Selecting a place to stay in Santorini is not always easy and even more if we take into account the amount of options that the island offers and that depending on the one you choose, so will be your type of trip or experience in what they say is one of the most beautiful islands in the world.
After our experience we believe that there are two very specific areas in which to sleep in Santorini, especially if it is your first time on the island. Although both are the best known and most crowded, they are the ones with the best location and also the ones that, we are sure, will give you the best moments. We are referring to Oia and Fira, which are two of the jewels of Santorini and two of the places with the largest hotel and restaurant offer on the island.
Based on our visit to the island during the trip to Greece in 32 days, in which we wrote this guide to Santorini, we leave you a selection of places to stay in Santorini and the best areas. Let’s get started!
Places to stay in Santorini
As with the places to stay in Mykonos, there are plenty of options to find a hotel to stay in Santorini, although there are fewer areas that we would dare to recommend if you want to have a good location and know the island making a route through the places to see in Santorini that combines culture, beaches and some trekking to know that other part of the island that we assure you, is amazing.
In this case we always recommend staying on the west side of the island, overlooking the caldera, in one of the most famous towns with the best views: Oia, Imerovigli, Fira or Firostefani.
It is for this reason that we wanted to publish this post in which we tell you what are the pros and cons of each of the options where to stay in Santorini, one of the best Greek islands, which we are sure you will fall in love with.
1. Oia, the best (and most expensive) place to stay in Santorini
Located on the west side of the island, which is the best as it overlooks the caldera, Oia is the most iconic and well known place on the island and how could it be otherwise, also one of the best places to stay in Santorini but also the most expensive.
This is where you can find the famous postcard photos of Santorini, such as the blue domes or some of the hotels with infinity pools, which are so characteristic of these Greek islands as well as being the place where you can experience some of the most breathtaking sunsets in the world.
Keep in mind that although we always recommend renting a car in Santorini, in Oia there is a bus that makes stops at the most important points of the island such as Fira, Firostefani or the airport, which can be a great option if you do not want to make many visits to the interior of the island.
Another attraction is the area of the old port, although you should know that you will have to go down and then climb more than 200 steps or take a transport to take you there.However, you will be rewarded with views and a small cove, Ammoudi Bay, where you can spend some unforgettable hours.
Please do not ever use the donkeys offered to make this journey! It is very important to be part of responsible tourism and not to participate in this kind of activities with animals.
The price of accommodation in Oia is usually 150-200 euros per night, although in low season you can find hotels at a lower price and in high season prices tend to skyrocket.
2. Fira, another of the best places to sleep in Santorini
Fira or Thira, is the capital of Santorini and as such another of the best places to sleep in Santorini. Here, in addition to finding a wide range of accommodation and restaurants, you will find more affordable prices and the best, transportation to move around the island, something perfect if you do not want to rent a car on the island.
Besides this, the area is a real wonder and is where you can find another of the typical postcards of Santorini, where you can see the white village hanging from a cliff almost 300 meters above sea level. And if you like shopping, Fira is also one of the most important points of the island for shopping, as it has a wide range of places where you can buy handicrafts, souvenirs or clothes, among many other things.
The price of accommodation in Fira is usually 80-100 euros per night, although there are luxury accommodations, especially those overlooking the caldera, which far exceed that figure and also some cheaper ones, especially if you book in advance.
3. Firostefani, our favorite place to stay in Santorini
Located next to Fira, Firostefani is another of the towns on the west side of the island, overlooking the caldera. This was the area where we stayed because in addition to having unique views of the caldera, the place is quite quiet and you can walk to Fira, along the coast, with exceptional views.
Also here we found a unique accommodation in Santorini, Gaby Apartments, which although it is not a luxury accommodation, has a privileged location, being also the only place in Santorini where you can be right next to the famous Greek Orthodox church of the blue dome, because to get close you have to be staying at the hotel. Important: currently this accommodation is not available but below we leave you some excellent alternatives.
Also if you stay here you can make the trek from Firostefani to Oia or the one that goes from Firostefani to Imerovigli and its fascinating church and return by public transport.
The price of accommodation in Firostefani is usually 80-100 euros per night, although there are luxury accommodations, especially those overlooking the caldera, which far exceed that figure and also some cheaper ones, especially if you book early and choose those in the inner part.
4. Imerovigli, one of the quietest areas of the island
If you want to be close to everything and at the same time in a quiet place with exceptional views, Imerovigli is the perfect place to stay in Santorini. Known for being one of the most charming villages on the west side of the island, overlooking the caldera, this small town does not have so many hotels or restaurants, but in return offers tranquility and proximity to Ekklisia Theoskepasti, a beautiful church, which we would say, is in the most incredible location we have ever seen.
The price of accommodation in Imerovigli is usually 60-80 euros per night, although as in the other areas we have discussed, there are more expensive accommodations overlooking the caldera and some cheaper, located in the hinterland.
5. Kamari, the best option if you want to stay on the beach
Although for us Santorini does not stand out for its beaches and we think it is a mistake to stay in this area if it is your first visit to the island, in case you want to sleep in Santorini on the beach, we recommend you to do it in this one.
Of course, do not forget that these are black sand beaches, of volcanic origin and are not the typical postcard paradise beaches. Here there is a good offer of hotels and restaurants as it is one of the best known areas of Santorini and has connection with other parts of the island by bus, making connection in Fira, the capital.
The price of accommodation in Imerovigli is usually 50 euros.
Tips for finding cheap accommodation in Santorini
Although with all the recommendations on areas where to stay in Santorini and the selection of hotels we hope we have helped you to choose the place to stay on the island, we want to leave you a series of tips and recommendations to make your choice as easy as possible.
- Although we have discussed it on several occasions, it is important to be clear about the purpose of your trip to know what is the best accommodation in Santorini. If you want to be close to everything and have views of the caldera, the best places are Oia, Firostefani, Fira and Imerovigli, in that order. In case you prefer to stay close to the beach, the best area would be Kamari.
- If you want to stay in Oia but your budget is tight, we advise you to look in the surrounding areas, such as Finikia, which is a few kilometers away and has much tighter prices.
- Other options where to sleep in Santorini are the inland villages such as Pyrgos or Akrotiri. For us these options are the least recommended as they are further away from the most tourist areas, do not have many accommodation and catering options and are not well connected with the rest of the island. In this case it is preferable to go only for a visit to spend a few hours and get to know them.
- Another important thing to keep in mind is that Santorini is the most famous, crowded and we would say expensive island in Greece, especially in high season, so it is important to book as far in advance as you can to have more options and better prices.
- Remember that to avoid paying commissions and to always have the current exchange rate we recommend you to use the Revolut card and the N26 card, which are the ones we use, are free of charge and will save you a lot of money.
