If you’re looking for a Santorini travel guide that strips away the crowds and the clichés, you’ve come to the right place. Santorini is one of the most photographed destinations in the world, but beyond the Instagram blue domes and honeymoon checklists, lies a side of the island known only to those who value quiet elegance and heritage rich charm.
Old money doesn’t follow the masses. It finds stillness in simplicity, and beauty in tradition. And Santorini, when experienced with intention becomes the perfect expression of that.
The Ultimate Old Money Elegance Santorini Travel Guide
Arriving in Santorini
There are two ways to arrive in Santorini, by air or by sea. Either way, the moment you see the caldera curve around the sparkling Aegean, you know you’ve arrived somewhere special.
The island greets you with silence, space, and light. Let others rush for photos, the luxury traveller simply exhales.
Where to Stay in Santorini
Santorini’s most exclusive experiences don’t shout for attention. They are carved into cliffs, hidden behind whitewashed facades, and designed for restoration, not performance.
Canaves Oia Suites
Effortless, pure and perfectly located. Expect infinity pools spilling into the sky, sunset views with a glass of Assyrtiko in hand, and suites that feel like private sanctuaries.
Katikies Hotel
For those who love elegance with architectural character. Multi-level terraces, white on white interiors, and impeccable service make this an enduring favourite.
Perivolas
If your idea of luxury is uninterrupted peace, this is where you check in. Minimalist cave style rooms, no TVs, and a dedication to wellness and rest. The kind of place that re-centres your entire nervous system.
You might also enjoy pairing your Santorini stay with our Monaco travel guide or Amalfi travel guide — both delivering the same tone of tranquil, timeless refinement.
What to Do in Santorini
Santorini isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing it slower, with intention, and never on a schedule.
Sail at Sunset
Book a private catamaran or traditional wooden boat. Glide across the caldera as the cliffs blush pink and the sky turns amber. Aboard, feast on grilled seafood and fresh mezze, prepared quietly and served with grace.
Visit Ancient Akrotiri
A Minoan Bronze Age settlement frozen in time. This archaeological site offers a glimpse into the sophisticated past of an island that has always held mystery and magic.
Spend the Afternoon in Pyrgos
Unlike Oia or Fira, Pyrgos is almost untouched by time. Its winding streets, stone houses and shaded tavernas offer a side of Santorini that feels secret. Come here for lunch, stay for wine, and watch the sun dip below the hills.
Wine Tasting with a View
Visit Estate Argyros or Venetsanos Winery, both offer refined tastings of Santorini’s mineral rich whites and deep reds. Book a private session, and savour each pour with volcanic views.
Where to Eat
Grecian cuisine doesn’t need reinvention. In Santorini, ingredients do the heavy lifting. Simplicity reigns, and meals unfold slowly.
Selene, Pyrgos
Michelin level tasting menus that honour local produce and Greek culinary heritage. Tucked in the heart of Pyrgos, this is destination dining, without the pretence.
Metaxi Mas, Exo Gonia
Quietly known by those who come to Santorini often. No signs, no flash, just unbeatable food, warm hosts, and tables that stretch into golden evenings.
Lauda, Oia
For cliffside dining with elegance. Formerly the village’s only restaurant, Lauda is now a fine dining experience wrapped in history and beauty.
What to Wear in Santorini
Santorini’s palette is soft and refined, your wardrobe should echo this.
Think
- Flowing linen dresses in ivory, beige, and faded olive
- Gold jewellery, subtle, not bold
- Leather sandals or barefoot on stone
- Oversized straw hats and structured sunglasses
- Raffia clutches or canvas totes
- A cotton shawl for evening sea breezes
Avoid prints, logos, or bold colour. Santorini is about natural beauty, your style should complement it, not compete.
Rituals Worth Adopting
Old money elegance isn’t about how much you spend, it’s about how much presence you bring. These Santorini rituals help ground your days in meaning.
- Wake with the sunrise, before the island stirs
- Swim in silence, at private beaches or cliffside pools
- Drink slowly, one glass of wine, not a list
- Dine by candlelight, without your phone
- Walk after dinner, not for steps, but for peace
- Read in the shade, ideally something dog eared and poetic
Let Santorini be your permission to live slowly and fully.
Why Santorini Stays With You
Santorini doesn’t scream luxury. It doesn’t need to. Its cliffs, its silence, its sea they all speak in whispers. It’s the kind of place that marks you quietly. That becomes a reference point for how life could feel when it’s slow, sensory, and sacred.
For those who know how to travel with elegance, Santorini offers everything and demands nothing.
