The single biggest decision in planning a Santorini trip isn't which hotel — it's which part of the island. The caldera-rim villages (Oia, Fira, Imerovigli, Firostefani) deliver the views you've seen in every photo, at a real price premium and with steps instead of car access in places. The east-coast beach towns (Kamari, Perissa) are cheaper, flatter, and closer to the airport, but you lose the caldera view entirely.
Caldera rim: Oia, Imerovigli, Firostefani, Fira
Stay here for the view from your own room. Oia is the most famous and the most expensive, with the strictest architecture and the longest walk from parking to many hotels — worth it if a caldera-view suite is the point of your trip. Imerovigli sits at the highest point of the rim and is generally quieter than Oia with arguably better views. Fira is the liveliest and most practical base — shops, restaurants, the cable car, and the main bus station are all here — but it's also the busiest and least tranquil after dark.
East coast: Kamari, Perissa, Perivolos
Flatter, more affordable, and built around black-sand beaches rather than caldera views. These towns are a sensible base if you're travelling with young kids, want easy beach access every day, or are visiting on a tighter budget — you can still reach the caldera villages by bus or a short drive for a sunset visit.
South: Akrotiri, Vlychada, Megalochori
Quieter and much less touristy, with easy access to Red Beach, the Akrotiri excavations, and several of the island's best wineries. A good pick if you've been to Santorini before and want a slower, less crowded second visit — though you'll want a rental car, since bus links are thinner out here.
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