Greece › Santorini › Hotels › Oia Castle Luxury Suites Review
By Santorini Dave
Essentials
• Location: Views of Ammoudi Bay and sunset, underneath the famous castle ruins in Oia
• Map
• Hotel website: artmaisons.gr
• Hotel phone: +30 22860 71831
• Check prices for Oia Castle Luxury Suites
The view from a private patio at Oia Castle Luxury Suites in Oia, Santorini.
Hotel Review
Oia Castle Luxury Suites – Romantic boutique hotel under the Oia castle ruins with jacuzzi and pool suites and direct sunset caldera views.
Fully renovated in 2019, Oia Castle Luxury Suites offers 7 suites, each with a private jacuzzi, private heated pool, or both. Jacuzzis and pools are all built in a cave-style, hand-carved from the cliffside. No two suites are alike, but all are luxuriously appointed and include balconies. Service is top notch here and at their sister property Aspaki, where guests have access to the full-sized, heated pool, poolside bar service, and Mediterranean restaurant. The hotel is just steps away from Oia’s best dining, shopping, and attractions.
See Also
Oia Castle Luxury Suites – Location
• Area: Oia Castle Luxury Suites is located on a footpath underneath the castle ruins, the most famous sunset viewing area in Oia, yet blissfully removed from the crowds. Surrounded by the best dining and shopping on the island, almost everything you need is within a 3 to 8-minute walk.
• How to Get There: The hotel sits in the caldera along the main footpath to the castle, but the entrance is hidden. Contact the hotel ahead of time to arrange a transfer or to have a staff member meet you in Oia village to guide you to the hotel. 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 a 9-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 Oia Castle Luxury 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. Upon arrival in Oia, there are a few free public parking lots within a 5 to 10-minute walk of the hotel, but be patient as you may need to check a few lots before finding an open space.
• Handy to: Oia Castle, Ammoudi Bay.
Map of Oia Castle Luxury Suites
Oia Castle Luxury Suites – The Basics
- Ages: Oia Castle Luxury Suites is an adults-only hotel, open to guests over 12 years only. Guests tend to be couples between 25 and 40 years old celebrating a honeymoon or anniversary.
- Beach: The closest swimming spot (though it is not a proper beach) is at Ammoudi Bay, the port immediately below Oia, about 300m from the hotel. This is a popular spot for swimming and cliff diving, though the beach is 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: The hotel offers direct sunset caldera views over Ammoudi Bay from right under the Venetian castle ruins. This is the sunset Oia is famous for, and guest can enjoy it from their private terraces away from the tourist crowds. Two of the suites, the Marine Cave Pool Suite and Aegean Exclusive Suite have direct sunset views from their plunge pools.
- Kitchen: The Olympic Pool Villa has a fully-equipped kitchen best for light cooking only.
- Private Pools/Jacuzzis: All suites have cave-style, private jacuzzis; cave-style, private heated pools; or both. The Volcano Junior and Sunset Honeymoon Suites offer outdoor jacuzzis; the Aqua Cave Pool Suite features an outdoor jacuzzi and an indoor pool; the Eros Cave Pool Suite and Olympic Pool Villa have outdoor, heated plunge pools. The Marine Cave Pool Suite and Aegean Exclusive Suite boast outdoor, heated plunge pools with direct sunset views.
- Parking: There are several free public parking lots within a 5 to 10-minute walk of the hotel.
- Extras: Welcome bottle of sparkling wine, daily maid service, in-room massage, wedding planning, bespoke services, concierge, access to all facilities at their sister property Aspaki.
- When to Book: The hotel operates from April 1 to November 1. Reserve at least 4 months in advance (6 months is better) for stays during high season from June through September, and about 3 months in advance for the low and shoulder seasons.
- How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
- Phone: +30 22860 71831
- Email: info@artmaisons.gr
- Website: artmaisons.gr
Oia Castle Luxury Suites – Amenities
- Pool: There is no shared pool onsite. Instead, all suites include a private jacuzzi or pool. Guests are invited to use the pool at their sister property Aspaki, just a 6-minute walk away.
- Spa: No spa.
- Fitness Center: No gym.
- For Disabled Guests: Like almost all caldera hotels, this one is full of stairs, and all the streets leading to it are full of stairs as well. Not suitable for anyone with mobility issues.
- For Families: Oia Castle Luxury Suites is an adults-only hotel, open to guests 12 years and older only. There are no amenities or facilities for children.
- Activities: The concierge team is happy to arrange any activities, including wine tours, caldera cruises, cooking classes, horseback riding, helicopter tours, island hopping, and more.
- Other Facilities: Guests have access to all facilities at their sister property Aspaki, including the pool, spa, and restaurant.
Oia Castle Luxury Suites – Food and Drink
- Restaurant: No restaurant onsite.
- Lounge/Bar: No bar onsite.
- Breakfast: A complimentary, a la carte, Greek breakfast is served every morning in the breakfast room from 8 am to 11 am.
- Room Service: No room service.
Oia Castle Luxury Suites – Rooms
- Room Types: Volcano Junior Suite • Sunset Honeymoon Suite • Eros Cave Pool Suite • Marine Cave Pool Suite • Aqua Cave Pool Suite • Aegean Exclusive Suite • Olympic Deluxe Pool Villa
- Smoking Rooms: The hotel 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 best room for couples is the Aqua Cave Pool Suite. This spacious suite offers a queen-sized bed, separate living and dining room, a 2-level balcony with an outdoor, cave jacuzzi offering direct sunset views, and an indoor, heated cave pool.
- For Families: Oia Castle Luxury Suites is an adults-only hotel open to guests 12 years and older. There are no amenities or facilities for children. For families with older kids, the Olympic Deluxe Pool Villa is the best option. This 2-bedroom (1 king and 1 queen), 2-bathroom suite includes a separate living room with a single-sized sofa bed, a full kitchen, a 2-floor balcony (sunbeds on the top floor and dining table on the bottom), and an outdoor, heated cave pool.
Oia Castle Luxury Suites – Local Transport
- Walking: The hotel is located in the western part of Oia under the castle ruins, within a short walking distance to the area’s best restaurants, shopping, and sights. Ammoudi Bay is accessible via a steep and winding path, easy to descend the 350m down, but arduous going back up; many people taxi back to the top. This is the pedestrian heart of Oia, and any necessities can be found within 3 to 8 minutes’ walk.
- Bus: The Oia Bus Terminal is about 500m away and serves all of the major villages and beaches on the island, usually with a change 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, about 500m east near the Oia Bus Terminal, but there is often a wait as there are only 25 taxis serving the entire island (with guests from about 1,000 hotels, villas, and Airbnbs). Book in advance to avoid the wait, plus you can choose a closer pickup point. 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 €20 to €25, and from Oia to the airport runs about €40.
- 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.
Oia Castle Luxury Suites – What’s Nearby?
Best Nearby Restaurants
- Lotza: Simple, honest Greek comfort food with stunning caldera views.
- Ammoudi Bay Restaurants: Each of these waterfront restaurants is phenomenal, offering the freshest fish on the island. The steep 5-minute walk down takes longer coming back up, but the waiter will be happy to call a cab.
- Roka: Authentic, Santorinian menu with solid dishes, especially the meatballs and octopus.
- Candouni: Cozy, family-owned restaurant with live, Greek music and absolutely delicious food.
- PitoGyros: Hands-down, the best gyros in Oia. Seating is limited.
- Melitini: 100% Greek menu, using local Santorinian, Cycladic, and Greek ingredients only.
- Anemomilos Restaurant: Located next to the hotel of the same name; refreshingly local vibe, not touristy at all. Great food, friendly atmosphere.
- Lefkes: Cozy, romantic restaurant in a converted wine cellar in the charming Finikia village.
- Domaine Sigalas: Fantastic vineyard and winery serving fresh, local meze and wine flights. Drop in anytime for a tasting or meal, or schedule ahead for a full tour.
Best Nearby Bars and Breweries
- Marykay’s Bar/Hassapiko: The only real bar in Oia, this is the only spot for dancing in Oia, regularly hosting live bands and DJs.
- Sunset Sangria Bar: Chill spot for sangria, cocktails, and tapas with excellent sunset views (though not of the caldera).
- Fino Cocktail Bar & Restaurant: The best cocktails in Santorini. Plus inspired, Mediterranean food and an extensive wine list.
Best Nearby Cafes
- Vitrin Café Creperie: One of the best breakfasts on the island, plus AMAZING sunset views if you arrive early enough to snag a table.
- Meteor: Excellent coffee and breakfast with sweeping caldera views, though a little on the pricey side.
Nearby Shopping and Cool Shops
- Spilia Cave Greek Clothing: Handmade leather sandals, cotton and linen Greek clothes, located in one of the original living caves of Oia.
- Steps to Art: Truly unique metal sculptures, replicas inspired by Akrotiri, and jewelry made with volcanic sand and watch parts.
- B.Loose: Greek-made, casual linens for men and women.
- It’s a Beautiful Day: Greek-designed clothing and luxury-brand accessories.
- Bligaki: Santorinian accessories, especially jewelry and bags, mostly handmade.
- BLOW by Labro: High-end designer boutique with unique pieces.
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 Venetian 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.
- Castle of Agios Nikolaos (aka Oia Castle): The medieval castle ruins are the most popular sunset viewpoint on the island and they are right next door.
- Maritime Museum: Small museum focused on Greek Naval and Santorinian seafaring history. Only €3 to enter.
- Museum of Ancient, Byzantine Musical Instruments: Faithful replicas of Greek instruments dating from the prehistoric through Byzantine eras.
- Ammoudi Bay: Best known for its fresh fish restaurants, Ammoudi is the rocky port of Oia; boats sail to Thirassia and 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.
- Church of Panagia of Platsani: The most iconic church in Santorini, beautiful inside and out.
- Domaine Sigalas: Santorini’s best vineyard, offering full tours, tastings, and tapas.
Nearby Markets or Grocery Stores
- Mini Market: There is a small market up the hill northwest of Vitrin Cafe.
- Proton Supermarket: Small market, but usually has the best prices. This is where most locals shop in the area.
- Elliniki Diatrofi Supermarket: Great selection of local cheeses, wine, liquor, fresh produce, and staples. Open until after midnight, sometimes as late as 2 am.
Oia Castle Luxury Suites – The Hotel
Caldera views from Oia Castle Luxury Suites.
Outside of Oia Castle Luxury Suites. The hotel features traditional Santorinian architecture with hand-carved walls and ceilings built straight into the side of the caldera.
The hotel is best loved for its direct sunset views toward Thirassia Island and Ammoudi Bay. This is the southwestern view facing Thirassia. The steps lead down to Ammoudi Bay.
Turning to the right to see Ammoudi Bay. This is the closest swimming spot to Oia Castle Luxury Suites and the best on the island. Several fantastic restaurants line the bay, and boats depart regularly for caldera cruises and day trips to Thirassia.
The hotel specializes in romantic stays, especially for couples. As such, there are few common areas at the hotel. One of them is the Sunset Deck, seen here. This is mostly used by guests of their sister hotel Aspaki, since all suites at Oia Castle Luxury Suites have their own sunset view terraces.
View from the Sunset Deck of Thirassia and Ammoudi, with the stairs to Ammoudi visible on the bottom left, leading about 300 meters down to the water.
The other common area is the Breakfast Room. A delicious, complimentary, a la carte Greek breakfast is served here daily from 8 am to 11 am.
Among their best suites is the Eros Cave Pool Suite. This suite is fronted by a spacious, sunset view terrace.
The sun loungers are on the opposite side of the terrace, adjacent to the entrance of the suite’s private, heated cave pool.
A closer look at the outdoor, heated cave pool.
The Eros Cave Pool Suite opens up to a spacious, cave-style bedroom with a marble floor and antique furniture.
The queen-size bed is built into a smaller cave with fairy lights in the ceiling. Furniture is decidedly whimsical.
Turning to face toward the painted shutters. The bathroom is through the arched doorway.
The bathroom features a jetted rain shower with chromotherapy lights, marble accents, and stone sink.
The Volcano Junior Suite is the entry level room here. But it still offers a private jacuzzi, mesmerizing views, and elegant accommodations.
The roomy, tiled jacuzzi.
Like the Eros Suite, the Junior Suite also features a queen-sized bed built into a little cave.
The largest suite, the 2-bedroom Olympic Pool Villa, features an indoor, heated cave pool.
Its indoor pool features chromotherapy lights and hydrotherapy jets. Check prices and availability: Oia Castle Luxury Suites
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