The Best Place To Stay In Santorini (Towns & Hotels)
Santorini, Greece
by Coco Tran On September 9, 2023
Santorini is my favorite Greek island, so much so I’ve traveled to Santorini 3 times! I’m going to share my recommendations and the best places to stay in Santorini and the best hotels for all budgets and pros and cons of each area. I’ll also share tips and helpful advice. Lets get started!
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Oia Santorini Hotel
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Best Place To Stay In Santorini , Greece
where to stay Santorini
As you may already know, Santorini is such a spectacular place. An extinct volcano with white-washed houses and blue domes perched high above the cliff with the most ethereal sunset on this planet. It’s a place as unique as the geography and it’s my favorite place place I keep on coming back to over and again.
My first trip was a romantic trip with my husband and another couple, the second trip was with my mom, and the third time was with two of my girlfriends! So although Santorini was the destination, each time it was a new trip with a new experience.
Whether it’s your first time going to Santorini or if it’s your second visit, the famous Santorini sunset will captivate you and the amazing caldera views will keep you coming back for more. So, in this article, I’m going to share the nuggets of wisdom I’ve learned through my trips to Santorini and share the best place to stain Santorini. Let’s dive in!
Before Deciding Where To Stay in Santorini
Best Area To Stay In Santorini
Santorini is a beautiful Greek island shaped like a half-moon crescent. You may be wondering how big is Santorini ? Santorini is three miles wide and Ten miles long. It’s not a huge island, but the unique geology is what makes Santorini so special. Knowing the best place to stay in Santorini for you will make your vacation so much more enjoyable. Here are some things to know before deciding where to stay on Santorini.
What type of Trip You’re Going On:
Determining this is the first step as you may know what you need to prioritize! Are you going on a romantic holiday with your other half? Or are you vacationing with a group of friends? Based on the occupancy, there are areas more suited for larger groups such as VRBOS’ or Luxury Hotels. There are also towns that have lively nightlife such as Fira, if you’re looking for a more romantic Santorini place to stay I’d recommend Oia. More on that below!
What is Your Travel budget for santorini?
Pricing is an important factor to consider when planning any trip. Santorini offers a range of accommodation options, from luxury resorts to cozy guesthouses. Prices tend to peak during the high season from June to September, which coincides with the best weather. If you’re traveling on a budget, visit during the shoulder seasons of spring or autumn when prices are generally lower, and the island is less crowded. During these periods, you can still enjoy pleasant weather while saving on accommodation, dining, and activities.
Santorini is a dreamy destination and the local currency is the Euros. Depending on your home currency, it may be already 10-2% percent more expensive due to the exchange rate. Santorini isn’t a cheap destination to travel to. Hotels range from $250 to $3,000 a night.
What Are Your Must Haves Amenities For Your Santorini Hotels?
Do you want to be within walking distance of the center of the action? Do you want a private plunge pool? Do you want a private luxury suite with a terrace overlooking the spectacular sunset views? There’s so much to consider! But don’t worry, like you, I wanted it all! And you can totally have it all if your budget allows.
One of the most important deciding factors on where to stay is the best sunset views in Santorini! Santorini is renowned for its enchanting sunsets, and while Oia undeniably claims the top spot.
Good to know:
- Breakfast will be included if you stay at a hotel, especially if you are a genius member you can get up to 20% off!
- Santorini is renowned for its enchanting sunsets, and while Oia undeniably claims the top spot
- Firostefani and Imerovigli also offer spectacular Caldera and sunset views but not as luxurious hotels
- It can be extremely hot in Santorini, just a heads up, pools are mostly at luxury hotels
- book your hotels asap because prices will go up and availability is very limited as the hotels aren’t big!
Santorini has a plethora of different options for a place to stay, it can feel like your eyes start to glaze over when you’re trying to make sense of it all, I’ve been there! Just keep the things I just mentioned in mind for the recommendations below!
How Long are you staying in santorini?
If you’re island hopping, and if it’s your first time in Santorini I recommend you stay at the idyllic Oia as that’s where everything is located and where the stunning sunsets are seen. If you are staying for 5 days in Santorini I recommend you break up your stay in two towns such as Oia and then Improvigli for the second half. If you only have a few days in Santorini I recommend staying in Oia.
What Time Of Year Are you going to santorini?
Are you dreaming of a picturesque vacation in Santorini, Greece? With its stunning sunsets, white-washed buildings, and breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea, Santorini is a top destination for travelers worldwide. Choosing the best time to visit Santorini is crucial to ensure an unforgettable experience. I’ll walk you through the factors that affect your trip, including weather, pricing, and the overall ideal period to plan your visit.
Santorini enjoys a Mediterranean climate, characterized by mild winters and hot summers. The island experiences long, dry summers with abundant sunshine and minimal rainfall.
From June to September is the summer and most popular time to go to Santorini. Santorini temperatures range from 25°C to 30°C (77°F to 86°F), making it an ideal time for beaches and beach clubs. It’s when the town is vibrant and it’s also the time when all the tourists are here and the prices of accommodations are through the roof.
The best time to visit Santorini is during the shoulder seasons of spring (April to May) and early autumn early October to mid of the month. This time offers pleasant weather with temperatures averaging between 18°C to 25°C (64°F to 77°F). It’s essential to note that summers can get crowded! If you don’t want to feel packed like Sardines, the best time to visit Santorini is shoulder season!
Good to know: The end of the tourist season also means the closures of many hotels and bars/restaurants, so make sure you don’t go during mid-late october.
Temperatures in Santorini :
| Month | Average High (°C) | Average High (°F) | Average Low (°C) | Average Low (°F) | Rainfall (mm) | Wind (km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santorini Weather in January | 14°C | 57°F | 9°C | 48°F | 51 | 17 |
| Santorini Weather in February | 14°C | 57°F | 9°C | 48°F | 40 | 16 |
| Santorini Weather in March | 16°C | 61°F | 10°C | 50°F | 35 | 15 |
| Santorini Weather in April | 19°C | 66°F | 12°C | 54°F | 18 | 15 |
| Santorini Weather in May | 23°C | 73°F | 15°C | 59°F | 6 | 15 |
| Santorini Weather in June | 28°C | 82°F | 20°C | 68°F | 1 | 15 |
| Santorini Weather in July | 30°C | 86°F | 22°C | 72°F | 0 | 14 |
| Santorini Weather in August | 30°C | 86°F | 23°C | 73°F | 0 | 13 |
| Santorini Weather in September | 27°C | 81°F | 21°C | 69°F | 3 | 14 |
| Santorini Weather in October | 23°C | 74°F | 17°C | 62°F | 28 | 14 |
| Santorini Weather in November | 19°C | 66°F | 13°C | 55°F | 48 | 14 |
| Santorini Weather in December | 16°C | 61°F | 10°C | 50°F | 57 | 16 |
Okay, so now you have an idea of things to start thinking about, let’s talk about all the different towns in Santorini and which would be best fit for you.
Don’t Miss: Best Best Photo Locations in Santorini
best place to stay in santorini greece
Where to stay in Santorini
best place to stay in santorini (overall)
The best place to stay if it’s your first time in Santorini is Oia. This is where you will find most of the picturesque photos from Santorini taken. I definitely recommend you stay here if not the full days you’re here at least 2 nights in Santorini is ideal!
My experience: I have stayed in Oia and Improvigli as a home base, and I loved each experience. There has to be a reason why I keep coming back right?
as you can see on the map, Ioa is the furthest away from the ferry port (about 20 mins drive away)at the tippy top of Santorini island and that’s where the most epic sunset happens. Fira is the furthest but closest to the ferry port (is about 10 minutes away from the ferry port) and Improvigli is in the middle. Let’s talk about each town and the pros and cons and my recommendations.
BEST TOWNS TO STAY IN SANTORINI:
The main towns to consider are Ioa, Fira, and Improvigli, they are the most popular places to stay. Each has its own merit so let’s explore each.
OIA:
f it’s your first time in Santorini, I recommend you stay in Oia to soak up the best luxury hotels and most romantic places to stay in Santorini. Oia has all the famous photo spots, and staying centrally will be the most efficient and convenient. Oia has the best caldera views! To get to other parts of Santorini, you can easily take day trips to the beaches and other towns. It’s fairly easy to get to other towns by taxi or an ATV or rental car. Just be aware the parking and roads are challenging!
Good To know: There are a lot of stairs and steps in Oia, Fira, and Imerovigli. If you have mobility restrictions due to knees or generally cannot use stairs or steps, consider staying in the other towns such as the beaches where it tends to be flatter!
stay in Oia if you want:
- Best sunset views and caldera views in santorini
- Best photo locations in santorini
- Most Romantic town
- close to things to do
Imerovigli:
best place to stay in Santorini if you want to hike and see the best sunsets as the sun sets directly behind the Skora rock. There are still plenty of luxury suites and hotels and the views are amazing. There’s a spectacular hike that we did and the sunset was probably better than Oia.
Stay in Imerovigli if you want:
- Amazing sunset of the caldera views
- romantic hotels
- hiking
Fira:
f you want to be closer to the nightlife action! Fira is the main town and not as pretty as the two above, but it has the most nighttime bars and clubs.
Stay in Fira if you want:
- Amazing Nightlife
- Easy to reach bus hub
- If you are visiting Santorini during the Winter months
Firostefani:
A quieter part of Santorini although walking distance to Fira. A great place to stay for couples who don’t care about the nightlife in Fira.
Perissa, Perivolos and kamari beach towns :
Best for families and if you want to be close to the beaches and want a off an beaten path experience and cheaper prices for accommodations this is a good location. Although you will most likely need a car or ATV or use the bus system. Parissa is a black sand beach and Kamari is the red rock beach.
Don’t Miss: Best Things To Do In Santorini
Best Hotels In Santorini
private pool hotels in santorini
Location is everything in Santorini, the best town to stay in Santorini is closer to the end so staying centrally will be the most convenient. If you’re looking for the best hotels in Santorini to celebrate here is what I recommend at different budget points:
BEST HOTELS IN OIA:
Luxury Hotels $$$$:
Charisma Hotel: This is one of the best and most luxurious 4 star hotel in Oia Santorini. This is where I stayed last time, and we booked a room with a private cave pool. It was spectacular! The sunsets are amazing from the hotel. It’s also the only hotel that has not one but TWO infinity pools for you to enjoy. They have a restaurant onsite and a seriously delicious breakfast that’s made to order. It’s a Santorini hotel I would absolutely recommend and stay at again. The porter will take care of taking your luggage to your room as well as during check-out. The hotel is very conveniently located by the famous photo locations in Oia.
Katikies Santorini 4-star luxury hotel known for its exquisite location with amazing views of the Caldera. Conveniently located close to all the famous santorini photo locations. It features spacious rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, a wellness center, and a restaurant serving local cuisine. Seriously the views are second to none.
Mid-Range Hotels $$$:
Thirea Suites : A solid 3-star hotel with superb reviews and ratings. The hotel offers affordable accommodation with a lake view. It has comfortable rooms,, and a balcony terrace with lake views. Conveniently location
Best hotels in Imerovigli:
Luxury Hotels $$$$:
Cavo Tangoo: A 5-star luxury hotel with breathtaking views of Lake Como. It offers elegant rooms, a private beach, spa facilities, and gourmet dining options. The sunset view at the pool is absolutely to die for. It’s a not to miss luxury if you can swing it!
Chromata: A 5-star luxury hotel known for its exquisite location with amazing views. They have a swimming pool on site!
Mid-Range Hotels $$$:
La Darsena: 4.5 / 5 A solid 3-star hotel with superb reviews and ratings. The hotel offers affordable accommodation with a lake view. It has comfortable rooms, a restaurant, and a balcony terrace with lake views. Conveniently close by a ferry stop.
Best hotels in Fira:
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