Where to stay in Santorini [Best Places to Stay for 2024]

Amazing evening view of Fira, caldera, volcano of Santorini, Greece with cruise ships at sunset. Cloudy dramatic sky.

Santorini belongs to a group of islands in the Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece. The areas of Fira and Oia are often represented as the entirety of Santorini in films, as they feature picturesque white domed buildings with royal blue furnishings.

If you are interested in visiting the Santorini you’ve seen in the movies, then you’ll be completely enthralled with Fira or Oia. While the entirety of Santorini is beautiful, different people enjoy different areas.

Picking the best area to stay in Santorini depends on your interests as well as your budget. For example, many areas in Santorini are quite expensive, but Firostefani is a cheaper option for budget travelers.

Or if you’re traveling to Santorini to simply appreciate the beaches, then you might prefer to stay in Kamari. No matter where in Santorini you stay, it’s inevitable that you will be stunned by the views and awed by the delicious food.

Wondering where to stay in santorini without a car? Both Fira and Oia are great options, the ease of public transport around the island making having no car fairly easy.

Below we have set out the best places in Santorini, as well as the best place to stay Santorini, Santorini hotels, where to stay in Santorini for couples, where to stay in Santorini with Family, where to stay in Santorini on a budget, where to stay in Santorini for beach lovers and many more.

We will cover off all types of villages of Santorini accommodation options from the best hotels in Santorini, hostels to luxury Santorini hotels as well as how to decide where to stay in Santorini Greece 2024, the best Santorini hotels, best places in Santorini to visit.

This guide shows off the best places to stay in Santorini, hotels near Santorini attractions, Santorini neighborhood guide and many more. Check out our list of places to stay Santorini Greece.

Wondering where is the best place to stay in Santorini? Below are 11 of the best neighborhoods in Santorini to help you make the right decision when trying to work out best areas to stay in Santorini for you. We have tried to make the guide as easy to follow as possible.

We have also included some things to do or places to visit as well as some eatery suggestions of either our favourite places or some funky places to eat at within the areas in Santorini so you can use this as a go to guide.

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Table of Contents

Fira – Where to stay in Santorini for couples

As the capital of Santorini, Fira offers fantastic views of both the ocean and the old volcano, making it the best part of Santorini.

The cliffside town offers bars, cafes, and restaurants that all have the incredible scenic view of the ocean in front of you as you eat.

Fira also has the Santorini Archaeological Museum which shows artifacts from various historical periods. There are several other museums, which serve to preserve Santorini’s history and have many manuscripts and old photos of Santorini.

Approx 15km from Fira is a nearby beach called Perissa beach, which offers some of the best swimming in Santorini.

Fira also has cable cars, since the area is on the hillside, which offers not only a way to the top but also has beautiful views of the ocean and the rest of Fira.

If you aren’t a fan of the cable car, you can walk, if you’re up for the challenge, or take a donkey. Fira is a laid back, scenic area of the city, so if you’re interested in good food and even better views, we recommend you stay here, its considered one of the best area to stay in Santorini.

Fira is the one of the best places to stay in Santorini Greece for couples or honeymooners.

Best places to stay in Fira santorini

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Fira

Budget accommodation in Fira

Mid range accommodation in Fira

Family Friendly accommodation in Fira

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Fira

Fira Santorini - Greek Islands landmark with white village cobbled paths greek orthodox blue church and sunset over caldera. Cyclades Greece.

Oia – Where to stay in Santorini with family

Where to stay in Santorini first time? Like Fira, Oia Greece has beautiful seaside views and quaint and colorful architecture. If you’re visiting Greece on your honeymoon or for a romantic getaway, Oia is the place to stay.

It’s a small, walkable village located on the northern tip of Santorini. It’s hilltop location and seaside views make it the best place to watch the famous Santorini sunset with your significant other.

In fact, the best place on the 20 square kilometer island to watch the sunset is from the ruins of the Oia castle, a popular tourist spot.

The castle not only is a great viewpoint, but is has a complex and intriguing history. For those looking for a quaint, beautiful and romantic spot in Santorini, you don’t need to look any further than Oia.

Best places to stay in Oia santorini

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Oia

Central Hostel Oia

Budget accommodation in Oia

Mid range accommodation in Oia

Family Friendly accommodation in Oia

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Oia

Picturesque panorama, Old Town of Oia or Ia on the island Santorini, white houses, windmills and church with blue domes at sunset, Greece

Kamari – Where to stay in Santorini for beach lovers

Located in the southeastern region of Santorini, Kamari is a small village of only 1800 residents.

The benefit to traveling in Santorini is that all some of the most beautiful places have a small population and thus are rarely overcrowded.

The black sand on the beach of Kamari makes for a beautiful and unique beach experience, which is by far the main attraction of the village.

The crescent shaped Kamari beach is situated underneath the Mesa Vouno mountain and is typically lined with beach umbrellas and excited tourists.

There is also a promenade that runs along the beach which features several beachside restaurants and shops geared towards tourists. If you want to relax on the beach in Santorini rather than climb all over a hillside town like Oia or Fira, you might prefer Kamari.

Best places to stay in Kamari santorini

Budget accommodation in Kamari

Mid range accommodation in Kamari

Family Friendly accommodation in Kamari

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Kamari

Evening lights of Kamari village Santorini island

Firostefani – Where to stay in Santorini on a budget

As you can probably tell by its name, Firostefani is located near Santorini’s capital, Fira. In fact, although Firostefani is recognized as a separate village in Santorini, it is really just an extension of Fira, geographically speaking.

Also like Fira, Firostefani is located hillside and offers stunning views of the caldera, but accommodation here tends to be a bit cheaper.

While Santorini can be an expensive vacation destination, most of us travel on a budget and when you do your research, you can always find areas that charge less.

Best places to stay in Firostefani santorini

Budget accommodation in Firostefani

Mid range accommodation in Firostefani

Family Friendly accommodation in Firostefani

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Firostefani

Santorini, Greece. Firostefani twilight, old village in Thira island, Cyclades at Aegean Sea.

Imerovigli – Where to stay in Santorini to see the Best Sunsets

Imerovigli is a small village on the island of Santorini, adjacent to the island capital Fira. Imerovigli is mostly famous for its beautiful sunset views, that’s called “balcony to the Aegean”.

Its hotels and hostels are built around the caldera and it is crossed by narrow, paved paths, which also offers caldera views. There is no nightlife or bars in this area, making it a bit more relaxed.

Best places to stay in Imerovigli santorini

Budget accommodation in Imerovigli

Mid range accommodation in Imerovigli

Family Friendly accommodation in Imerovigli

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Imerovigli

Santorini, Cyclades Islands, Greece. Sunset over Imerovigli near Thira town and Firostefani.

Perissa – Where to stay in Santorini near the beach

Home of one of the famous black sand beaches of the Greek Islands, Perissa is the best option of where to stay in Santorini for the beach. Many Perissa accommodations are just a five minute walk from the beach.

Perissa offers a more casual atmosphere than the nightlife hub of Fira, with several beach bars and restaurants. For a true nightlife scene, Fira is just 20 minutes away by car.

Perissa offers a wider range of budget accommodation because it doesn’t offer the “classic” Santorini views of sunset and the Santorini Caldera.

However, if you just want a laid back beach vacation with cheap food and drink options, Perissa is one of the best places to stay in in Santorini Greece.

Best places to stay in Perissa santorini

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Perissa

Youth hostel Anna

Budget accommodation in Perissa

Mid range accommodation in Perissa

Family Friendly accommodation in Perissa

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Perissa

Perisa beach, Santorini, Greece. The black sand beach of Perissa on the Greek island of Thira.

Perivolos – Best place to stay in Santorini

Just three kilometers from Perissa is Perivolos Beach, a popular beach with many taverns and pubs in walking distance of each other.

The beach has quite an assortment of visitor facilities, including scuba diving, windsurfing and jet ski rentals.

If you are considering where to stay in Santorini in October, this is the last month of operations for most beach bars, so it’s possible to get some great deals towards the end of the month as vendors prepare to close up for the winter.

Perivolos offers the same laid back vibe as Perissa for your Santorini holidays.

Best places to stay in Perivolos santorini

Budget accommodation in Perivolos

Mid range accommodation in Perivolos

Family Friendly accommodation in Perivolos

Tourists sunbathe on the Kamari Beach. SantoriniGreece.

Pyrgos – Where to stay in Santorini for foodies

Just seven kilometers from the lively town of Fira is the village of Pyrgos, also known as Pyrgos Kallistis.

The high point of Santorini Island offers amazing views in every direction, and a historic peek into Santorini’s past.

You won’t find beach bars or nightlife here, but a sleepy village with a storied past. The ruins of Kasteli Castle are scattered about, as well as a WWII memorial.

There are a few wineries in the area, as well as cafes, restaurants, taverns and shops radiating out from the main square.

Best places to stay in Pyrgos santorini

Budget accommodation in Pyrgos

Mid range accommodation in Pyrgos

Family Friendly accommodation in Pyrgos

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Pyrgos

Pyrgos Kallistis. Santorini Cyclades islands. Greece. Traditional and famous greek architecture

Akrotiri – Where to stay in Santorini off the beaten path

The Akrotiri Peninsula is named for the prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri, where travelers still come to see ruins.

Since most Santorini travelers go straight to the ruins as a day trip, the Akrotiri Village sees very few tourists.

Travelers deciding where to stay in Santorini for honeymoon might consider this off the beaten path destination for its tranquility.

The village has many family run restaurants serving fresh produce from surrounding farms. Likewise, accommodation options in Akrotiri are on the smaller side, with guest houses and villas alongside quaint hotels.

Best places to stay in Akrotiri santorini

Budget accommodation in Akrotiri

Mid range accommodation in Akrotiri

Family Friendly accommodation in Akrotiri

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Akrotiri

Exclusive apartments in Akrotiri with a panorama romantic view on Santorini island, Greece, Aegean sea.

Karterados – Where to stay in Santorini for relaxation

Karterados is a small, cozy village just outside Fira. You can generally find cheaper hotels and a quieter atmosphere in Karterados than in Fira, yet Fira is even in walking distance of only 25 minutes.

This is one of the best places to stay in Santorini if you might take advantage of Fira nightlife once or twice, but overall prefer a quieter holiday.

Buses run every 15 minutes to Fira or Messaria, and to get to the other parts of Santorini, you can transfer buses in Fira. Definitely choose a hotel with an outdoor pool as the beaches are a bit of a trek from town.

Best places to stay in Karterados santorini

Budget accommodation in Karterados

Mid range accommodation in Karterados

Family Friendly accommodation in Karterados

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Karterados

village karterados on greek island santorini, greece

Megalochori – Where to stay in Santorini for a Santorini experience

Another small village of Santorini, with breathtaking views of the caldera, is Megalochori. If you want to get off the beaten tourist track and live life among the locals, then Megalochori is the perfect place for it.

Cobblestone streets are lined with friendly cafes full of local residents. There is no nightlife, very few restaurants and no swanky hotels with infinity pools, but Megalochori offers a unique Santorini experience for a different kind of traveler.

Best places to stay in Megalochori santorini

Budget accommodation in Megalochori

Mid range accommodation in Megalochori

Family Friendly accommodation in Megalochori

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Megalochori

Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, Santorini

Panoramic view on Megalochori at Santorini island, Greece.

Top 5 favorites accommodation options for Santorini

❤️ Best Area first timers	Oia Greece
💸 Best Luxury Hotel	Pegasus Suites & Spa
👪 Best Hotel for For Families	Onar Villas – Onar Hotels Collection
🏨 Best Mid-Range Hotel	Deep in cave suites
🛏️ Best Budget Hotel	Margarita Hotel
✨ Best Hostel	Bedspot Hostel