Best Cheap Hotels in Santorini

Are you planning a trip to Greece and searching for cheap hotels in Santorini? Look no further! This post covers the best budget-friendly hotels in Santorini that offer great value for money. Enjoy beautifully decorated rooms, friendly staff, and unbeatable views of the sea and caldera in stunning Santorini.

Oia by Catia Zangari

Read below my choices for the best Santorini budget hotels as well as brief info on the villages they are located in:

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Cheap Hotels in Santorini

Santorini Map with best things to do

Find in my Santorini Map, all the best villages and towns to visit while you are on the island. As you can see, the western part of the island is the caldera (the sunk part of Santorini) with striking sunset views. This is a very popular area and as you may imagine the most expensive one.

Discover your perfect stay without breaking the bank!

Budget-Friendly Hotels in Fira

Credit: Catia Zangari

Fira, Santorini’s main town is built high on a 400m (1312 ft) caldera on the western part of Santorini. From Fira, you can admire a panoramic view of the 18-kilometer (11-mile) long caldera plus the volcanic island Nea Kameni located right across from Fira.

However, it is also one of the busiest places in Santorini as everyone wants to be part of the packed solid shopping area and gets “lost” in the maze of winding backstreets.

See below the best budget hotels in Fira Santorini:

Alizea Villas & Suites

Best Cheap Hotels in Santorini: Alizea Villas & Suites
Alizea Villas & Suites

Alizea Villas & Suites is a very stylish hotel with a fantastic swimming pool, pristinely clean, and very friendly staff. The hotel is a few minutes away from the center of Fira and the bus station.

Danae Villa

Best Cheap Hotels in Santorini: Danae Villa
Danae Villa in Fira

Danae Villa, is a small, quiet, and family-run hotel very close to the center of Fira. In the mornings you get a coffee and a cake in their beautiful, quiet garden, where you can simply sit and enjoy.

Anatoli Hotel is a very central hotel, a 5-minute walk away from bars, mini markets, and the caldera views. It is a beautifully decorated hotel, that also offers fantastic spa treatments. You can enjoy the generous breakfast at the lovely outside area and pool.

Costa Marina Villas is a fantastic, family-run, family-friendly hotel with beautiful gardens. From the rooms, you can admire the view of sunrise and the sea. It is very close to the center of Fira with extra friendly staff.

Economy Hotels in Oia

Oia Santorini in full season

Oia is another world-famous Santorini village. The white-washed houses, covered in purple and pink bougainvilleas crisscrossed by tiny paved roads leading to the sea, create a magical canvas that will make you fall in love with Oia.

Oia is also located on Santorini’s caldera and it is one of the best places to stay in Santorini. See below some fantastic Budget Hotels in Oia Santorini:

Muses Cycladic Suites

Best Cheap Hotels in Santorini: Muses Cycladic Suites

Muses Cycladic Suites is a gorgeous property in Oia, off the main strip so nice and quiet but still with beautiful ocean views. A luxury feeling at a modest rate.

Pension The Flower is a fantastic colorful inn, with a great garden and a large swimming pool a bit out of Oia, which, trust me, is a good thing if you seek peacefulness. A bus stop is very close, and it has nice, clean spacious rooms with free parking.

Oia, Santorini

Finikia Memories Hotel is a real gem in Oia. A stunning pool with sea views and exquisite sunsets, a generous breakfast, and the bus right outside the hotel. Whitewashed decoration and walls with cave-style rooms. Highly recommended.

Low-Cost Stays in Imerovigli

Imerovigli views

Imerovigli is another breathtaking Santorini village located between Fira and Oia. It is famous for its caldera sunsets and its many lovely white churches and a much quieter place to stay. One of the best things to do from Imerovigli is to climb the impressive Skaros Rock!

Nefeli Homes

Nefeli Homes in Imerovigli is a Cycladic-looking self-catering property at a stunning location overlooking the caldera. You will love spending quality time on its beautiful terrace and swimming pool with an exceptional view. Check out the Cave Suite!

Inexpensive Rooms in Firostefani

Best Cheap Hotels in Santorini:  Firostefani
Firostefani Santorini

Firostefani is the natural extension of Fira to the north. Some of the best caldera-view restaurants and hotels are in Firostefani which is considered one of the most expensive areas to stay in Santorini. However, I have discovered a few fantastic cheap hotels in Imerovigli:

Remvi Suites

Cheap Hotels in Santorini: Remvi Suites in Firostefani Santorini
Remvi Suites in Firostefani Santorini

You will enjoy breathtaking caldera views as Remvi Suites is at a prime location in Firostefani. You will love the cleanliness, the friendly staff, and the wonderful breakfast with the sea views.

Smaro Studios is an amazing property facing the Santorini Caldera. You can have breakfast overlooking the stunning views of the cliffs and the Nea Kameni island across. A quiet property, 5 minutes away from the main road to Fira.

Firostefani at night, Santorini

Afrodete Hotel is a lovely boutique hotel with just a few rooms so if you like this property book it early. It is located in the heart of Firostefani with very welcoming hosts and great Wi-Fi.

Budget-Friendly Hotels in Akrotiri

Best Cheap Hotels in Santorini:  Akrotiri
Akrotiri

Akrotiri is an extraordinary place in the south of Santorini as it hosts the archaeological site associated with the Minoan civilization, the renowned Red beach, and the Akrotiri impressive Lighthouse.

Red Beach near Akrotiri

Akrotiri is a 25-minute drive from Fira, making it a much quieter and much cheaper place to stay in Santorini without losing any bit of the stunning caldera views. Check below the best budget hotels in Akrotiri:

Kalimera Hotel

Best Cheap Hotels in Santorini: Kalimera Hotel
Kalimera Hotel in Akrotiri

It is simply impossible not to love Kalimera Hotel in Akrotiri Santorini. An impressive round pool, very traditional furniture, and architecture, are within walking distance from Caldera Beach. A small kind family runs the hotel that provides everything you need with a great breakfast selection!

Best Cheap Hotels in Santorini: Akrotiri Hotel
Akrotiri Hotel

Akrotiri Hotel is a fantastic hotel, meters from the beach, with a lovely garden and terrace that overlooks the sea. The breakfast has a great selection, with free parking and a private small strip of beach right in front of the hotel.

Villa Maria Rooms is an exceptional property with an amazing breakfast. Every day it varies in small interesting ways. A smashing location with a sea view across to the Caldera and Fira and is very quiet just ideal for relaxing.

Hotels in Kamari Beach

Santorini Kamari Beach for the Mobility Impaired

Best Cheap Hotels in Santorini: Costa Grand
Costa Grand Resort

There are over 130 beaches in Greece that have installed the Seatrac system so that people with mobility issues can have independent access to the sea. In Santorini, there are 2 beaches that you can choose from, Kamari and Perissa.

I couldn’t find a budget hotel in Kamari with facilities for people with mobility challenges. I highly recommend Costa Grand Resort & Spa, although it is not a budget hotel. It is a fantastic 5-star hotel, reasonably priced, located right in front of the beach and a few minutes away from the SeaTrak Mechanism.

Economical Lodging in Perissa Beach

Best Cheap Hotels in Santorini: Perissa beach
Perissa Beach

Perissa sandy beach is the famous black beach of Santorini, awarded with a Blue Flag. It is about 13 kilometers (8 mi) away from Fira, on the southeast coast of Santorini, and is easily accessible by car or bus.

It is a fully organized beach with sunbeds, umbrellas, plenty of seaside cafes, bars, traditional taverns and restaurants, all kinds of water sports, and a nice diving area. One of the best cheap hotels in Perissa is Philoxenia Hotel & Studios.

FAQ on Santorini Island

How was the caldera made?

Santorini Island suffered a tremendous volcanic eruption about 3600 years ago, at the peak of the Minoan civilization, one of Greece’s oldest civilizations. As a result, most of its western part sank into the sea, probably causing a gigantic tsunami.

Santorini is still an active volcano but only in the form of thermal waters in the caldera, a popular swimming spot.

How to Get around Santorini

Kitty in Santorini walking on a wall.
Santorinian kitty 🙂

If you are interested in fully exploring Santorini in the summer, and going to remote areas and central villages, then you will need a rental car. But if you only want to visit the most popular areas (Oia, Fira, Akrotiri) then the public buses connect everything. There might be long queues in July and August for buses and taxis are also very popular – sometimes hard to find – means of transportation in Santorini.

How to Get to Santorini from Athens

Ferries

You can take the ferry from any of the Athens ports (Piraeus, Rafina, or Lavrion) to Santorini. The ferries will take 5 to 9 hours depending on the vessel you will be traveling with. The fastest the ferry the more expensive it will be. You can book your ferry transfer with FerryScanner to get the best prices in the market with no hidden fees. If you travel in the summer you have to book your seats well in advance.

Athinios Port in Santorini.
Athinios Port, by Atlantea

There are two ports in Santorini. The ferries arrive at the port of Athinios (19.8 km from Oia), and the cruise ships dock at the old port of Fira. If you arrive in summer, there are going to be a lot of people off the ferry with limited bus and taxi capacity. You should have made arrangements with your hotel to pick you up from the port. If this is not possible book a private transfer here.

Flights to Santorini

If you prefer to go fast to Santorini, you can catch a flight from Athens International Airport. Several flights per day are going to the island during the high season.

What are the Best Things to do in Santorini

Santorini is a fascinating destination, just roaming its gorgeous alleys and the stunning view of the caldera will satisfy even the most demanding and experienced traveler.

Some of the best things to do in Santorini are:

  • Marvel at its world-famous sunset of the Caldera
  • Explore the gorgeous villages of Fira, Oia, Firostefani, and Imerovigli
  • Dive into its volcanic black beaches
  • Hike the spectacular Oia- Fira Caldera trail
  • Explore 2 of the most important archaeological sites in Greece

For a detailed travel guide on Santorini Island visit my dedicated post here.

What to Wear in Santorini

This depends on the season you are visiting but anytime between May and October, essential things to have in Greece are:

Test Your Knowledge of Santorini

Question 1:
What is the main town of Santorini, known for its whitewashed buildings and stunning sunset views?

a) Oia
b) Fira
c) Kamari
d) Perissa

Question 2:
Santorini is part of which island group in Greece?

a) Ionian Islands
b) Sporades
c) Cyclades
d) Dodecanese

Question 3:
Which volcanic event is believed to have contributed to the decline of the Minoan civilization on Crete?

a) The eruption of Thera
b) The eruption of Vesuvius
c) The eruption of Etna
d) The eruption of Stromboli

Question 4:
What is the name of the archaeological site on Santorini that provides insight into the ancient Minoan civilization?

a) Knossos
b) Mycenae
c) Akrotiri
d) Delos

Question 5:
What unique feature does the beach of Perissa in Santorini have?

a) White sand
b) Pink sand
c) Red sand
d) Black sand


Answers:

Answer 1: b) Fira
Answer 2: c) Cyclades
Answer 3: a) The eruption of Thera
Answer 4: c) Akrotiri
Answer 5: d) Black sand

How many did you find? 😀

For more tips for the best restaurants, beaches, and beautiful photos of Greece please join my Facebook Group, I would love to welcome you! Until then happy and safe travels, Evgenia 😀

Plan My Trip to Greece

Do you need a custom travel itinerary or a transfer within Greece? Are you traveling solo, with your family or friends and need a tailor-made multi-day tour or a transfer?

If yes, please visit my dedicated Plan My Trip Page for a personalized itinerary!

How to Get to Athens Port (Piraeus) from Athens Airport

Bus X96 Peiraias Port to Athens Airport
Airport Bus
  • Bus: If you are arriving at Athens International Airport you can travel straight to the port by taking the X96 express bus (€5.5, children <6 yo, free entrance), which departs every 40 minutes and the average trip lasts 1 hour – runs 24/7.
  • Metro: (€9) is easily found across airport arrivals (blue line – M3) going directly to Piraeus port. The average trip to Piraeus lasts 1 hour.
  • Taxis are available in front of the airport (around €40 to Athens, €55-60 to Piraeus (depending on the traffic in Kifisos), and take up to 3 or 4 people with small luggage)
  • Rent a car with Discover Cars for reliable, new cars at affordable prices
  • You don’t like driving but love hassle-free solutions? Book a Private transfer with an English-speaking driver from Athens International Airport to Piraeus Ferries, or anywhere else in Greece
  • Are you looking for domestic flights in Greece? Check out the official Aegean Airlines Website.

Did you find the budget hotel you were looking for? Let me know what you did in the comments, I’d love to hear whether I managed to help you! Till next time, Evgenia❤️

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About the author
Evgenia Mataragka
Hi! I am an Athens-based Greek obsessed with exploring Greece and bringing you the best travel experience ever!

2 thoughts on “Best Cheap Hotels in Santorini”

  1. Santorini is a great place to visit, but unfortunately hotels can be expensive. These are some great choices for budget hotels!

    Reply

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