For a memorable and uniquely Santorini experience, fall in love with one of these spectacular and serene Santorini hotels with cave pools and river cave pools. Choose from these 13 traditional Santorini pirates’ and sailors’ homes that have been transformed into luxury pads with some of the most incredible views anywhere on the planet!
This comprehensive cave hotel guide will help you to find the most magical place to stay, especially if you’re looking for a typically luxurious Oia Santorini experience or, even better, coming to Santorini for your honeymoon!
And depending upon when you travel and how early you book, these luxury experiences are surprisingly reasonable in price!
👙 Dana Villas & Infinity Suites – best for honeymoons
👙 Aspaki Exclusive – best for river pool suite in Oia
👙 Esperas Traditional Houses – best for an affordable stay with a large common cave pool
What’s a Cave Hotel?
A cave house or cave hotel is a form of traditional architecture built right into the cliffside, forming a cave.
Santorini’s economy in the modern era has been a maritime economy. Fishermen dug caves (just rudimentary cave rooms) into the sides of the volcanic cliffs, or hollowed out existing lava tubes, to protect themselves from pirates.
The beginnings of these caves were discovered many years ago. Most are located in the heart of Oia which is a 20-minute drive north along the cliff edge from the capital of Santorini, Fira (Thera).
The picture is of the Lava Cave Suite (details below) which, in 1875, was owned by a sailor.
In pictures of Oia, you can see the rounded shapes of the cave houses and cave hotels seemingly all stacked on top of each other.
Cave hotels will have a private jacuzzi or hot tub, private balconies, and private plunge pools, but what we’re looking for here is private cave pools and private river cave pools.
Many of the 5-star Oia cave hotels have small private terraces with a private pool facing the volcano and looking out across the Aegean, but the best Santorini cave hotels (IMHO), have river cave pools, made from a lave flow tube or tunnel, opening into an outdoor pool. These are the ones I have especially checked out and some I have personally stayed in (for the purposes of research, of course!)
Cave pools have been hollowed out of the rock and you’ll find hotels will specify if they’re inside or outdoor cave pools (or both!)
Best Santorini Hotels with Cave Pools
1. Aspaki Exclusive Hotel
Aspaki has three two-bedroom cave pool villas. You need to be sure you’re booking a cave pool suite or villa, rather than a plunge pool one.
The River Pool Suite has to be one of the very best on the island.
No two suites are alike, but all are beautifully designed with sculptured walls and marble floors.
The hotel’s larger heated pool, with poolside service, spa, and fine dining restaurant is shared between guests at the Aspaki and Oia Castle Hotel.
2. Dana Villas & Infinity Suites
If there was only one thing I would change about Dana Villas and Infinity Suites, it would be to move it a little closer to Oia. It is in Firestofani, so only a short walk from Fira. I mention this small gripe because otherwise I can only give this hotel the most incredible praise.
Review after review states that the hotel guests were just stunned by the river cave pools and don’t believe they will find a more perfect hotel. It is just perfect for honeymoons.
Honeymoon Pool Suite has what it describes as a river cave pool leading to an infinity pool. The Honeymoon Pool villa has an infinity river pool and indoor cave plunge pool.
The Grand Pool Villa has a huge indoor cave-style plunge pool with a sound system and programmable mood lighting.
The Master Pool Villa is indeed, masterful, with a stunning cave interior cave pool leading to an exterior infinity pool as well as a jacuzzi on the opposite side of the villa.
I could go on, but you get the idea – there is the epitome of the Santorini cave pool hotel!
3. Sophia Luxury Suites
Sophia Luxury Suites are dotted around Santorini, however, their Imerovigli location is the perfect place for a little more peace and quiet.
Combining the natural elements of volcanic stone with aged wood makes for a serene cave-house environment. All suites come with a private plunge pool and uninterrupted views of the caldera and beyond.
The suites have breathtaking views over Skaros Rock where the most exclusive hotels on the island are located.
The Superior Honeymoon Cave Suite with Indoor & Outdoor Plunge Pool & Caldera View is a spectacular suite featuring a river cave pool and definitely the best cave pool in the hotel.
4. Divine Cave Experience
This outstanding minimalist luxe hotel is in Imerovigli – just next to the bustle of Oia but with quietness at night. It describes itself as a “whimsical cave hotel” and a “cocooning sanctuary made up of underground caves.”
In a 100-year-old wine Cave, Divine Cave Experience has fashioned a Wellness Cave which gets my vote as the most serene spa experience in Santorini (and there are many world-leading spas here).
Its 10 Suites have cave-style jacuzzis. I particularly like these three suites because of their organic forms, minimalist luxe vibe, and soft lighting:
- Omni Cave Suite with Jacuzzi & Caldera View
- Elysium Cave Suite with Jacuzzi & Caldera View
- Astral Cave Suite with Jacuzzi & Caldera View
5. Canaves Oia Suites
Canaves Oia Suites opened in 1995 after the success of Canaves Oia Hotels and has been transformed into a holiday haven of exquisite elegance.
The 12 Canaves Oia Suites come with their own private, heated plunge pool, a bottle of complimentary wine on arrival, and of course, unbeatable sunset views of the caldera.
Try and book the Executive Suite (60 square meters) with a cave pool, or the River Pool Suite with River Plunge Pool (50 square meters).
6. Esperas Traditional Houses
Esperas traditional houses have a range of cave-style rooms available from studios to multi-bedroom units. I include it because it’s not always necessary to have your own cave pool.
The hotel has a large common cave-style pool with seating within is half-open to the sun. Surrounded by a pool deck with sun loungers and a pool bar, Esperas Traditional Houses gives you the experience of swimming in a cave pool but without the $1000 per night+ price tag of other cave pool hotels.
All abodes offer rustic-minimalist décor which involves whitewashed walls with blue doors with simple wooden furniture (the Hotel has one a Traditional Hotels of Europe Gold Award).
They have private furnished terraces with beautiful sea views and some even have outdoor jacuzzis or plunge pools.
Situated in Oia, you are just a five-minute walk from the many restaurants and high-end stores.
7. Lava Caves
You’ll never want to leave this Deluxe Seaview Suite for two with a cave-style hot tub. Lava Caves has free wifi, breakfast is included, and there’s a concierge and daily maid service.
While it’s only a three-minute walk to the Oia Castle, you’ll be tempted to watch the sunset from the lava pool in your own room!
With a living room, kitchenette, private patio and indoor-outdoor hot tub- you see above, this stylish new entrant needs to be booked quickly.
8. Pegasus Suites and Spa
There are three types of suites at the 5-star Pegasus that have cave pools:
- Executive Plunge Pool Suite
- Honeymoon PLunge Pool Suite (the cave-pool style suite, not the open-air plunge pool suite)
- Grand Luxury Plunge Pool Suite
Of these, the Executive and Grand Luxury Suites have river cave pools. If you add to this a large heated common pool with a wine bar on the deck overlooking the caldera, this is a very romantic hotel!
Pegasus Suites and Spa is in Imerovigli, next to the very best hotels on the island.
9. Katikies Karini Santorini
5-star Katikies Karini has a spa cave pool as the centerpiece of its Spa and it’s worth booking a couples’ treatment to enjoy floating around in the cave pool together!
Its Superior Suite has an indoor jetted tub in the bathroom, and the Junior, Honeymoon, Kirini, and Master Suites have outdoor plunge pools.
10. Perivolos Hotel
The Perivolas Cave Hotel is the definition of laid-back luxury and I can’t think of a more beautifully styled apartment – it’s like 21-century luxury Flinstones!
Home to 20 individual suites carved straight into the cliff at the far southern entrance to Oia. Each room is individually designed and offers spectacular views from the infinity pool over the caldera.
The Perivolos Suite has a heated river cave pool that flows outside to its grand terrace.
11. Maregio Suites
Just steps away from Oia’s best shopping, dining, and tourist attractions, Maregio’s suites are a great destination for those who want to explore it all.
The 4-star hotel offers 9 cave-style suites with a contemporary style in a romantic and private setting. The best part is, each suite has an outdoor heated plunge pool overlooking the caldera.
The Premium Suite with a Cave-style heated plunge pool with jets is the most ‘cave pool-like’ suite.
Take in the dramatic sunset on your private terrace and enjoy the in-house dining and spa services.
12. Canaves Ena – Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Canaves Ena has just had a beautiful new renovation and I can’t wait to check out the river pool suite. The river pool opens onto a furnished terrace at the edge of the caldera.
The hotel has 19 suites and is one of the most sought-after properties in Santorini.
With a minimalist approach to design and contemporary facilities, this elegant property is something to experience for yourself. There’s a lovely Mediterranean restaurant serving modern Greek food which seems completely on brand for this new renovation.
The Canaves Hotels have a well-regarded spa inside a converted 17th-century wine cave.
13. Andronis Boutique Hotel
You can check out this hotel in my 24 best Santorini hotels with Private Pools article. It’s included here because of its brilliant Executive Suite with Cave Plunge Pool.
The Executive Suite is a large studio that opens to a large terrace that includes the little cave plunge pool and looks out over the caldera.
Tip: If you want to be sure you are getting a private pool as part of your room or suite, read 24 Best Hotels in Santorini with Private Pool, and if you’d prefer an all-inclusive stay, check out these best All-Inclusive Santorini Hotels.
