunset-ready northernmost tip, Andronis Arcadia gives guests exclusive access to the dazzling nightly show that the coach-loads are lined up outside to catch – with a private terrace and plunge pool to make it even better.
Laid-back lunches of intricate sushi and gourmet burgers are served poolside and in the restaurant, or you can splash out on a fine-dining meal at Opson (with the sky still lit up from the fiery sunset), which has a resident culinary archaeologist spilling the beans on the dining habits of the Ancient Greeks. The spa has a sea-facing hammock, complete with billowy curtains, to snooze in post-treatment.
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A 12-room boutique hotel on the black-sand shores of Perivolos Beach and far from the Oia crowds, Istoria is the former holiday home of a Greek expat who lived in Italy, but came back to Santorini every summer, with her horses in tow (hence the stable suites and riding crops).
At the Mr E restaurant, Greek classics are given a modern twist (hello, prawn saganaki) – or head down to the strip of bars and beach clubs a short walk away. Istoria’s sister properties are Mystique up in Oia and Vedema in Megalochori, and a handy shuttle runs between all three, so you can enjoy the best of every setting.
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A crown jewel on Santorini’s hotel scene, Nobu has only 25 rooms and suites for unrivalled intimacy. Located halfway along the iconic Caldera cliffs hiking trail, the views are genuinely breathtaking; forget the crowded sunset at Oia, Nobu has the most peaceful sunset spot on the island. In some of the larger villas, you can even witness the sunset and sunrise from your own plunge pool.
Classic Greek whitewashed aesthetics merge seamlessly with Nobu’s signature Japanese minimalism and the cultural fusion is just as effortless when it comes to the food. The restaurant provides innovative takes on classic Greek favourites, but also your favourite Nobu dishes like the yellowtail sashimi and Nobu-Style “Full English" breakfast. The team will go above and beyond to make your stay special and with a luxury spa in the works, tranquility really is the name of the game here.
(Hearst Owned)
Calling all fans of classic Cycladic architecture: Ikies, whose curving whitewashed buildings are stacked up a cliff-edge, is the Santorini stay for you. The small-scale boutique hotel is on the edge of the village of Oia, with views of the caldera and neighbouring islands served straight to your terrace.
Rooms include maisonettes, studios and, of course, honeymoon suites – and with romance levels this far off the chart, any newlyweds are in for a treat. The cliffs of Oia are piled up with traditional white-and-blue houses that look out across the caldera, all adding to those amazing views.
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In the village of Tholos, a few hundred metres away from Oia, Myst gives its guests the best of both worlds: proximity to Oia and its blue-domed churches, and the serenity that comes with being a little away from the action. This extends to sundown, when Oia gets even more crowded than usual and Myst guests enjoy a similar view, delivered direct to their private veranda.
Bright whitewashed cubes form the classic Cycladic architecture, which makes the blues of the sea and sky even more mesmerising. Breakfasts of pastries baked on-site, local cheese and organic omelettes with vegetables straight from the garden set the culinary tone from the Fat Duck-trained chef.
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Down the coast from Oia in Imerovigli, Dreams Luxury Suites is another for the Cycladic-architecture fans: cave-like suites with curved ceilings, whitewashed arches, cliff-edge pools and precarious staircases. Every room overlooks the caldera, with freshwater plunge pools or Jacuzzis, lantern-lit patios and beach bags helpfully already stocked with towels.
In the unlikely event you tire of that view, the concierge can arrange wine tastings of Santorini’s finest, diving, horse-riding and sailing trips – or follow the cliff path all the way to Fira, the island’s capital, in one direction, and towards Oia in the other.
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In a break from the island’s whitewashed tradition, Voreina Gallery Suites are more of a dusky peach than the regular bright white. More colour comes to the interiors courtesy of the eye-catching artworks – the hotel was created as an 'inhabitable gallery'.
It’s in the village of Pyrgos, with a view across the island and out to the Aegean. The nine suites have kitchens, private pools or Jacuzzis and fireplaces that don’t see much action for most of the year; and some are big enough to sleep five guests, making them – and the on-site villas – perfect for group getaways.
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Pastel doors and shutters - check. Curving stone walls - check. Blindingly white exteriors - check. Armeni Village is one for the chic-loving troglodytes out there. The Oia residence is on the caldera edge, 200 metres above sea level and a swift stroll from the centre of the village and its many boutiques, art galleries and churches.
The sea-facing suites – connected by various flights of stairs up and down the cliff face – have balconies or verandas from which to enjoy the view of the caldera and its volcanic islets. There’s no restaurant, but breakfast is delivered to your room, so you won’t have to tackle any steps without caffeine.
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In the village of Imerovigli, Kapari Natural Resort is another for the wannabe cave-dwellers out there: cavernous rooms in a neutral palette (and lots of white and blue, naturally), with painted shutters and windows to let a little daylight in. Some rooms have a terrace, the best of which have an added-bonus Jacuzzi, and there are some arranged around a courtyard for groups to sequester.
The family-run hotel has a caldera-facing restaurant with a short but perfect Mediterranean menu and exceptional service. It’s a 20-minute walk along the cliffs to Fira, but be sure to factor in stopping-to-pap time – that view never gets old.
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Aptly named after the most relaxing day of the week, Canaves Oia Sunday Suites aims for a laid-back sort of luxury. The Canaves group is also responsible for the seriously slick Canaves Oia Epitome, down near Ammoudi Bay, and the clinging-to-the-cliffs Canaves Oia Suites.
At Sunday Suites, it’s the day of rest daily – and it won’t take long to unwind with panoramic-view perfection, cooling courtyards and those soothing, almost-all-white interiors. And there’s no chance of any noise pollution disrupting the peace and quiet since there are just a handful of suites. The entire property can be hired out as a 10-bedroom villa for 20 lucky guests.
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Located in a medieval village, Vedema is as authentic and off the tourist track as a luxury hotel can get. Within a few minutes' walk, there’s a church, bell tower and various local restaurants to explore, but with Vedema’s on-site Alati restaurant, you won’t have much desire to leave. Set in a 400-year-old winery, the restaurant’s rooftop terrace has unrivalled views and ambience, plus there’s an incredible range of local Santorini wines to try.
It's surrounded by award-winning vineyards and you can do tasting sessions of them all at Vedema’s Canava wine cave. All Vedema’s 59 suites and villas have their own terraces, many with hot tubs or private pools, and there’s even a helicopter landing pad for the most bougie guests. It might not be around the corner from the must-visit town of Oia, but the staff can arrange a shuttle to their sister hotel Mystique’s restaurant Lure for a sunset meal on the iconic cliff edge.
(Hearst Owned)
If you’re looking for a hint of party and glamour, instead of honeymoon romance overload, then Ibiza institution Nikki Beach has you covered. From the all-day DJ blasting dance remixes by the pool to beach club parties, bookable VIP sunbeds to Insta-worthy platters of sushi, expect a certain White Isle ambience. But there are also traditional Greek touches like whitewashed villas adorned with pink bougainvillaea and Greek-Peruvian fusion restaurant Escape serving Greek classics with a twist.
A couples massage at the spa provides some calm from the excitement, but the main event is Nikki Beach’s private sandy beach looking onto the Aegean Sea – a rare find in Santorini where hotels usually cling to the cliffs.
(Hearst Owned)
Set around a sleek infinity pool competing for attention with the caldera (it’s a valiant effort, but it doesn’t stand a chance), the milky-coloured Avaton Resort & Spa is in Imerovigli and close to the hike-worthy headland of Skaros Rock.
Treatments on offer at the LED-lit cave of a spa – which is so romantic that it moonlights as the restaurant on windy days – include hot-stone massages, wine and honey facials (not at the same time), and jasmine and white tea body scrubs. Fira is two kilometres away, or stay put for dinners of the freshest local produce on the caldera-facing terrace.
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Santo Pure is just outside of Oia, with a handy pathway to take guests up into the centre within 10 minutes or so. Chances are though that you’ll want to stay put, since this resort, modelled on an idyllic Cycladic village, has everything you could possibly need, including a spa, several pools and a bar with a prime position for sunset.
It’s also home to a fine-dining restaurant where you can continue to admire the caldera over dinner. For the classic Santorini experience, book a suite with a private plunge pool.
Away from the Oia crowds in and around the inland village of Pyrgos, Santorini Sky has the added advantage of being on the highest point of the island – and the views are just as good as they are along the coast. The hotel is set across a handful of sites, with self-contained villas that have private pools and kitchens.
Attractions of note nearby include monasteries, the ruins of Akrotiri and the black-sand Perivolos Beach.
If you want to see the volcanic side of Santorini, Magma Resort is a great place to start, since the Hyatt hotel is on the lava-formed slopes of Vourvoulos. The Aegean-facing retreat has suites with hot tubs and private pools, an underground spa with on-theme volcano-based treatments, and a restaurant by an acclaimed chef.
The property also includes vineyards, whose output is no doubt benefiting from the mineral-rich volcanic soil – tastings can be arranged so you can see for yourself.
One of Santorini’s original boutique hotels, Perivolas overlooks the caldera just outside of Oia, with an infinity pool that starts in a cave and extends almost right out to the sea. It's one of the island's most luxurious hotels and has a devoted following, flocking for more than just that pool.
The decor is classically Cycladic, with all the cave-like rooms and whitewashed walls you could wish for. The suites were once fishermen’s houses that were lovingly restored by the owner over several decades. There’s also a restaurant with a magical view of the water.
The best hotels in Santorini for 2023 to book now, from luxury to couples' and hotels with private pools to honeymoon spots in Oia, Imerovigli and more.