Katikies Garden Santorini, part of Leading Hotels of the World, sits within Fira’s historic Venetian quarter on the grounds of a former monastery, offering a more enclosed, garden-focused stay

The layout is built around the original monastery footprint, with a series of courtyards, walkways and planted spaces replacing the usual cliffside terraces. Movement flows through shaded passages, open courtyards and garden pockets, creating a contained environment that feels deliberately inward-looking compared to Santorini’s more exposed caldera properties.

Restored architectural elements remain visible throughout, with arched forms, thicker walls and softer lines giving the space a different rhythm. The presence of greenery, rare for Santorini, changes the atmosphere entirely, with bougainvillea, planted borders and water features breaking up the otherwise clean lines.

Staying

The 40 suites are set across this layout, each designed to feel private rather than hotel-like, with separate entrances and outdoor space forming part of the living area. Interiors are more detailed than typical caldera properties, with a slightly richer palette and a stronger sense of enclosure.

Private pools, gardens or verandas feature across most categories, including Garden Suites and Pool Suites, allowing for a more self-contained stay where time is spent within your own space rather than around shared areas.

Dining is centred on Selene Restaurant, a long-established name on the island, where Ettore Botrini leads a more refined interpretation of Santorini cuisine. The setting carries as much weight as the food, with the former monastery space giving it a more grounded feel than the usual caldera dining rooms.

Alongside this, Selene Wine Bar and the Wine Caves introduce a more structured wine focus, with curated tastings led by Yannis Karakasis MW, while the main bar and poolside areas offer a more relaxed alternative across the day.

Experience

The main pool sits within the garden setting rather than facing outward, reinforcing the more private, inward feel of the property. Spaces are broken into smaller zones rather than one central terrace, which keeps the atmosphere quieter and less exposed.

Days tend to revolve around the suite, the pool and dining spaces, with the option to step directly into Fira when needed. The location allows easy access to the town’s restaurants, museums and shops, while still keeping a clear separation once inside the property.

Wellness

A.SPA provides a more defined wellness offering, with treatment rooms set within the garden surroundings and a focus on restorative therapies. The setting works in its favour, using the quieter layout of the hotel to create a more contained spa environment.

Where

Located in central Fira, around 200 metres from the Archaeological Museum of Thera, the hotel offers immediate access to the island’s main hub, with Santorini Airport approximately 7 kilometres away and the port around 10 kilometres, making it one of the more convenient bases on the island.