On our family holiday to the majestic Greek Island of Santorini, we really had a difficult time figuring out where to stay in Santorini. Prices can easily top $2,000 per night on this majestic Greek Island, and we didn’t want to break the budget.
What we discovered blew our minds but not our budget. We truly believe we found the best accommodation in Fira Santorini. Come with us, and we’ll tell you all about it.
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Should You Stay In Fira or Oia
The hardest decision for us was whether to stay in Fira or Oia, the two most significant towns in Santorini. Oia is the largest of the two, and it can become quite busy at times. Oia is small and suffers from enormous volumes of daily cruise boat visitors.
But Oia is where those famous blue domes and windmills are located. Indeed, Oia seems to be featured in all those beautiful postcards with that classic Santorini view.
Where Are The Best Sunsets in Santorini?
Another critical thing we researched was the best sunsets in Santorini. We’ve seen so many beautiful Santorini sunset photos, and we didn’t want to miss out.
As it turns out, the sunsets in Oia and Fira are equally as stunning, both overlooking the Caldera. So don’t worry, you’re going to catch amazing sunsets in either Fira or Oia.
Cost of Fira vs Oia Accommodation
Overall the cost of caldera rim accommodation seems to be more in Oia than in Fira. Perhaps because Oia is substantially smaller and more exclusive.
Maybe Oia is more expensive because the famous postcards are all taken in Oia. Whatever the reason, we decided that the best accommodation is in Fira, because you can get pretty much the same standard Caldera facing accommodation for substantially cheaper.
Using Fira as a Hub
Another main advantage of choosing Fira for accommodation is the fact that it is basically in the centre of the island. That is, it’s in the centre of the volcano, which is where you would want to be for the best scenery. Being the central hub means that all the attractions are within easy reach of Fira. Especially when it comes to the public transport system.
The Fira bus station is the central bus station on Santorini, and all bus routes radiate out from Fira, like the spokes of a wheel. That includes Oia, which is basically at the end of the (bus) line on the northern point of the island.
Cheap Accommodation in Santorini
We looked at some reasonably affordable Santorini accommodation, back from the edge of the Caldera. I would say this is suitable if you have an international drivers license and organise a hire car or quad bike in advance. Apart from that, it is rather difficult and expensive to move around Santorini, so this accommodation may not be so practical.
The other people whom this would suit are those on a tight budget. A piece of advice, though. You should familiarise yourself with the Santorini bus system and make sure that your accommodation is located within 10 minutes walk from a bus stop. It’s hot, hilly and crowded. Walking is not entirely a comfortable experience in Santorini.
The Best Accommodation in Fira, Santorini
We chose Asma Suites. We decided that this accommodation was as reasonable as any of the competition. In fact, it was far better than most. It has all the same features as a lot of accommodation which cost double the price of Asma Suites.
How Expensive is Santorini Accommodation?
This was the most expensive accommodation we’ve ever booked, but we still feel that we got a bargain. This accommodation was mindblowing, it was luxury to high-level honeymoon quality.
We stayed for 3 nights, and the total cost was 1,579 Euros or 2,581 AUD. This was a 37 square metre, 3-bed suite, aptly named the Sun Suite. The price included airport pickup and breakfasts. We just booked it straight from the Booking.com website.
10 Things we Love About Asma Suites
Sensational Caldera Views
When it comes to Fira hotels with caldera view, this place is as good as it gets. Our Sun Suite was right on the edge of the Caldera, with a classic Santorini view. There was just one more suite between us and the ocean, but it was at a lower elevation and did not spoil our view.
We had uninterrupted views of the Caldera, the islands and the sunset. We spent many hours just watching the sea, watching all the boats and admiring the stunning sunset.
The Private Jacuzzi
Each suite at the Asma Suites has a private Jacuzzi. These are outside on the balcony with stunning views of the Caldera. And the Jacuzzi was very private. Over 3 days and several jacuzzis, we were never interrupted by any other visitors. And that’s why this is one of the best hotels in Fira.
Top Class Breakfasts
A quality breakfast in this quality location is priceless. Ours were all hand prepared each morning, served on our private balcony at a time chosen by us. It was superb, delicious and very memorable.
Friendly Staff
The Asma Suites is a family-owned business. I’m not sure if the staff who attended during our stay were family or not. But they sure showed a level of care and attention to make us think they were the owners. Their presentation and manners were impeccable. They offered some of the most impressive services that I’ve ever experienced.
Amazing Location
The location is right in the heart of town, this Fira accommodation is simply stunning. It’s probably 3-4 minutes walk down the hill from the main cathedral in town, and what I would call the main town square.
Less than 1-minute walk from the Asma Suites is one of the best vantage points in Fira for a postcard photograph and stunning sunset view.
Genuine Santorini Cave Hotel
The interior of the room was the classic cave style. Yes, this is an authentic Santorini cave hotel that you see on all the hotel websites. In fact, it was converted from cave type housing not so long ago.
I’ve never stayed in one of these before, and while it was a little bit of a novelty, it made for a beautiful experience. Have you ever stayed in a cave before? Now I can say that we have.
Supermarket Nearby
It’s only about 10 minutes walk to the supermarket. Perfect for grabbing some wine and cheese to enjoy those stunning caldera sunsets. Along the way there’s a lot of cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops, which are well worth a look.
Getting Lost in Fira
When it comes to things to do in Fira, getting lost is one of the most popular activities. There is a maze of tiny streets and laneways you can traverse for free. And they all have spectacular Santorini views of the Caldera.
And right out the front is a perfect laneway to start getting lost. There are loads of tourists doing exactly the same thing, just exploring the labyrinth of laneways.
Extremely Private
Like most high caldera accommodation in Fira, the Asma Suites has a locked front gate. Each guest was issued a key. Once through the gate, you make your way down a little winding pathway to the accommodation. This is superb for privacy, as you literally never see anybody else, except fellow guests. And seeing them is quite rare as well.
Perfect Cleanliness
Maybe it was the white walls and grey concrete floors. Perhaps it was the classiness of this place. But it was spotlessly clean. Not a speck of dust, dirt or grime.
Heading to Santorini
If you are planning to visit Santorini for a once in a lifetime, I do suggest you splash out and stay in the best accommodation in Fira Santorini, the Asma Suites. You will feel like a movie star, a millionaire, and a newlywed. You will be glad you splashed out, this place gets 10 out of 10 from us.
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