Home > Greece > Santorini > Kamari Hotels
by Santorini Dave • Updated: November 29, 2018
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Kamari is a wonderful, family-friendly beach town on the east coast of the island – the opposite side of the island from the caldera. It has a pedestrian beach-front walkway, loads of bars and restaurants, great (pebble beach) swimming, and an easy-going vibe. It’s a 15-minute bus or taxi ride from Kamari to Fira, so day trips to the cliffside towns are not difficult. (To get to Oia, just change buses in Fira.) In summer there are late buses running from Fira to Kamari – the last one will leave Fira after midnight sometimes as late as 3:30am. A taxi from Fira to Kamari will be about 15€. Taxi from Oia to Kamari is 20€ to 25€. Kamari is also where you’ll find the fantastic outdoor cinema – which is a must.
Perissa is the other main beach town in Santorini. The beach there has nicer sand and the town has a little more laid-back charm (it feels less resorty and more like a California beach town). But there’s better traditional Greek food in Kamari and it’s much faster and easier to get to Fira (or Oia) from Kamari than from Perissa.
The best hotel in Kamari that’s right on the beach is Sigalas – the other hotels listed below are either across a pedestrian road from the beach or back a few streets – which isn’t a big deal but at Sigalas you can walk straight from your room or the pool to the sea.
The 10 Best Hotels in Kamari
- Santorini Kastelli Resort – Bright, spacious, modern rooms; all with terraces or balconies. Beautiful lush grounds, 4 pools, great spa, restaurant, small gym, and tennis court. • (Hotel phone: +30 2286 031530)
- Tamarix Del Mar Suites – Family-friendly maisonettes accommodate up to 5 guests, with high chairs, cribs, and a kids’ pool and playroom. Lovely swimming pool and bar; some suites feature outdoor jacuzzis. • (Hotel phone: 30 22860 34172)
- Cavo Bianco – Spacious rooms and suites have modern minimalist decor and private balconies. 2 shared pools, small gym & spa; most suites have private jacuzzis – the Pool Suite has a private (but not secluded) pool. • (Hotel phone: +30 2286 031366)
- Zephyros – Cozy, family-run hotel with a lovely garden and pool area, a quick walk to the beach and the bus. Guests can enjoy private beach privileges at their sister Hotel, Elixir Studios. • (Hotel phone: +30 2286 031108)
- Acqua Vatos Santorini Hotel – Modern accommodations with a colorful, quirky, pop-art vibe and a small private vineyard. Good-sized shared pool with plenty of cushioned sunbeds – 50m from Kamari Beach. • (Hotel phone: +30 2286 031660)
- Santellini Hotel – 24-room hotel with clean and bright traditional decor, modern bathrooms, and lovely pool with shared sun terrace. Bi-level maisonettes sleep up to 4. • (Hotel phone: +30 2286 028866)
- Sigalas – Clean and crisp family-run hotel with private beach access, a short walk to the promenade. A range of rooms and suites can accommodate from 2 to 7 guests. • (Hotel phone: +30 2286 031260)
- Hotel Matina – Friendly mid-range boutique hotel with a large pool and short walk to the beach, restaurants, and bus station. Free breakfast. • (Hotel phone: +30 2286 031491)
- Blue Waves – Spacious and clean rooms and suites with modern furnishing, 100 feet from the beach. Shared pool and sun deck; suites feature private jacuzzis or pools. • (Hotel phone: +30 2286 031935)
- Santorini Crystal Blue – Small hotel with clean, spacious rooms and shared pool and sun deck. Deluxe Suite has an outdoor hot tub, Beach Front Villas sleep four. • (Hotel phone: +30 2286 031055)
Looking at staying for 3 nights at the Aegean Plaza Hotel, is this nice? How far to beach and dining?
Yes, nice hotel and pool. Two minute walk to the beach and many bars and restaurants.
Hello SD, enjoy reading your tips and tricks! My wife and I will be staying at the Acroterra Rosa in Akrotiri for 4 days Sept 20-24 celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary, and I was wondering what is the best way to get to a couple of beaches if we aren’t renting a car. Cab? ATV’s available for rent?
Thanks Dave!
-It’s a 15-minute walk to Red Beach or a short drive (ATV). From there you can take the water taxi to two other beaches. Or you can drive to Black Beach as well.
-10 or 15 minutes and 20 euro taxi ride to Fira and Perissa/Perivolos Beaches. From the beaches you can take a water taxi to Kamari. From Fira you can take a bus to Kamari (and then water taxi to Perissa/Perivolos).
We are staying in Santorini for 2 nights. Is the Kayla Suites in Kamari good?
It’s a nice simple hotel a short walk from beach and restaurants. A little farther for the bus stop to Fira. Nothing too fancy but fine for most.
Hi
We are planning a trip next summer which will be a few days on Mykonos, ferry to Santorini for a few days and then a week at The White Palace in Crete (we went there last August and our boys are desperate to go back).
I have a few questions:
Where is the best town to stay in Mykonos that is child friendly (10 & 7) and relaxing but with good food?
Where is the best town to stay in Santorini that will have easy access to things to do, good views, and the ferry port?
It looks like there are multiple sailings between the three islands every day, is that right?
Great website by the way.
Sally
In Mykonos, Ornos is the most kid-friendly town. Great beach, good restaurants, and easy access to Mykonos Town (by bus). In Santorini, Fira is probably the town you want though Firostefani and Oia are also fine choices for a family. Fira is closest to the ferry port (though it’s still a 15/20 minute drive by bus). Usually 2 ferries per day between Crete and Santorini, and 2 to 4 between Mykonos and Santorini (in summer).
We are planning a trip to Santorini 28-Sep through 05-Oct. The first 4 nights we’ll be staying on the Caldera, and the last 3 nights we’ll be staying in Kamari. We’d like to stay close to the beach or on the beach at an affordable price and have narrowed it down to Rose Bay Hotel and The Boat House Hotel. Which would you recommend, or do you recommend something else?
Both are very nice and good choices. The Boat House is right on the waterfront and it’s easier to hop down to the sea for a swim. It also feels more in the thick of things. The Rose Bay is a 2 minute walk away but back from the seafront just a little. The Rose Bay does have a larger nicer pool.
Hi Dave
We are three couples whos husbands are all celebrating their 60th birthdays next year. We are looking at May 2018. We are all foodies and like a good glass of wine. We also like nice views, and us ladies also like dancing. Any suggestion on the best part of the island to stay. Thank you. Karen
Imerovigli has the best food and views in Santorini. Fira is the only town with any significant nightlife and dancing. Dancing starts late on Santorini so it is nice if you’re staying nearby and can walk straight back to your hotel instead of searching for a taxi.
Can you recommend some good Kamari hotels that are less expensive than the hotels above (which look very nice but are above our budget). We need a nice hotel, clean, a pool would be great, in 2 or 3 star category. Thank you.
Good quality hotels in Kamari that are less expensive: Selini Ηotel and Hotel Matina. Both have pools and good central locations.
Hi planning to go in June with my son 8 years and aunt to Santorini. I would like affordable clean exotic place on the beach. One bedroom appartment would be best. Any recommendations? I feel very overwhelmed with the selection and everything looks great.
Diana
The hotels all look great because they are all (generally) of a high quality. It’s rare that you find a hotel on Santorini that isn’t good or better. Booking.com is the best website for booking hotels. Just be sure a hotel has a rating of 8.0 or higher and you’re almost guaranteed to like it. That said, the Kastelli Resort is one of the best in Kamari and has large one-bedroom suites. Not right on the beach but a very short walk away.
Hey!
My boyfriend and I are considering Santorini for two weeks next July! We are 23 and want some nightlife, bars, shopping! But also a little luxury. You seem very helpful so I hope you can point me in the right direction. Never been to Santorini or anywhere in Greece before! Thank you!
Ash
Most of the nightlife, bars, and shopping are in Fira. Kamari and Oia also have shopping and a few bars but not to same extent and I wouldn’t call it nightlife (all of the clubs are in Fira). So Fira is probably where you want to stay. It also has a far great selection of luxury hotels.
Where’s the best night life in Santorini?
Sarah
Kamari does have a few places that stay up late but most of the nightlife/dancing/clubs are in Fira – about a 15 minute bus/taxi ride from Kamari.
Hi. Great website, wish I’d come across it sooner! Frantic looking for a last minute holiday to go this next weekend and REALLY fancy Santorini. However struggling a bit to find something at such short notice AND that’s not silly money. Any suggestions please, really love the sound of Imerovigli and the other west of the island resorts that you so fondly talk about? The views, classy accommodation and trendy areas for night life, perfect!!! Please help, thank you.
Joanne McLoughlin
I agree. Santorini is beautiful and Imerovigli is my favorite town on the island. Try Merovigliosso for a hotel with a great central location (though not really a direct caldera view) and pretty cheap (by Santorini standards).
Hi. I’m looking into the RK Beach Hotel in Kamari. Do you recommend it? Is it better to stay in Caldera?
thanks
Karen Sharabi
Nice hotel with a great location on the Kamari boardwalk. But yes, I would still recommend staying along the caldera – much more special and unique.
We’re thinking of going to the Alia hotel, Kamari the first 2 weeks in June next year is this a good choice as we’ve never been to Santorini before. Any info will be gratefully received, many thanks.
Liz Daw
Alia hotel is very nice and about a 10 minute walk from the main strip of restaurants along Kamari beach. It does feel a little out of the way but perhaps you’ll like the quiet. The pool area is great. With 2 weeks I would definitely recommend spending a few of those days in the much more charismatic towns along the caldera: Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli, or Oia. You won’t regret it.
Looking at Sunshine Hotel in Kamari. Any thoughts?
Nice budget hotel right at the beach with it’s own restaurant (that overlooks the beach) and sun beds. Great location. The hotel itself is across a small pedestrian path from the beach (so not directly on the beach). Bus stop to Fira is a 2 minute walk away. Good pick.
Thank you for all this information! Do you have anything to share on The Boathouse hotel in Kamari? We like that it’s beach front and affordable. If not, we’d go with Kastelli, but fear we’ll regret not having a sea view and beach access directly from the hotel. Amy information would be great. Thanks!
Tim
Both are very nice hotels. The Boathouse is on the beach (the quieter end so you don’t get a lot of loud walk by traffic). The Kastelli is back from the beach but there are more restaurants nearby.
Hi
Any tips on the best part of the island and hotels for families who like good restaurants and luxury hotels?
Thanks
Fiona Murray
Imerovigli probably has the best mix of great hotels and great restaurants.