The best hotels in Santorini

Located in Oia, the minimalist room stylings of the Andronis Boutique Hotel are perfectly complemented by feature pieces of wooden furniture and décor, such as traditional island window shutters, while naturalistic curving ceilings add further authenticity to any stay. Should you tire of the poolside views, the Andronis offers cooking lessons, yoga classes, and wine tasting sessions focusing on vintages from the island’s ten vineyards. The nearby Aspaki emphasises Santorini’s long-established Cycladic architectural style in its suites, which feature thick whitewashed stone walls and barrel vault ceilings. Combining the traditional and the contemporary, each suite also features a coffee machine, dedicated seating area, and either a private outdoor hot tub or indoor plunge pool. Snacks and light meals are available at the bar, while you’re no more than three minutes’ walk from a choice range of restaurants and boutique stores. Phos the Boutique offers uninterrupted caldera views from the opposite end of the island in Akrotiri. Providing its guests with the ultimate in amenities, each king-sized villa and suite has use of a private terrace that comes complete with sun loungers and a heated infinity pool with hydrotherapy jets.

Occupying a prime location roughly a third of the way down Santorini’s western coastline, in the village of Imerovigli, Altana Traditional Houses and Suites rest 400 metres above the gentle caresses of the Aegean, in a restored eighteenth-century building. The light interiors effortlessly draw the outside into spaces whose amenities include a minibar, kettle, and private terrace and plunge pool. The café serves homemade breakfasts daily, while the nearest restaurant is just 60 metres away. A little further south, on the outskirts of Fira, Anteliz Suites serves its breakfasts each morning on its large sun terrace, beside the outdoor pool and overlooking the caldera. A modern take on the island’s ageless Cycladic architecture, rooms are traditionally whitewashed yet boast high ceilings and all-marble flooring. They also include all the modern touches you’d expect from such a hotel, including large flat-screen televisions and iPod docking stations.

For a slightly different Santorini hotel stay, consider the three-star Santellini Hotel on the island’s often overlooked east coast at Kamari. With a large outdoor pool and sun terrace, guest lounge, spa, and sandy beach a short stroll away, there is a full range of on- and off-site facilities. Meanwhile, the hotel’s rooms have a simple pared back design, with feature walls and shaded private balconies that overlook the pool. Restaurants serving authentic Santorini cuisine are just ten minutes away. Also in Kamari on the island’s east coast is Dioskouri Art Villas. The cream and blue main building contains large suite-like rooms, each of which has a small dining area in which to enjoy any fruits that come from the kitchenette. The outdoor pool offers a tranquil alternative to the nearby beach, while the snack bar offers light meals – and a decent cocktail list – throughout the day.