Decision Guide · Is It Worth It?
Santo Maris Oia — now rebranded Santo Pure Oia Suites & Villas — is worth it if you want spacious private-pool or hot-tub suites, six pools and a large spa near Oia, from roughly €640 in shoulder season to well over €1,500 in peak summer. Skip it if your dream is the iconic caldera sunset from your room: this property sits inland near Fanari, not on the cliff edge, so most suites face the sea or grounds, not the famous caldera view.
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You're paying for space and a private pool or hot tub, which most caldera-edge Oia hotels can't offer. The roughly 85 suites are generous by Santorini standards; many have a private heated plunge pool or a balcony hot tub, plus a kitchenette, espresso machine and a pillow menu — a genuinely residential feel rather than a cramped cave room.
You're paying for resort facilities that are rare in Oia. The property has six outdoor pools, an indoor heated pool, and a full spa with a traditional hammam, steam and sauna — a wellness footprint most of Oia's tiny cliffside hotels simply don't have room for. It's a five-star with amenities, not just a view.
And you're paying for a calmer base near Oia village without sitting in the densest crush of sunset-hunters on the caldera path — for some travellers that quiet is a feature, not a bug.
This is the one thing to understand before booking: it is not on the caldera. Despite the “Oia” name, the resort sits inland near the Fanari area, not on the cliff edge, so the vast majority of suites look out over the Aegean, the pools or the grounds — not the postcard caldera-and-sunset view that draws people to Oia in the first place. If you're paying Santorini prices specifically for that view from your room, you won't get it here.
The naming is genuinely confusing. The hotel was rebranded from Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa to Santo Pure Oia Suites & Villas (part of the Santo Collection); you'll see both names across booking sites, which makes comparison and reviews harder to track.
Value draws the most criticism. Even fans flag that prices run high for what you get and that extras can add up, and some guests feel the experience — absent the caldera view — doesn't fully justify peak-season rates. To reach the famous Oia sunset spots you'll walk or drive a few minutes into the village.
The spacious suites and the private pools and hot tubs earn the most consistent praise, along with the spa and the multiple pools — guests who prize room comfort and wellness over the cliff view tend to leave very happy.
The recurring criticism is about value and expectations: travellers cite high prices and occasional unexpected fees, and a clear thread of disappointment from guests who assumed an Oia address meant a caldera-edge sunset view and discovered the resort is set back from the cliff. Manage that expectation and the reviews skew positive; arrive expecting the postcard and they don't.
Search under both names. Because the hotel was rebranded from Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa to Santo Pure Oia Suites & Villas, rates and reviews are split across the two names on booking sites — check both to be sure you're seeing the best price and the full review picture. Book a suite with a private pool or hot tub if in-room space and wellness are your priority, since that's the property's genuine strength.
Set the view expectation before you arrive: this is not a caldera-edge hotel, so reserve a sunset dinner or sundowner spot in Oia village (a few minutes' walk or drive) if the famous view is on your list. Shoulder-season dates (late spring, September–October) bring the best value; peak July–August pushes rates well over €1,500 and is when guests most often question the price-to-experience ratio.
Book it if you want a roomy private-pool or hot-tub suite, a real spa and multiple pools, and you're happy to walk into Oia for the sunset rather than watch it from bed. It's a strong choice for honeymooners who value in-suite comfort and wellness over a caldera view.
Look at a cliff-edge hotel if the caldera sunset from your own terrace is the non-negotiable centrepiece of the trip — that's a different (and usually pricier, smaller-roomed) product.
If the caldera view is the point, these three sit right on the cliff edge in or near Oia:
A sleek, suite-and-villa property with private pools and full caldera exposure — the modern way to get both space and the view.
Carved into the Oia cliff with dramatic caldera views and a cinematic mood — the classic splurge for the postcard sunset.
Right on the Oia caldera path, famed for sunset terraces and the infinity pool view that defines the island.
| Romance | 7.0 | Private-pool suites are romantic; the missing caldera view caps the magic. |
| Service | 8.0 | Generally well-reviewed five-star service and a strong spa team. |
| Design | 8.0 | Polished Cycladic suites with real space and private pools. |
| Food | 7.5 | Solid on-site dining and breakfast; not a culinary draw. |
| Location | 6.0 | Near Oia but set inland from the caldera, not on the cliff edge. |
| Value | 6.5 | Generous suites, but pricing and extras draw value criticism. |
Scores are our editors' own, weighted: Service and Value 20% each; Location, Design, Food and Romance 15% each. They reflect value-for-money at this price point, not absolute luxury — an honest 8.0 here outranks a flattering 9.5 elsewhere.
No. Despite the Oia name, the resort is set inland near the Fanari area rather than on the caldera cliff edge. Most suites face the Aegean Sea, the pools or the grounds, not the famous caldera-and-sunset view. For that view you walk or drive a few minutes into Oia village.
It is close but not in the centre: the resort sits inland near the Fanari area, roughly a five-minute walk or short drive from Oia village and its caldera-edge sunset spots. Plan to head into the village on foot or by taxi for the famous sunset, dinner and the main shops, rather than expecting them on the doorstep.
Yes. The hotel was rebranded from Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa to Santo Pure Oia Suites & Villas, part of the Santo Collection. You'll find it under both names on booking sites.
Rates vary widely by season, from around €640 per night in shoulder season to well over €1,500 in peak summer, depending on suite type and whether it has a private pool.
Many suites have a private heated plunge pool or a balcony hot tub, and the resort also has six outdoor pools, an indoor heated pool and a spa with a hammam — an unusually large wellness footprint for the Oia area.
Yes for couples who prioritise a spacious private-pool suite, a real spa and multiple pools and are happy to walk into Oia for sunset. Couples who want the caldera sunset from their own terrace should book a cliff-edge hotel instead.
If you value roomy private-pool suites, a big spa and a calmer base near Oia, yes. If you're paying Santorini prices specifically for the caldera sunset view from your room, it isn't the right hotel — choose a caldera-edge property.
A ranked shortlist, a special offer worth booking, and the overpriced stay to skip. Straight from the editors.