Design Hotels in Santorini: Style & Setting

Imerovigli sits at the highest point of the caldera ridge and hosts properties like White Pearl Cavalieri, an adults-only address, and Iconic Santorini by Sandglass, a five-star hotel, both of which use the dramatic clifftop setting as an integral part of their spatial concept. Oia, at the island's northern tip, is home to Filomare Suites, a suite-only property that draws on the village's reputation for refined aesthetics. Further inland, Pírgos offers THEALOS SANTORINI, positioned close to the central square of a preserved hilltop village, giving it a grounded, historically layered character that differs from the caldera-facing crowd.

Yes. Kamari, on the eastern coast, is where Sandblu Santorini, part of the LXR Hotels and Resorts collection, operates as a five-star beachside resort. It brings a polished international hotel language to a setting that is calmer and more accessible than the clifftop villages. Monólithos, a quieter beach area further north along the same coast, is home to Aegean Nest Beach Studios, an adults-only property that keeps things intimate and pared back. Both offer a very different design experience from the caldera addresses, prioritising horizontal views over the famous volcanic panoramas.

Karterados is a small, largely residential village sitting just a few minutes from Fira by foot or road, which makes it practical without being touristy. Two properties here stand out for their considered approach: Onyx Hotel and Suites, a three-star address that punches above its category in terms of interior finish, and Santa Mar Eco Suites, which layers a sustainability ethos into its design choices, using materials and construction methods that sit lightly on the landscape. Both offer a quieter base than the caldera rim while keeping the island's main hub within easy reach.

The decision really comes down to what you want the rhythm of your days to look like. Caldera-facing properties in Imerovigli, such as White Pearl Cavalieri or Iconic Santorini by Sandglass, place you inside the island's most iconic visual drama, with sunset views directly from your terrace, but the terrain is steep and access to beaches requires transport. Beachside addresses like Sandblu Santorini in Kamari or Aegean Nest Beach Studios in Monólithos give you sand and sea at your doorstep and a more relaxed pace, with the caldera viewpoints reachable by car or bus when you want them. For those who prefer a village atmosphere with strong local character, Oia with Filomare Suites or Pírgos with THEALOS SANTORINI offer a third path altogether.