What It Is Really Like Staying In A Cave House In Oia, Santorini

What is it really like staying in a cave house in Oia, Santorini? To put it simply; magical. It really is everything you can imagine staying in Oia in a cave would be like. However, there are a few things you should know before you book your own stay. 

Staying in Oia was incredible, but also very expensive. If you book very far (about a year) in advance you can save a lot on a room, as they do fill up months beforehand and prices rise the closer you get to your visiting date. Staying one town over in Finikia is a much more cost effective option (that I will get into later in this post), however, you can also save money and avoid overcrowding when you book your stay during the off season in spring or early autumn. 

The views here are simply incredible.

No matter where in Oia you stay, an incredible view can be found right outside your window. That being said, when you book your room, especially for a romantic getaway, make sure that you have a private patio space or you will be sharing a common area with other guests. When we were searching for a place to stay, we noticed that most of the cave houses were shared with other guests so it is important to do your research. 

That being said, privacy in Oia is not really a thing. The cave houses are built literally right on top of one another. That romantic hot tub? Yes, all of your neighbors and the dozens of tourists walking by can see you, sometimes from many angles, unless your hot tub is inside without windows. The space we rented from Airbnb was further away from the main street and busy area of Oia, yet there were still plenty of people who had to walk through and around our patio space to get to where they were going. 

Let me give you a small tour:

This cave house was very spacious and bright, although the bathroom was very cave like. (Not this pretty and bright kind!)

The private patio was the true treasure of this space.

So how much did we spend? Well, we booked several months in advance and ended up paying $270 per night. Cave houses here go for $200 to over $1700 per night during the high season! When I booked our room it was one of the cheapest I could find. Overall, hotels in boring places right here at home go for about $200 a night so in that perspective, we got a good deal. 

Also, do you need a kitchen? Unless you’re travelling with kids, not likely. There are not many markets right in Oia and the food here is very good and affordable for tourists from the states. Although, food prices are higher in Oia than in other parts of the island. 

A word of caution for visitors with disabilities, who are pregnant, or who have trouble walking on rugged terrain or stairs; Oia is all stairs, windy narrow cobbled paths, and rugged walkways. It is one big tripping hazard and quite the work out if your cave house is out on the hill. 

Do not bring high heeled shoes or suitcases that roll because both will be pretty useless in Oia. 

If you leave a door cracked or a window open, expect some guests to drop in! At one point we had three stray kitties pop in to say hello. We’re big cat people so we were glad to have house guests, but not everyone would feel that way. One morning we left a window open and found one in our kitchen! 

How about those famous Santorini sunsets? You won’t actually see one in oia! Tourists would line up on the top of the hill every night to see it, but you really can’t see it from Oia at all. The sun sets on the other side of the island, which is obstructed by the hills. Still a very pretty dusk though. 

Now, a little bit about Finikia. 

Located less than a fifteen minute walk from Oia, Finikia is a quieter town where most of the locals live. Finikia is not as famous as Oia because the water is further away so the view is not as spectacular, but the town itself is very charming and unique. 

Prices for hotel and Airbnb stays are going to be much more reasonable here. And for less than a fifteen minute walk to Oia, why wouldn’t you save a little bit of money that you can use on more important things like dinners out and activities around the island? 

Many of the rooms here are also much more spacious and have more windows than the cave houses of Oia.

Another important feature is that if you book a room with an outdoor hot tub, you’re actually much more likely to have privacy on your patio. No one was walking by our outdoor space during our stay here. We had complete quiet time to ourselves. 

And the best part of all about staying in Finikia; the Santorini sunsets! You can view them right from your room or patio in Finikia as the sun sets on this side of the island. 

What do you want to know about staying in a cave house in Santorini?