Hideaway Houses

Megalochori, Santorini, Greece
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Hideaway Houses

Megalochori, Santorini, Greece

A pair of beautifully restored wine merchants' houses (sleeping 2-4 and 4-6), hidden away in one of Santorini's prettiest villages

A pair of beautifully restored wine merchants' houses (sleeping 2-4 and 4-6), hidden away in one of Santorini's prettiest villages

At first, we were skeptical. Why come all the way to Santorini, famed for its breathtaking views over the sea-filled crater, only to stay inland among the vineyards? But then we unlatched the gate off one of Megalochori's car-free lanes, stepped inside, and were instantly converted. A quite unexpectedly pretty courtyard, laid with round volcanic pebbles and centred on an emerald green plunge pool, was fringed with potted pink geraniums. There were inviting sunbeds, a huge hammock, glimpses of whitewashed roofs; the only sounds were the trickle of water and the hourly peal from the blue-domed church.

Behind it, ochre-coloured Sophias house offers 4-metre-high rooms with thick walls and shuttered windows, cool even in midsummer (though there's A/C too). The sitting room - once a storage vault for a 19th century wine merchant - combines antique dressers with flatscreens, and a fully primed Sonos audio system with Spotify playlists. Off it lies a glorious master bedroom with vast four-poster, and a smaller room where our young son, when not splashing in the pool, slept. There's a chunky pebbled bathroom and a small but serviceable kitchen, too. But most of our time was spent outside: mornings in the courtyard, lunch at the bougainvillea-shaded dining table, evenings at one of the delightful tavernas a few minutes' walk away in the village.

We also looked at nearby Kyani, which sleeps 6 in three separate suites. It's in the same dark-pebbled, pastel-painted style, with white-washed vaults, vast grape-vat baths, a similar plunge pool and no shortage of sheltered sit-outs. For anyone seeking a true hideaway on Santorini, away from the crowded caldera in one of its prettiest villages, either house would make an excellent choice.

Highs

  • After a sunset stroll through Oia or a boat trip to the lava islands, feel super smug knowing that you can retreat here, away from the crowds. Megalochori is a pretty little village: largely car-free, with plenty of picturesque churches
  • Sophia's house is perfect for a family with one or two children (or a honeymooning couple on a splurge), while Kyani would suit 3 couples travelling together (or 2 couples with children)
  • The courtyard and plunge pool (each house has one) are a blissful refuge from wind, sun and clicking crowds
  • It's great having the option of self-catering or wandering down the lane for a lazy dinner at Raki, one of the island's loveliest tavernas

Lows

  • Service is minimal: after meet-and-greet, you’re left alone (with a concierge on call), though there is a daily maid service and a daily pool cleaning service
  • There's no welcome hamper, so you'll have to stock up on arrival (there are shops nearby, including a late-opening baker and supermarket)
  • In Kyani, you get two in-suite kitchenettes rather than a proper kitchen, so it helps if all guests know each other well
  • Like all Santorini accommodations, it's not cheap

Best time to go

The houses are open from April to November, and we think May, June and September are the best months to visit, being not too hot. However, even in midsummer, these houses remain cool and relatively quiet, plus they have their own pools for cooling off in.

Our top tips

The rizogalo (rice pudding) from the village baker makes a delicious breakfast. And put a stash of their mini ice creams in your freezer compartment, for afternoon treats.

Great for...

Family
Romantic
  • Boutique Villas
  • 2 villas for 2-6
  • Limited self-catering, restaurants a short walk away
  • All ages welcome
  • Open all year
  • Plunge Pool
  • Spa Treatments
  • Beach Nearby
  • Pet Friendly
  • Disabled Access
  • Car recommended
  • Parking
  • Restaurants Nearby
  • WiFi
  • Air Conditioning
  • Guest Lounge
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Gym
  • Daily Maid Service
  • Towels & Bedlinen
  • Laundry Service
Room:

Rooms

There are 2 houses a short walk apart: Sophia, which sleeps 2-4 in 2 bedrooms (or 5 if you use the sitting room sofa), and Kyani , which sleeps 6 in 3 semi-independent bedroom suites (or 7-8 if you use the sofas).

Of the two, we preferred Sophia, the perfect size for a small family, though we could also imagine a honeymoon couple enjoying its space and seclusion. From the courtyard you step into a cool sitting room with a 4-metre vaulted ceiling, shuttered windows and polished wooden floors. It feels almost monastic - in fact this was once a wealthy wine merchant's house. You'll find a sofa and chairs, a coffee table made from an old stable door, a pretty ceiling light of coiled olive branches. In case the weather turns, there's an antique round dining table, while a media player with movies and a fully primed Sonos audio system should keep you amused.

Off this room, one on each side, are the master bedroom with its vast four-poster stacked with pillows, and a smaller double (or twin, at a pinch) ideal for kids. By comparison, the bathroom (complimentary Kores toiletries provided) - with curtainless, cymbal-sized shower and pebbled floors - and the adjoining kitchen (see Eating) feel a little poky, though they do the job. But you'll spend most of the time outside, either around the pool or in the smaller rear courtyard.

Kyani has 3 bedroom suites, each with its own bathroom and separate entrance, and 2 of them with their own kitchenette; as for communal space, there is a small indoor dining room on the top floor. It's an unusual layout, best suited to 3 couples, or possibly a pair of families, who know each other well. But it also has some gorgeous touches: the panoramic dining terrace, the raised pool with its soft LED lighting echoing the illuminated church opposite.

You enter into a larger courtyard, laid with the same black pebbles and with a raised plunge pool at the end. Behind are some wind-sheltered sit-outs tucked amid part-ruined walls. The largest and coolest suite is downstairs: a white vaulted canava reminiscent of a Cycladic chapel, with a groovily curved bed base in grey polished cement, and a huge tub in its adjoining bathroom (there's a shower, too). The other downstairs suite is lighter, with a smaller bedroom (also queensize) and a large, rustic bathroom (stones still have some sharp edges). It's the only one without a kitchenette.

Head upstairs, past the dining terrace with its lofty views of the village church, to the 3rd suite. This has its own sitting/TV room with a kitchenette (no oven) hidden behind a bar counter. The queen bedroom and bathroom lead off it. There's another of those huge bath vats, an indoor dining room, more olive branches, white walls and the odd piece of simple art - all quite comfy and very charming but not the all-out design flair of some of Santorini's top end hotels.

Features include:

  • Bathrobes
  • Hairdryer
  • Iron
  • Safe box
  • Washing machine
  • WiFi

Eating

Both houses have kitchens or kitchenettes with basic cooking facilities, plus an outdoor dining terrace or courtyard, and an indoor dining room - fine for making breakfasts and simple lunches. There are excellent tavernas and restaurants within walking distance.

Bear in mind that you'll need to buy provisions, as only the basics (salt, pepper, oil, vinegar, sugar, espresso pods, 2 bottles of water) are supplied along with the complimentary bottle of fine local wine for booking through i-escape. Again, not a problem with a great bakery (open 20 hours a day!) in the village, and a supermarket just outside.

Sophia has a small kitchen with a stylish Smeg fridge-freezer and electric oven, sink, a few appliances (kettle, espresso and filter coffee machine, sandwich maker) and basic cutlery and crockery. There is a small but pretty dining courtyard with a portable BBQ, screened by bougainvillea, with a table for 6. Or you can snack around the pool.

Kyani has simpler kitchenettes in 2 of the 3 suites, but not in the third. Both kitchenettes have ceramic rings, fridge-freezer, coffee machines, sink, kettle, toaster and basic cutlery-crockery. The upstairs kitchenette is in a bar layout. There's a panoramic outdoor dining terrace, seating 6 (or 8 at a squeeze), with lovely views over the village to the sea, as well as a rustic dining table also seating 6 indoors.

There are 2 delightful tavernas in the village square, about 100m away: Raki, with its outdoor tables under a shady pergola (June-Sept only), and Marmita (open all year) just opposite. There's also a really nice Wine Bar and Art centre Melisachne and not far from the village square, is Feggera, said to offer the best food in town. All these restaurants serve a range of cuisines including classic Santorinian and Greek dishes.

Otherwise, we can recommend Metaxy Mas taverna in Exo Gonia, Nikolas in the main street of Fira, or Roka in Oia: all serve unpretentious Greek fare at sensible prices (a rarity on Santorini!). For something more upscale, try Selenein Fira or Red Bicyclein Oia.

Features include:

  • Chef on request
  • Coffee maker
  • Fridge
  • Hob or stove
  • Kids' meals
  • Kitchenette
  • Restaurants nearby
  • Toaster
Eating:
Activity:

Activities

Being in Megalochori, which is in the centre of the island, you're well placed for exploring the whole of Santorini. Though equally, it is the kind of place where you could easily spend a week sitting and doing very little!

  • Visit one of the nearby wineries for a tasting of local vinsanto and other (mostly white) varietals; Gavalas Winery is almost next door to Kyani (and just 50 metres from Sophia)
  • Megalochori is a pretty, tranquil little village; there's not much to visit (beyond a few tavernas, restaurants and churches), but it's all very picturesque, and mostly car-free
  • Pyrgos (3km) is also worth a trip: the highest village on the island, with a ruined castle, a pretty outdoor cafe under the church tower, and a surprisingly decent taverna on the square
  • For the best caldera views, drive to Imerovigli and follow your nose towards the amazing plug of rock in front of you: small paths lead up to the ruined castle on its summit, others round the left to a hidden chapel with amazing views over the sea-filled crater
  • A boat trip to the lava islands in the caldera is a must, even though you will by no means be alone: lunar-like rocks and a still smouldering crater await you. Prebook at any local agency (ask which trips are least subscribed, and allow time to get down to the old harbour); some include a visit to the "hot springs", where you can swim in thermally warmed, slightly metallic smelling sea water
  • Take the obligatory sunset stroll through Oia, the oh-so-pretty, couply village in the north: the caldera views are truly amazing, and there's some tempting shopping too
  • Swim or snorkel at one of Santorini's black-sand beaches: Perissa and Kamari are the biggest and busiest, with organised watersports; Red Beach and Vlyhada more secluded (all are 10-20 mins' drive)
  • From Kamari, drive up to the hilltop ruins of ancient Thira for stunning views and an insight into the island's classical past; older still are the ash-preserved streets and houses of Minoan Akrotiri

Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Boat trips
  • Cooking classes
  • Historical sites
  • Museums / galleries
  • Private guided tours
  • Sailing
  • Scuba diving
  • Shopping / markets
  • Snorkelling
  • Windsurfing
  • Wine tasting
  • Yoga

Kids

Children are welcome, and Sophia in particular works well for a family with 1 or 2 children. In both houses, the secluded courtyard and private plunge pool are a real blessing - you don't need to worry about disturbing neighbours - and there's no traffic outside.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Of the 2 houses, Sophia is best, sleeping 2-4. The children's bedroom is quite narrow, so if set up as a twin the beds will be close together; alternatively you could use the sitting room sofa bed as the 2nd child bed.

Kyani would be ok for a family with older children who are happy in their own separate suites. All 3 bedrooms are double, not twin, and have their own ensuite bathrooms.

Cots Available

Baby equipment:

  • Cot
  • High chair

Remember  baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking

Children's meals:

Houses are self-catering; the kitchenette means that you can make your own breakfasts and snacks easily and cheaply. There are family-friendly tavernas nearby if you prefer not to cook.

Kids Activities on site:

  • TV and media player
  • iPod and dock
  • Unheated plunge pool

Kids Activities nearby:

  • Megalochori has a playground by the main car park, and there are lots more dotted around the island
  • Take a boat trip to the Lava Islands
  • Swim or snorkel on the island's black sand beaches

Families Should Know:

It's not ideal for toddlers, because (in both houses) the pool is unprotected and the courtyard has a chunky pebbled surface. There are no kids' toys or games, so bring your own.

Distances:

  • Airport: 10 minutes
  • Hospital: 10 minutes
  • Nearest shop: 3 minutes
Kid Friendly:

Location

The houses are in the village of Megalochori, in the middle of Santorini island, close to the airport and the port of Athinios. You'll need a hire car for exploration and shopping.

By Air
Santorini (7km - restricted flights) or Athens (with regular daily domestic flights to Santorini).

By Boat
Fom Athens' port Piraeus, and also from Crete and neighbouring Cycladic islands, there are regular ferries and hydrofoils to Santorini. Most vessels leave Piraeus in the early morning or mid afternoon; ferries take 6-8 hours while hydrofoils take only 4-5 hours but cost more. It is a superb way to arrive, cruising into the caldera and looking up at the volcanic cliffs around you. If arriving by sea, we advise that you check boat timetables (see GTP or ask the hotel) before confirming your hotel booking.

From the Airport/Port
The hotel is about 15 mins drive from both Santorini airport and Santorini (Athinios) port. Staff can help you to arrange car rental, or see our car rental recommendations. If you're really not keen on hiring a car, airport/port transfers are available on request.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.

Airports:

  • Santorini 7.0 km JTR

Other:

  • Beach 5.0 km
  • Shops 0.3 km
  • Restaurant 0.1 km

Our guests' ratings...

Based on 1 independent review from i-escape guests

10/10
Room
8/10
Service
8/10
Value
9/10
Overall

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Rates for Hideaway Houses

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