Greece › Santorini › Hotels › Dana Villas Review
By Santorini Dave
Essentials
• Location: On the caldera in the heart of Firostefani village
• Map
• Hotel website: danavillas.com
• Hotel phone: +30 22860 22566
• Check prices for Dana Villas & Infinity Suites
Dana Villas & Infinity Suites in Firostefani, Santorini.
Hotel Review
Dana Villas & Infinity Suites – Polished cave-style hotel with a swimming pool, luxury spa, and sunset views over the caldera and volcanoes.
With elegant architecture, a volcano view pool, an array of private pool suites, and an elevated culinary program, Dana Villas & Infinity Suites is an unforgettable retreat. Two hotels in one, the original rooms and suites of Dana Villas are on the lower level with panoramic caldera views, private sun terraces, and double showers. The newer Infinity Suites are on the upper level and feature outdoor, heated, infinity pools (open-air, cave-style, or river-style) with caldera views; some add indoor jacuzzis. Orkos Restaurant serves upscale Greek-Mediterranean fare with Asian accents throughout the day, while the Infinity Pool Lounge serves light fare, meze, and refreshing drinks until midnight. The new Soma Spa boasts a hammam, jacuzzi, and a menu of treatments based on ancient Greek herbalism and therapeutics. In such a romantic space, it’s no surprise that the hotel is a popular destination for proposals, honeymoons, and especially weddings – this tiny, thirty-room hotel has hosted a whopping three thousand weddings in the past twenty years.
See Also
Dana Villas & Infinity Suites – Location
• Area: Idyllic location midway down the side of the caldera in Firostefani with views over the volcanoes, Thirassia, Akrotiri, and Skaros Rock. The hotel sits in a peaceful nook of Firostefani, a small village with a few traditional tavernas and modern restaurants and a landmark church. Though the nightlife, shopping, and bustling streets of Fira are within walking distance, the immediate neighborhood around the hotel feels worlds away.
• How to Get There: Dana Villas & Infinity Suites sits on a footpath above the caldera in Firostefani, not far off the main driving road connecting Fira and Oia, making it easy to reach by bus, taxi, or driving yourself. It is approximately 9 km from the Athinios ferry port and 7 km from the Santorini Airport to the hotel.
There are always buses waiting at the ferry port for every ferry arrival, as well as buses departing hourly from Santorini Airport. However, there are no direct buses from the port or airport to Firostefani. Buses from both locations go to Fira, where you must then board the Fira-Imerovigli bus, which stops at Firostefani – the entire trip from the port or airport to Firostefani will take at least an hour and cost about €5 in total. Tickets are purchased on the bus, in cash only. The bus stop is just 4 minutes away on foot near St. Gerasimos Church, and the walk from there to the hotel is mostly flat, though there are a considerable amount of stairs down from the pedestrian path to reach the main entrance about halfway down the side of the caldera.
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 private transfer through the hotel or 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 or ferry port to Dana Villas & Infinity Suites will both cost roughly €25. Booking through a private car service will cost a bit more – about $45 (or €37), but it’s 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. Dana Villas & Infinity Suites is very near to a free parking lot, located adjacent to St. Gerasimos Church.
• Handy to: The Oia-Fira Hiking Trail, nightlife in Fira, Skaros Rock.
Map of Dana Villas & Infinity Suites
Dana Villas & Infinity Suites – The Basics
- Ages: Guests ages 16 and older are welcome here. The hotel has no specific amenities or facilities for children. Most guests tend to be couples on romantic getaways; a good deal of them are here for weddings.
- Beach: The nearest beach is Exo Gialos, a quiet, black sand beach with intriguing wind-sculpted cliffs at its southern end. The best beach bar and restaurant there is East Breeze, just a few meters from the cliffs (10-minute drive). The north end has a small harbor and another great beach bar and restaurant called Yalos (8-minute drive). From the hotel, it’s a short 3.8 km drive to the north end or 6.1 km to the south end, where the cliffs are.
- View: All rooms, suites, and villas boast spectacular sunset caldera views, not only from their private terraces but also from their bedrooms; most rooms have small windows in the showers with caldera views, too.
- Private Pools/Jacuzzis: Suites and villas in the new Infinity Suites section all have private, heated, outdoor, infinity pools of some type (cave pools, river pools, or open-air pools). Top tier suites and villas (Cave Pool Villa, Honeymoon Pool Suite, Honeymoon Pool Villa, Grand Pool Villa, Master Pool Villa, Infinity Pool Suite, and Infinity Pool Villa) add indoor jacuzzis.
- Parking: The hotel is a mere 5-minute walk to the free parking lot at the foot of St. Gerasimos Church.
- Extras: Welcome drink and amenity, complimentary wine or champagne for anniversary and honeymoon guests, room service, wedding and event planning/hosting.
- When to Book: The hotel is open from early March to late November. Reserve at least 6 months in advance (8 months is better) for stays during the high season from June through September, and about 4 months in advance for the low and shoulder seasons.
- How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
- Phone: +30 22860 22566
- Email: reservations@danavillas.com
- Website: danavillas.com
Dana Villas & Infinity Suites – Amenities
- Pool: The hotel offers a swimming pool with a sun terrace served all day by a pool bar. There is also a shared jacuzzi. Since many rooms have private pools, the main pool area is usually not too crowded.
- Spa: Beautiful cave-style spa with a hammam and jacuzzi and a treatment menu emphasizing Greek herbs and traditional therapies. In-room spa treatments are also available on request.
- Fitness Center: No gym.
- For Disabled Guests: This is a caldera hotel with no elevator and lots of steps. Not suitable for guests with mobility issues.
- For Families: The hotel welcomes guests ages 16 and up. There are no facilities or amenities for children. Families with older kids will enjoy their spacious suites and villas, the largest comfortably sleeping up to 6 guests.
- Activities: The single most-booked wedding venue in Santorini is here at Dana Weddings event terrace, so expect happy, buzzing activities. The concierge here specializes in arranging romantic experiences, such as private dining, wine excursions, sailing cruises, and more.
Dana Villas & Infinity Suites – Food and Drink
- Restaurant: Orkos Restaurant specializes in Greek-Mediterranean favorites with slight pan-Asian influences made with local, seasonal ingredients and served al fresco on their caldera-view terrace. Lunch is served from 12:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and dinner from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
- Lounge/Bar: Infinity Pool Lounge offers creative and classic cocktails, local wine and beers, and light fare all day until midnight.
- Breakfast: Complimentary buffet breakfast is available every day from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in Orkos Restaurant. A “floating breakfast,” served directly at the suite’s private pool, is also available for purchase.
- Room Service: Available all day until midnight.
Dana Villas & Infinity Suites – Rooms
- Room Types: Dana Double Deluxe • Dana Junior Suite • Dana Superior Suite • Dana Superipr Villa • Junior Pool Suite • Cave Pool Suite • Superior Pool Suite • Cave Pool Villa • Honeymoon Pool Suite • Honeymoon Pool Villa • Grand Pool Villa • Master Pool Villa • Infinity Pool Suite • Infinity Pool Villa
- Smoking Rooms: The hotel does not allow smoking in any of its rooms. Smoking is allowed on the private terraces and in the outdoor common areas.
- Best Room: The best suites and villas are in the Infinity Suites section, the newest addition to the hotel where all suites have private pools. Though all of these rooms are amazing, the absolute best for couples is the Infinity Pool Suite. This gorgeous suite boasts 125 square meters of living space with a heated, cave-style, infinity-edge river pool outdoors and a heated, indoor, waterfall jacuzzi (the jacuzzi alone is 23 square meters – as large as some hotel rooms on the island). The sun terrace is among the most secluded on the island and has a double-sized sunbed and dining table. The suite features a king-sized bed, a separate living room, 2 bathrooms with rain showers and jet systems, and a hammam. Of course, there is a direct view of the caldera and volcanoes here, too.
- For Families: Dana Villas & Infinity Suites welcomes guests ages 16 and up. There are no facilities or amenities for young children, but there are several fantastic suites and villas for families with older kids. The best option for families here is the Infinity Pool Villa. This 170 square meter villa for up to 6 guests is made of 2 interconnecting suites: the Infinity Pool Suite described above plus the Honeymoon Pool Villa, which adds a second indoor plunge pool/jacuzzi, another outdoor, heated, cave-style infinity pool, a second king bedroom, second outdoor dining/sun terrace, and a second living room, a third bathroom, and a second hammam. Both living rooms have sofa beds.
Dana Villas & Infinity Suites – Local Transport
- Walking: The hotel is located about halfway down the side of the caldera a short walk to the main square of Firostefani village and the Church of St. Gerasimos. The Oia-Fira hiking trail, amazing restaurants, and charming sights are just a few meters away. Easy access to all dining and attractions in romantic Imerovigli as well as the nightlife and shopping in bustling Fira; both villages are within a 15-minute walk of the hotel.
- Bus: The nearest bus stop is a 4-minute walk from the hotel, near the parking lot behind St. Gerasimos. Buses here serve all of the major villages and beaches on the island, often with a change in Fira if heading to the airport, port, or beaches. 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 am to 5 am) 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 in Fira, about 16 minutes south on foot. There is often a wait here as there are only 25 taxis serving the entire island. Book ahead to avoid the wait, and have the driver meet you near the hotel instead. The average rate from Firostefani to the airport or port is around €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.
Dana Villas & Infinity Suites – What’s Nearby?
Best Nearby Restaurants
- Da Vinci Restaurant: Fantastic Italian restaurant with sea views to the east (but not caldera views).
- Aktaion: The oldest taverna on the island, Aktaion has been serving authentic Santorinian flavors since 1922.
- La Maison: Contemporary Greek fine dining with sweeping caldera views. Food, wine, and service are all phenomenal.
- Pelican Kipos: Stellar, wine-centric restaurant with over 600 varieties of local and international wines in a charming garden setting. Wine tastings and cellar tours available daily.
- Argo Restaurant: Argo features a rich menu of Santorinian and Mediterranean flavors with modern, international influences. With amazing views over the caldera, this is a popular spot for sunset dining. Reserve in advance to ensure a view table.
- Lucky’s Souvlakis: Hands-down the very best gyros in Santorini. Eating at Lucky’s is an absolute must when in Santorini. Authentic, filling, and affordable.
- The Athenian House: Elegant fine dining with spectacular sunset views. Contemporary and imaginative Greek dishes incorporate modern gastronomic techniques and locally-sourced ingredients. Most of all, they’re delicious.
Best Nearby Bars and Breweries
- Volkan on the Rocks: Great brewpub in Firostefani with amazing views and an outdoor cinema.
- Kira Thira Jazz Bar: A Santorinian standby since 1976, Kira Thira is a cozy, casual bar with fantastic sangria, strong drinks, and an eclectic selection of music.
- Tropical Bar: Great cocktails and a magnificent view make this a popular spot for catching the sunset. The drinks menu strips down to basic offerings after sundown, but at happy hours (9 pm to 11 pm), all cocktails are half price. Aussies take note: they sell VB here.
- Tango Champagne and Cocktail Bar: Refined lounge with a romantic vibe and picture-perfect sunset views.
- MoMix: Half bar, half mad science lab, MoMix (short for Molecular Mixology) creates wild cocktails served in test tubes, as edible bites, or in bubble form.
- PK Cocktail Bar: The best craft cocktail bar in Santorini, PK Cocktail Bar offers superb sunset views, creative cocktails, and 3 levels of seating in the caldera.
- Buddha Bar Beach: Upscale cocktail bar, restaurant, and shisha lounge with views over Skaros Rock to the caldera. Pricey but on point.
Best Nearby Cafes
- To Briki: Fantastic café, the best place to try traditional Greek coffee. Breakfasts are superb, and the sunset views are gorgeous.
- Galini Café: Super friendly, all-day café with superb coffee and amazing views. Best loved for their breakfasts and brunch, especially the crepes, bennies, and French toast.
Nearby Shopping & Cool Shops
- Under a Fig Tree: Upscale boutique featuring Greek-designed fashion, accessories, and swimwear right on the Oia-Fira trail. 9-minute walk.
- Little Dot: Trendy boutique offering men’s and women’s street, surf, and swim wear.
- Pegasus Boutique: Next to the hotel of the same name, this little boutique offers clothing, shoes, swimwear, and accessories by Greek designers.
- White House Santorini: Specialty shop for all-white summer garb for men, women, and children. Located across the walking path from Idol Restaurant in Fira.
- Ammos: This shop has 2 locations in Fira, 1 in Kamari, and 1 in Oia. All offer a wide selection of international and Greek brands.
- Noi: Upscale women’s boutique offering elegant summer clothing, shoes, and accessories on Santorini’s famous Gold Street.
- Caldera Jewelry/Golden Santorini: Right across from Noi, Golden Santorini/Caldera Jewelry has offered fine gold and precious stone jewelry since 1976.
- Spicy Boutique and The Lace: These sister boutiques are located right next door to each other in the heart of Fira. Both shops sell Greek-designed women’s clothing and accessories. Spicy offers edgier styles, while The Lace caters toward a femme crowd.
- The White: Across from Spicy, The White is a luxury boutique selling hand-crafted clothing and footwear by Santorinian designer Sophia H.
- Drakkar Santorini: International and Greek designer-brand clothing for women.
- Nick the Greek: One of the oldest jewelry shops in Santorini, Nick the Greek sells fine gold jewelry and luxury watches from Greek and international brands.
- Koukla: Eclectic, artsy jewelry in a range of styles and prices.
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 northwest, the full length of the path from the hotel to Oia Castle takes from 2 to 5 hours (add about an hour for a detour at Skaros Rock when you head north); heading south to the trail’s end in Fira, near Keti Hotel, takes about 20 minutes. 1-minute walk from the hotel.
- St Mark the Evangelist: One of only a few Catholic churches in Santorini, St. Mark is recognizable by its colorful bell tower.
- St. Gerasimos Church: This blue-domed church is the most recognizable landmark in Firostefani. Many tours meet here as their starting point, and the village’s main parking lot is here.
- Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral: This imposing cathedral dominates the main square in Fira. Fully renovated after the ’56 earthquake, this landmark church is surrounded by a series of grand archways, and is adorned with frescoed walls and ceilings inside in gold and vivid colors.
- Skaros Rock: Impressive volcanic rock formation housing the ruins of a medieval castle and town, dating to 1207. The monastery at its base, Panagia Theoskepasti, is the only part of Skaros that is still active. 20-minute walk walk to the trailhead; 10 more to reach the top.
Nearby Markets or Grocery Stores
- Mini Market Sigalas: Small market with a good selection of staples, snacks, and wine near St. Gerasimos Church.
- Creta Alpha Market: Convenience store with a decent range of drinks, food, and sundries.
- Green Market Organics: Small but well-stocked grocery store in Fira with specialty items (gluten-free, lactose-free, vegan, etc.), organic, and local products.
Dana Villas & Infinity Suites – The Hotel
Sunset view from the Superior Pool Suite at Dana Villas & Infinity Suites. From this angle, you can see the north end of Thirassia Island on the left, Skaros Rock in the center, and Imerovigli village right above Skaros.
At the reception desk in the spare, whitewashed lobby of Dana Villas and Infinity Suites. Guests receive a welcome drink on arrival.
The lobby design sets the tone for the rest of the property with its domed ceiling, neutral palette, and pale blue accents.
Outside the lobby is a common terrace with west-facing views over the caldera. From here, you can see the Akrotiri Peninsula wrapping around from the left, the volcanoes in the middle, and Thirassia Island in the background right.
A closer look at the volcanoes, with Nea Kameni (New Volcano) in the front and Palia Kameni (Old Volcano) barely visible behind it. Tiny Aspronisi Island is right behind the volcanoes.
The main pool and restaurant is in the original Dana Villas section of the hotel. A sun terrace fronts the pool with stunning views. Unlike the private pools here, the main pool is not heated.
Orkos Restaurant offers al fresco dining with panoramic views of the caldera. All tables offer sunset views, though the best tables are the uncovered ones with no window barrier.
Volcano view from above the restaurant and pool.
The event terrace set up for private dining. The hotel specializes in romantic occasions, especially weddings, honeymoons, and anniversaries.
The event terrace during a wedding. Dana Villas & Infinity Suites have hosted more weddings than anywhere else on the island.
Inside the hotel, rooms, suites, and villas are styled in crisp white with traditional Santorinian architecture. This is one example of a Dana Superior Suite in the original wing of the hotel.
Another version of a Dana Superior Suite. All rooms, suites, and villas have caldera views from their beds.
The sun terrace of a Dana Superior Suite. The original Dana Villas wing is on the lower levels of the hotel, offering completely unobstructed views over the caldera.
One category up is the Dana Superior Villa. These 1-bedroom villas add 30 square meters more space, a separate living room, and can be laid out all on one level or with a loft bedroom.
This single level Dana Superior Villa is a wonderful example of traditional, cave-style architecture – carved into the cliffside by hand with a domed ceiling, and built-in counters and sofas.
All of the suites and villas with private pools are in the newer Infinity Suites section of the hotel, including this Superior Pool Suite. (Note that this is the third room type with “superior” in its name; be careful when booking to get the right one.)
View from the private pool’s edge in the Superior Pool Suite.
Another angle from the pool toward Skaros Rock, Imerovigli village, and Firostefani village just above the hotel.
A few categories up are the Honeymoon Pool Suites. There are three of these suite types at Dana Villas & Infinity Suites, all with slightly different layouts but each with an indoor/outdoor, river cave pool with an infinity edge.
Another version of a river cave infinity pool in a Honeymoon Pool Suite.
Inside a Honeymoon Pool Suite. These are 1-bedroom suites with separate living rooms.
The newest room here is the Master Pool Villa with an infinity edge, river cave pool and a closer angle on Skaros Rock.
View from inside the covered, cave portion of the river pool.
The bedroom of the Master Pool Villa. The villa layout is designed for guests to jump right out of bed and into pool.
On the opposite side of the bedroom and bathroom is the indoor river, cave plunge pool. From the front end of the cave pool, you can see through the bedroom all the way to the caldera. The window on the left is the jacuzzi entrance from the shower.
Another angle on the cave river pool shows the cave-style shower with a rainfall shower head.
Of course, there is mood lighting, as well as a sound system, adjustable jacuzzi jets, and a waterfall.
The back of the cave plunge pool where the jacuzzi jets are.
The top suite for couples is the Infinity Pool Suite, with an infinity-edge river pool and secluded sun terrace. This is the largest stand-alone suite on-site, but it can also connect to a Honeymoon Pool Villa to create the enormous Infinity Pool Villa.
This spacious 1-bedroom suite offers a separate living room, traditional Cycladic architecture, and contemporary decor.
The bedroom of the Infinity Pool Suite features a vaulted ceiling and directly connects with the indoor and outdoor pools.
The indoor, heated cave pool offers jacuzzi jets, a waterfall, and is large enough for 6. Check prices and availability: Dana Villas & Infinity Suites
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