Guide To Visiting Santorini With Kids

The Greek Island of Santorini may not be the first place you think of visiting with children – but don’t be put off. We have previously visited the ‘party island’ of Mykonos with kids and wanted to see how child-friendly Santorini would be. We travelled to Santorini in October half termfor five nights with our two daughters who were 5 and 1 at the time. Santorini proved to be a perfect family holiday in the autumn with the weather still balmy and less busy. Read on for my guide to visiting Santorini with kids. If you are still weighing up visiting Santorini with children, also read my article on the pros and cons of Santorini with kids.

When to visit Santorini with kids?

Santorini is one of Greece’s most popular islands. Two million people visit the small island every year and it is a cruise stop-off. Go in low season and avoid visiting during the summer when it’s hot and crowded. We chose to go during half term in mid October. Although the popular spots were still busy, it was nothing like it gets in the summer months. The cooler weather was also far better when travelling around Santorini with children too.

Book accommodation in less popular towns

We looked at some of the hotels on the island but found a lot were unsuitable for children. Some had steep stairs to enter, the rooms were small and there were a few adult-only hotels too.

The picturesque town of Oia is the most popular on the island but I am glad we didn’t stay there as a family. Many of the hotel terraces are very close to the edge of the cliff and the town is busy.

Instead, we booked a beautiful apartment in the town of Pyrgos, the old capital of the island. It was quieter and still had an incredible view over the caldera. It also gave us the opportunity to discover a more localised area of the island which didn’t have such inflated restaurant prices.

How to get around Santorini with kids?

I would hugely recommend hiring a car to get around Santorini with kids. There is so much to discover on the island: from black and red beaches to a Bronze Age settlement, Roman ruins and cliff-top towns. You will want to have an independent mode of transport. Taxis are few and far between (there’s around 20 on the whole island) so hire a car to get the most out of your trip with children to Santorini. You can’t beat having the freedom to discover the island on your own terms and stopping when you want to take pictures of the scenery.

Do your restaurant research

Santorini is known for its good food and we had some excellent meals. We also had a couple of very average dinners – which were expensive. Do your research on restaurants before you go so you aren’t paying tourist prices. We found the prices in Pyrgos far cheaper than Oia and Fira. You will pay extra for the caldera view on the west of the island.

Check out the lesser known towns

Oia (pronounced ee-ya) is the best known place on the island and is a must-see but there are plenty of other towns you can explore too. I recommend Pyrgos where we stayed. It’s another picturesque place with white-washed buildings and castle ruins.

If you have young children (and a pushchair), climbing to the top of the town to see its castle ruins will be tricky but even half way up the views are impressive. Paul took the girls for something to eat while I explored the top of town and was treated to these views.

Take a baby carrier

If you are travelling with a baby, take a carrier with you. Most of the towns are steep with cobbled streets. We managed with a buggy (it is doable) and provided us with some good exercise!

Enjoy the black beaches

Santorini marked my first time on black sand! The quirky-coloured particles fascinated my daughter and she loved finding black and grey pebbles on the beach. We went to Perissa which has 7km of black sand and a couple of upmarket eateries and beach bars with sun loungers.

Check out the unique geology

As well as black beaches there are red and white ones. The volcanic activity which has taken place over thousands of years has given the island a fascinating geology and archaeology.

You can see the famous red beach from a viewpoint in Akrotiri. I wouldn’t advise attempting the trek to the red beach with children as it’s rocky and steep. Do enjoy looking down at it from the viewpoint (although leave the buggy in the car) as it’s a rocky climb.

Take a look at the Bronze Age settlement at Akrotiri (close to the red beach). It was buried when a powerful volcano erupted in 1627BC. The lava which flowed into the town preserved many of its buildings and contents. From ancient vases and colourful wall frescoes to toilets and town halls. It’s a fascinating look at life 3,500 years ago. The excavation site is under cover and easily accessible with a buggy.

Skip the boat trip

I wouldn’t advise going on the boat cruise around the lagoon with young children for safety reasons. If you have older children then go for it. There’s the option to climb the volcanic island in the caldera, Nea Kameni as well

Enjoy the views and sunsets

Santorini is famous for its stunning views. Enjoy looking at them, in safety, from some of the many vistas in Santorini. Avoid going to the touristy hotspots such as the castle in Oia with young children. It is steep with no railings and would get very busy. Instead, if you are in Oia, position yourself in one of the many eateries or along the pathway which weaves around the town.

Most elevated places on the east side of the island give excellent viewpoints. This was from a restaurant in Fira.

The castle in Pyrgos, and the views from our apartment were spectacular too. My daughter snapped this sunset from a low key restaurant in Pyrgos.

This was also in Pyrgos.

The east of the island is a bit more rugged but you can see Crete in the distance. Santorini has some fantastic views – and sunsets – wherever you go on the island. 

If you decide to go to Santorini, have a great time! We had an amazing holiday there – and are very tempted to return. At times the steep gradient was tiring but don’t let that discourage you. There’s much more to learn and gain from a visit to Santorini.

For more on our trip to Santorini, check out my post on the pros and cons of visiting Santorini with kids and see the film of our trip to Santorini.

Other recommended reads

Mykonos: Can the party island be family friendly?
Guide to visiting Hong Kong with Kids
10 tips for City breaks with Kids

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