Finding a cheap hotel in Santorini during the summer is difficult, but not impossible. While luxury caldera suites in Oia and Fira cost upwards of $800 a night, you can find excellent, clean hotels for under $100 per night by staying in the eastern beach towns of Perissa and Kamari. At this budget, you will not have volcano views, but you will get great hospitality, swimming pools, and flat, walkable terrain.
BUT ALSO CHECK:
If you want to do Santorini on a budget, you should check out the hotels in Perissa (the famous black beach in Santorini) or the hotels in Kamari, the second-best beach on the island. One of the main reasons people have found it challenging to visit Santorini in the last few years is that the prices of the available hotels have gone through the roof.
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The excellent hotels of Santorini that are in Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli or Oia, situated on the top of the cliff with their amazing balconies and plunge pools overlooking the famous volcano lagoon (called caldera) are some of the most expensive hotels in Europe; especially during the high season of May, June, July, August and September.
Unfortunately, if you are looking for affordable accommodation in Santorini, you are not going to get any of those. If you don’t know where to stay in Santorini and are looking for a cheap hotel, you must stay in Fira, Perissa, or Kamari, as the best affordable hotels are located there.Bear in mind, though, that if you are planning to combine your visit to Santorini with a few days in Mykonos, then there is hope! There are some very decent but cheap hotels in Mykonos, too.
Note: You may have found lists of cheap hotels in Santorini that list hotels that cost more than $200 per night. Unfortunately, that is considered affordable for some people online… The hotels I list below are under $100 per night/room at the time of writing this post.
Keep Reading…VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW:
- The hotels in Santorini that are closer to the beachside towns, such as Perissa, Perivolos, or Kamari, are much cheaper than the ones in Oia or Fira. The most decent, affordable hotels are close to the beach but don’t have caldera views.
- Best Cheap Hotel in Santorini: Stelios Place(in Perissa, aka black beach)
- Best Cheap Hotel in Fira: King Thiras Hotel
- Best Cheap Hotel in Oia: Kiklamino Suites & Apartments
- Best Cheap Hotel in Kamari: Selini Hotel
- None of these hotels have caldera (volcano) views (the famous Santorini views, you may have seen on Instagram), and it will be almost impossible to find a decent hotel with caldera views under $300 per room per night between May and October.
- If you want to go super cheap (less than $50 per night), you can stay at Santorini’s decent hostels: Santorini Hostel, Youth Hostel Anna.
- Things you can do to save money in Santorini: go with an 8 hr Bluestar ferry, take the local Santorini bus, eat breakfast from a bakery, eat Greek street food (like souvlaki), and generally, as a rule of thumb, avoid any restaurant or hotel that has caldera views.
- Best Cheap Hotel in Mykonos: Hotel Spanelis
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⛴️ Ferryhopperis the best website to book your ferry tickets or check the timetables for Santorini, Mykonos , Crete & all Greek islands
🎫 Get Your Guide has the best and largest variety of Tours in Athens and the Greek islands (Santorini, Mykonos, Crete etc)
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So…without further ado, let’s see the Best Cheap Hotels in Santorini island :
1. Stelios Place (Perissa)
Address: Main Street PO Box P72, Perissa, 84703, Greece
This one is on the edge of $100 per night (for the high season), but it’s one of the highest-rated hotels of Santorini on Booking.com, and that is for some very good reasons. Stelios Place doesn’t have lovely caldera views, but it is a family hotel run by really kind and friendly people who will ensure you have a great time there (I know Stelios, the owner, is a lovely guy).
The hotel itself is very clean. Its location is literally meters away from the beach, but there is also a very decent swimming pool you can use. The rooms are cleaned every day, you get free towels, and you are also going to get picked up from the airport for free…
CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY HERE2. Antonia Hotel (Fira)
A family-run hotel at a central location, as you will be in the centre of Fira, very close to everything! The rooms themselves are super clean (but basic), and there is also a lovely patio where you can relax. The owners can also arrange a shuttle bus to/from the port/airport for only 5 euros (that’s good!)
CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY >>
3. King Thiras Hotel (Firostefani)
Address: Firostefani, Fira, 84700, Greece
No luxuries here, but a spotless and decent hotel to spend a few days in Santorini. Most rooms have a balcony with charming views, to be honest, and they are all recently refurbished. The breakfast is also delicious!
CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY >>
4. Phoenix Hotel (Fira)
Address: Fira,Mesa Katikies, Fira, 84700, Greece
This one is not in the centre of Fira, but remember that if you want to go cheap, you have to compromise (but we are talking about 10 minutes from the centre of Fira). This one is a really new addition, having recently been renovated.
It is a really good hotel with very large air-conditioned rooms and a really cute swimming pool. The hotel has a homey feeling, and the friendly owners will make sure you have a great stay …
CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY >>5. Kiklamino Suite & Apartments (Oia)
Kiklamino Suites is not in Oia’s central (and famous) location but a bit away from it (though it’s still considered Oia). I remind you again that you cannot get cheap prices with Caldera views.
Kiklamino is a charming hotel run by Katerina and her family, who will try to make your stay unforgettable. The breakfast basket that comes every day is yummy, and the rooms are charming and modernly decorated. The cute backyard is also a plus!
CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY >>6. Selini Hotel (Kamari)
Selini is at Kamari, and it is ideal for families with kids as it is very close to the beautiful Kamari beach and within walking distance to the famous Kamari beachfront with lots of family restaurants, shops, and tavernas. Nice and clean rooms with breakfast…
CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY >>
CONCLUSION
You don’t have to spend 1000s of your hardly earned money to visit and stay in Santorini. To get the best deals on hotels, you have to book at least 6 months in advance, and if you want to get the best value for money, just stick to these two rules: stay away from the caldera or visit any other month outside of June-July-August-September.
Any Perissa hotel will always be a much cheaper option at any time of the year. If you want to visit another famous Greek island, remember there are some excellent, cheap hotels in Mykonos, too.
FAQs
What is considered a cheap hotel in Santorini?
Can I find a cheap hotel with a caldera view in Santorini?
No. It is virtually impossible to find a decent hotel with caldera (volcano) views for under $300 per night during the summer. If you want affordable accommodation, you must compromise on the view and stay in the beach towns (Perissa or Kamari) or slightly inland from the main cliffside.
Which part of Santorini is the cheapest to stay in?
The cheapest areas to stay in Santorini are the black sand beach towns of Perissa and Perivolos. Because these towns are located on the eastern side of the island—away from the famous western caldera cliffs and sunset views—hotel prices and restaurant menus are significantly cheaper than in Oia or Fira.
Are there hostels in Santorini?
Yes, there are a few traditional backpacker hostels in Santorini, such as Santorini Hostel and Youth Hostel Anna, located near Fira and Perissa. A dorm bed in these hostels is the cheapest way to stay on the island, often costing less than $50 per night.
