Santorini is a destination location for couples. The atmosphere is tailor-made for romance, and it shows in the number of attractions that cater to it.
Santorini doesn’t exactly advertise itself as an island for families.
Is Santorini a good place for families? Santorini is not the ideal place to travel with your family. The cliffs, steep walking trails, black sand beaches, and romance-driven mindset all seem to exclude children. However, it’s still possible for a family to have a good time in Santorini if they know how to go about it.
Keep reading below to find out more about Santorini and what it offers to families that come for a visit.
While it is a honeymooner’s destination, there are definitely some family-oriented options.
You’ll also find a list of the top 10 hotels in Santorini that have rooms for more than two people.
So, Is Santorini a Good Place for Families?
Santorini is a beautiful and unique volcanic island that anyone would be happy to visit. The landscape alone is breathtaking.
With Santorini on your bucket list, you might be wondering if it’s a good idea to pack up the whole family and head to Greece.
Truthfully, Santorini is not the best place to travel with children in tow. The island is geared much more toward couples, and the romantic vibe is what it thrives on. Many of the hotels have rooms that only accommodate two people rather than an entire family.
Santorini’s Geography is not exactly Child-Safe
Because Santorini is a volcanic island, the beaches are made up of black sand and tend to get incredibly hot. They also feature waters with drop-offs in random places that could make swimming uncertain for children.
The island has beautiful views and cities to visit, but a lot of the geography consists of cliffs and hills. Steep staircases and narrow alleys are common. Not to mention, most of the vacationers on Santorini are adults on a romantic getaway who aren’t thrilled to see children wandering around.
Even if it’s not ideal for a major family vacation, Santorini is still a perfectly nice place to visit with your entire family. There are enough things for you to do with kids that can take up a few days of your vacation and have a great time in the process.
Read More: Are The Greek Island Kid-friendly?
Things to Do in Santorini with Kids
If you’re planning a family vacation to Greece and you don’t want to miss out on seeing Santorini while you’re there, you can still spend time on the island with everyone. Just take a look at what family-friendly things you can find while you’re in Santorini to maximize the fun of your stay.
Take a Boat Tour of the Caldera
The caldera is one of the most popular spots in Santorini for a reason. What kid isn’t wowed by a volcanic crater?
Don’t miss out on taking one of the many tours offered to see the volcano.
You can take a half-day or a full-day tour, and even find options that offer snorkeling off the boat, swimming to the volcanic hot springs, and stops at beaches and villages along the way.
Santorini Water Park
Located in Perissa, this small water park is a favorite of most kids that come to the island. It is on the smaller side, featuring only a few slides, pools, and a play area, but it can make for a fun day of splashing around.
Explore Smaller Towns
While Fira and Oia are the biggest, most popular towns, you will find fewer crowds and so much to see in some of the smaller towns around the island. Emporio and Pyrgos are both historical towns that will keep you and your kids occupied for a day of exploring.
Take a walk from Fira to Oia
If you are visiting the bigger towns, you may want to consider walking between them. It is quite the walk (around 6 miles), but it is an unforgettable experience.
TIP: Try going early in the morning before it gets hot.
See a Movie at Cine Kamari
Located near both major cities, Cine Kamari is an open-air cinema where the whole family can enjoy a movie.
Most of the time, they show blockbusters that are in English with Greek subtitles. Not every movie is kid-friendly, but they release the schedule 2 months in advance so you can find the best night to go.
Tips for Your Family Vacation to Santorini
Dead-set on visiting Santorini during your vacation? It may be intimidating to think about taking the whole family to the island, but there are a few things you can do to make the entire experience easier for everyone.
Book Your Vacation in the off Season
Summer is the best time for vacations, but Santorini is incredibly busy and crowded in the summer months. Going during the spring or fall is your best bet for cooler temperatures and more room to move.
Read more about the cheapest month to visit Greece here.
Visit More Than One Island
Going to Greece doesn’t mean you have to pick one place to stay for your entire vacation. You can easily spend 2 or 3 days in Santorini and then move on to one of the other islands. It’s not that difficult to catch a ferry ride somewhere else for more vacation fun.
Go out Early in the Day
Going to the beach and for walks is better done early before it gets too hot to do anything. This is especially true with kids on the beach. If you’re out earlier, the sand won’t scorch their feet. Water shoes are also good for preventing this.
Leave the Stroller Behind
Most of Santorini isn’t stroller accessible. The paths are narrow and steep, and you’re more than likely just going to have a harder time lugging it around. Baby carriers are the way to go if your child is small enough.
Book as Early as Possible
Santorini isn’t known for its family accommodations. The number of rooms that host more than 2 people at a time are limited. Some hotels don’t even allow children for the sake of noise. Snag your room early to prevent missing out.
Consider Staying in a Smaller Town
Most of the time, it will only take you 30 minutes or less to travel from a town like Perissa or Kamari to the bigger towns. The hotels are more likely to have other kids present, and the rooms will cost you less.
Top 10 Hotels in Santorini for Families
Booking a hotel in Santorini can be difficult, especially during the summer. It’s best to book your room as early as possible to avoid being left without any options. Family rooms are much more difficult to find than rooms for couples. Here are the best places for you to book for your vacation.
1. Andronis Concept Wellness Resort
Geared toward families, this incredible luxury resort located in Imerovigli features suites and villas for every family to enjoy. Each room has its own private heated pool and beautiful views of the Aegean Sea. There are also 3 larger public pools on the property.
Kids will get the royal treatment at Andronis Concept Wellness resort.
They can enjoy a spa treatment, join in a yoga class, take a cooking class, or play tennis. There are amenities for children all over the hotel, including at the pools and the restaurant.
2. Aria Villa and Suites
You don’t have to give up your dream of a luxury vacation just because you’re bringing the entire family along. Aria Villa and Suites in Fira is one of the few luxury hotels on the island that allows children to stay as well as adults.
The hotel offers family suites with enough room for the entire family. The villas are newer and set apart somewhat from the main hotel, giving you more privacy.
Even though it is in a bigger town, it is set away from the noise down a private path, so you don’t have to worry about the nightlife.
3. Strogili
Found in Oia, this hotel has gorgeous views of the caldera from a nice quiet place in town. Some villas can sleep up to 5 people, giving your family plenty of room to move around. Each villa has its own terrace so you can enjoy the view.
You can easily reach the heart of Oia from Strogili. It is a short distance from the airport and only a mile from the beach.
The pedestrian-only walking path is a short 4-minute walk from the hotel, so you and the family can get out and go exploring with ease.
4. Astra Suites
In this luxury hotel, families with older children can book the Family Suite or the Astra Private Villa.
Each has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms as well as small kitchenettes and outdoor jacuzzis. Since the Astra Private Villa is located apart from the main hotel, it even has its own swimming pool.
5. Oia Mansion
This isn’t truly a hotel. Instead, Oia Mansion is a large private villa with 4 bedrooms that sleeps up to 8 people. It’s perfect for even the biggest families that want to get away from it all and enjoy the beauty of Santorini.
Oia Mansion operates at the peak of luxury. You get all the services you could ever hope for while staying right in the heart of one of the biggest towns on the island.
From the terrace, you have a breathtaking view of the sunset over the water.
6. Tsitouras Collection
Stay in Firostefani at this small 5-room luxury hotel for a nice, relaxing family vacation.
You can choose between one of the large suites or the villa that sleeps up to 6 people. The hotel has an infinity pool and views of the caldera and volcano.
7. Aqua Blue Beach Hotel
This hotel in Perissa sits right on the beach, so you don’t have to do any traveling. It features rooms that sleep families of 4 as well as larger lofts that have 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
Aqua Blue has 2 pools and a kids’ pool if you don’t feel like getting out on the beach. It’s also wheelchair accessible.
8. San Giorgio Villas
Get comfortable in this quaint family-owned hotel in Fira, where you can easily walk to all sorts of attractions, including the caldera.
The rooms are wonderful quality and can sleep families of 3 or 4 without any trouble. This hotel offers a wonderful out of the way stay for anyone on a budget.
9. Merovigliosso Apartments
Located in Imerovigli, this hotel is perfect for the budget-wary family that still wants to stay in a beautiful location.
You can stay in their luxury apartments that sleep families up to 4 and have their own kitchenettes and jacuzzi tubs.
You can even expect to find views of the caldera and a small pool for relaxing.
10. Anemomilos Hotel Apartments
If you’re hoping to stay in a larger town like Oia but don’t want to spend a fortune, Anemomilos Hotel Apartments is the perfect choice for you.
It is a short walk from dining and shopping, so you don’t have to miss out on the fun of staying in Santorini even if you’re on a budget.
Make the Best of Your Family Stay in Santorini
While it may not be a highly recommended Greek island for family trips, fun with the kids in Santorini isn’t out of reach. You can easily make a fun-filled vacation stop out of the island for you and your kids that you won’t soon forget.
So, get ready to mark Santorini off your bucket list.
Even if you’re not going on a romantic excursion or your honeymoon, you can have a great time visiting the island. With a little mindfulness, you will find that Santorini can be a wonderful place, even for families.
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