18 Best Hotels in The Cyclades, Greece

Rooms and suites here are arranged around a Zen-like garden, and some have sea views, but all guests are just a stone’s throw away from diving into the sea. Laid out like a Cycladic village, the property is tucked into a large and lush garden behind a private beach at the southernmost end of a 7 km (4.3 miles) strand. Rooms are a homely mix of antique furniture, tiled floors, and modern facilities. Great Mediterranean and Greek dishes are served at the open-air restaurant, La Pergola, while the bar offers eclectic cocktails to end the evening if you, understandably, just don’t feel like going anywhere else.

A unique accommodation in the Southern Aegean, Vaos is a converted windmill in the village of Trypiti. Characterful and romantic, it has a terrace with the best sunset views across the bay. Close enough to the village, but still feeling completely peaceful, this is the perfect island hideaway. The decor is plain but the whole ambience is very special—quirky, quiet, and quite wonderful.

These cliff-side apartments are attractive and simple in design and might be one of Santorini's best bargains if you must have a caldera view. The shared balconies are a peaceful place to soak up the generous vista and make for a great people watching spot on the Fira-Ia walking track right below. Rooms are traditionally decorated and kept very clean by the friendly hosts. A supermarket, restaurants, and bus stop are all within a short walk.

All whitewash and stone, this is the perfect hotel for beach lovers. Just a short walk from the strand at Agios Georgios, the three main buildings feature wide stone arches and ironwork balconies. Calming, neutral tones add an air of discrete luxury in the bathrooms with superlative showers a plus. The grounds are beautifully kept with a large pool and loungers if the sea doesn't tempt you.

This small villagelike complex of sheltered gardens, white pergolas, geranium pots, and spacious terraces is a handful of steps from Agios Fokas beach. Whitewashed rustic rooms are clean and spacious, the atmosphere is very relaxed and you could walk around all day in your swimsuit. An excellent safe choice for families, the beach is long and sandy, and the restaurant and beach bar are at the heart of the complex—a hearty breakfast from local suppliers is a real treat.

Four split-level cave apartments, built from the owner's grandfather's 150-year-old house, are on top of one of the higher cliff ridges, so the verandas all have really stunning caldera views. The couches and loft beds are simple and traditional, and the rooms have basic, plain decoration in blues and whites.

These simple yet comfortable rooms, many with terraces, some with pools, are among the island's unsung treasures, perched on the southern side of the caldera just outside Akrotiri, enjoying special views up the rim to Fira and Ia. The experience of a stay in these tile-floored rooms with plain wood furnishings is much more akin to island Greece, rather than Santorini. That said, Red Beach and the quiet village of Akrotiri are walkable, there's a small beach at the foot of the cliff in front of the hotel, and the views and peaceful atmosphere might be all you need.

On a small hill and within comfortable walking distance to town and Psariliki Beach, this bright, open, whitewashed property has been consistently upgraded and expanded over the last 20 or so years by Antiparian couple Magda and Markos. Blending traditional elements with modern decor, the newer suites with private plunge pool are very popular, as are the breakfasts of fresh local Cycladic ingredients.

Three buildings built around a sizable pool have undergone a renovation to offer a slice of design style. Scandinavian inspired guest rooms are minimal rather than plush but feel sophisticated and comfortable. A five-minute walk to the center, it pulls off the rare feat of being an oasis of quiet in town.

Opened 2022, this small inn offers a good position on the waterfront at the edge of town—it's surrounded by restaurants and it makes for a fine base to explore. Rooms are neat, well designed and are decorated in a contemporary style. If you prefer something a little more original, the same owners have a pair of fisherman's cottages by the sea in the small village of Skinopi.

On a narrow lane above Agios Ioannis beach, Mr and Mrs White looks over the bay to the twinkling lights of Mykonos---though it's a world away from its raucous island neighbor, due to its whitewashed buildings crouched around a handsome pool---an oasis of peace and quiet. Rooms are a contemporary update on traditional island style with marble floors, large bathrooms, and white and blue decoration. A breakfast of island specialties is especially good, and poolside snacks are available all day.

The best value lodgings in Fira are steps away from the main square, right next to the bars and restaurants, and a short walk from the bus station. The simple, clean, white guest rooms are traditional with dark furnishings, some with balconies and a glimpse of the sea. A flowery terrace is great for sunset drinks and overlooks the pretty restaurant garden next door owned by the same family.

This authentic hotel strives for the best in appearance and service with modular Cycladic architecture lending the air of a small village. A lush garden setting looks over to Mykonos and Delos and it's just yards away from pretty Agios Ioannis beach. Guest rooms are simple with white decoration, private and well maintained, they are a taste of true Greek vacations.

A step away from New Golden Beach, the Saint George does everything it promises at first sight—providing stylish accommodation in a great location away from the hubbub of the busier resorts. The views across the Aegean to Naxos are crisscrossed by the water-sport enthusiasts who congregate here. Modern rooms are spacious and up-to-date, but the pull of the sea sees everybody on the sand for most of their stay. A fantastic destination for families with all ages accommodated.

Laid-back and lovely, Villa Notos is just a short three-minute walk from the port of Adamas and looks over sleepy Lagada Beach. Rooms are large and well maintained, traditional in style with tiled floors and darkwood furniture, and feature kitchenettes. Tended to with loving care by owner Lena, this is an authentic Greek island stay in a good location.

Wishes came true as Tinos got what it needed—a central, convenient, comfortable hotel housed in an attractive blue-and-white building with stone accents that hide a pretty garden with a hot tub. All rooms have balconies and are well decorated with tile floors and marble bathrooms. The Aqua suite gets a large glass plunge pool inside the room and a huge walk-in his 'n' hers shower.