Where to stay in Santorini
The airport is about 8 km by road from Fira and about 16 km from Oia, so distance decides little on Santorini. Choose between the caldera villages on the cliff, the black-sand beaches and the inland villages, and plan the parking first.
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How the areas differ
The caldera villages sit on the cliff above the sea. Fira, the capital and largest town, has the cathedrals, the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera, and is the hub of the KTEL buses. Firostefani continues it on the highest part of the town, and Imerovigli, about 2 km from Fira by road, sits at the highest point of the caldera facing the Skaros Rock. Oia, at the northern tip, has been a preserved settlement since 1976 and is known for its sunsets.
On the east and south-east coast, Kamari, Perissa and Perivolos are black-sand beach resorts, Kamari near Ancient Thera and about 6 km from the airport. Inland, Pyrgos, a protected settlement since 1995, and Megalochori, among the vineyards and wineries, are the quiet villages.
Staying with a rental car
Distances first. By road, the airport is about 6 km from Kamari, about 7 km from Pyrgos and Megalochori, about 8 km from Fira and Imerovigli, about 13 to 14 km from Perivolos and Perissa, and about 16 km from Oia. Fira to Oia is about 14 km.
Fira has car rules. Since 1 March 2026 the municipality has banned traffic and parking in the central square, now a pedestrian area, and on the road up to the Metropolis, with supply vehicles allowed until 11:00. The municipality runs a car park opposite the Fira primary school; we found no official list of the others.
In Oia, the municipality's last published list, from 2018, counted 21 car parks around the village and Finikia, 14 municipal and 7 private. The island's tourism site warns that the roads can be narrow and that parking in Oia and Fira fills up. In Kamari the municipality has marked pedestrian routes with bollards on the central streets. Elsewhere we found no official parking source, so ask the host where the car goes.
For the port road, the narrow streets and the rules, GetCar's guide Driving in Santorini: the Airport, the Athinios Road, Narrow Streets, Quad Bikes and the Rules goes further.
What the tourist tax and registration rules mean for a guest
Santorini has no island rate for stays. The national climate crisis resilience fee applies per night and per room or property, and the guest pays it before departure; article 44 of the Code of indirect taxes (Law 5177/2025) sets the amounts, unchanged in the consolidated text of May 2026. From April to October a short-term rental pays EUR 8 a night, or EUR 15 for a detached house over 80 m2, rented rooms EUR 2, tourist furnished residences EUR 8, or EUR 15 from 80 m2, tourist villas EUR 15, and hotels EUR 2 to EUR 15 by stars. From November to March short-term rentals and tourist residences pay EUR 2 or EUR 4, villas EUR 4 and hotels EUR 0.50 to EUR 4. Hotels and professional hosts also charge the municipal visitor fee on the rent of stays under six months, which the guest pays: 0.5% under national law, and private hosts who let one or two properties do not charge it. Councils may raise it to 0.75%; no Thira council decision doing so was found on Diavgeia as of September 2026.
The Santorini-specific charge falls on cruise passengers. Under article 27 of Law 5162/2024, each cruise passenger landing at Santorini pays EUR 20 from June to September, EUR 12 in April, May and October and EUR 4 from November to March, against EUR 5, EUR 3 and EUR 1 at Greek ports other than Mykonos; the travel press dates the start to 1 July 2025. A hotel or rental guest does not pay it.
Every short-term rental must show its 11-digit property registry number, the AMA, on every platform and advert; licensed properties show a 16-digit ΕΣΛ or a 7-digit ΜΑΓ number instead. Since 1 October 2025, Law 5170/2025 has required smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, a first aid kit, a guide to emergency numbers and civil liability insurance, with a EUR 5,000 fine for a host who fails the rules.
When to book what
A caldera base puts the evenings on foot. Kamari, Pyrgos and Megalochori, 6 to 7 km from the airport, suit guests who drive every day.
The Municipal Port Fund caps cruise visitors at 8,000 a day in 2025 and 2026 to respect the island's capacity, and the cruise fee peaks from June to September.
The climate fee drops from November to March, when a short-term rental pays EUR 2 a night instead of EUR 8. Compare prices on this page before booking.
Which area for which trip
The capital, buses and evenings out: Fira.
Caldera views a short way from Fira: Firostefani or Imerovigli.
The preserved village and its sunsets: Oia.
A beach resort near the airport: Kamari.
Long black-sand beaches: Perissa and Perivolos.
Quiet villages, wineries and a car every day: Pyrgos and Megalochori.
Questions
Is it better to stay in Fira or Oia with a car?
Fira has a municipal car park opposite the primary school and car rules in the centre; Oia had 21 car parks on the municipality's 2018 list. In both, ask the host where the car goes before booking.
Where can a rental car park in Fira?
Away from the central square and the Metropolis, both closed to traffic and parking since 1 March 2026. The municipality runs a car park opposite the Fira primary school.
Does Santorini have its own tourist tax?
Not for stays: the national climate fee applies at the same rates as elsewhere in Greece. The Santorini-specific charge is the cruise passenger fee, EUR 20 from June to September.
Which Santorini area is closest to the airport?
Kamari, about 6 km by road, then Pyrgos and Megalochori at about 7 km and Fira at about 8 km. Oia is about 16 km away.
Which beach area suits a family?
Kamari or Perissa. The tourism site describes Perissa as a large organised black-sand beach with facilities for families, and Kamari as a black-sand beach near Ancient Thera.