Santorini is known as the most luxurious and romantic Greek islands and is home to white-washed architecture and an incredible view of the Aegean Sea. Picking a place to stay in Santorini can be pretty overwhelming as there is tons of great towns to stay in. Keep reading to learn about five of the best towns in Santorini.
Fira
Fira is the capital of Santorini and is easily one of the most popular areas to stay in Santorini. Fira has tons of shops and restaurants but is typically less crowded than places like Oia. There are tons of hotels for every budget and there are beautiful caldera views.
The main bus terminal in Santorini is located in Fira, which makes it the easiest place to travel from. For the most part, we travelled by bus – it was super easy to navigate and much cheaper than a taxi or renting a vehicle.
Best Hotels in Fira: Aressana Spa Hotel and Suites, Athina Luxury Suites and Astro Palace Hotel and Suites.
Oia
Oia is hands-down the most romantic and picturesque town in Santorini. If you are looking to stay in a cave hotel during your stay than Oia is definitely the place to do it. Hotels in Oia offer an incredible view, but the view definitely comes at a price. Keep in mind that Oia is the busiest spot on the island so if you are looking for something quieter and not as busy than you will definitely want to stay in another area.
I personally can’t justify spending $600+/night so I opted to stay a budget-friendly hotel in Fira. We typically don’t spend very much time in our hotel so I don’t tend to spend too much money on the “perfect” hotel.
Best Hotels in Oia: Pezoules, Andronis Luxury Suites and Kirini Santorini.
Imerovigli
Imerovigli is located between Fira and Oia and is known as the “Balcony to the Aegean”. Imerovigli is another great spot to stay in Santorini – there is plenty of restaurant options and it isn’t nearly as busy as Fira or Oia.
Imerovigli is a bit more expensive and if you decide to stay here you will need to rent a vehicle as it is approximately a 30-minute walk from Fira. If you do rent a car make sure your hotel can accommodate parking as not all hotels can and it can be hard to find somewhere to park.
Best Hotels in Imerovigli: Pegasus Suites and Spa, Rocabella Santorini Hotel and Spa and Ilioperato Hotel.
Akrotiri
Akrotiri is a small village located on the southwestern part of Santorini and is one of the best spots for budget-friendly hotels on the island. Akrotiri is home to one of the most important archeological sites in the Aegean and is famous for the lighthouse. Akrotiri offers great views at a fraction of the cost.
Best Hotels in Akrotiri: Apanemo, Astarte Suites and Ambassador Aegean Luxury Hotel and Suites.
Kamari
Kamari is a small town located on the southeastern part of Santorini and is the perfect spot to stay if you are looking for a beach hotel. Kamari is home to some of the most beautiful black sand beaches I’ve ever been on.
As Kamari is a smaller town compared to Fira or Oia it won’t have as many amenities as the bigger towns, but there is still a ton of options. If you are looking for more restaurant or shopping options you can easily take a bus or taxi to anywhere on the island.
Best Hotels in Kamari: Santorini Kastelli Resort, Cavo Bianco and Hotel 28.
