Greece › Santorini › Accessible Hotels
By Santorini Dave
See Also
- Wheelchair Accessible Mykonos
- Where To Stay in Santorini
- Best Hotels in Santorini
- Santorini Ferry Port Guide
- Santorini Car Rental
- Santorini Taxis
- Santorini Airport
Sweeping caldera views from West East Suites in Imerovigli, one of Santorini’s best hotels with wheelchair access.
Santorini’s rustic, rocky terrain and many stairs (especially in the clifftop villages) can make it a challenging choice for travelers with mobility issues, but with some advance planning, it’s possible to plan a fantastic bucket-list trip.
Santorini Hotels with Disabled Access
The Best Wheelchair Accessible Hotels in Santorini
• Aeifos Boutique (caldera, Imerovigli)
• Santo Pure (non-caldera, Oia)
• West East Suites (caldera, Imerovigli)
• Bellonias Villas (Kamari Beach)In Santorini, larger, newly built hotels are more likely to have good disability access. Hotels operating out of historic buildings are mandated to conform as closely as possible to the original architecture, so they will have all floors connected by stairs. Older hotels and small hotels are also likely to have only stairs connecting most floors. If they happen to have an elevator, it will probably be small (about the size of one person standing with luggage), and many rooms will have bathtubs instead of showers, narrow doors, and overall, not very accessible room layouts/amenities. Newly-constructed hotels with a certain number of rooms are required to have a small percentage of wheelchair accessible rooms, plus ramps connecting most facilities, and larger elevators. Book well in advance. Most hotels that offer accessible rooms only have 1 or 2 in total and they fill up quickly.
Accessible Hotels on the Caldera
Breathtaking views over the caldera from the clifftop village of Imerovigli. The best wheelchair-accessible hotel in Imerovigli is Aeifos Boutique.
Imerovigli
Most of Santorini’s best wheelchair accessible hotels are at the north end of Imerovigli, with jaw-dropping sunset caldera views from each room’s private terrace. This string of hotels is designed for privacy and romance, and life away from the crowds just enjoying the scenery. However, it is only a short drive to reach the heart of the village from here.
- Aeifos Boutique – Imerovigli
Wonderful new hotel in south Imerovigli with an award-winning restaurant and stunning caldera views. Despite being located on the cliff, it’s excellently planned for wheelchair use, with elevator access to all levels and wheelchair accessible parking on site. The ground floor Deluxe Triple Room is completely wheelchair accessible, with an open floor plan, grab rails for toilet, lowered sink, and roll-in shower.- West East Suites – Imerovigli
Luxurious 5-star caldera-view hotel just north of Imerovigli. All suites here face the caldera with sweeping views, but while the hotel is otherwise accessible, there are no roll-in showers.- SantAnna Luxury Suites – Imerovigli
Modern and minimalistic 4-star hotel in north Imerovigli with distant sea (but not caldera) views. Wheelchair accessible areas include reception, parking, and pool deck; in-room accessibility features include spacious, open floor plans and showers that may be able to accommodate a wheelchair.Oia
Oia has only one truly accessible hotel, but can be a great village to visit. Though some parts of Oia are built down the cliffside and connected by steep steps, much of the village is connected by a wide, marble pedestrian pathway, with gorgeous caldera views and lots of restaurants and shops. To access Oia’s pedestrian promenade by wheelchair (without steps), enter from the south end at the path’s beginning, next to Passagio Cafe. From here, the walkway stretches about 800 meters (or half a mile) in flat marble before it changes to cobblestone.Some Oia hotels that aren’t 100% accessibly designed (but are doable if you are determined and have someone helping), include Andronis Arcadia and Canaves Epitome.
- Santo Pure – Oia
All facilities are wheelchair accessible, but swimming pools do not have special rails for wheelchair entry. Accessible rooms feature bathrooms with raised toilets with grab rails, lowered sinks, and wheelchair accessible showers. There’s a great restaurant on site, and all suites have kitchenettes with dining areas. Located in Oia’s northern half, with spectacular sunset (not caldera) views. 5-minute walk to the center of Oia Village, though the path isn’t well-suited to wheelchair use and a car may be necessary.Fira
The island capital of Fira is perhaps Santorini’s least-accessible clifftop village. Most accessible hotels here are located away from the caldera or far from the village center. There is a wide, footpath running along the caldera for much of the length of the village, though it’s mostly cobblestone. The most accessible section starts at the village’s south end; have a car drop you off at the entrance to Atlantis Hotel.
- Astro Palace – Fira
Luxurious spa hotel on the outskirts of Fira, with eastern views across the island to the Aegean (not the caldera). All facilities here are wheelchair accessible, including reception, fitness center, spa, pool, restaurant, and parking. Rooms feature accessible pathways and bathroom emergency pull cords, but the only room with a walk/roll-in shower is the honeymoon suite.- Evgenia Villas & Suites – Fira
Great 4-star hotel with one accessible room, wheelchair accessible parking, and accessible pathway to facilities. Located east of the village center with views to the sea over the east side of the island (not the caldera), a 2-minute drive from Fira main square.- Bedspot Hostel – Fira
Clean and well-maintained budget accommodation in central Fira, though not on the caldera. While many rooms here are shared, one ground-floor double room is entirely wheelchair accessible and has a private ensuite bathroom with a raised toilet with grab bar, low-height counter and sink, and emergency pull cord. It also features a private kitchen and patio. There is a guest age limit of 18-35.Accessible Beach Hotels
Long expanses of flat beachfront roads, lined with restaurants and closed to vehicles in the late afternoon and evening, make Santorini beach towns a great choice for wheelchair users. This is Kamari.
Kamari
Family-friendly, easy-going, and easy to navigate, Kamari offers a black pebble beach with a mechanical sea access ramp for wheelchair users, a wide variety of restaurants and bars, and a flat, pedestrian beach-front walkway. It is located on Santorini’s east coast – the opposite side of the island from the caldera, but only about 25 minutes to Oia by car, so day trips are not difficult.
- Bellonias Villas – Kamari
Contemporary, luxury hotel across from Kamari Beach. All common areas within the hotel are wheelchair accessible, including reception, restaurant, lounge, and pool. There are 4 steps to the hotel entrance, though they have hosted wheelchair users many times before and staff are always available to assist in entering or exiting the hotel. Ground-floor units are suitable for wheelchair users. Located right on the pedestrian path of Kamari beach with easy navigation access.- Costa Grand Resort & Spa – Kamari
Crisp luxury accommodation with wellness spa. All public areas are wheelchair accessible, including the entrance, reception, restaurant, and pool bar. (The pools, unfortunately, are not accessible for wheelchair users.) There is an elevator from reception to the spa and wellness center. Some rooms are wheelchair accessible, with roll-in shower. Located on a private section Kamari Beach, with boardwalk access to beach beds.- La Mer Deluxe – Kamari
Great 4-star spa hotel in the heart of Kamari, just 150 feet from Kamari Beach. They offer adapted rooms with roll-in showers for guests with reduced mobility. Pools, restaurants, and ground-floor rooms and restrooms all have ramp access.Perissa & Perivolos
Two of Santorini’s best beaches, Perissa and Perivolos comprise one long strip (3 or 4 kms) of black sand; it can be hard to determine where one ends and the other begins. The sand here is finer than the pebbles found at Kamari Beach, further up the coast. The vibe is fun, with good restaurants, low-key bars, and a small (beachy, not clubby) party scene. The wide, flat, beachfront road is closed to vehicles between 5pm and 5am from May to October.
- Aqua Blue Beach Hotel – Perissa
Great 4-star hotel at Perissa Beach. All areas of the hotel are wheelchair accessible, including restaurant, reception, and pool area, though there are no other modifications for disabled guests. Located along the flat beach road, across from a private beach space with sun beds and umbrellas.- Antoperla – Perissa
Modern hotel & spa with a Mediterranean restaurant on site. Select rooms are wheelchair accessible, and there is wheelchair access to the restaurant, reception, swimming pool, and public washroom, as well as accessible parking and a stair-free path to the hotel entrance. 120 meters from the beach road.Accessible Village Hotels
While Megalochori village doesn’t have a lot of wheelchair accessible hotels, its mostly-level cobblestone path makes it one of Santorini’s easier traditional villages to get around.
Megalochori
Megalochori is a beautiful, traditional village filled with churches, restaurants, and wineries to explore – situated off the caldera, there are no stairs to navigate, though the streets are cobblestone. There are no hotels in Megalochori that are entirely wheelchair accessible, but Vedema Resort has a few ground-floor rooms designed with wider doors and single-story layouts and all facilities (pool, restaurants, fitness center, business center) have accessible entrances.Mesaria
Mesaria is a quaint and easy-going traditional village that stretches from the center of the island to the caldera south of Fira. The village is best known for its handful of 19th-century neoclassical manor houses, and offers a local vibe along with lots of shops and restaurants, a beautiful church, and an ouzo distillery. The terrain is fairly flat for the most part with a mix of paved roads and cobblestone paths. Roads are generally wide but may be a little dangerous to navigate by wheelchair, as there are no sidewalks in many places, and often steps to get up to shops and restaurants.
- Kallos Imar – Mesaria
Great new Cycladic-designed hotel. Wheelchair accessible with ramp-access entrance and accessible lobby bathroom. Half of ground floor rooms have easy access with no steps, and one is specially designed for wheelchair use, with lowered sink, raised toilet with grab rails, wide passageways. Located in the central village of Mesaria, a 10-minute drive to Kamari Beach and 20-minute drive to Oia.
Pyrgos
The charming village of Pyrgos is set on Santorini’s highest point and crowned with a historic castle. Most hotels here have private pools or jacuzzis and offer sweeping views over the island to the sea. Although the hilltop kastelli is not easily accessed by those with mobility issues, the central village area is fairly flat. Pyrgos can be a great choice for visitors looking for a quieter and more authentic Santorini experience, away from the busy beaches and cruise ship crowds.
- North Santorini – Pyrgos
Five-star hotel with wheelchair accessible parking, stair-free path to entrance, accessible pathways, and an elevator to navigate to all floors. Some suites have been designed for wheelchair-using guests with toilet grab rails, higher toilets, and lower sinks. Private location at one of the highest points of the island, with views to the sea.- Voreina Gallery Suites – Pyrgos
Spacious and modern Cycladic-designed luxury suites. The London Suite is designed with accessibility in mind, featuring a fully-equipped kitchen and living space, accessible bathroom with oversized roll-in shower room, and a private veranda with a heated outdoor pool and shower. Reception and parking are also accessible. Hillside location in Pyrgos, with spectacular Aegean Sea and sunset views.- Zatrikion Santorini Villas – Pyrgos
There is one villa (Aspronissi) designed for wheelchair use, with wide doorways and a fully-equipped bathroom. There are no special ramps or grab rails to access the villa’s private Jacuzzi or the main pool. Also note that an adult escort is necessary for access to the villa from the main road; while the path is paved, the grade is steeper than international standards allow for unassisted wheelchair use. Nestled into the mountainside on the quiet outskirts of Pyrgos village, with amazing views over the island to the Aegean.- Alleys Boutique & Spa Hotel – Pyrgos
100% wheelchair accessible hotel, with an elevator to help guests access all 14 Suites and common areas like reception, lobby, pool area, restaurant, pool bar, spa, and parking area. The following features are available for guests with movement disabilities: toilet, grab rails, higher toilet, lower sink, wide bathroom door, adjustable bathroom mirror and a public WC room only for these persons. Located in central Pyrgos, in an area that is easily navigated by a wheelchair.Wheelchair Accessible Tours & Transfers on Santorini
The archeological ruins of Ancient Akrotiri are easily visited with a wheelchair, as the site can be viewed from above on a series of flat wooden pathways. We recommend booking a tour to get the most from your trip.
Wheelchair Accessible Transfer
Karavas Travel has wheelchair accessible vans with ramps and safety features that allow the wheelchair user to board the vehicle and travel without having to leave the chair. Vehicles are new, comfortable, and have both air conditioning and wi-fi. They are available for both port/airport transfer and general transport around the island. Book in advance.
Wheelchair Accessible Santorini Tours
Karavas also offers this excellent 5-hour Private Accessible Tour that always includes the incredible caldera views from Oia, and is customizable with additional stops of your choice, including the traditional village of Megalochori, wine tasting, Museum of Ancient Thera, a volcanic beach, and the archaeological site at Akrotiri. Their specially-equipped van can accommodate one ramp-using wheelchair passenger at a time; additional disabled passengers can be accommodated if they use folding wheelchairs. Bottled water and refreshments are included.
Santorini Experts offers a great 4-hour Panoramic Views of Santorini Private Tour, designed to avoid steps and steep paths. They take guests to the island’s famous sites and viewpoints with no (or very limited) walking. Highlights include the villages of Firostefani & Oia, the black sand beach at Akrotiri, a local farm or winery, and mountaintop views over the island. Most guests get from the wheelchair into the car and from the car back into the wheelchair, and the wheelchair is folded in the back of the car for the tour; if this is not possible, they can arrange the use of a wheelchair accessible minibus for an extra fee.
Disabled Accessible Travel offers a 5-hour Private Tour using a wheelchair-adapted vehicle. The tour visits the cliff towns of Oia and Fira, as well as the traditional village of Megalochori – with optional add-ons for Ammoudi Bay and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera.
The incredible archaeological ruins of Akrotiri are one of Santorini’s most important cultural locations and also one of its most accessible sightseeing spots. The excavations are under shelter and climate-controlled, with wide wood-planked walkways and ramps throughout. We highly recommend booking an Akrotiri tour to show you around the site and discuss the history of the island, its volcanic eruption, and the ensuing destruction.
• 3-Hour Accessible Private Tour with Hotel Pick-Up
• 1.5-Hour Private Tour (Meet at Site)
• Self-guided Audio TourWheelchair Accessible Wineries on Santorini
- Santo Wines – Pyrgos
The parking lot, winery entrance and wine tasting area (with fantastic caldera views), wine bar, deli shop, and restrooms are all wheelchair accessible. The restaurant and winery production facilities are not accessible due to having stairs.- Hatzidakis Winery – Pyrgos
Parking and all facilities (including restroom) are accessible by wheelchair. All tastings include a guided tour of the winery.- Estate Argyros – Episkopi Gonia
All parts of the wine tasting room and patio are handicapped accessible. The vineyards, production area, and parking area can all be accessed by wheelchair as well.- Vassaltis Vineyards – Vourvoulos
The tasting room is accessible by wheelchair. The path from the parking area into the tasting area is wide and flat, but cobbled. Excellent on-site restaurant. Reservations recommended.Other Wheelchair Accessible Sites on Santorini
Symposion Cultural Center in Megalochori offers tours, hands-on workshops, wine-tasting, and musical performances that explore and are grounded in Greek cultural tradition. The entirety of the site is wheelchair accessible, though there are no accessible bathrooms and there are 3-5 long, wide steps to access the property – though these are perhaps doable with assistance (see photos below).
Photos of Wheelchair Accessible Santorini
The beautiful caldera town of Oia is easily visited with a wheelchair, as it has a wide, flat, marble path that runs along the caldera. Unfortunately, there are few accessible hotels here. Santo Pure is the exception, and though it is not located on the caldera, it is close to the village center and has spectacular unimpeded sunset views to the west.
From Oia’s marble footpath, it’s easy to get close to the cliff edge and enjoy the incredible caldera views.
The path runs for about 800 meters (1/2 mile) along the caldera’s edge, and is lined with shops and restaurants.
And beautiful churches. This is the Church of Panagia Platsani.
Not all parts of Oia are accessible, however. At the end of the marble footpath, the terrain becomes cobbled and rocky, with many stairs.
The island capital of Fira is not very easy to access with a wheelchair, as much of the terrain is made of rough cobblestone. This is the main square in Fira.
There are some parts of Fira that are more accessible than others, however. To enjoy Fira with a wheelchair, have a car drop you off near the Orthodox Cathedral at the entrance to Hotel Atlantis, seen here in the background.
From here, there is a fairly level pedestrian path that is mostly cobblestone, with some sections of flat marble.
The path runs along the caldera…
…and through passageways lined with shops.
Most of Fira is not accessible by wheelchair, as the terrain is rough and steep, with lots of stairs.
The beachfront road at Kamari is wide, flat, and evenly paved.
In the late afternoon and throughout the evening, it closes to cars and becomes a pedestrian-only thoroughfare.
It is lined with restaurants, bars, boutiques, and souvenir shops.
Many of the restaurants along the beachfront road in Kamari have easy, roll-up access.
Even if your hotel is a block or two from Kamari Beach, the village’s well-paved, flat roads make it easy to get around.
Kamari Beach features ramps for wheelchair users to easily access the beach.
The ramps are made of wooden planks and are fairly level, with little to no grade.
At the end, there is a mechanical sea-access ramp to carry wheelchair users from the sand into the sea.
The beachfront road along Perissa and Perivolos Beach also closes to vehicles in the late afternoon.
And just like at Kamari, the Perissa/Perivolos beachfront road is lined with shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes.
At Kamari and Perissa/Perivolos, beach sun beds are accessed by wood-planked boardwalks that sit above the sand.
They run along and in between rows of shaded lounge chairs, but the walkways generally don’t reach the waters’ edge.
Aerial view of the black-sand Perissa Beach, showing the network of beach boardwalks.
The archaeological ruins at Akrotiri are easy to visit with a wheelchair. The entrance is wide, flat, and evenly paved.
Inside the excavation site, a series of wood-planked paths offer views down into ruins below.
The tasting room and wine bar at Santo Winery in Pyrgos are wheelchair accessible, and feature incredible caldera views.
Also in Pyrgos, though not on the caldera, the charming Hatzidakis Winery is built into the side of a mountain. All facilities here are wheelchair accessible, and all tastings include a winery tour.
Estate Argyros Winery in the village of Episkopi Gonia is completely wheelchair accessible. There is a smooth concrete path from the parking lot to the building, and all areas of the tasting room, patio, and vineyard can be accessed by wheelchair.
The tasting room at Vassaltis Vineyards is accessible, though the path from the parking area is cobbled.
Symposion Cultural Center in Megalochori is accessible via wheelchair, though it does not have accessible bathrooms. The center offers courtyard concerts, wine tasting, cultural museum tours, and hands-on musical workshops.
The route to Symposion includes 5-6 long-wide steps that are possibly doable with assistance.
About Santorini Dave