A mind-blowing fantasy for many around the globe, it’s no wonder why Santorini is THE essential place to go in Greece.
Santorini is an island that is situated 200 kilometres southeast in the Aegean Sea.
Most famous for its amazing volcanic caldera and flawless sunsets, its history contributes to its present-day charm. The island is viewed as the most dynamic volcanic focal point in the South Aegean Volcanic Arc. The fallout of volcanic ejections in mankind’s history wiped out the Minoan civilisation around 3,600 years ago.
The island is one of the most-visited traveller destinations in Greece. Positioned as the top island on the planet by US News, BBC, Travel+Leisure Magazine and more, it’s no surprise that Santorini invites around 2 million guests a year from around the globe.
There’s a great deal of publicity encompassing the island. It’s one of the most soothing spots on the planet. Without a shadow of a doubt, Santorini can be both relaxing and adventurous with its unlimited activity offerings.
If you’re planning to visit Santorini, one of your concerns would be where to stay in Santorini. It’s no secret that it’s a perfect spot for couples on a honeymoon or even families. However, where you stay in Santorini can affect the mood of your vacation.
This choice isn’t a simple one, as you’ll have to decide whether you want to remain close to beaches or near to one of the towns along the caldera.
As such, we hope this Santorini accommodation guide will make it easier for you to pick the best places to stay in Santorini!
Best area to stay in Santorini for nightlife
Best area to stay in Santorini for family
Best area to stay in Santorini for couples
Best area to stay in Santorini for budget travellers
How To Get To Santorini, Greece
There are 2 main ways to get to Santorini: by flight or by ferry.
If you’re already in Greece and are coming to Santorini from another island, you would want to come via ferry as it’s the easiest way to do so.
Since there are many ferry companies that operate in Greece, I found Ferryscanner to aggregate the different ferry schedules and prices into one easy platform for comparison. The best thing is, almost all of the ferry bookings made via their website has a free cancellation policy!
You can check the ferry schedule here:
10 Best Neighbourhoods to Stay in Santorini, Greece
Santorini Neighbourhood #01- Oia
Oia, Santorini
Oia is a little seaside town on the northwestern tip of Santorini. It spreads around 2 kilometres along the northern edge of the renowned caldera. If you’re up for a unique experience in Oia, a helicopter tour above the village and the famous caldera is undoubtedly the way to go.
A photogenic town, Oia is a fascinating web of bistros, cafés, little shops, and settlement facilities.
Oia is popular among visitors for its astonishing viewpoints and buzzing nightlife. Enchanting houses, sun-washed verandas and blue-domed holy places are spread around the area.
The Maritime Museum, with its little library and an assortment of different maritime-related things, is also worth a visit if you’re staying in Oia.
Home to many art gallery exhibitions, Oia sits 300 steps above the port of Ammoudi. From the port, you can take a boat for a journey to the nearby island of Thirassia.
Here are some hotel recommendations for your amazing stay at Oia, Santorini:
Best hotels in Oia, Santorini
Santorini Neighbourhood #02- Imerovigli
Imerovigli is one more pleasant town in Santorini. It is a popular area for young couples and honeymooners with its wide array of romantic resorts and hostels.
This is the best area for spotting private ships run by its local people.
The town offers unmatched viewpoints on the caldera. Beyond that, the town is home to many traditional houses, bistros and bars that will make you forget the caldera and the Aegean Sea momentarily.
Scaros Rock, a colossal stone before the town, was once home to a 13th-century palace. Today, all that remains of it after the earthquake is a huge slope that’s a popular photography spot and hiking destination.
Imerovigli is also home to many sanctuaries and houses of worship, which makes it a perfect location for a destination wedding.Below are some recommendations for the best places to stay in Imerovigli so you can take the time to explore this area fully.
Where to stay in Imerovigli, Santorini
Santorini Neighbourhood #03- Fira
One of the most lovely capitals on the planet, Fira is the greatest and the most urbanized settlement on the island of Santorini. Indeed, Fira is home to the most unmistakable feasting and amazing scenes in Santorini.
The region is filled with a few eateries, bistros, clubs and bars. Markets, gift shops and clothing stores dotted around can also satisfy anyone with shopping needs.
Go for a stroll along the back streets to appreciate the staggering perspectives of the caldera. Don’t miss the museum, Megaro Gyzi, that has a range of cultural events, including dramatic exhibitions and shows. Around evening time, wind up to charming Greek tunes.
Where to stay in Fira, Santorini
Santorini Neighbourhood #04- Firostefani
Firostefani is a lovely town with fabulous perspectives of the caldera and the Aegean Sea.
Walk around the paths and streets to explore this beautiful town. Pause for a minute to absorb the astonishing view of the Santorini volcano. Firostefani has astonishing views, which makes it one of the best areas to stay in Santorini.
The Monastery of Agios Nikolaos that lies between the towns of Firostefani and Imerovigli is worth a visit while you’re here. It’s also home to several museums and the exceptional symbol of one of the Saints it is devoted to.
A traditional town, Firostefani is a place to indulge in comfortable suppers in charming restaurants. You can find a generous number of cafés but no clubs, bars or pubs, so if you want a quiet escape, this is one of the best places to stay for a couple of nights in Santorini.
Where to stay in Firostefani, Santorini
Santorini Neighbourhood #05- Kamari
This neighbourhood is the coolest neighbourhood of all. You will find amazing sceneries and classy restaurants here to enjoy delicious Korean food. After you’re done with the food, take a stroll around Honinji Pond and enjoy great picturesque views.
Situated on the southeastern bank of Santorini, Kamari is an oceanside town. Surrounding mountains, well-organized folding seats and umbrellas and unique dark sand beaches make this area a popular one for beach lovers.
It comes as no surprise that scuba diving and snorkelling is also well known in this area.
With no lack of choices for family-friendly hotels, this is the best place to stay in Santorini for families.
Take a long walk and you will find many bars, cafés, restaurants, and shops that invite visitors from all around the globe.
Where to stay in Kamari, Santorini
Santorini Neighbourhood #06- Perissa
Perissa is a waterfront town on the southeastern edge of Santorini. It is generally famous for its astounding beaches.
Notably known for its dark magma sand and dark blue waters, the beach here is fortified with sunbeds and umbrellas all around. You can also find a couple of beachside bars here.
Perissa also offers a vibrant Santorini nightlife, with the liveliest dance club and cafés on the island, making it ideal for party-goers.
One of the popular landmarks in Perissa is the Museum of Minerals & Fossils of the Cultural Society of Thira, a historical centre that was set up here in 2006. It’s devoted to a variety of fossils and minerals from Greece as well as from all edges of the world.
The nearby Church of Holy Cross, one of the biggest in Santorini, is another unmissable spot in Santorini.
Where to stay in Perissa, Santorini
Santorini Neighbourhood #07- Karterados
Karterados is known for its scenes, amazing engineering, and many budget-friendly accommodations. This brilliant town offers many modern-day facilities such as lively bars, restaurants, and pubs.
It used to be one of the biggest sea captain villages during the 19th century. Karterados today is home to traditional windmills and a team that honours the officers who lost their lives in World War II.
Like every other town on the island, Karterados additionally sports a lot of lovely places of worship. Agios Nikolaos, with its unrivalled views of the sunset, is the most famous of all. The area also offers a chance to respect 19-century stone made houses and Greek chateaus.
TIP: Get to Agios Nikolaos before sunset to capture one of the most stunning sunsets in the world!
Where to stay in Karterados, Santorini
Santorini Neighbourhood #08- Akrotiri
Akrotiri is a full name for the town, ruins, and southern promontory of Santorini. The town itself is very little, with only a couple of cafés, houses of prayer, and manor ruins.
From Akrotiri, it’s a 13-minute walk to the archaeological site of the prehistoric town of Akrotiri. It’s a Bronze Age Minoan settlement all around protected by the debris of a volcanic eruption (much like Pompeii).
The Akrotiri Peninsula is likewise home to a few of Santorini’s best beaches. They include the Red Beach, White Beach, Vlichada Beach, and Caldera Beach.
At its western tip is a beacon, while a bunch of incredible eateries are spread all through the area.
I highly recommend renting a car as most hotels, eateries, beaches and attractions are spread out over the landmass.
Transport from Akrotiri to Fira takes around 20 minutes. Include another 20 minutes if you want to get from Fira to Oia.
Where to stay in Akrotiri, Santorini
Santorini Neighbourhood #09- Pyrgos
Pyrgos is the most enchanting of all of Santorini’s famous towns. From its mountaintop perch at the most noteworthy point on the island, it offers beautiful sunset views over the Santorini. (Notice a recurring theme here?)
The vast majority of Pyrgos can be discovered on foot as its web-like pathways make it easy for you to wander and explore. Spotted with eateries, neighbourhood boutiques, beautiful holy places, and the fragments of a Venetian château, its lower regions are overflowing with vineyards and tasting rooms.
This is a perfect town to stay in for serenity and isolation away from the maddening tourist crowd.
From the main square, it’s around a 10-minute transport ride into Fira. For more feasting, nightlife, and shopping, Oia can be reached by getting a 20-minute transport from Fira.
Some best hotel recommendations for your stay in Pyrgos are:
Where to stay in Pyrgos, Santorini
Santorini Neighbourhood #10- Perivolos
Perivolos is situated near Perissa at a distance of only 3 km and can also be considered as an extension of Perissa. This area is an extraordinary alternative if you’re searching for delightful, extravagant beachfront hotels in Santorini. That’s why Perivolos Beach has become a famous option for wedding receptions.
Now, if you’re looking to explore the beauty of Perivolos with a blood-pumping experience, I would highly suggest you do jet skiing from Perivolos Beach to the Black Mountain! Its an unforgettable experience, trust me!
The best thing about Perivolos is that it has plenty of cafés, bars and restaurants, and every one of them can be found near the sea shore. What attracts tourists to Perivolos is also the water activities and water sports available here, like scuba jumping and stream ski.
Additionally, Perivolos offers great nightlife for those who want to dance their night away in cool bars and clubs tuning in to the coolest global DJs.
Where to stay in Perivolos, Santorini
Santorini’s breathtaking scenes won’t leave you in disappointment no matter what.
One thing to keep in mind before you visit Santorini is that it is not a cheap place, so be prepared to spend some. We’ve, however, compiled a list of the best hostels to stay in Santoriniif you’re travelling Santorini on a budget and want a more affordable trip.
Another tip is to book your hotel stay at least 6 months in advance as most of them sell out quicker than you might think. This will help you avoid any last minute inconveniences.
So go on, get your beach body ready and pack your summer essentials. You’re in for an adventure!
