This guide to where to stay in Santorini, Greece, includes the best village, resorts and amenities you can find on the island.

Trying to decide where to stay on Santorini in Greece? Tons of gorgeous villages, villas and vacation rentals fill the island. Just look to the cliffside of the caldera, where some of the best places to stay in Santorini are carved into the hills offering views of sailboats, sunsets and that stunning cerulean sea.

This guide to Santorini hotels and resorts will help you pick the perfect one, whether that’s a luxury suite with a sparkling pool, a beachy resort near the black-sand shores, or a budget-friendly room in a family-owned inn. 

We’ll break down the best areas to stay in Santorini along the caldera side and beyond the most popular towns. Read to the end to find out where we stayed and recommend and check out this Santorini itinerary for what to do on the island.

Where to Stay in Santorini Greece

This map of where to stay on Santorini shows the locations of the towns and villages below. There are tons of options along the caldera coastline, which has the best views on the Greek island.

Fira and Firostefani 

The capital of Santorini, Fira is centrally located along the caldera side and a hub for bus routes to the rest of the island, making it one of the top places to stay on Santorini. It’s the island’s center of commerce, so walking to restaurants and shops from your Fira hotel should be a breeze.

In town, you can visit a few museums, browse for souvenirs, or set off on the famous Fira to Oia hike along the coastline. 

Since cruise tender boats dock at the old harbor below Fira, the town gets a bit crowded when multiple ships call at the port simultaneously. To take advantage of Fira’s amenities while avoiding some of the bustle, look for spots in neighboring Firostefani, about a 15-minute walk north of central Fira along the coast.

Most people looking for where to stay in Santorini consider Fira as one of the top choices.

Fira Hotels

Oia

Consistently considered as one of the best places to stay in Santorini, Oia offers that classic look of whitewashed buildings cascading down the cliffside and blue domes dotting the panorama here and there. It’s equally famous for its sunsets over the Aegean Sea.

Super popular among tourists, you’ll find plenty of boutiques and eateries along the stone streets here. Some of the best things to do in Oia include visiting the castle ruins for views of the coastline, swimming and rock jumping in Amoudi Bay, and picking up gifts at the local handicraft shops. 

If you’re looking for where to stay in Santorini, you definitely can’t go wrong with a cliffside Oia resort!

Oia Hotels

Imerovigli

Tucked between Fira and Oia on the caldera coast, Imerovigli is a serene gem in the midst of the island’s busiest zones. It’s the highest village along this stretch of coastline, so the views are immaculate from cliffside hotels. And it’s one of my favorite places to stay on Santorini!

There’s not as much to do along the winding alleys of whitewashed Imerovigli, which keeps things a bit calmer, but you’ll still find a few restaurants in walking range. Plus, Fira is less than 2 miles away. If you stay here, consider hiking out to the ruins on Skaros Rock to watch the sunset, or hopping on the coastal trail toward Oia, about 5 miles from Imerovigli.

Imerovigli Hotels

Pyrgos

When you’re searching for where to stay in Santorini, places like Pyrgos don’t usually show up as often. The centrally located town winds up an inland hill, its white and creamy painted buildings lining stone streets and narrow alleys. It’s got that hidden gem feel but still offers an array of eateries, a cultural museum, and castle ruins with a view.

Other inland towns with similar vibes to consider include Karterados just outside Fira and Emporia, a couple of miles south of Pyrgos.

Pyrgos Hotels

The pricier villas and luxury hotels in Pyrgos offer elevated vistas and sparkling pools, while a few lower-budget options are scattered throughout the village and on the outskirts. 

Kamari, Perissa and Perivolos

If you’re wondering where to stay in Santorini for the beach, consider this trio of towns on the eastern coast of the island, one of the best locations to stay in Santorini. They each offer a sweeping beachfront of black sand with organized amenities and water sports.

Kamari is the northernmost and has 5-star resorts and a restaurant-filled promenade. Neighboring Perissa and Perivolos are separated from Kamari by volcanic hills and offer tons of budget-friendly hotels with pools just a short walk from the sea.

All three towns are in hiking distance to the ruins of Ancient Thera, on a hilltop between Kamari and Perissa. You can visit the excavation site to see the remains of ancient temples and markets as well as coastal panoramas of Santorini’s east side. 

Kamari, Perissa and Perivolos Hotels

Megalochori and Mesaria

These two towns sit above the main ferry port for Santorini on the caldera coast, one on either side and just a couple miles from each other. They’re both less developed than the uber-popular villages to the north, with fewer cliffside villas spaced out a bit more. 

The central village of Megalochori is a few blocks inland and has those classic blue-domed churches the island is famous for. Hikes along the coast here offer stunning views looking toward Oia and Imerovigli on the other end of the island.

Mesaria on the north side of the port has a couple of cultural museums and galleries to peruse as well as a 19th-century mansion open for tours. It’s just a couple miles from Fira’s amenities as well.

These towns are among the best places to stay on Santorini to avoid the crowds.

Megalochori and Mesaria Hotels

Akrotiri

Not to be confused with the prehistoric archaeological site you’ll likely visit on your Santorini vacation, Akrotiri refers to the southern peninsula of the island. This zone includes the ancient ruins, a hillside town with a Venetian castle, the famous red beach, and a lighthouse at the tip. This is a great place to stay in Santorini that feels a little more off-the-beaten-path than the uber-popular villages on the opposite end of the island.

Akrotiri Hotels

Tips for Where to Stay in Santorini

Use these tips for where to stay in Santorini to find the best views, dreamiest pools, and budget-friendly options.

Which Part of Santorini is the Best to Stay in for First-Time Visitors?

The caldera side of the island has the best views, so I recommend picking a spot along the west coast. The towns on this side of Santorini look upon the cerulean caldera sea and its handful of islets. You can also typically see at least one of the white-painted cliffside villages along the curved inner shore. Hotels and villas on this strand take advantage of the higher elevation, often built into the cliffs with stunning sunset views.

Should I Book a Santorini Hotel With a Pool?

I recommend booking a Santorini hotel with a pool if it fits your budget. You’ll want to spend a lot of time lounging poolside on the sun-soaked island, so select a Santorini villa or hotel that includes a place to swim. These are pretty easy to come by, even among lower-priced accommodations, but the pricier options will typically offer the best views from their pool decks. If you’re looking for where to stay in Santorini with a pool, you’ll definitely have luck searching in Oia, Fira, and Imerovigli.

How to Find Budget-Friendly Hotels in Santorini

If you’re looking for where to stay in Santorini on a budget, I recommend searching away from the caldera coast. Accommodations span the entire island, and you may find something surprisingly affordable if you get creative.

You may only hear about places to stay on Santorini like Oia and Fira, where tourist amenities pack in tight with hotels, but accommodations are scattered around the whole island. The northwestern zone certainly stuns with its views, but if you’re looking for a more authentic village, a serene and lux place away from crowds, or something budget-friendly, refer to some of the other towns listed above.

Budget options are available. Sure, the sparkling pools and private decks on the caldera coast come at a cost, but you can get creative to reserve something in your price range. You’ll be hard-pressed to find much below $100 a night in Oia, so look to the outskirts of towns, the beach destinations like Perissa, and options like apartment rentals for a tight budget. Choosing dates outside the peak summer season and booking early will open more options, too. 

Consider How You Will Get Around

You will want to keep in mind how you plan to get around when booking your stay. If you rent a vehicle, the options are endless, but to be able to walk to shops and restaurants, you’ll want to stay in a village. There are buses that run routes connecting Fira to other destinations around Santorini, and taxi rides are pretty economical given the small size of the island.

Which is Better Oia or Fira?

I really can’t tell you that one is absolutely better than the other. A lot of it depends on what you are looking for and what your budget is. Oia tends to have more of a lux and romantic vibe with tons of cliffside resorts with pools. It is crowded here during the day but quieter at night. Fira is the capital of Santorini and tends to be better for nightlife. From here you’ll have views of Santorini in the distance.

My personal favorite is actually Imerovigli in between the two. It tends to be more overlooked as a place to stay but incredibly scenic. You’ll see lots of flowing dress photo shoots taking place here during the day. At night, it’s super quiet and peaceful. And the hotels here tend to be cheaper than in Oia but still offer breathtaking views from the highest points of the island.

Santorini Hotel Recommendations

Painted in classic white, the hotel has cozy, cave-style rooms with terraces and private balconies and a pool deck where a scrumptious breakfast is served each morning.

Considering its prime location and panoramas, it’s much cheaper than similar style stays in Oia, but the lower-priced rooms tend to fill up fast. We especially recommend it for couples and honeymooners as Imerovigli offers serene and secluded vibes. The property doesn’t accept guests under the age of 12, but there is a family suite that fits five.