When one dreams of the Greek Islands, most are picturing Santorini. The whitewashed Cycladic architecture on the edge of a volcanic caldera and stunning turquoise waters might be a romantic cliché – but it’s a breathtaking one, at that. With dramatic, craggy cliffs, the deep blue of the Aegean, and black sand beaches, the stunning natural beauty is one of the main reasons why the island is a luxury destination. As day-trippers clamor to capture those sunset shots, the options for the most expensive hotel in Santorini, Greece, serve it up on a platter – among many other things. These beloved addresses are the very epitome of luxury, complete with guest-only restaurants, seafront private infinity plunge pools, and rooms and suites carved out of caves. Plus, they offer a front-row seat to Santorini’s sensational views, which make it one of the world’s most spectacular sunset locations.
But it’s not just the sun-soaked backdrop that draws discerning travelers here; it’s the privacy and intimacy that are a part of their innate appeal. Whether it’s exclusive villas with unobstructed views or boltholes hidden at the end of a quiet street, the island’s most expensive hotels make for the Greece of dreams. Here are the priciest digs on an island steeped in culture and history, which is also a place of ultimate and tranquil serenity.
Table of contents
- Nobu Santorini
- Santorini Secret Suites & Spa
- Katikies Santorini
- Andronis Boutique Hotel
- Kivotos
- Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel
- Canaves Oia Suites
- Perivolas
- Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection
- Andronis Arcadia Hotel
- Erosantorini
- Where do celebrities stay in Santorini?
- How many nights should you stay in Santorini?
- Which is the most luxurious adults-only escape in Santorini?
Nobu Santorini
11
Gastronomic luxury comes to Santorini in the form of the Nobu Santorini, where the sun, the sea, and the cuisine do all the talking. Like most other luxurious digs on the island, this glamorous cliffside pitstop boasts traditional Cycladic architecture shrouded by olive trees and Mediterranean palms.
The two-tiered resort pool is lined by plush Cliff by Talenti sunbeds, with Oia’s reddening volcanic cliffs and the island’s famous sunset in full view. The pièce de résistance of all the “amenities” here is what Nobu does best: food. Breakfasts are a healthy mix; think everything from Matsuhisa Benedicts to Greek yogurt. In fact, dinner is an all the more prized affair, as it includes dishes that earned Nobu its Michelin stars. These include its prized Hokusetsu sake and its star bestseller, the miso black cod.
However, the real glory comes from the uninterrupted Aegean views from every one of the 25 luxe rooms and suites here. While all of them are bright and minimalistic, with many being multi-storied, they all have a jacuzzi or a pool on their private balconies. The entry-level Aozora Suite costs EUR 600 (USD 650), with the Nobu Suite costing EUR 2,100 (~USD 2,300).
Check Rates on:
Santorini Secret Suites & Spa
10
Part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Santorini Secret Suites & Spa is adults-only luxury with spellbinding views of the Aegean. It sits just off the main road in Oia and boasts private parking, a luxury for this tiny but busy village. They’re all about the view, and you’ll see it the minute you descend the long, dramatic black lava steps.
The adults-only getaway boasts a cluster of Cycladic-style white structures nestled around a good-sized infinity pool with unobstructed views of the Aegean Sea. In fact, the eco-friendly infinity pool is heated using thermal energy, and the warm waters are the perfect antidote to walking all around the island. The efficient Manos and his friendly team will see that you have everything you could want. That said, the highlight is the Harmonia Spa near the pool, complete with two poolside massage beds and a cave hydro-massage cabin. Alfresco breakfasts aside, the place even serves delicious Greek-Japanese fusion fare at the onsite restaurant.
The 17 suites across 6 categories and 4 floors all have quirky decor, Grecostrom beds, sheer white walls, and terraces with private pools or heated whirlpool baths. The swish bathrooms also feature Thierry Mugler’s Angel-perfumed bath products. The Premium Suite (caldera views, hot tub) costs EUR 1,100 (USD 1,200), but the Junior Villa (private outdoor pool) costs as much as EUR 2,400 (USD 2,600) per night.
Check Rates on:
Katikies Santorini
9
Katikies Santorini might be ninth on this list, but it consistently features on almost all lists of Santorini’s best hotels. Tucked right on a cliff edge in Oia, the spread-out hotel is connected by more than 200 steps. In fact, the entire hotel looks like sugar cubes tumbling down into the azure waters of the Aegean below—this is the dizzyingly romantic Santorini that everyone keeps dreaming about.
The service and amenities here are excellent, especially the three beautiful infinity pools, of which two are refreshing, and one is heated. While they’re the main draw, there’s a lot more going on, which the staff are happy to help. Besides the boutique spa and library, the concierge helps out with barbeque lunches on the water, boat trips, and even coveted restaurant reservations. While you can order drinks and snacks to our daybed from the Katikies Pool Bar and Restaurant, there’s also a shellfish/sushi restaurant. The standout, though, is the candle-lit Mikrasiacandlelitlants and intimate seating, which make it the perfect romantic date night spot. It’s no wonder it’s one of 11 Santorini’s most popular honeymoon hotels.
Two split-level suites are in an 18th-century structure that was formerly the residence of a noble family, which is why they have the original pale ochre façade. The rest of the 25 rooms and suites boast patios, sea views, and either tubs or private plunge pools. The entry-level Villa Suite with a jetted tub costs EUR 1,100 (USD 1,200). Furthermore, the Master Suite with the plunge pool, which is the most expensive at Katikies, costs EUR 2,700 (USD 2,900).
Check Rates on:
Andronis Boutique Hotel
8
Set right in the heart of charming Oia; the caldera-side Andronis Boutique Hotel is where tranquility and serenity reign just about everywhere. This vertical hotel has the colors, style, and feel of the best of the island it calls home. Discerning travelers will love the simple and wonderfully calm style, where the focus is the superb caldera views.
Most people love attentive but non-intrusive service about Andronis hotels, especially this outpost. Water babies will love the small heated infinity pool, while those who are interested in swimming might prefer the larger, deeper one. It’s open from 8 am to 6 pm and is peppered with sunbeds-with-a-view, after which tables replace them and become the outdoor seating for the restaurant. The best bit? Free 15-minute transfers will take you to the other three properties from the Andronis group, where you can access everything from spas and pools to fitness centers. That said, the Lauda restaurant, Oia’s first restaurant, is its star power.
The 24 cave suites are designed around traditional cave-style architecture, cut into the rocky caldera cliff. While some have jetted tubs, others have private pools; however, they all have charming terraces and jaw-dropping views. On the inside, plush beds, chic bathrooms, flatscreen TVs, extensive minibars, and Nespresso machines complete the picture. While the lowest Elegant Suites begin from EUR 1,500/night (USD 1,610), the highest Two Bedroom Villa costs EUR 2,800/night (USD 3,010).
Check Rates on:
Kivotos
7
Perched high on a cliff in sleepy Imerovigli, Kivotos is a unique architectural gem. With its unconventional all-black exterior and interior, it boldly stands out amidst a sea of white Cycladic architecture in Santorini. The color scheme is not just an attempt to be different; it’s an ode to the island’s volcanic origins. That’s why the property is aptly named (‘kivotos’ means ‘ark’), with the smoldering black volcanic stone giving it a grounded and organic feel. Moreover, the lush foliage – low-growing olive trees, rosemary, and lavender shrubs – soften what would otherwise have been a stark look.
The service is one of the fastest we’ve ever seen and includes everything from butler services to private yacht rentals. You’ll love the bijou cave spa, complete with candlelit grotto rooms and one with its own mini waterfall. Spend your days by one of the pools, a smaller glass-sided pool and a larger infinity one with wall-to-wall caldera views. Nevertheless, both are surrounded by huge, comfortable, and plush daybeds. While breakfasts happen on the breezy terrace, the onsite restaurant Mavro serves an exciting menu combining French, Greek, and Mediterranean fare.
There are 30 cave-like rooms and suites across 5 categories, some with jetted plunge pools perfect for swimming during the day. The soothing and muted colors of dove grey and charcoal, complemented by white floors, are sleekly sexy. While the vast bathrooms with Bulgari/Molton Brown bath products and robes are delightful, the daily turndowns are even better, complete with herbal teas and handmade chocolates. While the entry-level suites cost EUR 1,000 (USD 1,080), the Two-Bedroom Sunset Suite (heated plunge pool) costs EUR 3,000/night (USD 3,220).
Check Rates on:
Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel
6
It’s not surprising that a Marriott property sits on the list of the most expensive hotels in Santorini, Greece. We’re talking about the Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel, and a sophisticated adults-only Oia haven. The vibe at this Marriott outpost is cool sophistication, with a cluster of cave-like creamy, adobe-style villas and suites linked by steps curling all around the property.
Staying at Mystique is a sensual experience and indulging in the finer pleasures of life. You’re welcomed with homemade snacks and drinks, and always have an expert staff member cater to any and every whim. Choose from two good-sized pools, including an infinity one with enchanting caldera views, to swim in and lounge at. Moreover, the infinity pool is near the bar, so it’s the perfect place to sip on sunset cocktails while soaking in the views. After a swim, the cave-like spa with a wonderful balcony relaxation area and a bevy of spa treatments beckons. While breakfast is served both on the terrace and in the rooms, the high-perched restaurant Asea, a lounge, and a striking, 150-year-old wine cave round up the drinking and dining delights.
You have the choice of 40 understatedly elegant villas and suites, all of which have good-sized terraces, too. The Wet Allure Suites are the best, with large outdoor whirlpools, while four of the villas even have heated pools. The smallest Vibrant Suite costs EUR 1,300 (USD 1,400), but the Air of Mystery Villa costs a whopping EUR 3,400 (USD 3,650). And the price of the priciest Holistic Villa is not even listed on the website!
Check Rates on:
Canaves Oia Suites
5
The elegant, all-suite Canaves Oia Suites is a stylish cave hideaway. It’s one of those rare properties on the island that has a lift to whisk you up and down. So, this “elevated” luxury might just be right for you. It sits right at the start of the main pedestrianized street of Oia. So, while you’re a stone’s throw from the top things to do in Santorini, the enviable location behind the blue dome church makes it a haven from all the bustle.
The friendly team works well together, which is great as this is one of the largest properties in the Canaves collection. It also boasts the most facilities we’ve ever seen in a Santorini hotel. The atmospheric spa tucked in a 17th-century cave is relaxing at its very luxurious best. Moreover, there are two outdoor pools: a smaller infinity pool with wet beds on the edge of the caldera and a medium cave pool. Besides an excellent breakfast buffet, the Petra restaurant dishes out some spectacularly innovative fare. The best bit? There are two private dining areas; the terrace cantilevered over the caldera is very popular for proposals!
You have the choice of 30 suites across 10 categories (yes!) and a villa. What’s more, all of them have white decor, plush beds, spacious bathrooms with Acqua di Parma products, Nespresso machines, and plunge pools. This hotel is also home to the popular River Pool Suites with the cave pools. The Honeymoon Suite (caldera view, plunge pool) costs EUR 1700 (USD 1,830) and is very popular. However, the Two-Bedroom Pool Villa is the ultimate in indulgence and costs similarly: EUR 5000/night (USD 5,370).
Check Rates on:
Perivolas
4
Perivolas is “the” hotel that put Oia on the map. While it spawned countless imitators, this luxury escape is in a league of its own. Think cliff-carved minimalist suites, dazzling sea views, and an infinity pool that’s the stuff of dreams. In fact, intimacy and tranquillity are the USPs here, and unlike most caldera hotels, you can sunbathe in peace without anybody gawking.
The 1983-opened Perivolas is a labor of love designed, built, and managed by the Psychas family. This cluster of 300-year-old cliff-carved-out traditional cave dwellings (yposkafa) is now 20 striking suites and studios. The bright geraniums stand pretty against the black stone paths, which tumble down to the spa and poolside restaurant. You’d enjoy the meals that are served in the converted wine cellar, with the split-level pool terrace making for an alfresco dining space. Aside from the brilliant and inventive spins on local and international dishes, you shouldn’t miss out on the award-winning wines. The main draw is a lovely spa with an outdoor whirlpool tub, a vineyard-surrounded fitness center, and a curvy infinity pool. Wrap up things here. Did we mention the private speedboat fleet for the guests? Yes!
Instead of the island’s classic Greek white and blue palette, the Cycladic minimalistic decor is jazzed up with hot pink and lilac dashes. Vaulted bathrooms with bougainvillea-rimmed skylights and low-slung beds tucked beside arched windows in alcoves make for very romantic digs. In fact, the most expensive suites have private terraces and plunge pools. While entry-level Junior Suites cost EUR 700 (USD 750), the Perivolas Villa costs EUR 5,500 (USD 5,900).
Check Rates on:
Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection
3
The Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection sits on the edge of a cliff, dangling over the edge of Santorini’s most famous caldera. With just 14 rooms and suites, staying here will feel truly and entirely boutique, romantic, and intimate. Plus, it sits in Imerovigli, one of the island’s best places to stay, with all the sunset views but without Oia’s extreme crowds.
Amenities
White-lined paths and grey steps with succulents everywhere make the entire setting inexplicably soothing to look at while also building on the understated and stylish aesthetic. The warm and wonderful staff complements the vibe with excellent service and are more than happy to help with everything. Think champagne on arrival, restaurant and water charter bookings, and whatnot. Even though there’s no spa, it doesn’t matter since all rooms have their own whirlpools. However, there is a highly Instagrammable and heated main pool peppered with plush sunbeds and absolutely incredible views. Wrapping things up is the perfectly formed restaurant that serves a fabulous fusion of French and Greek haute fare. However, breakfasts feel like events here, complete with five individual courses.
Rooms
With just 23 rooms, including 2 new infinity suites, staying here is as intimate as it gets. Moreover, they all have classic white terraces, white-and-grey palettes with pops of purple color, and hot tubs outside. If you’re looking for complete privacy, then book room number 46, which is the honeymoon suite. While the Deluxe Room (plunge pool) costs EUR 1,300 (USD 1,400), the Villa, which is the priciest stay, costs a cool EUR 7,000 (USD 7,510).
Check Rates on:
Andronis Arcadia Hotel
2
The Andronis Arcadia Hotel is one of those rare whitewashed Santorini hotels that’s family-friendly. This super-sized resort boasts the look and scale of a sprawling luxury residential complex. The best bit? That pool here is one of the best spots to see the sunset at the top of Santorini.
Amenities
The activities here span the length and breadth of everything that all Santorini hotels have to offer. For instance, family-friendly activities include everything from a kids club to family yoga and cooking classes. That said, the star here is the pool area, which is the biggest of all of the island’s Andronis hotels. In fact, it’s the expanded area below the original infinity pool and bar, and it looks just as incredible as you’d have seen on Instagram. Don’t miss a visit to the vast Evexia spa with an excellent menu and the unique Water Path walk.
Dining options include the Opson restaurant, a fine dining-meets-Mediterranean rustic spot, and the Althea restaurant, both of which serve delicious local and international fare. And, of course, it’s the staff here that brings the magic to life – ever warm, ever friendly, ever accommodating, and ever-smiling.
Rooms
Even though the vibe here is less adults-only intimate and more bustling, there’s no scrimping when it comes to the swoon-worthy digs. What’s more, there are only suites and villas here, and all of them open out onto private infinity pools. The entry-level Sunset Suite costs EUR 1,000 (USD 1,080), which is like most of the other luxurious hotels in its peer category. But it’s also home to the most expensive hotel room in Santorini, the Eden Villa, which costs a jaw-dropping EUR 9,500/night (USD 10,000)!
Check Rates on:
Erosantorini
1
Privacy is one rare bit of privilege in Santorini, and the stunning villa Erosantorini breaks the mold. Santorini has 800 hotels, but this caldera-dangling private estate has blasted the competition out of the water. With a masseur, trainer, chef, and concierge at your service and a pool terrace that feels like it’s suspended between sea and the sky, Erosantorini is at the top of the world.
Amenities
As you walk through a narrow passageway behind pear-covered stone walls, a sudden vast terrace with a tiered pool plunging 1,000 ft to the sea pops up out of nowhere. With giant spotty beanbags and whitewashed kilims, the playful design is the unmistakable work of Italian designer Paola Navone, who designed many of the COMO hotels worldwide. It’s like stepping inside a 360-degree Viewmaster, with sunbeams, boats, birds, stars, and the sky and the sea.
Erosantorinin is a cross between a fully staffed villa and a five-star hotel, and the amenities are overflowing. Think an outdoor cinema, a marble spa, a wine cellar, and a wood-fired oven for alfresco pizzas under the stars. Enjoy the transcendental views while digging into alfresco feasts that the chef prepares for you, or enjoy an Ayurvedic massage under the Greek sun. And thanks to that amazing and winsome staff of 10 peeps, you’d barely need to venture out. If you do, they can arrange for anything and everything, from catamaran cruises to tours with a local archaeologist – oof.
Rooms
Four softly monochrome standalone villas can accommodate up to 14 people (10 adults, 4 kids). Moreover, they can be rented either individually or entirely. What’s more, they all have hot tubs, floating fireplaces, plush beds, outdoor showers, luxurious bathrooms with bathrobes, Frette linens, Nespresso machines – the list goes on and on. We’re not even going to list the wow-factor extras; of course, we are – Bluetooth speakers, Smeg minibars, the works. While renting a single villa can start from EUR 1,800 (USD 1,940), renting the entire thing costs as much as EUR 12,000/night (USD 12,900)!
Check Rates on:
Where do celebrities stay in Santorini?
Santorini has long been an A-list favorite, and lately, Canaves Oia has become the ultimate go-to place for celebrities to stay.
How many nights should you stay in Santorini?
To make the most of their trip, it’s recommended that first-time visitors stay at least three nights in Santorini.
Which is the most luxurious adults-only escape in Santorini?
Our recommendation would be Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel, as it’s perfect for a romantic getaway.
