Where to Stay in Santorini

Greece › Santorini › Best Towns
Updated: September 25, 2026 • By Santorini Dave
Questions? dave@santorinidave.com

Santorini Hotels: My Favorites

• Fira: Athina
• Oia: Katikies • Canaves
• Imerovigli: Grace • Astra
• Firostefani: Tsitouras
• Beach: Istoria
• For families: Aria
• For couples: Aenaon
• Best pool: Nous
• Midrange: Enigma • Kavalari

Where to Stay in Santorini: Quick Answers

For most first-time visitors, the best place to stay in Santorini is on the caldera, in Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli, or Oia. These are the cliffside villages with volcano views, cave hotels, terraces, sunset restaurants, and the walking path along the rim of the caldera. This is the Santorini people come for.

My practical advice is simple:

• Best overall base: Fira, especially for first-timers who want restaurants, nightlife, shopping, buses, and easy logistics.
• Best for couples and views: Imerovigli, the quietest and most dramatic caldera village.
• Best compromise: Firostefani, with great caldera views and an easy walk into Fira.
• Best for the postcard Santorini experience: Oia, beautiful and romantic, but expensive and very crowded.
• Best for families and beaches: Kamari, Perissa, or Perivolos, with flatter streets, larger pools, lower prices, and easy swimming.
• Best for quiet and value: Akrotiri, Pyrgos, or Megalochori, especially with a rental car.

If your budget allows, stay on the caldera for at least part of your trip. You can visit the beaches by bus, taxi, car, or tour. But you cannot recreate waking up to the volcano from a beach hotel.

Quick Tips

• Choose the village first, then the hotel: A caldera stay, beach stay, and inland village stay feel like completely different trips. A beautiful hotel in the wrong area is still the wrong hotel.
• Caldera view is not the same as sunset view: Some of the best caldera hotels face the volcano and sea but not the sunset. Oia’s direct-sunset hotels generally face north or northwest toward the open Aegean rather than south into the caldera.
• Private pool does not always mean private: On the caldera, “private pool” usually means a small plunge pool for your use only, not a secluded swimming pool. Terraces can be visible from hotel paths, restaurants, or neighboring rooms.
• Heated pools matter: In April, May, early June, late September, and October, an unheated plunge pool can be too cool to enjoy, especially when the wind is up.
• The caldera is not a beach destination: Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli, and Oia have views, restaurants, and sunsets, but no easy beach access.
• Beach towns are easier with kids: Kamari, Perissa, and Perivolos have flatter streets, bigger pools, lower prices, casual restaurants, and easy swimming.
• Book early: For May through October, the best caldera-view rooms, family hotels, and private-pool suites sell out months ahead. For July, August, and early September, I recommend booking 6 to 9 months ahead if you want a specific hotel or room category.
• Pre-book transfers for arrivals: Santorini Airport is small and crowded in peak season. Athinios ferry port is steep, chaotic, and not walking-friendly. With luggage, kids, a late arrival, or a cliffside hotel, I recommend booking a transfer in advance.

The Best Areas to Stay in Santorini

The Caldera Villages: Best for Views

Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli, and Oia sit along the western cliff edge, with views into the caldera and across to the volcano. These are the villages with cave hotels, plunge pools, private terraces, blue domes, and the Fira to Oia hike connecting them.

Caldera hotels are expensive, rooms can be small for the money, and many properties involve steep steps or awkward luggage access. But for a first trip to Santorini, this is where I recommend staying.

• Fira: Best for first-timers, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, buses, and practical logistics.
• Firostefani: My favorite compromise. Excellent caldera views, calmer than Fira, and an easy walk to restaurants, bars, and buses.
• Imerovigli: Best for couples, honeymoons, luxury hotels, and the most expansive caldera views.
• Oia: Best for the famous postcard village, boutique shopping, honeymoon hotels, and sunsets. Beautiful, expensive, and crowded.

The Beach Towns: Best for Swimming and Value

Kamari, Perissa, and Perivolos are on the east and southeast side of the island. You give up the caldera view but get lower prices, larger rooms, bigger pools, flatter streets, and direct access to the sea.

Santorini’s beaches are black volcanic sand and pebbles, not the soft golden sand you’ll find on Naxos or Paros.

• Kamari: Easy, lively, family-friendly, and very walkable, with a long beach promenade and useful buses to Fira.
• Perissa and Perivolos: My favorite beach base. Perissa is more casual and budget-friendly. Perivolos is more stylish and spread out.

For a once-in-a-lifetime Santorini trip, I still prefer the caldera. For young kids, frequent swimming, fewer stairs, or better hotel value, the beach towns make more sense.

Traditional Inland Villages

Pyrgos, Megalochori, Emporio, and Mesaria are quieter and generally better value than the caldera towns. I prefer them for repeat visitors and travelers with a rental car.

• Pyrgos: Beautiful hilltop village with panoramic views, winding lanes, good restaurants, wineries nearby, and a Venetian castle.
• Megalochori: Quiet wine village with a lovely square, old mansions, bell towers, and good tavernas.
• Emporio: Santorini’s largest traditional village, with a wonderful medieval Kasteli and good-value places to stay.
• Mesaria: Central, practical, and more residential than touristy. Good for value and getting around by car.

Quiet Escapes: Akrotiri and Thirassia

• Akrotiri: Quiet and spread out, with some excellent caldera-view hotels. Best with a rental car and convenient for Ancient Akrotiri, Red Beach, Vlychada, and the lighthouse.
• Thirassia: A separate island across the caldera from Santorini, with a handful of tavernas, simple places to stay, and very few visitors compared with Santorini. Better as a day trip for most travelers.

The Best Places to Stay in Santorini

Breakfast with a view on our balcony at Homeric Poems in Firostefani.

• Best Luxury Hotels in Santorini:
  Grace Santorini • Katikies • Canaves Oia Suites • Kivotos • Athina Luxury Suites • Saint
• Best Boutique Hotels in Santorini:
  Tsitouras Collection • The Vasilicos • Carpe Diem
• Best Hotels for Couples or Honeymoons: Homeric Poems • Aenaon Villas • Katikies • Perivolas • Charisma Suites • Cosmopolitan Suites
• Best Hotels for Sunset Views: Astra Suites (Imerovigli) • Athina Luxury Suites (Fira) • Sun Rocks (Firostefani) • Canaves Epitome (Oia) • Santo Mine (Oia) • Esperas (Oia)

My wife and our two boys eating breakfast on the front patio of Oia Mansion. Idyllic sunset views and a great place to stay for families and groups (sleeps 8).

• Best Hotels for Families:
  Aria Suites (Fira) • Andronis Concept Wellness Resort (Imerovigli) • Andronis Arcadia (Oia) • Oia Mansion (Oia) • Sea Breeze Beach Resort (Perivolos)
• Best Hotels for Privacy:
  Aenaon Villas • Carpe Diem Santorini • Coco-Mat Hotel • Vedema
• Best Hotels near Nightlife:
  Katikies Garden • Cosmopolitan Suites • Enigma Suites
• Best Value/Midrange Hotels with Caldera Views:
  Kavalari Hotel • Keti Hotel • Belvedere Suites • Reverie Santorini
• Best Value/Midrange Hotels without Views:
  Costa Marina Villa • San Giorgio • Petini’s Place • Santellini Hotel
• Best Villas in Santorini:
  Villa with Private Pool at Grace • Nafsika Estate • Aria Villas • Oia Mansion • Patina Vivera Estate

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Santorini Towns & Beaches

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FIRA

Best for: First-Timers, Nightlife, Shopping, Restaurants, Caldera Views, Buses, Families, Budget Stays

Fira is the capital of Santorini, the island’s main town, and the best place to stay for most first-time visitors. It has caldera views, the most restaurants, the best nightlife, the most shopping, and the easiest bus connections. If you’re unsure where to stay, Fira is the safest choice.

Fira is busier and more commercial than Imerovigli or Firostefani, but that’s also why it’s so convenient. Within a few minutes you can walk from a cliffside cocktail bar to a cheap gyro shop, museum, jewelry store, nightclub, or the main bus station.

If you’re choosing between Fira and Firostefani, stay in Fira for restaurants, buses, nightlife, and convenience. Stay in Firostefani for a quieter hotel and an easy walk into Fira.

The main downside is crowds. The lanes around the cable car, Gold Street, and the caldera path get very busy from late morning through sunset, especially in July and August and on heavy cruise days.

For nightlife, Fira is easily the best town on Santorini. Bars start filling after sunset, and clubs run late in summer. If you want quiet nights, avoid hotels close to the central bar streets.

Sunset at MarinEra Restaurant & Cocktail Bar in Fira.

Fira is also Santorini’s transport hub. Almost every public bus route starts or ends here, making it the best base if you don’t want to rent a car. In summer the buses can be crowded and chaotic. For the ferry port or airport, I prefer a pre-booked transfer when traveling with luggage.

Stay in Fira if:

• You’re visiting Santorini for the first time and want the easiest base.
• You want caldera views plus restaurants, shops, bars, and transport.
• You don’t plan to rent a car and want to explore by bus.
• You want nightlife within walking distance.
• You want more hotel choice and better value than Oia or Imerovigli.

Do not stay in Fira if:

• You want a quiet honeymoon feel. Stay in Imerovigli or Oia instead.
• You want to walk straight onto a beach. Stay in Kamari, Perissa, or Perivolos.
• You dislike crowds and busy pedestrian lanes.
• You have mobility issues and want flat, easy streets.

Fira has the widest range of hotels on the caldera, from luxury suites with plunge pools to simple inland guesthouses. If you care more about location than the view, an inland hotel can save a lot of money while keeping you within a few minutes’ walk of the caldera.

Fira is not perfect, but it works.

• Best Hotels in Fira:
  Athina Luxury Suites • Katikies Garden • Cosmopolitan Suites • Aria Suites • Enigma Suites
• Best Value/Midrange Hotels:
  Kavalari Hotel • San Giorgio • Costa Marina Villa

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FIROSTEFANI

Best for: Sunsets, Caldera Views, Couples, Quiet Stays, First-Timers, Easy Access to Fira

A 10 to 15-minute walk north of Fira along the caldera path, Firostefani has excellent caldera views without the full chaos of the capital. The name means the “crown of Fira,” and that’s about right. It sits just above Fira, with a calmer feel and slightly higher views over the volcano and sea.

There is no hard line where Fira ends and Firostefani begins, though I put the change somewhere near Volkan on the Rocks and Anteliz Suites. From there north, the lanes get quieter and the hotels a little more private.

Firostefani is my favorite compromise for many first-time visitors: close enough to Fira for restaurants, buses, shopping, and nightlife, but far enough away that you don’t feel like you’re staying in the middle of the tourist machine.

Sunset view from the rooftop terrace of To Briki restaurant in Firostefani.

Firostefani has a useful collection of restaurants, cafés, markets, a bakery, a few shops, and a great bookstore. It does not have real nightlife. When you want bars, clubs, or more restaurant choice, Fira is an easy walk away.

The caldera path runs straight through the village. Walk south to Fira or north to Imerovigli and eventually Oia. You can enjoy most of the central caldera without a car.

The Fira bus station is about a 15 to 20-minute walk from most Firostefani hotels. Local buses also stop near Firostefani, but with luggage I recommend a taxi or pre-booked transfer. For buses to beaches, wineries, Akrotiri, and other parts of the island, I usually walk to the Fira bus station and start from there.

Stay in Firostefani if:

• You want caldera views without the crowds and noise of Fira.
• You like being able to walk to restaurants, shops, bars, and buses.
• You’re a couple or first-time visitor who wants a romantic but practical base.
• You want better value than Oia or Imerovigli without giving up the view.

Do not stay in Firostefani if:

• You want lots of restaurants, bars, and shops right outside your door. Stay in Fira.
• You want the most dramatic cliffside luxury hotels. Stay in Imerovigli.
• You want the postcard Oia experience.
• You want a beach holiday. Stay in Kamari, Perissa, or Perivolos.

Caldera-view hotels in Firostefani are not cheap, but prices are generally better than Oia and Imerovigli. Inland rooms can be surprisingly reasonable while keeping you close to the caldera and Fira.

• Best Hotels in Firostefani:
  Tsitouras Collection • Anteliz Suites • Sun Rocks • Homeric Poems • Belvedere Suites • Dana Villas & Infinity Suites
• Best Value/Midrange Hotels:
  Reverie Santorini Hotel • Villa Ilias • Blue Dolphins Apartments

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IMEROVIGLI

Best for: Couples, Honeymoons, Sunsets, Caldera Views, Luxury Hotels, Quiet Stays, Romantic Restaurants

Set at the highest point of the caldera, Imerovigli has the best views in Santorini. Not the most famous views, that’s Oia. Not the most convenient views, that’s Fira. But for height, sunset, volcano, and privacy, Imerovigli is hard to beat.

This is the quietest and most romantic of the main caldera villages. It’s where I’d send most honeymooners, couples, and anyone who wants the “wow” Santorini view without crowds right outside the door. The northern edge is especially peaceful, with some of the island’s best luxury hotels and private terraces.

Imerovigli is not lively. There are good restaurants, a few cafés, small markets, and low-key bars, but no real nightlife and very little shopping. If you want busy lanes and lots of restaurant choice, stay in Fira. If you want famous blue domes and postcard streets, stay in Oia. If you want the best caldera hotel experience, stay in Imerovigli.

Athenian House is the big romantic splurge, with polished Greek food and caldera views. Avocado is casual, friendly, and reliable. Anogi is lively, good-value, and one of my favorite casual tavernas in the village. Reserve well ahead for sunset dining in summer.

The trail from Imerovigli village out to Skaros Rock.

Imerovigli is also the starting point for the trail to Skaros Rock, one of the best short hikes on Santorini. It’s steep in places and exposed to the sun, but the views back toward Imerovigli and across the caldera are excellent. You can do Skaros on its own or add it to the Fira to Oia hike.

Fira is about a 25-minute walk south along the caldera path. Firostefani is closer, about 10 to 15 minutes on foot. Buses run along the main Oia-Fira road, but Fira remains the island’s main bus hub.

You don’t need a rental car if you’re staying on the caldera and booking tours with hotel pickup. A car is useful for beaches, wineries, Pyrgos, Akrotiri, and exploring on your own schedule. Parking in Imerovigli can be frustrating in high season.

Stay in Imerovigli if:

• You want the best caldera views on Santorini.
• You’re on a honeymoon, anniversary, or romantic trip.
• You want a quiet village with excellent hotels and private terraces.
• You care more about views than nightlife and shopping.
• You want easy access to the Fira to Oia hike and Skaros Rock.

Do not stay in Imerovigli if:

• You want lots of restaurants, bars, and shops within a few steps. Stay in Fira.
• You want the famous Oia streets and blue-dome photo spots. Stay in Oia.
• You’re on a tight budget. Inland Fira, Firostefani, or the beach towns are better value.
• You dislike stairs. Many of the best hotels are built into the cliff.
• You want a beach holiday. Stay in Kamari, Perissa, or Perivolos.

Hotels in Imerovigli are among the most expensive on the island, especially caldera-view suites with plunge pools. But this is also where the splurge makes sense. If you’re paying Santorini prices for a view, I’d rather do it here than in busier Oia.

• Best Hotels in Imerovigli:
  Grace Santorini • Astra Suites • Aenaon Villas • Kivotos • Iconic • Cavo Tagoo • Andronis Concept Wellness Resort • White Pearl Cavalieri
• Best Value/Midrange Hotels:
  Merovigliosso • Aghios Artemios Traditional Houses

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OIA

Best for: Couples, Honeymoons, Shopping, Sunsets, Caldera Views, Luxury Hotels, Romantic Restaurants, Families

Oia is Santorini’s most famous village, and for good reason. It has the whitewashed lanes, blue domes, cave hotels, luxury suites, boutique shopping, and postcard views that most people picture when they think of Santorini.

Oia is beautiful, polished, expensive, and very crowded in high season. It’s at its best early in the morning and after sunset. From late morning through sunset, especially in July and August, the main lanes can feel like a moving queue of people taking photos.

The big misconception about Oia is that every hotel has sunset views. Most do not. Many of the best hotels face south into the caldera, with incredible volcano and sea views but no direct sunset. Hotels on the northwestern edge can have direct sunset views over the Aegean but not true caldera views. A few properties manage both. I explain the differences here: Santorini hotels with sunset views.

The Venetian castle ruins of Oia are a great vantage point for photos and the most popular sunset-viewing spot on the island.

Oia has the best shopping on Santorini. You’ll find jewelry, fashion, ceramics, art, sandals, linen, and higher-end souvenirs. Prices are higher than in Fira, and this is not where I’d go looking for bargains.

Dining is very good, though uneven. Elinikon is a good choice for Greek food and sunset views. Candouni has good food, live Greek music on some nights, and a more intimate setting away from the caldera crowds. For seafood, head down to Ammoudi Bay.

All of the Ammoudi Bay restaurants are great, but we especially love to eat at Ammoudi Fish Tavern.

Ammoudi is the small fishing port below Oia, reached by a long stairway or by road. Ammoudi Fish Tavern is a personal favorite. From the bay, a gravel path leads around the rocks to a swimming and cliff-jumping spot near Saint Nicholas. It’s fun, but it’s not a sandy beach and I wouldn’t recommend it for small kids or anyone unsteady on rocks.

But many cliffside hotels have steep steps and age restrictions, so families need to choose carefully. The easiest family stays are generally the larger hotels and villas away from the steepest parts of the caldera cliff.

The Oia to Fira walk starts from the main Oia walkway. Most people hike in the other direction, from Fira to Oia, but either direction is fine. Bring water, wear real shoes, and avoid the middle of the day.

Oia is not the most convenient base for exploring the island. Trips to the airport, ferry port, beaches, Akrotiri, Pyrgos, and wineries take longer than from Fira. Buses run between Oia and Fira, where you connect to most other routes. Parking is difficult in high season, and taxis can be hard to get around sunset.

Stay in Oia if:

• You want Santorini’s most famous and photogenic village.
• You’re on a honeymoon, anniversary, or splurge trip.
• You want boutique shopping, romantic restaurants, and luxury hotels.
• You want to enjoy Oia early in the morning and after the day-trippers leave.

Do not stay in Oia if:

• You hate crowds. Oia gets the worst crowding on the island, especially around sunset.
• You want the best value. Fira, Firostefani, and the beach towns are better.
• You want easy transport around the island. Fira is much more convenient.
• You want nightlife. Oia has bars, but Fira is much livelier.
• You want a beach holiday. Stay in Kamari, Perissa, or Perivolos.

Oia hotels are the most expensive on Santorini. Read room descriptions carefully: “caldera view,” “sea view,” “sunset view,” and “volcano view” can mean very different things.

• Best Oia Hotels with Caldera Views:
  Katikies • Canaves Oia Suites • Perivolas • Saint
• Best Oia Hotels with Sunset Views:
  Canaves Epitome • Santo Mine • Charisma Suites • Maregio Suites • Esperas
• Best Value/Midrange Hotels in Oia:
  Anemomilos Hotel • Nikos Villas • Agnadi View Villa

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AKROTIRI

Best for: Sunsets, Caldera Views, Archaeology, Beaches, Fewer Crowds, Car Trips, Better Value

Akrotiri is a good choice if you want caldera views, history, quiet, and better value but don’t need to be in the middle of the action. The name is used for the small inland village, the archaeological site, and sometimes the whole southwestern peninsula.

The village itself is small, with a few tavernas, churches, local houses, and the remains of a Venetian castle. The main attraction nearby is Ancient Akrotiri, a Bronze Age settlement preserved under volcanic ash. It’s often compared with Pompeii, though it’s older, smaller, and protected by a large modern roof. The site is fascinating even if you’re not usually a ruins person.

The archaeological site of Ancient Akrotiri.

Akrotiri is close to several distinctive beaches. Red Beach is dramatic, but I don’t recommend it for a long beach day. The cliffs are unstable, access is awkward, and it gets crowded. Go for the view and photos, then move on. White Beach is reached by boat and is more novelty than must-see. Caldera Beach is small and quiet. Vlychada, farther east, is one of my favorite beaches on Santorini, with sculpted volcanic cliffs and a more relaxed feel than Kamari or Perissa.

The lighthouse at the far western tip is one of my favorite sunset spots on the island. You don’t get Oia’s village backdrop, but you do get open sea views and much smaller crowds. There are few facilities, and parking gets tight before sunset.

Most of the best Akrotiri hotels are scattered along the caldera edge and around the peninsula rather than in the village center. The views can be fantastic, and prices are generally lower than for comparable rooms in Oia or Imerovigli. The downside is convenience.

I strongly recommend a rental car here. The peninsula is spread out, and many hotels are not within an easy walk of restaurants. Without a car, you’ll rely much more on buses, taxis, and transfers.

Stay in Akrotiri if:

• You want caldera views for less than Oia, Imerovigli, or Fira.
• You plan to rent a car and explore independently.
• You want a quieter base.
• You’re interested in Ancient Akrotiri, Red Beach, Vlychada, wineries, and the lighthouse.
• You don’t need nightlife or lots of restaurants within walking distance.

Do not stay in Akrotiri if:

• You want the classic cliffside village experience. Stay in Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli, or Oia.
• You don’t want to rent a car. Fira is much easier without one.
• You want nightlife, shopping, and a wide restaurant choice.
• You’re staying only one or two nights and want maximum convenience.

For a first visit of only two or three nights, I’d stay in one of the main caldera villages. For a longer trip, repeat visit, or quiet stay with a rental car, Akrotiri is excellent.

• Best Hotels in Akrotiri:
  Coco-Mat Hotel • Astarte Suites • Cape 9 Villas and Suites • Santorini Princess Presidential Suites • Maison des Lys
• Best Value/Midrange Hotels:
  Kalestesia Suites • Apanemo Hotel & Suites

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PYRGOS

Best for: Sunsets, Traditional Village Feel, Fewer Crowds, Wineries, Quiet Stays, Better Value

Pyrgos is my favorite inland village for a Santorini stay. It’s quiet, beautiful, close to wineries, and has wide island views rather than the classic cliff-and-volcano view of the caldera towns.

The village sits on a hill below Profitis Ilias, the highest point on Santorini. From the upper lanes and castle ruins, you can see across much of the island: vineyards, villages, sea, airport runway, caldera rim, and both coasts. Sunset is excellent and far less crowded than Oia.

Pyrgos has narrow pedestrian lanes, stone houses, churches, small shops, good restaurants, and the ruins of a Venetian castle at the top. The steep lanes and steps are fun to explore but can be difficult with luggage or mobility problems.

There is no real nightlife, but the food is good and several excellent wineries are a short drive away. If wine tasting is a priority, Pyrgos makes a lot of sense.

Hotels are generally smaller and better value than in the caldera villages. Many are restored traditional houses or suites with private pools and jacuzzis. Views vary enormously, so don’t assume a room described as having a “Pyrgos view” has a caldera view.

I strongly recommend a rental car. Buses connect Pyrgos with Fira and some beach areas, but a car makes wineries, beaches, Akrotiri, Fira, and the inland villages much easier.

Stay in Pyrgos if:

• You want a quieter traditional village.
• You plan to rent a car and explore the island.
• You like wineries, good restaurants, and panoramic island views.
• You want better value than Oia, Imerovigli, or Fira.
• You’ve already seen the caldera towns or don’t need to stay on the cliff.

Do not stay in Pyrgos if:

• You want classic caldera views from your hotel.
• You don’t want to rent a car.
• You want nightlife and lots of shops and restaurants within a few steps.
• You want to be near the beach.
• You have mobility issues. The old village has steep lanes, steps, and uneven paths.

• Best Hotels in Pyrgos:
  Carpe Diem • Santorini Sky • North Santorini • Elessa Hotel • Voreina Gallery Suites • Skyfall Suites • Patina Vivera Estate (Villas)
• Best Value/Midrange Hotels:
  Cultural House

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KAMARI BEACH

Best for: Families, Beach, Budget Stays, Easy Restaurants, Casual Nightlife

Kamari is an easy beach base, especially for families. It has a long black-sand-and-pebble beach, a flat pedestrian seafront promenade, lots of casual restaurants, beach bars, mini-markets, and hotels that are much better value than the caldera villages.

You stay here for a pool, beach, easy meals, lower prices, and fewer stairs, not for caldera views or Santorini’s famous sunsets.

The beach gets very hot underfoot in summer, so bring sandals or water shoes. The water is clear but gets deep quickly in places. Much of the beach is organized with sunbeds and umbrellas tied to restaurants and beach clubs.

The seafront promenade is Kamari’s biggest advantage. It’s flat, mostly pedestrian, and easy with kids or strollers. This is not where I’d send food-focused travelers for their best dinner on Santorini, but it’s one of the easiest places to eat casually without planning ahead.

Hotels generally have larger rooms, bigger pools, and lower prices than the caldera towns. Many are family-run and simple rather than luxurious.

Kamari also has plenty going on after dark: beach bars, restaurants, shops, mini golf, and the excellent open-air cinema. Movies are shown in English with Greek subtitles. Doors open at 8:30pm and the movie starts at 9:30pm. There are no reservations, so arrive early in busy months.

Summer buses to Fira are frequent and usually take about 15 to 20 minutes. From Fira, you can connect to Oia, Akrotiri, and most other parts of the island. Kamari is also only about a 10-minute drive from the airport, which is convenient but means some airplane noise.

A seasonal boat taxi connects Kamari and Perissa around the base of Mesa Vouno. It’s a fun trip when running, but service depends on the season, wind, and sea conditions.

Stay in Kamari if:

• You want an easy beach holiday with restaurants and shops nearby.
• You’re traveling with kids and want flat walking, pools, and casual meals.
• You want better hotel value than the caldera villages.
• You don’t need sunset or caldera views from your hotel.
• You want good bus access to Fira.

Do not stay in Kamari if:

• You want the classic Santorini cliffside view.
• You want romantic cave suites and private plunge pools.
• You want the island’s best restaurants within walking distance.
• You’re sensitive to airplane noise.
• You want soft golden sand. Santorini doesn’t really do that.

• Best Hotels in Kamari:
  Radisson Blu Zaffron Resort • Sandblu Resort • Santorini Kastelli Resort • Bellonias Villas • Viva Nove Suites
• Nearby Luxury Resort on Monolithos Beach:
  Nikki Beach Resort & Spa
• Best Value/Midrange Hotels:
  Tamarix Del Mar Suites • Santellini Hotel

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PERISSA & PERIVOLOS

Best for: Families, Beach, Budget Stays, Beach Clubs, Longer Stays, Casual Restaurants

This is my favorite part of Santorini for a beach holiday. The beach is long, flat, organized, and easy to settle into. The black volcanic sand is generally finer than at Kamari but still gets very hot in summer. The water is clear and good for swimming, with plenty of sunbeds, umbrellas, restaurants, beach bars, and water sports.

There is no clear border between Perissa and Perivolos Beaches. Perissa is the northern, busier section below Mesa Vouno. Perivolos is the longer, more spread-out southern section. Agios Georgios is the quieter south end of the same beach strip.

Perissa has more budget hotels, casual tavernas, beach bars, mini-markets, and the main bus stop. It’s the better choice for lower prices and easier bus access.

Perivolos is more upscale and spread out, with stylish beach clubs, some excellent beach restaurants, and a few luxury hotels. The south end around Agios Georgios is quieter but less convenient without a car.

The main drawback is distance from the caldera. If you plan to spend every evening in Fira or Oia, don’t stay here. If you want to swim every day and make occasional trips around the island, it works very well.

Hotels are better value than in the caldera villages and rooms are generally larger. Families do especially well here because the area is flat and the beach is long.

The restaurant scene is best for casual beach dining. Perivolos has the more stylish beach clubs and restaurants, while Perissa has more inexpensive tavernas. Check the sunbed policy before settling in, as some beach clubs require food or drink orders and the better sections can be expensive.

Figure roughly 25 to 45 minutes to Fira by bus, depending on traffic, route, and season. The seasonal boat taxi to Kamari is fun when running, but don’t rely on it for a fixed connection.

Stay in Perissa or Perivolos if:

• You want the best beach base on Santorini.
• You want better value and larger rooms than the caldera towns.
• You’re traveling with kids and want flat walking, easy meals, and beach days.
• You like beach clubs and casual restaurants.
• You plan to rent a car or don’t mind longer bus rides to the caldera.

Do not stay in Perissa or Perivolos if:

• You want to be near the caldera.
• You want cliffside hotels and sunset terraces.
• You want nightlife beyond beach bars.
• You’re visiting for only two or three nights and want the classic Santorini experience.

• Best Hotels in Perissa & Perivolos:
  Istoria • Sea Breeze – on Exomitis Beach • Orabel Suites • Santo Miramare Beach Resort • Aqua Blue Beach Hotel
• Best Value/Midrange Hotels:
  Meltemi Village Hotel • Smaragdi Hotel

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MEGALOCHORI

Best for: Families, Wineries, Quiet Stays, Traditional Village Feel, Better Value

In the heart of Santorini’s wine country, Megalochori is one of my favorite villages for a quiet stay away from the main tourist towns. It has whitewashed houses, neoclassical mansions, arched doorways, bell towers, cave houses, and narrow lanes twisting into small courtyards. It’s charming without feeling as staged as Oia.

The village square is one of the nicest on Santorini for a relaxed drink or meal. The restaurant scene is small, so don’t stay here if you want a different restaurant every night within a five-minute walk.

Wine is a big reason to stay here. Megalochori is surrounded by vineyards, with several wineries and tasting rooms nearby. If everyone wants to taste, book a wine tour or driver rather than driving yourself.

Buses connect Megalochori with Fira and the south of the island, but I prefer having a rental car. It makes Akrotiri, Vlychada, Pyrgos, wineries, and the south-coast beaches much easier.

Stay in Megalochori if:

• You want a quiet traditional village.
• You plan to rent a car and explore the island.
• You’re interested in wineries, Akrotiri, Pyrgos, and the south-coast beaches.
• You don’t need nightlife or a caldera view.
• You want a quiet family or villa stay away from the busiest tourist lanes.

Do not stay in Megalochori if:

• You want classic cliffside caldera views from your hotel.
• You want to rely heavily on public transport.
• You want lots of restaurants, shops, and bars within walking distance.
• You want a beach holiday.

• Best Hotels in Megalochori:
  Vedema Resort • Alti Suites • Athermi Suites • Santorini Heritage Villas
• Best Value/Midrange Hotels:
  Hotel Star

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EMPORIO

Best for: Budget Stays, Traditional Architecture, Longer Stays with a Car

Emporio is Santorini’s largest traditional village and a good base if you want to stay away from the caldera crowds. It is not polished or glamorous, and that’s the appeal. You get medieval lanes, cave-style houses, old churches, simple tavernas, and much better value than the famous cliff towns.

The heart of the village is the Kasteli, a compact medieval fortified settlement built to protect residents from pirate raids. Its narrow lanes, archways, staircases, and tightly packed houses are worth exploring even if you’re not staying here.

Emporio is close to Perissa and Perivolos, so it works well if you want a traditional village but plan to spend plenty of time at the beach. A rental car is strongly recommended.

Stay here for value, space, and the old village. Do not stay here for caldera views, nightlife, shopping, or easy transport. Emporio works best for repeat visitors, longer stays, and families renting villas.

• Best Hotels in Emporio:
  Timedrops Santorini Villas • Rock Villas • Nalas Suites

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MESARIA

Best for: Budget Stays, Central Location, Good-Value Villas and Caldera-Edge Hotels

Mesaria is close to the center of Santorini and one of the island’s most practical non-touristy bases. It’s more modern and lived-in than Pyrgos or Megalochori, with local shops, bakeries, tavernas, traffic, and everyday island life. It is not the prettiest village on Santorini, but it is central and good value.

The western edge of Mesaria reaches the caldera side of the island, where several hotels and villas have excellent volcano views at lower prices than comparable properties in Fira, Imerovigli, or Oia. These hotels are not in the walkable village center. You’re booking the view, privacy, and road access.

The central village has casual restaurants, grill houses, and several neoclassical buildings, including Argyros Mansion, the only restored mansion on Santorini open to the public.

Central Mesaria has useful bus connections, but a rental car makes the area much easier, especially for Oia, Akrotiri, wineries, and evening meals.

Stay in Mesaria if you want a central location and good value, not romance.

• Best Hotels in Mesaria:
  Celestia Grand • Petit Palace Suites • Volcano View Hotel • Kallos Imar Hotel • Amity Suites • Markezini’s Suites
• Best Value/Midrange Hotels:
  Kalisperis Hotel

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FINIKIA

Best for: Fewer Crowds, Better Value near Oia, Quiet Couples, Villas

Finikia is a small traditional village just outside Oia, facing east rather than into the caldera. It’s a good place to stay if you want easy access to Oia without paying Oia prices or sleeping in the middle of the crowds.

Finikia is a separate village, even though some nearby hotels market themselves as being in Oia. It has cobbled lanes, old cave houses, small churches, and a handful of restaurants, but no caldera views.

The walk from central Finikia to the beginning of Oia’s pedestrian path takes about 15 minutes. That makes it easy to visit Oia early in the morning or after sunset. Domaine Sigalas, one of Santorini’s best wineries, is also nearby.

Finikia works best for couples and families who want more space and better value near Oia. It is less convenient if you want to explore the rest of Santorini by public transport, so a taxi, transfer, or rental car can be useful.

• Best Hotels in Finikia:
  270 Oia’s View • Elysian Santorini • Danae Suites • Sophia Boutique Hotel
• Best Value/Midrange Hotels:
  Red Stone Villa • Lotza Studios

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THIRASSIA ISLAND

Best for: Fewer Crowds, Solitude, Simple Stays

Thirassia is the quiet island across the caldera from Santorini. It was once part of the same volcanic landmass and today has a fraction of Santorini’s tourism. I like it as a day trip, but I would only stay overnight if you’re specifically looking for isolation and simplicity.

There are a handful of tavernas, simple guesthouses, footpaths, churches, black volcanic beaches at Riva and Ormos Korfou, and the clifftop village of Manolas. You’ll also find Mikra Thira Winery and the abandoned cave village of Agrilia. Do not expect polished hotels, nightlife, or much choice.

Mikra Thira Winery on Thirassia Island.

Boat service between Santorini and Thirassia varies by season and day of the week. Small passenger boats operate between Ammoudi and Thirassia, with additional connections at certain times of year. If you’re staying overnight, check the current timetable before you go rather than relying on an old schedule.

For most travelers, Thirassia works better as a day trip than as a base.

• Best Hotels in Thirassia:
  Santa Irini Retreat • Perivolas Hideaway • Evanthia Best View • Agrilia Secluded Cave House
• Best Value/Midrange Hotel:
  Thirassia Paradise Suites