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Best Cliff-Edge Hotels in Santorini

“We love coming back to Santorini and discovering new places to stay. The small is always in fashion here, as the island has no impersonal big hotels or mega-resorts. But there is a large number of hotels, with new ones popping up every year, and old ones expanding and continuously improving. So which boutique hotel to book? First rule: for the best experience, book on the rim of the Caldera.

Hotel experience is not all about the views, but it helps, and it makes a real difference, especially in Santorini. The views over the collapsed volcanic Caldera are certainly one of the most spectacular sea views on Earth.

Santorini’s magnificent volcanic cliffs, sprinkled with white towns and villages, are the single biggest reason for why this destination is such a tourist magnet. Thus almost all the best luxury Santorini hotels are perched on the cliffs on the west side of the island: in Fira, Oia, Firostefani, or Imerovigli. So if you want to experience breathtaking views and possibly the best sunsets in the world, choosing one of the cliff-edge hotels to stay in makes perfect sense, even if it means breaking the bank.

But when compiling this list, we did not only think of which luxury Santorini hotels do the best job at taking advantage of the location but also which offer the quintessential experience of this beautiful island. For us, the wow factor comes from the impeccable service, great design, and comforts that make their guests want to spend most of the day lounging on their private decks.

1. Grace Hotel Santorini

We kick off with the hotel we had the pleasure of staying at (don’t miss our full review!). With mesmerizing views and incredible sunsets (see how we captured it on Instagram), the Grace Hotel Santorini frequents the “best hotels of the world” lists like no other property. But only staying here, we realized the location is only part of the story. The award-winning design of the hotel blends contemporary design with the rustic feel of the Cyclades, and relaxed vibe of vacations with a five-star service — resulting in one of the most sophisticated luxury escapes on the island.

We love it for: Beautiful views and private swimming pools, and above all, the picture-perfect interpretation of the Cycladic vernacular style.

Read our review: Grace Hotel Santorini.

2. Cavo Tagoo Santorini

Cavo Tagoo has all the elements of a trendy stay, with days filled with fun and excitement — rounded off by the never-disappointing scarlet sunsets. It’s a fun, young place with a happening vibe and is an excellent choice for a romantic weekend or a honeymoon.

We love it for: The hotel rooms on Santorini tend to be on the small side — but at Cavo, this is not the case. We stayed at one of their sunset suites with pool, where the living space was plentiful, and the setting of the large pool and terrace decorated with white stones was the perfect frame to the stunning view (see our photos on Instagram).

3. Katikies Santorini

Katikies Santorini was the first luxury hotel on Santorini that fully embodied the island’s natural geology as an integral part of the design. And even today, it is hailed as the benchmark of the trend, with the Cycladic aesthetics tuned to perfection, synonymous with the Santorini style.

We love it for: The hotel is located in Oia, one of the prettiest villages on the island. It has fabulous views of Santorini’s caldera—especially from around its three stunning infinity pools.

4. Canaves Oia Suites

Canaves is a collection of five hotels located mostly around Oia, and the best among them is Canaves Oia Suites. It benefits from the most attractive location on the slope of the caldera cliff. This boutique property features twenty-four suites, two swimming pools, and an elevator ensuring easy access to levels of the hotel — something very useful in a Caldera hotel.

We love it for: Canaves Oia Suites benefits from a great location, enjoying views not only of the caldera but also the picturesque Oia.”