Hotel Review: Magma Resort Santorini

The hotel is at Vourvoulos, just a ten-minute drive from the airport. It's situated quite a distance inland, with the nearest beach just over a kilometre away. Both the Orthodox Metropolitan and the Catholic cathedrals, the Archaeological Museum of Thera, the cable car, central bus station and Museum of Prehistoric Thera are around a couple of kilometres away. Resort staff can help arrange activities such as wine tours, boat trips, volcano and hot spring tours, horseback riding, scuba diving lessons and more. At nearby Sigalas Winery, you can enjoy a delightful five-course meal paired with their wines amongst the vineyards.

By plane: direct flights to Thira take around 4 hours from London and Manchester. It's less than a 10-minute drive to the hotel. Free parking available. Book flights to Thira.

As soon as you arrive here the relaxing vibe engulfs you. Having only opened in August 2022, everything is sparkling (and ferociously maintained) and the decor is swish and up-to-the-minute. There's lots of uplifting light and earthy tones, with simple, uncluttered guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows letting in lots of light. The restaurant is of a simple design, too, with grey slate tables, black string chairs and soft soulful music to enhance the chilled tone.

There's a tranquil and cosy spa with a sauna and steam room, a fitness centre, an outdoor pool, restaurant, bar and al fresco seating beyond it. There's also a roof terrace above the restaurant and three small shops in the lobby. The restaurant, bar and reception staff are exemplary.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Sun terrace
• Swimming pool
• Fitness centre
• Spa
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi

Rooms and suites offer views of the Aegean Sea and Anafi Island. They have verandas or terraces, and most feature private pools or hot tubs. The décor is earthy, with light grey, mushroom or cream painted walls, wooded wall sections, a wooden desk or smooth moulded desk and sofa area, a cream stone-tiled floor and wall-to-ceiling sliding doors. Some of the bathrooms feature a white oval freestanding bath.

Room types: Room, Junior Suite, Lava Suite, Magma Suite

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with toiletries, Nespresso machine, air-con, TV, free Wi-Fi

The fine dining menu at the restaurant, Magma by Spondi, is overseen by two Michelin-starred chef Arnaud Bignon. Both subtle and complex flavours combine to create very impressive and imaginative dishes. There is a simpler lunch menu, and the breakfast buffet and á la carte menu are suitably large and varied. The poolside restaurant has a terrace overlooking the sea in the distance.

Magma by Spondi: terrace restaurant, sea views. Fine dining, seasonal ingredients. Open daily for dinner, 7pm-12am.