Where to stay in Santorini – 4 great options for first time visitors

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Few places will rank higher on many tourist’s European bucketlist than a trip to Santorini.

In the Instagram age, the idyllic whitewashed buildings with those iconic blue domes stand out amongst the rest as one of the biggest attention grabbing locations.

A couple of years ago, we travelled to Greece as part of our honeymoon on an island hopping trip and spent the largest portion of our time there in Santorini.

Deciding where to stay in Santorini will ultimately come down to the type of trip you would like to have, as well as budget, as Santorini is one of Europe’s most in demand destination holidays.

For luxury stays it is difficult to look past Oia, for a relaxing honeymoon Imerovigli. For easy access to everything, Fira and for option on a budget, Persia/Kamari are the best options.

Naturally, with planning a honeymoon, we spent a lot of time researching the best areas to stay in Santorini to come up with the best options for the kind of stay we wanted so we will guide you through everything you need to plan the perfect Greek getaway.

Where to stay in Santorini – at a glance

• Oia – The most renowned area in Santorini but also its busiest. Lots of great luxury hotels in Oia, particularly for honeymoons. Our favourite hotels to stay at here are La Perla
• Imerovigli – A quiet area between Fira and Oia with stunning views – a great place to stay for a relaxing trip. Our favourite honeymoon hotels in Imerovigli are Santorini Princess Suites and Cocoon Suites
• Fira – The best place to stay if you want a balance of everything and easy access to the rest of the island. Our favourite places to stay in Fira are Cosmopolitan Suites and Porto Fira Suites
• Kamari/Perissa – A bit further from the centre with nice beaches and a relaxed feel. Our favourite places to stay here are Anassa Deluxe Suites

Our top picks for things to do in Santorini

While you decide on the best place to stay, you will also be coming up with a list of the top things to do while you are in Santorini.

Santorini offers a nice blend of free activities like a hike from Imerovigli to Oia at sunrise; or snapping a photo at those iconic blue domes to some great day trips.

Our favourite day trip in Santorini was this half day cruise around the island. The cruise took us all around the island to some of Santorini’s best beaches, we were able to spend time snorkelling and go for a dip in the volcanic hot springs.

The cruise was honestly the highlight of our trip and was capped off with a beautiful Greek BBQ and a couple of glasses of wine as the sun started to set around us. It was honestly such a memorable experience, particularly for a honeymoon feel.

One thing the Greeks are known for is their incredible cuisine. We are huge fans of Gyros and Mezzo plates so when we saw this cooking class, we found it hard to pass up.

I love to cook and even more so to get the opportunity to learn local dishes from local chefs. This class was such a great way to spend a chilled afternoon and in such a beautiful setting overlooking the black beach in Kamari.

Would definitely recommend this for anyone looking for combining their relaxing holiday with some new experiences.

Another thing we really loved was the open air cinema in Kamari. Again, another great alternative activity for anyone looking to do something a little bit different.

A couple of things to note with this from our experience was that you could not purchase tickets in advance (meaning you had to queue up quite early as demand was high) and we needed to have cash available to make purchases on site.

The cinema has a bar where you can get drinks and snacks etc and it is definitely a cute date night to add to your itinerary.

Best Areas to stay in Santorini

Fira (The central hub)

If you are really unsure about where to stay in Santorini, the safest option is Fira.

If you don’t plan on renting a car etc. to travel around then Fira is the main public transport hub, meaning you can easily access the rest of the island. (Just make sure to arrive for the bus early in peak season)

Fira has the widest range of accommodation, bars and restaurants and it is a beautiful place to watch the sunset from in the evenings, sitting at a restaurant perched high above the sea.

Price wise, Fira also sits somewhere in the middle. You can find luxury stays for less than you would see them in Oia, while its budget friendly options are typically more expensive than Kamari/Perissa.

While we think Oia and Imerovigli are more picturesque locations overall, on the balance of things we ultimately opted for Fira as the best choice for us.

Where to stay in Fira

Porto Fira Suites – If we could only pick one place to stay in Fira, it would be these suites. These beautifully designed suites have perfect view overlooking the caldera, giving you the best vantage point to watch the sunset every evening.

Irene City Villas – These private suites come with a hot tub included and access to a small swimming pool. The villas have a relaxed feel and are only a few minutes walk from the main centre of Fira

Cosmopolitan Suites – If you want the ultimate luxury stay in Fira, then this is the place for you – but it will cost you. These very private suites are all uniquely designed and the hotel has a stunning infinity pool hanging from the cliff.

Lemon Suites – We thought the lemon suites looked like great value and only that we were going on our honeymoon, could easily have booked this hotel for our stay. The rooms are stylish and come with basic kitchen facilities and sea views are possible here as well.

Oia (Luxury Stays)

Whenever you picture Santorini, you will almost certainly be imagining the views in Oia. The white washed buildings with contrasting blue domes perched against the cliffs have become sought after globally in the instagram age.

While Oia is incredibly beautiful, much like Positano in the Amalfi Coast, that beauty (and demand) comes with a price, both in terms of financial cost and the crowds of people that gather here in peak season.

We opted against staying in Oia for that reason and did find the crowds a little bit overwhelming when we did visit. We would also say that a stay here is likely to involve navigating a lot of stairs so if you have mobility issues this is worth taking into consideration.

That being said, the views here are stunning, the photos you take here will become your screensaver and if you want a luxury stay in Santorini, it is difficult to look beyond Oia.

One thing we will say is that we did visit on a Sunday on one of our trips to Oia and it was noticeably quieter than other days. Possibly a coincidence, but worth bearing in mind if you do decide to stay elsewhere on the island

Ultimately, we would say a stay in Oia requires a bit more planning than some of the other areas on the island. Most of your dinners will require reservations, most of your best photos will require spending some time in a queue and generally you will just need to be a bit more organised.

Where to stay in Oia

Oia is the most expensive area to stay in Santorini overall but that isn’t to say finding somewhere to stay on a budget is impossible.

If your heart is set on Oia but budget is an issue, try visiting in April or October when the area is less crowded and demand drops off a little bit.

La Perla – These Adult Only suites come with a private hot tub and panoramic views overlooking the caldera.

Gaia Suites – The rooms here are designed in keeping with the local aesthetic, whitewashed rooms framed in blue. Again, you will have access to great panoramic views overlooking the caldera from your balcony.

Echoes Luxury Suites – These suites are luxuriously finished, with an outdoor plunge pool and picturesque views, perfect for a romantic stay in Oia.

Imerovigli (Best for romantic holidays)

Perched between Fira and Oia, Imerovigli is the quietest location and possibly Santorini’s most romantic place to stay as well, making it a great option for honeymoons.

The obvious drawback to staying in Imerovigli is that it is a much quieter area and therefore won’t have as much to do but for some visitors, that’s exactly what they are looking for.

That being said, Imerovigli blends luxury, romance and possibly the best sunset views in Santorini. There are lots of great luxury boutique hotels here, often with private hot tubs and perfect views of the surroundings.

The hiking trail from Imerovigli to Oia is also one of the most memorable things to do in Santorini so we would highly recommend adding to your itinerary.

Imerovigli is also only a couple of kilometres away from Fira so you can easily go between the two if you decide to spend an evening in Fira etc.

Imerovigli is filled with luxury, from its hotels to its restaurants and with those sunset views, it is hard to look past it as the best option for a romantic stay in Santorini.

Where to stay in Imerovigli

Cocoon Suites – These suites come with their own hot tub or plunge pool and have a unique design and feel, in keeping with the style of the island. Breakfast is served to your suite overlooking the caldera providing the perfect setting for a honeymoon or romantic stay.

Santorini Princess Suites – A 5* hotel with all the facilities you could wish to have for a luxury stay in Santorini. The hotel has spa and wellness facilities, an outdoor pool and rooms with stunning views of the surroundings.

Kamari/Perissa (Best for budget friendly stays)

The final option for a stay in Santorini is the area covering Kamari and Perissa.

This area is on the opposite side of the island and is great for anyone hoping to visit Santorini on a budget.

This area has some unique things to do as well like the black sand beaches and the open air cinema we mentioned earlier.

While it doesn’t have the same sense of luxury as Oia or Imerovigli, it is a great base for families and is much better value for money overall.

The promenade here is lined with bars and restaurants and there is a more relaxed pace to it overall.

Where to stay in Kamari/Perissa

Santorini Kastelli Resort – For a luxury stay in this part of the island we would choose Santorini Kastelli. This is a 5* resort with two swimming pools right on the beachfront, as well as a tennis court and gym.

Anassa Deluxe Suites – For great value suites that still have a touch of luxury, we would recommend Anassa. This hotel has a great swimming pool area, breakfast and is right beside the beach as well.