The ultimate Santorini home escapes

Fully immerse yourself in Greek island life in an idyllic villa on the island of Santorini, where you can swim in cobalt-blue sea, drive around slow-paced whitewashed villages to buy your morning Spanakopita (spinach and feta pastry) and sunbathe in blazing sunshine when it's safe to do so. Your only challenge is finding the best vantage point to survey this island's dreamy vistas.

Read on for Santorini’s highest-rated flexible holiday homes, according to global travellers.

This old stone house is built into the cliffs on the edge of Santorini’s caldera, a crater that was partially submerged by the Aegean Sea after a volcanic eruption about 3,600 years ago. Views out onto this half-moon-shaped bay are highly sought-after, and hundreds of thousands of visitors come each year to witness the soulful sunsets over whitewashed villages, cobalt blue-sea and umber-hued cliffs. Thus, the unblemished panorama of the island from this house’s broad terrace is a valuable asset and a heavenly spot for an early morning coffee or a sundowner (brought to you by welcoming hosts – and mother and son duo – Kriton and Eirini).

A traditional Santorini cave house painted pink, lilac and blue, Anemi House & Villas is as photogenic as the caldera itself. It’s laid out like a rabbit warren, with grey stone stairs and private pockets of terrace punctuated by a plunge pool. Shaded by olive and palm trees and sat beside overflowing flower pots, you’ll have a wide choice of places to enjoy a glass of wine in the evening sun. The house has everything you could want or need on holiday; an attentive but unobtrusive owner, Dimitris, beautiful monochrome suites varying from bright white to royal blue and hot pink, 360-degree views of the island from the rooftop, outdoor jacuzzis and lots of local markets.

A restored, 18th-century winemaker’s house with mud brick walls, Azalea Houses is authentically and traditionally Greek. Yet, at the same time, is the height of luxury with a minimalist aesthetic. The curved, peach-coloured exterior creates a glorious colour palette against the blue of the sea and sky. Walk to the nearby, famously-pretty town of Oia, or find a private corner of the terrace to sunbathe or read a book in a hammock shaded by fuschia flowers.

This whitewashed, cliffside Santorini villa is a masterpiece of minimalist design and Greek island appeal. The suites are all smooth lines and white linen, and the terrace has views of nothing but deep blue sea from the box-like rooftop swimming pool; be sure to enjoy a drink here after dark, when it’s lit up and glowing light green with cacti planted around it like abstract sculptures. Additional perks include private hot tubs and a wonderfully helpful and hospitable staff headed up by Hercules and Nikos.

Beneath this cliffside villa, greenery flourishes in the fertile, volcanic soil and leads down to the sea, while above it you can see Santorini’s famous blue-domed church, the Three Bells of Fira. Its location is right in middle of the beautiful town of Oía, though it’s so quiet you wouldn’t know it. It’s also close to the beach, so you’ll be able to choose whether to relax in a private hot tub, rooftop plunge pool or find a white sandy cove. The rooms themselves are decorated in soothing beige, grey and rose pink, and open up to the terrace with deck chairs and a sweeping view of the caldera.