Canaves Oia Suites in Oia, Santorini

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By Santorini Dave

Essentials
• Location: On the caldera’s edge in the center of Oia.
• Map
• Hotel website: canaves.com
• Hotel phone: +30 22860 71453
• Check prices for Canaves Oia Suites

The infinity pool at Canaves Oia Suites in Oia.

Hotel Review

Canaves Oia Suites – Five-star, all-suite hotel overlooking the caldera in Oia with a spa and two pools.

This elegant property offers thirty suites and a villa, each with a private, heated plunge pool and luxurious perks, including a pillow menu, a welcome bottle of wine, and unbelievable views. The spa has indoor treatment rooms in a converted 17th-century wine cave, as well as an outdoor treatment terrace over the caldera. The main pool features a built-in jacuzzi, while the new infinity pool, balanced just on the caldera’s edge, features partially-submerged sun loungers. Dining is phenomenal at their gourmet restaurant Petra (casual poolside food and drinks in the day; romantic, gourmet experience at night), or on the romantic Panorama Terrace with only one candlelit table for two.

See Also

• The Best Hotels in Santorini
• Where to Stay in Santorini
• Best Tours & Things to Do in Santorini

Canaves Oia Suites – Location

• Area: Fantastic location on the caldera’s edge in the center of Oia, just inside the pedestrian-only zone. The hotel is less than 5 minutes from several amazing restaurants, cafes, and boutiques and about 8 minutes from the Oia Bus Terminal.

• How to Get There: The hotel is located on the marble footpath that’s located just off the main road into Oia, making it very easy to travel to and from, whether by taxi, driving yourself, or riding the bus. It is approximately 18km from the Athinios ferry port and the Santorini Airport to the hotel, though they are in different directions.

There are always buses waiting at the ferry port for every ferry arrival, as well as buses departing hourly from Santorini Airport. There are no direct buses from the port or airport to Oia, however; buses from both locations go to Fira, where you must then board a different bus to Oia – the entire trip from the port or airport to Oia will take at least an hour and cost about €5 in total. Tickets are purchased on the bus, in cash only. From the Oia Bus Terminal, it’s an easy 8-minute walk to the hotel.

Taxis are also available from the port or airport, though there are only about 25 taxis serving the whole island, so there is often a wait; schedule a ride through a private car service in advance to avoid this (I use and recommend Welcome Pickups). Taxis on Santorini are not metered, so be sure to agree on a price with the driver before setting out. A taxi from the airport to Canaves Oia Suites will cost roughly €35 to €40. A taxi from the ferry port will cost around €35 to €40. Booking through a private car service will cost only a bit more – about $60 (or €50), but is worth it to avoid the wait and for the convenience of paying ahead.

For those who prefer to drive themselves, we recommend renting a car either at the airport on arrival, or in Fira. The road from the ferry port is steep and narrow, with many tricky switchbacks, large trucks, and buses. Leave that for the locals to navigate. We strongly recommend reserving a vehicle in advance, especially if you require automatic transmission. Canaves Oia Suites offers free parking in their lot nearby.

• Handy to: The beginning of the pedestrian pathway, Church of Panagia of Platsani.

Map of Canaves Oia Suites

Canaves Oia Suites – The Basics

• Ages: An adults-only hotel, only ages 13 and older are allowed. Guests tend to be couples celebrating a special occasion, usually a honeymoon or anniversary, though they do get a few families traveling with older kids, especially in the summer months.
• Beach: The closest swimming spot (though it is not a proper beach) is at Ammoudi Bay, the port immediately below Oia, 1 km from the hotel. This is a popular spot for swimming and cliff diving; though it’s too rocky and small to do much lounging. Ammoudi Bay is the main port of Oia, and is served by several spectacular seafood restaurants. It’s a steep trek down and back again, but it’s relatively easy to catch a cab at the bottom to bring you back up the hill. (Buy a snack at one of the restaurants and the waiter will be happy to call one.)
• View: Astounding, panoramic caldera views throughout the hotel.
• Private Pools/Jacuzzis: All suites and the villa feature heated, private plunge pools with caldera views.
• Parking: Free parking in their lot nearby.
• Extras: Welcome drink, welcome bottle of wine and fruit basket, pillow menu, wine tasting experience in their private cellar (extra fee), Greek clothing boutique, private dining on the Panorama Terrace (extra fee), weekly event night (cocktails, degustation, live music, etc).
• When to Book: The hotel usually operates from early April until late October/early November. Reserve at least 4 months in advance (6 months is better) for stays during high season from June through September, and about 2 months in advance for the low and shoulder seasons.
• How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
• Phone: +30 22860 71453
• Email: info@canaves.com, reservations@canaves.com
• Website: canaves.com

Canaves Oia Suites – Amenities

• Pool: Infinity pool with a built in jacuzzi. Mostly open to the sun, with a small shaded cave-section. There’s also a small, shallow infinity pool with sunken sunbeds in it facing over the caldera.
• Spa: Full service spa in two parts: the main area is in a converted 17th century wine cave, and the outdoor section is on a terrace with caldera views.
• Fitness Center: Small gym with cardio machines, free weights, and a cable machine. There is also an outdoor yoga and meditation terrace.
• For Disabled Guests: This is a caldera hotel with a lot of stairs throughout. There is an elevator, but it does not serve all floors of the hotel. This hotel is not recommended for anyone with mobility issues.
• For Families: An adults-only hotel, only guests aged 13 and over are allowed. There are no special amenities or facilities for children. For families with older kids, they offer some two-bedroom, two-bathroom suites that accommodate up to 5 guests.
• Activities: Wine tasting in their private cellar, weekly event night at the Pool Bar.

Canaves Oia Suites – Food and Drink

• Restaurant: Petra is their all-day restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. The atmosphere is casual in the daytime, offering traditional fare, and a little more gourmet in the evenings, focusing on elevated Greek-Mediterranean dishes, with especially great seafood. Petra is reserved for guests’ use in the daytime, and opens to the public in the evening – so it’s a good idea to reserve ahead to secure a table with a view. Petra also prepares the food that is served to the private dining table on the Panorama Terrace.
• Lounge/Bar: The Pool Bar is located in Petra, and offers great cocktails and snacks all day long, until 11:00 p.m. Once a week, there is an event night; events vary but are usually centered on cocktails, food and wine tasting, or live music.
• Breakfast: Complimentary breakfast served daily, featuring an American champagne breakfast buffet at Petra or served a la carte to the suites at no additional fee. Breakfast is served from 8:00 until 11:00 a.m.
• Room Service: Available all day during regular restaurant hours.

Canaves Oia Suites – Rooms

• Room Types: Junior Suite with Plunge Pool • Superior Suite with Plunge Pool • Honeymoon Suite with Plunge Pool • River Pool Suite • Grand Suite with Plunge Pool • Infinity Pool Suite • Canaves Suite with Plunge Pool • Presidential Suite with Plunge Pool • Executive Suite with Cave Pool
• Smoking Rooms: Canaves Oia Suites does not allow smoking in any of their room categories. It is allowed on the private outdoor terraces and in the outdoor common areas.
• Best Room: The Presidential Suite with Plunge Pool and the Executive Suite with Cave Pool are their top tier rooms. Both are 60 sqm, with one bedroom, a bathroom with a rain shower and soaking tub, and both have heated, outdoor plunge pools. The main difference between the rooms is that the plunge pool for the Executive Suite features a cave-style design, so it is shielded from the sun, while the plunge pool for the Presidential Suite is open to the sun.
• For Families: Families can choose between the Grand Suite with Plunge Pool or the Canaves Suite with Plunge Pool. Both of these suites have 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a separate living room, and a private terrace with an al fresco dining area and heated, private plunge pool. The Grand Suite is 55 sqm, featuring a master king bedroom with an ensuite bathroom, and a second queen bedroom with a bathroom on the same floor. The Canaves Suite is 60 sqm with a master king bedroom and ensuite bathroom upstairs and the second bedroom (1 queen bed or 2 twins) and bathroom downstairs. The Canaves Suite also adds a sauna room.

Canaves Oia Suites – Local Transport

• Walking: The hotel is located in the heart of Oia, at the beginning of the marble pedestrian path, surrounded by an endless choice of restaurants, shops, and attractions. Oia Bus Terminal is just 8 minutes away on foot, while Oia’s most photographed church, Panagia of Platsani, is only 7 minutes away. The castle ruins, the island’s most popular sunset viewpoint, is a 14-minute walk west, while Ammoudi Bay is just a little further, 20 minutes from the hotel.
• Bus: Canaves Oia Suites is very close to the Oia Bus Terminal, just 8 minutes away. Buses here go to Fira (with some stopping in Firostefani and Imerovigli). To get to the airport, port, Akrotiri, or the beaches you’ll need to get a different bus in Fira. Tickets are bought on board and range from €1.80 to €2.50 per person in the daytime, depending on the route. Night buses (12:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.) run less frequently and cost a little more (from €2.30 to €3.10). Buses can get very crowded, especially during the high season, so much so that they often fill to capacity and are unable to take on more passengers. There are only 23 public buses serving the island.
• Taxis: The nearest taxi stand is at Stathmos Taxi, near the Oia Bus Terminal. There is often a wait here as there are only 25 taxis serving the entire island (including guests from about 1,000 hotels, villas, and Airbnbs). Book ahead to avoid the wait, plus you can have them meet you directly at the hotel. There will be a small surcharge for advanced reservations and for carrying luggage, usually just a couple of Euros. The average rate from Oia to Fira is €15 and from Oia to the airport runs about €25.
• Scooters/Motorcycles: Scooters are the main mode of transportation for the locals, but if you’re unfamiliar with the terrain, it can be very dangerous. The roads here are zigzagging, hilly, narrow, and have sheer drop-offs with no guardrails and no street lights in most areas. Lots of dirt roads and potholes.
• ATVs/Quads: ATVs are a fun and popular mode of transportation with tourists, but for the locals stuck driving behind them, they move too slowly and hold up traffic in an area where getting around is already a hassle. For those who don’t ride quads regularly (i.e. most people), they can be dangerous at high speeds and on turns. Crashing your ATV is a sure-fire way to ruin your vacation.

Canaves Oia Suites – What’s Nearby?

Best Nearby Restaurants

• Melitini: 100% Greek menu, using local Santorinian, Cycladic, and Greek ingredients only. Quaint, cozy interior and stellar caldera views from the rooftop terrace.
• Anemomilos Restaurant: Located next to the hotel of the same name; refreshingly local vibe, not touristy at all. Great food, friendly atmosphere.
• PitoGyros: Hands-down, the best gyros in Oia. Seating is limited.
• Lotza: Simple, honest Greek comfort food with stunning caldera views.
• Candouni: Cozy, family-owned restaurant with live, Greek music and absolutely delicious food.
• Roka: Authentic, Santorinian menu with solid dishes, especially the meatballs and octopus.
• Lefkes: Cozy, romantic restaurant in a converted wine cellar in charming Finikia village.
• Ammoudi Bay Restaurants: Each of these waterfront restaurants is phenomenal, offering the freshest fish on the island. The steep 20-minute walk down takes longer coming back up, but the waiter will be happy to call a cab.

Best Nearby Bars and Breweries

• Fino Cocktail Bar & Restaurant: The best cocktails in Santorini. Plus, inspired Mediterranean food and an extensive wine list.
• Sunset Sangria Bar: Chill spot for sangria, cocktails, and tapas with excellent sunset views (though not of the caldera).
• Marykay’s Bar/Hassapiko: The only nightlife in Oia, this is where to go for dancing, as they regularly host live bands and DJs.

Best Nearby Cafes

• Mes Amis: Amazing little spot on a covered patio looking over the caldera. Super casual, fantastic views, and great food.
• Meteor: Excellent coffee and breakfast with sweeping caldera views, though a little on the pricey side. Turns into a bar at night.

Nearby Shopping and Cool Shops

• Bligaki: Santorinian accessories, especially jewelry and bags, mostly handmade.
• BLOW by Labro: High-end designer boutique with unique pieces.
• It’s a Beautiful Day: Greek-designed clothing and luxury brand accessories.
• B.Loose: Greek-made, casual linens for men and women.
• Steps to Art: Truly unique metal sculptures, replicas inspired by Akrotiri, and jewelry made with volcanic sand and watch parts.
• Spilia Cave Greek Clothing: Handmade, leather sandals, cotton and linen Greek clothes, located in one of the original living caves of Oia.

Nearby Attractions

• Oia-Fira Hiking Trail: One of the top attractions on the island is this scenic 10.5 km hiking trail connecting Oia and Fira. A mix of sidewalk, cobblestones, and dirt trail, this route boasts gorgeous vistas the entire way. Hiking south to Fira, the full length of the path from the Byzantine Castle Ruins takes from 2 to 5 hours; Add about an hour for a detour at Skaros Rock in Imerovigli. 1-minute walk from the hotel.
• Church of Panagia of Platsani: The most iconic church in Santorini, beautiful inside and out.
• Museum of Ancient, Byzantine Musical Instruments: Faithful replicas of Greek instruments dating from the prehistoric through Byzantine eras.
• Maritime Museum: Small museum focused on Greek Naval and Santorinian seafaring history. Only €3 to enter.
• Castle of Agios Nikolaos (aka Oia Castle aka Byzantine Castle Ruins): The medieval castle ruins are the most popular sunset viewpoint on the island.
• Ammoudi Bay: Best known for its fresh fish restaurants, Ammoudi is the rocky port of Oia; boats sail to Thirassia or cruise the caldera from here. It’s an incredibly popular spot for cliff diving, and is one of the best places to swim on the island.

Nearby Markets or Grocery Stores

• Village Super Market: Good selection of staples at a fair price (for Santorini).
• Perivolas Market: Small store with a decent selection of drinks, wine, and bread.
• Elliniki Diatrofi Supermarket: Great selection of local cheeses, wine, liquor, fresh produce, and staples. Open until after midnight, sometimes as late as 2:00 a.m.
• Proton Supermarket: Small market, but usually has the best prices. This is where most locals shop in the area.

Canaves Oia Suites – The Hotel

Canaves Oia Suites’ exterior with the main pool, pool bar, and White Cave Table. This side of the hotel faces toward the caldera.

The pool features a built-in jacuzzi.

Most of the pool is open to the sun, but there is a small covered portion inside a cave.

Inside the cave is a private dining area, the White Cave Table.

…but the most popular romantic dining spot is on the Panorama Terrace, with unparalleled sunset views of the caldera, volcano, and Thirassia. Only one table and one seating per night (8pm to 11pm). This area is also used for weddings and private events.

Next to the pool, Petra restaurant serves local flavors in the mornings and afternoons with a casual atmosphere. In the evenings, it becomes a more refined, gourmet restaurant. Champagne breakfast is set up here every morning, and refreshing cocktails are available all day.

Also next to the pool are several sun loungers…

…but the best spot to catch some rays is in the infinity pool.

From here, you’ll have the best view of the small, old port of Armeni Bay (not to be confused with nearby Ammoudi Bay, just hidden from view by the rocks on the right).

Inside the hotel, there is a small reception area…

…a high-end boutique featuring clothing and accessories by Greek designers…

…a basic gym…

…and an indulgent spa.

Suites are spacious, especially the Presidential and Executive categories. The Presidential Suite, seen here, opens to a large living room facing the private veranda.

Its design is a contemporary take on Cycladic cave-style architecture, with lots of arches, a vaulted ceiling, and the classic white and blue Greek color palette, with more muted tones.

The bedroom is equally comfortable, with a king bed and similar style.

The bathroom is quite generous, with dual vanities, a glass shower…

…and a deep soaking tub.

Its private terrace has two sun loungers, a seating area…

…and a private, heated plunge pool.

View from the Presidential Suite verandah.

The Executive Suite is similar to the Presidential Suite in size and décor…

…with similar features and amenities.

The main difference is that the Executive Suite’s heated plunge pool is cave-style rather than open to the sun. Check prices and availability: Canaves Oia Suites