BEST Areas to Stay in Santorini: Complete Area Guide 2023

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Looking for the best areas to stay in Santorini, Greece? This post explains the best areas to stay in Santorini if you haven’t visited the island before.

When we first visited Santorini, I was unsure of where to book our accommodation. We always like to be in the heart of the action, but we also dislike large crowds and busy tourist areas with high prices!

In Santorini, there are a few different areas to choose from, and each of the areas will suit a different type of traveller. In the following post, I explain the best areas to stay in Santorini, and what they are known for.

Other Santorini posts:

• How To Get Around Santorini
• Santorini On a Budget: Epic Activities + Tips

Area Guide for Santorini: A Summary

There are many areas in Santorini to choose from, and each area will suit certain tourists differently. We stayed in Megalochori and loved it. It had some of the beautiful Santorini views and hotels but at a much lower price than Oia.

If you are looking for the traditional Santorini white caves, luxury hotels and caldera-viewing jacuzzis, you will more than likely stay in Oia. Oia is full of high-end stays and apartments (and high-end guests).

• Megalochori: Couples, solo travellers, culture, sunset views, budget-friendly.
• Thira: groups of friends, solo travellers, nightlife, shopping, variety of food, sunset views, budget-friendly.
• Akrotiri: couples, history, culture, seclusion, sunset views, budget-friendly.
• Kamari: families, couples, beaches, kid-friendly vibe.
• Imerovigli: honeymooners, couples, seniors, tranquility, sunset views, luxury accommodation.
• Oia: honeymooners, couples, sunset views, luxury accommodation.
• Perissa: families, couples, beaches, kid-friendly vibe.
• Firostefani: couples, budget-friendly.

Whichever part you choose, if you pick a caldera-facing area, you will be able to see the sunset from your accommodation. Thira, Oia, Megalochori, Akrotiri, Firostefani and Imerovigli are all caldera-facing areas in Santorini.

If you’re budget backpacking, you might want to consider a beach town. These face away from the sunset and are less expensive and busy during peak times. These areas include Perissa and Kamari beach.

Still want to watch the sunset? Drive or catch a bus over to the caldera side of the island to watch the sunset in the evenings!

Related posts: How to get around Santorini (with or without a car)

The best areas to stay in Santorini

1. Megalochori

🛌 For couples and groups, stay in this hotel.

🎒 For budget backpackers, stay in this hostel.

Megalochori is a traditional, quiet Greek village in the southwest of the island. It is 9 kilometres from Thira, the capital of Santorini. Megalochori is so underrated and I couldn’t recommend it enough if you’re staying in Santorini for the first time (especially if you’re on a backpacker’s budget).

The village is full of bright white buildings, traditional blue domes, and bougainvillaea trees with blooming pink petals. It’s full of locals and authentic small stores and businesses. On a Sunday morning, you’ll find the streets to be full of church-goers and locals, listening to the priest reading the traditional Greek Orthodox sermon.

As the church bells ring and the service comes to an end, the locals will spend their morning socialising, eating and drinking wine together.

If you want to leave Megalochori for the day, it’s easy to rent a car or ATV. Cars cost around €60-80 a day, whilst ATV’s cost around €50-90 per day. This may sound like a lot, but taxis around the island are a lot more. It will cost at least 60 EUR to travel from Megalochori to Oia during peak season.

Travelling to Thira by taxi from Megalochori costs around €20. You can check out my detailed guide about getting around Santorini here.

🦉 TOP TIP: If you exit the main town and walk for five minutes to the cliff edge, you can see unbeatable views of the sunset (without having to pay for an expensive hotel room!)

2. Thira

🛌 For couples and groups, stay in this apartment.

🎒 For budget backpackers, stay in this hostel.

Located directly opposite the caldera, Thira is the capital of Santorini and the largest town on the island. It has a vibrant and lively atmosphere, and if you like staying somewhere with a wide variety of food options, shops, bars, and nightlife, Thira is going to be your best option. 

If you’re not planning on renting a car or ATV, Thira is the main transportation hub, and you can reach any of the other local areas by bus, making it an ideal place to stay. There are also many taxi ranks dotted around the area (although I really wouldn’t recommend taxis if you’re backpacking as they’re expensive!)

Thira town in itself is a day of exploring, but you can also make a trip to the Old Port, which is located either 600 rickety steps down or via cable car. The port shows a different perspective of the volcano, and has some traditional Greek restaurants and a folklore museum.

Thira isn’t too big, and staying anywhere around the town will be within walking distance to the centre. Just remember to book a restaurant or bar early if you want a good view of the sunset – especially in the peak summer months.

3. Akrotiri

🛌 For couples and groups, stay in this accommodation.

Further south of the island, is Akrotiri, a historical, sleepy town that was first inhabited in the Neolithic age. The town’s port meant that Akrotiri was originally one of the most populated areas in Santorini, before the destructive 17th-century BC volcanic eruption. 

To learn more about the eruption and the history of the island, you can visit the archaeological site for under 20 Euros. Even if you are not staying in Akrotiri, it’s an interesting day out, and an eye-opening experience.

As well as the town being full of history and culture, Akrotiri is home to Red Beach, Vlichada, and Perivolas. However, the beaches can be hard to get to! They require some scrambling over rocks, and it’s best to ask a local or tour guide of the best ways to reach the ground from the cliffs.

Akrotiri is home to some of the cheapest accommodations on the island, and is perfect for budget backpackers. Due to it being further south than most other areas, it might be worth hiring a car or ATV to get around the island.

4. Kamari

🛌 For couples and groups, stay in this apartment.

Kamari is a small coastal town home to a long stretch of black sandy beach. It’s best suited to backpackers on a budget, families and larger groups. Kamari’s beach lies right under Meso Vouno, the island’s highest mountain, which can also be climbed for some of the best views in the area.

If you’re looking for more luxury accommodation, Kamari does have some five-star hotels and complexes, but it also has some great budget-friendly options for backpackers.

Kamari beach is a great place for swimming and snorkelling, and the promenade is full of trendy cafes, seafood restaurants and cocktail bars. There’s always something going on in Kamari, from live music to dance parties and beach games, making it the perfect place to base yourself for a few days.

Kamari is easy to reach from Thira and only takes around 15 minutes on the bus. 

5. Imerovigli

🛌 For couples and groups, stay in this apartment.

Situated to the north of Thira on a high cliff edge, is the bright white town of Imerovigli. Imerovigli is mainly expensive and high-end accommodation, making it perfect for honeymoons or couples willing to pay a bit extra for panoramic views of the sunset.

Imerovigli is quieter than most of the other towns, but it still has some restaurants and cafes to explore if you want to head out of your hotel. We found Imerovigli to be one of the best photo spots, as there are plenty of blue domes and traditional Greek buildings, and hardly any tourists!

Imerovigli is also home to Skaros Rock, a rocky headland that protrudes out to the Aegean ocean. This takes around an hour to reach, but I’ve heard it can be quite challenging due to some rock climbing before the peak. Make sure you do your research before heading off!

6. Perissa Beach

🛌 For couples and groups, stay in this apartment.

🎒 For budget backpackers, stay in this hostel.

Perissa is home to another black sandy beach, and is located just south of Kamari. It has lots of hotels, bars and restaurants to choose from, as well as lots of beach activities. The beach stretches along the coastline, leading into Perivolos.

Perissa is suited to all types of budget, as the beachfront area in Perivolos is one of the most upcoming luxurious beach fronts in Santorini, as well as being home to friendlier budget hostels. Perissa actually has the most backpacker hostels on the entire island!

7. Oia

🛌 For couples and groups, stay in this apartment.

🎒 For budget backpackers, stay in this hostel.

Oia is by far the most popular place to stay in Santorini (but personally, it’s my least favourite). It is a coastal town on the northwest tip of the island and is home to the winding narrow steps, marbled paths, iconic cliff-edge buildings and colourful flowers you may have seen on social media.

Oia is built on the cliff edge with all restaurants and bars having unbeatable views of the sunset. However, this comes at a price! Not only is it the most expensive area to stay in Santorini, but it is also the busiest. To get a table in a restaurant during peak season, you’ll have to book at least 7 days in advance.

As beautiful as Oia is, we found it to be too overcrowded. If you want a photo with a blue dome, it can take up to 30 minutes to wait for a photo. When we stayed in Megalochori, we had the place to ourselves most of the time, and didn’t have to queue for a photo once.

A popular (and free) spot to watch the sunset is Oia Castle. However, as you can imagine, a free activity in Oia is going to get busy. There were people camping out for a spot 3 hours before the sunset!

Staying in a different area and just travelling to Oia for the morning is a good idea. We did enjoy the narrow and winding streets, but the crowds and chaos were a bit too much for us! If you’re similar, I highly recommend booking accommodation in either Thira or Megalochori or one of the beach towns.

Budget backpacking in Oia is also quite tricky, especially during the peak summer months when hotels bump their prices!

8. Firostefani

🛌 For couples and groups, stay in this apartment.

Firostefani is around a ten-minute walk from the capital Thira. There is a short footpath from Firostefani that directly leads to Thira’s main town centre. Firostefani is an extension of the capital, which makes it a good place to stay if you still want to be in the heart of the action, but prefer it to be a bit quieter.

There are a few restaurants and bars in Firostefani, and an independent bakery to grab breakfast before a day of activities. Firostefani also has incredible views of the caldera and sunset for a lower, budget-friendly price.

Wind your way through the narrow streets and find a cliff edge or balcony to watch the sunset for free!

When is the best time to visit Santorini?

☀️ The best time to visit Santorini is between June – October. However, the hot weather and clear skies also mean lots more tourists! Be prepared and book your stay, restaurants and excursions in advance, especially if you’re staying in busy areas like Thira and Oia.

🌸 If you want to backpack Santorini on a budget, spring or autumn are good times to visit. The weather is still warm, and you won’t find it as hard to make a reservation. But it’s important to note that some restaurants and bars do close outside of the summer months.

❄️During the UK’s winter months (November – February), Santorini is quiet and most venues will be closed for refurbishments.

🐴 It is never ok to ride donkeys in Santorini. The more we engage and pay for donkey transport, the most the locals will use them. Under no circumstances should you need to use a donkey for transportation.

Best Hostels and Apartments on a Budget

If you’re looking for the best places to stay in Santorini on a budget, I recommend avoiding Oia entirely, and heading to these cheaper locations.

Best hostels in Santorini on a budget:

• Thira Backpackers Hostel: For solo or budget backpackers. Dorms start at 30 EUR per night depending on the season.
• Perissa Beach Hostel: Prices start at 19 EUR per night depending on the season.
• Emmanouela Studio Apartments: For couples and groups on a budget.

Or, if you’d prefer a hotel or apartment, I recommend:

• Grand View Megalochori: For incredible sunset views from your pool.
• Divino Suites: For a good Thira location and stunning place to stay.

For all Government official updates and information, please see the Santorini Tourism board website.

Best areas in Santorini: FAQs

1) Where should I stay in Santorini for the first time?

Most people will rush to stay in Oia, Santorini’s most popular town, but staying in the nearby (and cheaper) town of Thira is just as beautiful. Prices in restaurants and accommodation is a lot cheaper in Thira, and you won’t have to fight your way through any crowds to see the sunset.

➡ Check apartments and hotels in Thira now!

2) Is Fira or Oia better?

If you are looking for luxury accommodation with a jacuzzi, caldera-views and high-end hotels, stay in Oia. If you are a tourist who would like to be immersed more into the culture of a country, eat in traditional restaurants and have lower costing accommodations, stay in Fira.

3) Is Santorini a walkable city?

Each individual town in Santorini is walkable, but to travel between towns, you will need to either have your own vehicle or jump in a taxi. If you are planning on travelling around Santorini to the different towns (Oia, Fira, etc) it’s best to hire a car.

4) What are the different areas of Santorini?

The main areas in Santorini include:

• Oia: honeymooners, couples, sunset views, luxury accommodation.
• Thira: groups of friends, solo travellers, nightlife, shopping, variety of food, sunset views, budget-friendly.
• Megalochori: Couples, solo travellers, culture, sunset views, budget-friendly.
• Akrotiri: couples, history, culture, seclusion, sunset views, budget-friendly.
• Kamari: families, couples, beaches, kid-friendly vibe.
• Imerovigli: honeymooners, couples, seniors, tranquillity, sunset views, luxury accommodation.
• Perissa: families, couples, beaches, kid-friendly vibe.
• Firostefani: couples, budget-friendly.

5) How many days in Santorini is enough?

If you are visiting Santorini for the first time, 3-5 days is good amount of time. If you enjoy relaxing and laying by the sea or pool, Santorini is the perfect place to unwind for 5 days. If you’re someone who seeks a little more adventure, you may want to cut your time down to 3 days, as it’s a small island and you can become restless quickly.

6) Do I need a car in Santorini?

No, it is possible to get around Santorini without a car, but hiring a car may make it easier. Taxis and buses are available across the island, but taxis can be expensive, and local buses might take a bit longer to reach your destination. However, the buses are clean and modern, and are exceptionally cheap!

Don’t have a car? We rent our cars across Europe from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! ➡ LOOK AT CAR HIRE PRICES IN SANTORINI NOW!

7) Can you swim in the sea in Santorini?

Yes, you can swim in the sea in Santorini. The best months to swim in the sea in Santorini are June-September, due to the hot weather and clear waters. It’s also important to note that all beaches in Santorini are black sand, but most have sun loungers and restaurants for refreshments.

8) Can you drink tap water in Santorini?

Whilst drinking tap water in Santorini isn’t dangerous, it doesn’t taste nice! As someone who has backpacked all over the world, I rarely risk drinking tap water and always carry my water filter bottle with me. A filter bottle means you can drink any water, from anywhere (including a puddle!) safely.

9) Do I need a SIM card to visit Santorini? 

If you’re not from Greece, it’s worth downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and avoid roaming charges as soon as you arrive. 

ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing! Plus, there are eSIMs available for the entire continent of Europe, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!

Best Areas to stay in Santorini: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the best areas to stay in Santorini. When you’re planning a trip to Santorini, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Santorini content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling,

Jennie 😀 x

🇬🇷 Other Santorini posts:

• How To Get Around Santorini: COMPLETE Guide
• Santorini On a Budget: Money-Saving Tips

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