Best Santorini hotels: Top 8 luxury hideaways with a chic atmosphere and unrivaled views of famous sunsets

More than two million tourists visit Santorini every year. It is not surprising as its graceful white stone villas hanging on the edge of a volcanic caldera, as well as landscaped pools and incredible views of the Aegean Sea, are one of the hallmarks of the Greek islands. Each of them has its own attractive feature, but the unique landscapes of Santorini stand out for their charming architecture and amazing panorama. Many day-trippers try to capture the famous sunsets over Santorini with their camera lenses, while the best hotels provide their guests with these unrivaled magical landscapes.

The cozy and luxurious hideaways are filled with privacy, a measured atmosphere and a superb experience that includes exclusive adventures, delicious food and first-class service. From cave suites to designer villas and beach houses, a stay at Santorini's most beautiful hotels will give you access to the best vacation spots on the stunning island.

1. Andronis Arcadia

Most hotels in Santorini are geared towards adult vacations, which is why they are in such huge demand for honeymoons. In contrast, the Andronis Arcadia (one of five Andronis hotels on the island) is a true family gem. Named after the mythical god Pan, it embodies natural harmony and pastoral charm, complemented by the highest standards of comfort.

Elegant and modern suites are prepared for guests. Each has private landscaped pools with verandas from which to admire the beautiful views. Suites have different layouts with one or two bedrooms, designed for couples or families of several people. For larger companies, another accommodation option is private villas with 3 to 6 bedrooms that can accommodate up to 12 people. All master bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms, and each villa has a landscaped pool, private verandas or terraces, an outdoor hot tub, and a game room. The 6-bedroom villa has two pools, as well as a fitness centre, a spa room and a fully equipped kitchen.

The resort also features three spacious pools, including one for children, and a spa with a tempting menu of facial rituals, therapies and massages. Andronis Arcadia also provides its guests with opportunities for some unique adventures such as wine tasting, yacht rides, private photoshoots and a private helicopter flight to Mykonos for walking and shopping accompanied by a shopping concierge.

2. NOŪS Santorini

This luxurious retreat is located in the charming village of Messaria. The five-star hotel with its unique character and design presents a combination of the island's history and modern flavour. In doing so, it, like many other popular Santorini hotels, struggles to maintain the perfect harmony of a secluded hideaway and a base for adventure.

The hotel has 121 spacious rooms, suites, and bungalows that are set in beautiful gardens. Some rooms have private balconies with seating areas or a courtyard with dining and lounge areas. They have 1-2 bedrooms and private pools with dining areas and sun loungers. If you're looking for more space and privacy, stay in bungalows. They feature private sitting areas with a gazebo and an outdoor Jacuzzi or pool.

In addition to private areas, the resort also has a communal pool, which is the largest on the island. The daily restaurant NOŪS is located next to it, serving delicious meals and snacks from early morning to late evening. Fans of fine Italian cuisine and classic steakhouses will appreciate the menu at Elio's Italian-American Diner, while health-conscious eaters will enjoy the Vitamin Bar with fresh salads, smoothies made from local ingredients and quality coffee. The resort also has an on-site spa, a fitness room and a beauty salon.

3. Magma Resort Santorini

A magnificent retreat to soothe body and soul is set among volcanic vines on a hillside with superb views of the Aegean Sea. It is more remote than other top hotels in Santorini, but its atmosphere and surrounding views only benefit from this.

This place attracts modern luxury travellers who seek privacy and spiritual well-being. The hotel has 59 elegantly decorated rooms and suites. They feature verandas or terraces with private plunge pools and beautiful views of the Aegean Sea. Room interiors use the earthy tones of Santorini, combining black furniture with rust-coloured blankets and pillows. Breakfast is included in the rate.

The resort has a large swimming pool and Spondi's Magma restaurant run by a two-Michelin-starred chef. Other guest amenities include a state-of-the-art wellness centre with an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped fitness centre, in-house luxury stores and boutiques, and a poolside bar.

4. Nobu Hotel

This boutique hotel on the island's northeast coast offers panoramic views of the Aegean Sea and caldera from each of its 25 luxurious rooms, perched atop a cliff. The hotel is 10 minutes from the coastal town of Ia along the famous Fira hiking route.

This resort, like most of the famous hotels in Santorini, emphasizes adult vacations and accepts guests over the age of 14 only. They are housed in suites and villas designed in traditional Cycladic style with minimalist decor against white walls to maximize the superb scenery around them. Most suites have private terraces with small outdoor pools. Villas are split-level and accommodate spacious living areas, swimming pools, outdoor seating areas and private gardens. Guests can relax on lounge chairs by the two-tiered pool, and admire the volcanic cliffs of Santorini's famous sunset from here.

The Nobu restaurant, which offers specialties including rock shrimp tempura and black cod miso, for example, is another appealing part of this resort, perched high above the cliffs. The hotel also offers in-room dining. Sunset Sessions, which combine cocktails and dinner under the stars with the summer rhythms of resident DJ Harris Keith and Santorini's magnificent sunset, are worth a visit from Thursday to Sunday.

5. Santo Pure

An exclusive retreat located on the quiet outskirts within walking distance of the town is one of the best hotels in Santorini for a measured vacation, rebooting and rejuvenating your inner resource.

This hotel epitomizes a quiet enclave with pure Cycladic charm, consisting of 85 suites and villas. Luxurious interiors in soothing lava-black and white hues are complemented by lush gardens and expansive landscapes. The 83 suites are grouped as small villages and named after different island groups. They are connected by winding walkways and plazas planted with citrus trees. Suites feature large beds, luxurious linens, and most are complemented by private mini-pools and outdoor Jacuzzis. The Hotel Santo Pure collection is rounded out by a shower of chic villas with private pools, gyms, saunas and spacious outdoor lounging areas.

The resort's leitmotif is reconnecting with nature and being eco-friendly, which means recycled water, an in-house desalination plant, zero-waste initiatives and farm-to-table dining. Guests are offered a buffet breakfast, a Mediterranean restaurant and drinks and snacks at the pool bar. After a busy day of sightseeing and water activities in Santorini, take the perfect opportunity to relax at the spa, which has been named Greece's best spa resort six years in a row.

6. Andronis Boutique Hotel

A luxury boutique hotel carved into the dramatic cliffs of Santorini, offering breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea and a wonderfully romantic atmosphere. As befits a top hotel in Santorini, you can admire the beautiful scenery of the caldera and the charming white-washed houses from all its rooms.

Elegant suites in traditional Aegean style with small pools, hot tubs and private terraces offer the essence of Cycladic chic. For families or groups, a two-bedroom villa with a landscaped pool and spacious living room is perfect.

The on-site Lauda restaurant was established in 1971. Today, it continues to preserve and honour the traditions of the area, using exceptional local ingredients and employing the best chefs to create a stunning menu. Guests will have an unforgettable experience at the Mare Sanus Spa, a haven for body care, relaxing rituals, and rejuvenating treatments. Like other Andronis hotels in Santorini, guests of the Andronis Boutique Hotel can look forward to exclusive offers during their vacation, such as luxury shopping and yacht cruises. In addition to on-site activities, the staff will help plan island adventures such as catamaran rides, wine tours, hiking and sightseeing excursions.

7. The Vasilicos

A masterclass in combining Cycladic simplicity with luxury accommodation is taught by The Vasilicos, a boutique hideaway perched high on a caldera cliff. This former private hideaway is a collection of cave-like structures typical of the local architecture.

Owner Daphne Valambous spent the summer months here during her childhood, and there haven't been many dramatic changes (aside from a few pools and a professional kitchen) since her father built the refuge in the 1980s. The hotel retains its family home atmosphere and is among a small number of the best hotels in Santorini that don't limit themselves to an adults-only policy. Thus, this place is great for families, especially with older children.

The hotel suites are decorated with unique furnishings from the family's custom-made private collection, giving them the atmosphere of an authentic home. Each suite is unique, with its own set of amenities such as a shaded gazebo, small heated pool and lounge areas. Choose the ones you need when booking: for example, if you're travelling as a couple, stay in the quiet, secluded Efta, completely hidden from view. The luxurious accommodation is complemented by modest authentic cuisine using the finest local ingredients and freshly caught seafood. Traditional Greek dishes are set off by wine from the sister winery, which hotel guests can visit to enjoy a tasting of award-winning wines with carefully selected appetizers.

8. Perivolas

The cosy and charming homes of this one of Santorini's most relaxed and measured hotels embody the laid-back and elegant simplicity of island life. It impresses travellers with quiet luxury, warm hospitality, superb cuisine and spectacular seascapes.

Owner Costis Psychas built this chain of cliff-side homes, transforming this landscape into a cocooning amphitheatre with white-washed beds and graceful pools blending into the horizon. This place is filled with tranquility and a measured rhythm of life, with only the occasional ringing of church bells and the distant noise of a fishing boat breaking the surrounding silence worthy of meditation.

Perivolas was built as a family home and retains the atmosphere of private residences. Suites are built into cosy niches with vaulted ceilings and sculpted stone walls and decorated with hand-woven rugs and pillows in bright colours. Alternatively, stay high on the cliffs of Santorini in a picturesque two-bedroom villa with its own landscaped pool, suitable for the whole family or a group of guests.

The centerpiece of Perivolas, like many other popular Santorini hotels, is the gorgeous landscaped pool, where you can lounge on under an umbrella, enjoy afternoon cocktails, and watch the gorgeous sunset. Other amenities include a fitness centre with yoga classes, a wellness studio with spa treatments, and a restaurant with secluded terraces around the pool.