Saluti da Stampalia
Why it made our list: A postcard view of Chora, six suites built with real ‘meraki‘, and the rare sense that the people behind this place love the island even more than you will.
At a Glance
Terraced into the hillside above Agios Vassilios beach, the building borrows its shape from the traditional Astypalean manor houses below. Local stone, wood, flat roofs, cubic volumes. Every suite faces the Aegean on one side and the castle-topped Chora on the other. It is, quite possibly, the best view on an island full of good ones.
Saluti da Stampalia is not a place to stay inside. The team will tell you which beach the wind favours that morning, pack snacks from breakfast for the road and point you toward the cove nobody else has found yet. Rent a car. Follow the dirt roads. Eat fish at a taverna on the water in Pera Gialos. Come back for a soak in your jacuzzi as the castle lights up across the bay. The name, incidentally, comes from an old Italian postcard found on the island: “Saluti da Stampalia,” hello from Astypalaia. It is exactly that kind of place.
Our Take: Astypalea is genuinely off the grid, not off the beaten path. Saluti is the reason to finally book the flight.
Rooms We Love
The biggest and the brightest. Two levels, balcony with outdoor jacuzzi, views to the Aegean and Chora from the queen bed upstairs. 44 sqm.
A suspension bridge leads to a secluded balcony with a private jacuzzi. That bridge is the detail. King bed, sea and castle views. 25 sqm.
Ground floor, two levels, jacuzzi indoors. The most private of the three, with the sea and Chora from the bedroom above. 44 sqm.
Dining
Breakfast is the event. Different every morning: freshly baked bread, homemade pies, local cheeses, Astypalean thyme honey, mountain tea, seasonal fruit. The kitchen customises to preferences. It is, consistently, one of the things guests talk about most.
There is no restaurant on site for lunch or dinner, and that’s deliberate. The island is best discovered on foot, plate by plate. The team will steer you in the right direction.
Essentials
Check-in:
3:00 PM
Check-out:
11:00 PM
Rooms:
5 Suites
Open:
May 26 to Oct 2
Children:
Ages 12+ welcome
Parking:
Free private outdoor parking
Accessibility:
Not suitable for guests with mobility issues: the property is set on a hillside with steps between levels
- Jacuzzi in every suite (indoor or outdoor, depending on room type)
- Breakfast terrace with sea and Chora views
- Wine selection from southern Aegean vineyards
- Room service (until 10:00 PM)
- Laundry service
- Car, motorbike, bike and boat rental arranged
- Boat trips, fishing, water sports, trekking and guided tours arranged
- Airport and port transfers
- Reservation and ticketing service
- Shopping and grocery delivery
No pets allowed
Astypalaia is a genuinely remote island. Flights from Athens are the fastest option but the small plane has limited seats and sells out early. The ferry from Piraeus is 8.5-12 hours.
There is no international airport on the island.
The property is set on a hillside with steps.
A car or ATV is necessary to explore the island’s beaches, many of which are reached by unpaved roads.
The island is wind-exposed; the team advises daily on beach conditions.
Astypalea Airport: 11.5KM / 22min drive
Astypalea Port: 4.5KM / 11 min drive
Chora: 2.6KM/ 10min drive
Getting Here:
Fly direct via Athens
Ferry from Piraeus (Athens) 4-5 times per week, 8.5-12 hours depending on route and stops.
Connects with*:
- Leros via 3HR ferry
- Donousa via 2.5HR ferry
- Naxos via 4HR ferry
- Paros via 5H ferry
- Kos via 2HR ferry
*ferry times and schedules differ each day
As off the betean path as it gets
