Santorini cave houses, or yposkafa, are dwellings hand-dug into the soft caldera cliff, once the homes of poor sailors and now the island’s most coveted luxury suites, with private plunge pools and sunset views in Oia, Imerovigli and Fira. This guide covers what they are, the history, the experience, where to find them and how to book.
Cave houses are the iconic place to stay in the wider Santorini travel guide. They are unique to the caldera rim. The sections below cover cave houses.
What are Santorini cave houses?
Santorini cave houses, called yposkafa, are homes carved horizontally into the soft volcanic rock of the caldera cliffs, with barrel-shaped ceilings, arched doorways and narrow façades. Found only on the caldera’s edge, the traditional dwellings have been transformed into luxury cave suites with caldera and sunset views.
Cave houses are Santorini’s signature form of building. Known as yposkafa, literally dug into the rock, they were hollowed out horizontally into the soft layer of pumice and volcanic ash that forms the caldera cliffs, producing homes with distinctive barrel-vaulted ceilings, arched interior doorways, small front windows and a slim façade where they meet the cliff face. Naturally insulated, they stay cool in summer and warm in winter. Today the great majority of these caldera-edge dwellings have been restored and converted into boutique hotels and suites, making the cave house both a piece of living history and the most sought-after place to stay on the island, set within the wider where to stay in Santorini. Their origins are humble.
What is the history of cave houses?
Cave houses began as the homes of Santorini’s poorer residents, often sailors and farmers, who could not afford to build on the land above and instead dug into the cliff. Cheap, cool and sheltered, the yposkafa housed ordinary families for generations before tourism turned them into prized luxury suites.
The cave house has risen from poverty to prestige. For centuries the yposkafa were the dwellings of Santorini’s ordinary working people, the sailors, fishermen and farm labourers who lacked the means to construct a freestanding house on the plateau above and instead excavated cheap, durable homes straight into the soft caldera rock. Cool in the fierce summer, warm in the windy winter and safe from the elements, they suited the harsh island life, and whole communities of them honeycombed the cliffs below the grander captains’ mansions. As tourism transformed Santorini, these once-modest caves, with their unrivalled position on the caldera edge, became the foundation of the island’s luxury accommodation, set out alongside the guides to Oia and Fira. Staying in one is special.
What is it like to stay in a cave house?
Staying in a cave house means a suite carved into the cliff with smooth, curved white walls, often a private plunge pool or terrace, and a direct view over the caldera and sunset. The thick rock keeps the rooms cool and quiet, blending traditional character with modern luxury and the island’s best vistas.
A cave suite is an experience in itself. Inside, the rooms have the soft, rounded forms of the original excavation, with smooth whitewashed walls curving into vaulted ceilings, giving a calm, cocooning feel quite unlike a conventional hotel room. The best come with a private plunge pool or hot tub on a terrace hung over the cliff, so you can swim or soak gazing straight out at the caldera, the volcano and the famous sunset. The metres of rock above keep the interior naturally cool and remarkably quiet. Modern conversions add every comfort, from air conditioning to fine bathrooms, while keeping the cave character, marrying tradition with indulgence, set out alongside the guides to a Santorini honeymoon and the sunset. Location and price matter.
Where are they and how do you book?
Cave houses cluster in the caldera-edge villages of Oia, Imerovigli, Firostefani and Fira, with Oia having the most. They are a luxury splurge, often costing several hundred euros a night in season, so book well ahead, especially for sunset-view suites, which sell out months in advance for summer.
The cave suites line the western, caldera-facing cliffs. Oia has the largest concentration and the most romantic, photogenic setting, followed by lofty Imerovigli, quieter Firostefani and the more central, lively Fira, all sharing the same incomparable view west over the bay. These are luxury stays, with caldera-view cave suites in Oia commanding some of the highest room rates in Greece, frequently several hundred euros a night in peak summer, though simpler cave rooms set back from the edge cost less. Because the best sell out months ahead, book early through hotels, villa specialists or rental platforms, and confirm whether the suite truly has the caldera and sunset view, set out alongside the guides to Imerovigli and Santorini on a budget. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Santorini cave house?
A Santorini cave house, or yposkafa, is a home carved horizontally into the soft volcanic rock of the caldera cliffs, with barrel-vaulted ceilings and arched doorways. Once the homes of poor sailors, they are now restored into luxury cave suites with caldera and sunset views.
Where are the cave houses in Santorini?
The cave houses are in the caldera-edge villages of Oia, Imerovigli, Firostefani and Fira on the island’s west side, with Oia having the largest number. All share the famous view west over the caldera, the volcano and the sunset, which makes them the most sought-after places to stay.
Are Santorini cave houses expensive?
Santorini cave houses are a luxury splurge, with caldera-view cave suites in Oia among the priciest rooms in Greece, often several hundred euros a night in peak summer. Simpler cave rooms set back from the edge cost less. Book well ahead, as the best sunset-view suites sell out.