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Oia or Fira: Which Is Better for Your Santorini Stay?

GreeceSantorini › Oia or Fira
Updated: August 7, 2026 • By Santorini Dave

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Santorini Dave in Oia, Santorini.

Enjoying my morning coffee and the caldera view from our hotel in Oia.

Stay in Fira if you want to explore Santorini. Stay in Oia if your hotel is the destination.

For most first-time visitors, Fira is the better base. It is central, practical, connected to every major bus route, and closer to the airport, ferry port, beaches, wineries, and archaeological sites. It also has the island’s widest choice of restaurants, nightlife, shopping, and affordable hotels.

Oia is prettier, quieter at night, more luxurious, and far more romantic. It is the right choice for a honeymoon, anniversary, proposal, or special trip built around a beautiful cave hotel and long afternoons on a private terrace.

Oia or Fira: Quick Answers

  • Best for most first-time visitors: Fira.
  • Best for honeymooners: Oia.
  • Best for exploring Santorini: Fira.
  • Best for romance: Oia.
  • Best nightlife: Fira.
  • Best luxury cave hotels: Oia.
  • Best value: Fira.
  • Best bus access: Fira.
  • Best restaurants overall: Fira for variety; Oia for romantic settings.
  • Best public sunset scene: Oia.
  • Best sunset views from hotels: Fira, Firostefani, and Imerovigli.
  • Best access to beaches: Fira.
  • Best for a 1- or 2-night stay: Fira.
  • Most beautiful village: Oia.
  • Best compromise: Firostefani.
  • Best quiet caldera village: Imerovigli.

Stay in Fira If…

  • You want the easiest base for exploring Santorini.
  • You plan to use buses.
  • You want restaurants, bars, clubs, shopping, and late-night food.
  • You are arriving by ferry or leaving on an early flight.
  • You want more budget and mid-range hotels.
  • You want easy access to beaches, wineries, Akrotiri, and Pyrgos.
  • You are staying only one or two nights.
  • You prefer energy and convenience to romance and seclusion.
Santorini Dave in Fira, Santorini.

The Fira bus station is the hub of the Santorini bus system and has direct buses to almost every village and beach on the island.

Stay in Oia If…

  • You are planning a honeymoon, anniversary, proposal, or luxury trip.
  • You want a cave suite, private plunge pool, and beautiful hotel terrace.
  • You want whitewashed lanes, blue domes, boutiques, and postcard views outside your door.
  • You are happy using transfers, taxis, tours, or a rental car.
  • You want easy access to Ammoudi Bay.
  • You care more about atmosphere than nightlife.
  • You are willing to spend more for the setting.
  • You expect to spend several hours each day at your hotel.

The Real Difference Between Oia and Fira

Fira is a place to base yourself.

Oia is a place to stay.

From Fira, it is easy to head in a different direction every day. Buses leave for Oia, Kamari, Perissa, Akrotiri, the airport, and the ferry port. Tour pickups are simple. Restaurants range from cheap gyros to fine dining. The town stays lively after midnight.

Oia works differently. The village itself is the attraction. The best days are slow: breakfast overlooking the caldera, a morning walk before the crowds arrive, lunch in the village, time at the hotel pool, Ammoudi Bay in the afternoon, and dinner after most day-trippers have left. Many travelers book Oia and then spend the entire trip commuting around the island. That defeats the purpose. Stay in Oia because you want to be in Oia, not because it is the most famous name on Santorini.

For many travelers who start by asking “Oia or Fira?”, the best answer is actually Firostefani or Imerovigli.

Oia, Fira, Imerovigli, or Firostefani?

  • Oia: Best for romance, luxury cave hotels, honeymoon suites, boutiques, Ammoudi Bay, and the classic Santorini village experience. It is the prettiest, most expensive, and least convenient of the four.
  • Fira: Best for first-time visitors, buses, nightlife, restaurants, shopping, and value. It is the island’s transportation and commercial center.
  • Imerovigli: Best for quiet luxury, private terraces, sunset views, and honeymooners who want calm rather than crowds. The views are extraordinary, but restaurant and transportation choices are limited.
  • Firostefani: Best compromise. It is quieter and prettier than central Fira but only a short walk from Fira’s restaurants, bus station, and nightlife.
Hotel with pool and caldera view in Imerovigli, Santorini.

Astra Suites (one of my favorites) in Imerovigli.

Fira: Best for Convenience, Nightlife, and Value

Fira is the easiest place to stay on Santorini if you want to see a lot without overplanning every day. The main bus station, taxi stand, banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, tour offices, casual restaurants, bars, and clubs are all concentrated in or near the center. You can walk to Firostefani and Imerovigli, hike to Oia, and reach the rest of the island by bus or short taxi ride.

Many first-time visitors assume Fira has inferior views because Oia gets most of the attention. It does not. Fira looks directly across the caldera toward the volcano and has some of Santorini’s best hotel, restaurant, and bar terraces.

The trade-off is atmosphere. Fira is busier, louder, and less romantic. Inland streets feel like a practical Greek island town rather than a luxury resort. That is also what makes it useful.

Oia: Best for Romance, Luxury, and Classic Santorini Beauty

Oia is the village most travelers picture when they imagine Santorini: white cave houses, blue-domed churches, polished marble lanes, cliffside hotels, boutiques, windmills, and Ammoudi Bay below.

It is the right choice when the hotel is a major part of the trip. A good Oia hotel is not merely somewhere to sleep. It is where you have breakfast, relax beside your plunge pool, watch boats cross the caldera, and spend the quiet hours when the village is at its best. Oia is not the practical choice. It sits at the northern end of Santorini, farther from the airport, ferry port, beaches, Akrotiri, and most wineries. Hotels, restaurants, and shops cost more. The main lanes become crowded during the afternoon and before sunset.

I rarely recommend fighting for space at Oia Castle at sunset. A hotel balcony, restaurant terrace, sailing cruise, or quieter western lane offers a more enjoyable experience.

Which Is Better for First-Time Visitors?

Fira.

It gives you the greatest flexibility. You can visit Oia, hike the caldera path, take a bus to the beaches, join a wine or boat tour, visit Akrotiri, and still walk to dinner and nightlife at the end of the day. Oia is the stronger choice for a first visit only when the trip is primarily romantic and you are comfortable paying for transfers or private tours.

Which Is Better for Honeymooners?

Oia for the classic honeymoon experience. The combination of cave suites, private terraces, plunge pools, boutique hotels, Ammoudi Bay, and beautiful evening walks is hard to beat.

But Oia is not automatically the best honeymoon village. Imerovigli is quieter, has better west-facing sunset views, and offers more privacy. Firostefani is more convenient and easier for restaurants and exploring.

Choose Oia for the famous village experience. Choose Imerovigli for peaceful luxury. Choose Fira or Firostefani if nightlife and easy sightseeing matter.

Which Has Better Hotels?

Oia has more famous luxury hotels and honeymoon suites. Fira has the wider range, from inexpensive rooms near the bus station to beautiful caldera hotels with pools and sunset terraces.

  • Best luxury cave hotels: Oia.
  • Best honeymoon suites: Oia and Imerovigli.
  • Best value: Fira.
  • Best quiet luxury: Imerovigli.
  • Best combination of views and convenience: Firostefani.
  • Best transport access: Fira.

Santorini is one destination where paying for the view can be worth it. A caldera terrace changes how you experience the island, especially in Oia or Imerovigli, where spending time at the hotel is part of the trip.

See my guides to the best hotels in Fira, best hotels in Oia, and best hotels in Santorini.

Which Has Better Caldera Views?

Both have spectacular views, but they are not the same. Fira looks directly across the caldera toward the volcano. Hotels and restaurants south of the cathedral have especially wide views over the water.

Oia looks along the northern curve of the caldera toward Thirassia, Armeni, Ammoudi Bay, and the western end of the island. It is the more beautiful village to look at, while Fira has the more direct volcano view.

Neither wins outright. Choose Oia for village scenery. Choose Fira, Firostefani, or Imerovigli for broad caldera and volcano views.

Which Is Better for Sunset?

Oia has Santorini’s most famous public sunset scene, centered on the castle ruins and western lanes. It is beautiful, but it is also crowded and not the best way to experience sunset every night. One night is fun, every night is a busy hassle.

Many Oia hotels face south across the caldera rather than west toward the setting sun. Never assume that caldera view hotel means sunset view hotel. Fira, Firostefani, and Imerovigli have more west-facing hotel terraces and restaurants. Imerovigli is my favorite village for watching sunset without joining a large public crowd.

Which Has Better Restaurants?

Fira has the greater variety. You will find inexpensive gyros, casual tavernas, bakeries, cocktail bars, fine dining, late-night food, and caldera restaurants within a compact area.

Oia is stronger for romantic dinners, polished service, sunset settings, and seafood at Ammoudi Bay. Prices are higher, and the best restaurants require reservations in summer.

Which Has Better Nightlife?

Fira. No contest.

Fira has Santorini’s main bars, clubs, cocktail lounges, and after-midnight scene. It remains lively long after restaurants close. Oia has wine bars, restaurants with full bars, and a few late-night places, but it is quiet compared with Fira.

Which Is Better Without a Car?

Fira.

Santorini’s bus network is centered on Fira. Direct buses run from Fira to Oia, Kamari, Perissa, Akrotiri, the airport, and Athinios ferry port. For travelers who want to explore independently by public transportation, Fira is far easier.

From Oia, most journeys require traveling to Fira first and changing buses. That turns a straightforward outing into a longer trip. Oia works without a car when you plan to remain in the village, take organized tours, and use transfers for arrivals and departures.

Airport, Ferry Port, and Transportation

  • Airport: Fira is about 10 minutes away by taxi or transfer. Oia takes about 25 to 35 minutes.
  • Athinios ferry port: Fira takes about 20 minutes in light traffic. Oia takes about 35 to 45 minutes and longer during busy arrival periods.
  • Buses: Fira is the island hub. Oia has frequent buses to Fira but no useful network of direct routes to the rest of Santorini.
  • Transfers: Pre-book one for Oia, especially when arriving by ferry. Athinios Port is congested, taxis are limited, and finding onward transportation after a busy ferry arrival is stressful.
  • Rental cars: Useful for one or two days from either village, but parking is easier outside the centers. Do not keep a car for an entire stay unless you expect to drive daily.

If arriving by ferry, Fira is the easier first base. It is closer, better connected, and less tiring after a delayed or rough crossing. For schedules and tickets, use Ferryhopper.

Which Is Better for Beaches?

Fira, but neither is a beach town.

Fira is closer and better connected to Kamari, Perissa, Perivolos, Monolithos, and Vlychada. It is much easier to spend a morning sightseeing, take a bus to the beach, and return to Fira for dinner.

Oia has Ammoudi Bay, which is excellent for seafood and rocky swimming but is not a beach. Reaching the swimming area requires walking down from Oia, continuing past the restaurants, and climbing back afterward or arranging transportation.

For a trip centered on swimming, stay in Kamari or Perissa, then visit the caldera villages. Or, better yet, stay on the caldera, then visit Naxos, Paros, or Mykonos for much better beaches than anything in Santorini.

Which Is Better for Families?

Fira is easier for buses, pharmacies, casual restaurants, supermarkets, and beach access. Oia’s main marble walkway is flatter and more stroller-friendly than many caldera lanes, but hotels are expensive and frequently involve steep stairs. Oia also becomes difficult to navigate around sunset.

For younger children, I prefer Fira, Firostefani, Kamari, or Perissa. For families with older children who want a beautiful pedestrian village and luxury hotel, Oia can work well.

Which Is Better for Budget Travelers?

Fira.

Fira has more inexpensive hotels, casual restaurants, bakeries, gyros shops, supermarkets, and public transportation. Staying a few streets inland from the caldera saves money while keeping you close to the bus station and town center. Oia has a small number of modest rooms, but the village is built around premium hotels, boutiques, and high-end dining.

Should You Split Your Stay?

For one to three nights, no. Choose one village and visit the other. For four nights or longer, a split can work well. Start in Fira, Firostefani, or Imerovigli for exploring, then finish with two nights in Oia.

My Recommendation

If this is your first trip to Santorini: Fira or Firostefani.
If this is your honeymoon: Oia or Imerovigli.
If you have one or two nights: Fira.
If you want nightlife: Fira.
If you want the most romantic village: Oia.
If you want quiet luxury and sunset views: Imerovigli.
If you want the best balance of beauty, convenience, and price: Firostefani.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Oia or Fira better for honeymooners?

Oia is the classic honeymoon choice. Imerovigli is quieter and has stronger sunset views, while Fira is better for couples who want nightlife and easy transportation.

Is Oia or Fira better for sunset?

Oia has the most famous public sunset viewpoint. Fira, Firostefani, and Imerovigli have more hotels and restaurants with direct sunset views. Check the orientation of any hotel before booking.

Is Oia or Fira better without a car?

Fira. The island’s bus network is centered there, making beaches, villages, the airport, ferry port, and Oia easier to reach.

Is Oia or Fira cheaper?

Fira. It has more budget and mid-range hotels, casual restaurants, inexpensive food, and public transportation.

Can you walk from Fira to Oia?

Yes. The Fira-to-Oia hike is one of the best things to do in Santorini. Allow 3 to 5 hours depending on your pace, stops, heat, and exact starting point.

Should I stay in Oia or visit for the day?

Stay in Oia for a honeymoon, luxury trip, or hotel-centered vacation. Stay in Fira and visit Oia if your trip is short, active, or budget-conscious.

Is Oia quieter than Fira?

Oia is quieter late at night. During the afternoon and around sunset, it can feel more crowded than Fira.

Which has better restaurants?

Fira has more variety and better-value casual food. Oia is stronger for romantic dinners, polished restaurants, and Ammoudi Bay seafood.

Which is better for families?

Fira is easier for transportation, restaurants, practical shopping, and beaches.

Read More

About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave in Athens, Greece Santorini Dave was started in 2011 when I posted a short guide to visiting Santorini with kids. Now, my site publishes regularly updated guides to Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, Crete, Athens, and all of Greece.

Questions? Email me at dave@santorinidave.com.

  1. Quiet Hotel with View

    Hello Santorini Dave,
    We will be staying two nights in Santorini in July. We would like a quiet hotel with a view as well as an excellent buffet breakfast.
    We would like to be walking distance to a grocery store since we stock up on fruit and snacks during our stay.
    We’re planning on hiking both days so to be close to hiking trails would be important. We arrive by plane and leave by ferry.
    Thanks for your advice!

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      July will be very busy, so choosing a “quiet hotel” is the most important decision you will make.

      Your combination of quiet, view, hiking, and groceries leads me to recommend Imerovigli and Firostefani. They are the quietest villages on the caldera, perfect for a romantic trip. And they are located right on the main Fira-Oia hiking path. Both have mini-markets that are easily walkable, so you can stock up on fruit and snacks.

      Many of the top-tier luxury hotels in this area have moved from buffets to à la carte breakfasts served on your private terrace. Astra and Homeric Poems are two of my favorite hotels along the caldera but neither has buffet breakfasts.

  2. Greece in Early October

    Hi Dave! Visiting Athens, Naxos and Santorini with my boyfriend in early October and I’ve had a few people tell me that it’s going to be completely dead and everywhere will be closed. This goes against most things I’ve read and I’ve checked that our hotel pool will still be open, so I was curious as to what you think about travelling in October?

    Thank you, Orla.

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      Some islands start to slow down significantly by early October. But Santorini will still be humming in early October. Naxos will be a little slower, but still very far from dead. Athens will be at its best. The people you’re talking to have no clue what they’re talking about.

  3. Best Santorini Hotel for Birthday Trip

    Hi Dave, amazing information here so thank you!
    My partner and I are booking a 5 night trip in July this year for my 30th. We were keen to stay in Imerovigli or Oia. I went to Mykonos last year and found it and the town beautiful so looking for a similar experience, because of that we ruled out Oia potentially as it’s so far from Fira and we’re 29 and 30 so would like a decent bar in the evening with similarly aged people. That said, looking at the pictures Oia looks more whitewashed with the blue domes and ‘prettier’ in general than Fira?

    These are the 3 hotels we’d narrowed down in Imerovigli, do you have any info on which may be best?
    Remezzo Hotel, Absolute Bliss, and the Altana Heritage Suites – we were leaning towards Remezzo or Altana.

    Thanks in advance!!
    Dean

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      I think all three are wonderful hotels with great views, unheated main pools, rooms/suites with private pools, and about the same level of casual luxury.
      Altana has the best views, since it’s located at the highest point in the village. Its pool is at the highest elevation on the caldera. Remezzo has the best food; it’s the only one with a full restaurant onsite. Breakfast, especially, is outstanding. Absolute Bliss has the most romantic ambiance and highest level of service. You’ll feel very pampered here.

  4. Where To Stay in Fira

    Hi Dave
    I’m hoping to book a holiday in September for my young at heart Mum who is 88 but can walk short distances. I’ve been to Fira and Kamari when I was on a cruise last year and I liked the true Greek feel of Fira. The Aressana and El Greco hotels look like they will accommodate Mum and I. Are there many steps at the hotel and in the vicinity? Is there a bus stop at the El Greco? The other option is a modern resort hotel in Perissa although I’m leaning towards a hotel where we can have a walk and enjoy the caldera view and sunset. Other hotel recommendations are appreciated. Thank you.

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      The Aressana is a great choice. Right in the heart of Fira and almost no stairs to access. It doesn’t have a caldera view but that’s just steps from the front door. The El Greco is nice but is far outside of Fira. I would not recommend this hotel, if you wanted to be near the action. There is a bus stop nearby, however.

  5. Santorini Place To Stay for Large Family Group

    We are a family of 11, looking for a nice 4 or 5 star with great views in Fira. Wondering what area of Fira has the best views/hotels.

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      I’d get two neighboring villas at Aria Villas.

  6. Type of Luggage to Bring to Santorini

    Should I bring a suitcase or backpack to Santorini (due to the amount of stairs)?

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      Most hotels along the caldera will meet you with porters and carry your luggage to the hotel so backpack or suitcase isn’t that important. And in any case, it’s the weight (and how much you pack) that will matter, not the type of luggage. So most of all, I recommend packing light.

  7. Imerovigli vs Oia

    Hi Dave, I am looking at staying in Santorini for 3 nights in July for our Honeymoon. We will be coming from Mykonos so looking for a relaxing end to our trip. Looking at either Oia Suites Deluxe Suite or The Vasilicos King Cat Suite. I can’t decide between Imerovigli and Oia! Any help or opinion would be much appreciated!!

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      To my tastes, Imerovigli is much more suitable for a honeymoon stay.

  8. Good Fira Hotel for Single Female

    I am female in my 40s who will be traveling to Santorini for 3 days in June. I think Fira will be the best place for me to stay since I don’t plan to rent a car. Can you recommend a nice hotel in the $150 per day US range that is safe and in an easy location for walking around? A caldera view would be a plus. Also do you think it will be safe for me to walk the trail from Fira to Oia alone?

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      Kavalari is a good Fira hotel with wonderful views and moderate prices (just under $150 in June). Very central and no reason to think it wouldn’t be safe. Walking the Fira-Oia path should be fine.

  9. Where To Stay in Santorini / Day Trips from Santorini and Mykonos

    I don’t even know what to say. I like to think I AM the most informed person on travel and do my research but your blog has put me to SHAME. Awesome, just awesome. Ive been reading and reading though tons of questions and answers- my turn!

    I am in the EARLY stages of planning a trip to Athens/Greek Islands in late Mid/September for 2 couples in our Mid 30’s.Around 10 days. The goal is a bit of everything. Beach, nightlife, views, great food, ease of getting around, walking distance would be great for nighttime from bars/resturaunts/shopping. A really COOL place to stay would be great. Like the caves/private pool accommodations, something different, but with the caldera view? I would rather spend more money on a nice hotel in Santorini then in Mykonos. I’m still torn what area to stay in Santorini, i want it all. A little romance, great caldera view hotel, great food, night life, ease of getting around to a few towns. Based on the distance and what I have read, I think Oia would be a nice day adventure but it’s too far out. So I am torn between Imerovigli and Fira I guess.

    As far as Mykonos goes, still a great central location, walking distances as night. Near a great beach or ease of getting to and from the beach. Room with a nice view, but again, doesnt need to be as nice as Santorini.

    Id like to ATV/4Wheel, go hiking, go to the beach, explore the islands and get lost. If we have 3 full days on mykonos, I’d like to hop to 1 other island, which would you recommend for a day trip? beachy and adventure suggestion? same for Santorini, the best islands to hop to, I’d say 1 island recommendation for same, beachy/adventure.

    Fly from the US to Mykonos (overnight flight). 4 nights, 3 full days
    Take the ferry from Mykonos to Santorini. 4 nights, nearly 4 full days
    Take the ferry from Santorini to Athens. 2 nights, 1 full day (none of us are huge into history but feel we need to see the basics and are going to flat out see what we can in 1 FULL day) this MIGHT turn into 2 nights, but TBD.

    Thanks so much, I look forward to your reply.
    Kelly Hammick

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      Imerovigli and Fira are about as different as you can get. Go with Imerovigli for romance, good restaurants, the best views. Go with Fira for shopping, nightlife, busy streets. The best (easiest) day trip from Santorini is Ios. The best (easiest) day trip from Mykonos is Paros.

  10. Remezzo, Alta Mare, or Andronis

    Dave
    My wife and I are planning to travel to Santorini and stay there Thursday, June 22 to Sunday, June 25. Having decided on taking this trip just a week ago due to a family wedding in Sifnos, we are a little behind in getting reservations and are trying to decide between a few places that are available to us right now with tentative reservations. If you have knowledge of these hotels, what would you recommend between staying at the Remezzo Villas in Imerovigli, or staying in Oia at either the Alta Mare by Andronis or Andronis Boutique Hotel. We are interested in the location and the caldera views from the hotel, and staying at a nicely kept up hotel with a pool that has some privacy from the passing crowds. If you have an opinion on these or other suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks for your time and expertise in advance.
    James Fahey

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      All are wonderful hotels with amazing views (though only Remezzo will have sunset views). The big difference is location. Remezzo is on the quiet end of the already quiet Imerovigli. Alta Mare and Andronis are on the main Oia walkway and get lots of walk by traffic (but the rooms themselves have plenty of privacy). Imerovigli has fewer restaurants (but all very high quality). Oia has more shopping and one small (but fun) bar.

  11. Where To Stay on Santorini, Greece?

    Hi Dave,
    We are a family from Sweden going to Santorini June 30th and we will stay for 3 nights with 3 kids/teens. We will travel from Crete with the ferry (perhaps from Chania which is where we will be the previous 4 days or from Heraklion depending on which ferry is running). Do you know where the ferries land in Santorini? Is it more convenient to go to Fira from there or is Oia also not too far away? I am thinking Oia is my first choice and I found two hotels with moderate pricing: Fava Eco Residences and En Plou Boutique Suites. Which one of these two would you suggest (or other alternative)?
    Hope you have a chance to give me some of your valuable advice!
    Many thanks for a great website!
    Kind regards,
    Sofia Selberg

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      Fira is about 20 minutes driving time from the ferry port. Oia is about 40 minutes. If you bus the difference is a little more as you need to switch buses in Fira (for Oia). Neither Fava Eco Residences or En Plou Suites are in Oia but Fava has a much more convenient location (in the town of Finikia) than En Plou. It’s right on a main bus line and the walk into Oia is mainly along the caldera foot path (you will need to find it) and is much more relaxing/enjoyable.

  12. Oia Mare Villas or Tholos Resort

    Hi Dave,

    Hope you are doing great. I hope you will answer my email. We are coming to Santorini 7/15-7/18 and then off to Mykonos. What would you recommend between Oia Mare Villas or Tholos Resort. It is my husband, my son(16) and myself. As far as the hotel, we would like a nice place we can come back from a long day, have a cocktail/wine and hang for the beautiful view. Thank you Dave. Always grateful!
    Linda, Dan and Jack

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      Both are nice places but Tholos has a far better caldera view. There’s a little more “to do” in Oia than Imerovigli but Fira is a wonderful 20 minute walk from Tholos.

  13. Keti Hotel in Fira

    How is Keti Hotel for 2 nights? Will it be good for caldera view before moving to Oia for 2 nights in a hotel without any view but just to enjoy the village? Is Ferry from Santorini to Mykonos safe?
    Wafa Khan

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      Keti hotel is great. One of my favorite moderately-priced hotels in Fira. Wonderful views. Cons: very simple breakfast and lots of steps up to Fira’s shops, bars, and restaurants.

  14. Where To Stay Over Easter

    Hi Dave! Will be in Santorini 11th – 16th of April and trying to decide which village to stay in. Would really try Oia this time (been to Santorini twice before, stayed in Imerovigli both times), but according to some folks on tripadvisor it might be “dead” there bc of the off-season. While others say it should be fine on the Easter weekend. Do you have any information on whether restaurants and shops will be open during the week days as well? Or will we be better off staying in Fira? (We prefer Oia to Fira, but dont want to end up being the only ones there with no food-options etc.)
    Any advice will be much appreciated!

    Thanks in advance, Celina

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      Fira will have the most activity and the most restaurants open but Oia will have plenty as well. Imerovigli will have the least open but there will still be something (and Fira, of course, is a walkable distance away).

  15. Fira, Oia, or Imerovigli for Older Couple with Limited Mobility

    We are a couple in our early 70s trying to decide between Oia, Fira, and Imerovigli. We can walk short distances but more than 1 or 2 flights of stairs is a problem. Would you recommend Oia, Fira, or Imerovigli for us? We’d like a caldera view, what hotels would you suggest?

    Thank you,
    Bo and Stacey

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      Imerovigli is great but most places have lots of steps and there’s no central area to wander around for a short flat walk – so let’s cross that off the list. Both Oia and Fira have plenty of up and down but that can be avoided if you’re strategic in where you stay and where you walk to. Generally, I would say Oia has more of a flat area to walk around but fewer hotels that have easy access. In Oia, a central hotel that has not-too-many steps and great views is Aspaki. In Fira the best hotels for you would be Cosmopolitan Suites, Atlantis, and Aria Suites.

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