Picolo recommends · Hotel in Oia, Santorini
Canaves Oia
White suites tumbling down the rock beneath Oia, where your own terrace faces the caldera and the main pool looks ready to drop off the edge.
Late afternoon in Oia, the lanes above fill with people waiting for the sun. A few levels down the cliff, at Canaves, you have a terrace of your own and the same sky, without the elbows.
The hotel is a collection of whitewashed suites and old cave dwellings built into the slope. Several come with a plunge pool, and the shared pool sits so close to the drop that the water and the sea seem to meet.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose Canaves Oia
We picked Canaves as the safe bet for a first trip. You get the view Santorini is known for, attentive staff and a short walk up to the restaurants in Oia, so the whole stay can happen on foot.
It is expensive, and the cliff means stairs everywhere: between your room, the pool and the village. Travellers with bad knees or heavy luggage should ask about room location, and families with small children will find it fiddly.
What you get
- Main pool on the cliff edge
- Suites with private plunge pools
- Cave rooms built into the rock
- Sunset from your own terrace
- Attentive, polished service
A day at Canaves Oia
- Morning
- Breakfast on the terrace while the caldera is still blue and empty of boats.
- Midday
- A swim in the pool before the day trippers reach Oia.
- Afternoon
- A slow climb up to the village for lunch in the narrow lanes.
- Evening
- Sunset from your own terrace, then dinner a few minutes uphill.
Location
Oia, Santorini, Greece
Open in MapsQuestions about Canaves Oia
Does Canaves Oia have rooms with private pools?
Yes. Several of the suites have their own plunge pool on the terrace, in addition to the shared pool on the edge of the cliff.
Can you walk from Canaves Oia to the village?
Yes, the restaurants and shops of Oia are reached on foot, though expect a fair number of steps on the way up.
Is Canaves Oia suitable for children?
It is designed with couples in mind. The many stairs and open terraces over the drop make it a tricky choice with small children.
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Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
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