Hi everyone, this is the Santorini Dave guide to Where To Stay in Oia, Santorini, located
at the northern tip of the island.
Santorini’s most picturesque town, Oia has some of the island’s best hotels, restaurants,
and shopping.
The town is busy through the day up until sunset, when it’s packed in high season,
but then gets quiet quickly after the sun sets and visitors return to other parts of
the island, or back to their cruise ships.
Because of its geography, Oia is roughly divided
into the south facing caldera side, and the west facing sunset side (show Epitome timelapse).
Most hotels enjoy one or the other of these views, and a very select few enjoy both.
Upon entering the village, there is a large
plaza with an iconic church, where the pedestrian only walkway begins.
This marble walkway is a central spine through town, lined with hotels and cafes and shops.
Oia is full of shopping opportunities from Santorini t-shirts and souvenirs to high end
boutiques with fancy fashions and jewelry.
One special spot is Atlantis Books, a subterranean cave bookstore crammed full of titles.
It’s a great town to wander, getting lost
in the narrow alleyways, enjoying a meal or drinks while people watching and staring off
into the caldera.
Before we take a deeper look at Oia, know
that you can find lots more detailed information about Santorini at SantoriniDave.com – and
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The island’s most popular sunset viewing
spot is from the world famous Oia Castle ruins, with large crowds assembling here each night.
Plan on arriving well before sunset to claim a spot with unobstructed views.
Below Oia is the famed Ammoudi Bay, where
you’ll find a handful of excellent seafood restaurants, and a walking pathway along the
water’s edge.
Ammoudi is an ideal destination for both lunch or dinner.
Around the bend there’s a popular swimming spot with a ledge to jump off if you’re
feeling adventurous, but no beach.
Ammoudi is also the main port from which many caldera and sunset boat trips depart.
The bay is accessible by vehicle, though you may enjoy walking up or down the roughly 300
steep stairs connecting it to the town above.
Oia is also at the beginning, or end depending
on which direction you’re walking, of the Fira-Oia hiking Trail, our #1 most recommended
activity during a visit to Santorini.
Oia is full of gorgeous hotels.
Here are some of our favorites…
• Katikies is one of Santorini’s original caldera hotels, and a pinnacle of glamour,
with infinity pools on three levels, and outstanding restaurants.
Canaves Suites is an elegant all suite hotel with stunning views, where the pool deck is
transformed into a fine dining restaurant at night.
Perivolas is a very private luxury hotel at the south end of the village away from the
hustle, with accommodations in 300-year old restored caves and beautiful gardens.
Mystique is a large, magnificent luxury hotel with two great pools, and a very romantic,
open-air, French fine-dining restaurant.
Canaves Epitome, on the backside of Oia facing the sunset and not the caldera, is a more
spread our luxury hotel with greater privacy and one of the finest pools on the island.
and Andronis Arcadia, also on the backside of Oia facing away from the caldera, where
accommodations all feature a private terrace with a heated pool and unobstructed sunset
sea views.
It’s also home to many wonderful dining options.
We recommend making dinner reservations in advance during the high season to secure a
table.
Here are some of our favorites: Candouni is a charming jewel of a restaurant,
with a romantic candlelit patio under bougainvillea filled arbors, and live traditional Greek
music most nights.
Elinikon, near the windmills, serves authentic
food at affordable prices, and has one of the best unobstructed sunset views over the
water of any restaurant in Oia.
Karma is in a charming garden courtyard serving
great breakfast, lunch, and dinner with many healthy vegetarian and vegan options and fresh
juices and specialty drinks.
Roka is tucked away from the main hustle of Oia, great for a relaxing lunch or romantic
dinner, with sunset views from the back porch.
And Ammoudi Fish Tavern is located at the water’s edge, perfect for a slow lunch while
watching the boats come and go, or a romantic candle-lit dinner.
There are frequent public buses connecting
Oia to Fira, where you can also transfer to reach Santorini’s best traditional villages,
beaches, wineries, and archaeological sites.
As always, you can find lots more detailed information about everything Santorini and
the rest of Greece’s most popular destinations across the pages of our website SantoriniDave.com.
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