Santorini’s caldera views are world-renowned, yet there is another side to the island that feels quieter and more rooted. Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, occupies a 400-year-old winery, thoughtfully converted to meet the needs of savvy travellers.
In Megalohori, just outside Fira, Vedema has 74 suites and villas, many with jacuzzis or private pools.
Interiors are well proportioned, with whitewashed walls, modern furnishings and generous sitting areas.
Views take in Megalohori’s rooftops, surrounding vineyards and, in places, the deep blue of the Aegean.
The atmospheric Alati Restaurant, once a wine cellar, is the place to sample Santorini’s distinctive wines.
Facilities include a pool and spa, both set within old stone cellars that preserve the estate’s heritage.
Perched atop the cliffs of Imerovigli near the highest point of Santorini’s caldera, along a scenic hiking road that connects Oia to Fira, Andronis Concept is a sophisticated wellness resort with service as polished as its smooth concrete surfaces and views as inspiring as any you’ll find in Greece.
Perched at the edge of Oia, the divine and secluded Andronis Arcadia boasts the largest infinity pool and most comprehensive spa in the whole of Santorini. Throw in mesmerising views of the Aegean Sea and sunsets to make you swoon and you’ve the perfect place to reset and unwind.
So private are the suites at Santo Pure Oia Suites & Villas that it’s easy to feel you have the whole of Santorini to yourself.
Set across the grounds of a former Catholic monastery, Katikies Garden is a superb option for families looking to combine caldera views with a great location in the historic town of Fira. It’s the first of the much-loved Katikies hotels to welcome children to Santorini but has lost none of the brand’s commitment to luxury in the process.
The differences between the best Santorini hotels are very subtle but somehow Katikies Kirini feels that little more secluded, its infinity pool with caldera views is just that little bit more dazzling.
Sometimes it pays to set yourself apart and that’s certainly true of Canaves Epitome. While most hotels in Oia look inwards at Santorini’s caldera, Epitome sits about a mile from the town centre on the western extremity of the island’s northern arm, giving it some of the finest sunset views of any luxury hotel on the island.
The flagship of the Canaves Collection group of uber-luxe Santorini hotels, Canaves Oia Suites offers 44 ultra-stylish suites and two knockout villas, all perched on the cliffs of picture-perfect Oia with mesmerising views of the island’s caldera. It’s also the only hotel in Oia to offer lift access to all levels of the property.