Best 4-Star Hotels in Santorini

For the ultimate privacy and luxury this private estate perched 1000 feet above the sea is ideal. The two-acre plot boasts total privacy away from the other crowded Santorini resorts. The capital of Fira is just over a mile away whilst Oia is a nine-mile drive, but when you have this complex to yourself, who needs to leave? The unrivalled views take centre stage here and again, with no other properties nearby, the vistas are pure un-spoilt drama. Accommodation is made up of four standalone bungalows, housing up to 14 guests. The outside and inside blend seamlessly through large day beds, outdoor showers and plunge pools. Luxe design elements run throughout including heated floors, floating fireplaces and marbles and concrete bathrooms. Design lovers will appreciate the cubist architecture of the building and this striking simplicity continues inside through the black, white and grey colour palette. Whilst guests will have the resort to themselves, the property is fully staffed including a chef who has honed his skills at Michelin-starred restaurants.

This compact cliffside hotel appeals thanks to its quirky individual rooms and boutique size and quality of service. Named after the year the owner’s great- bought the land and then dug two kánaves (medieval wine cellars), this lovely hotel is located at the west end of Oia. Made up of nine suites or studios, five ‘houses’ and one villa, each space is unique. Three have private whirlpools and the Irene ‘senior’ suite boasts an incredible walk-in closet and stunning vaulted ceiling. Bathrooms have a grotto-like feeling about them and feature rain showers for the perfect drench and front terraces face out onto the sparkling turquoise water. The communal pool fades into the horizon and is strikingly surrounded by exposed volcanic rock walls, contrasting with the abundance of clean white. No on-site restaurant doesn’t matter as such as you are so close to town but breakfasts (either American, English or Greek) are cooked to order.

Directly near the stunning Skaros rock formation, clinging to the cliffs of Imerovigili is the renowned Astra Suites. The hotel is decked out with a decent sized caldera-edge pool with day beds and wooden loungers, an ideal spot for soaking up the rays plus a small spa with hammam sauna for total relaxation. Although the predominant theme is still typically Greek white throughout, bathrooms are opulent in vibrant blue, green and red whilst some of the living space floors are tiled in jazzy rainbow patterns. Each room has unique art on the walls and splashes of vivacity are added through bright soft furnishings. We recommend the Pool Grade suites for ultimate privacy and your own private freshwater plunge pool with obligatory Aegean Sea views. Breakfast is brought to your terrace for a totally dreamy morning whilst the dusky blue restaurant offers traditional Greek dishes such as mylokópi En papillote with sunset vistas.

Located in the picturesque village of Oia, this five-star resort is made up of individual dug-out cave houses all oozing minimalist elegance. Room décor really speaks for itself here where Scandinavian cool combines with classic Aegean white and blue. Calming tones of steel grey, brown and white are in abundance and beds are decked in natural fibre soft furnishings. The 11 suites date from pre-1956 and have outdoor spaces boasting lovely views of the bay. Some even benefit from private spa tubs for soaking up the sweeping panoramas. Breakfast is served on your terrace in an hour of your choosing before guests can make use of the fair sized communal plunge-pool on the lowest terrace. Whilst the hotel doesn’t have its own restaurant, it’s just a 15-minute walk to the centre of Oia where there are plenty of options and staff are happy to make recommendations.