This tiny Greek island has bright blue and white contrasts. It’s high on romantic getaway lists. But are Santorini Greece family hotels suitable for your holiday? Could this postcard-perfect island interest kids? We decided to revisit and find out.
Santorini Greece Family Hotels
Choosing where to stay took a long time. After much deliberation, we picked Oia. We weren’t sure what our kids would think. But the sunny views and sparkly caldera won them over. We kept days very low-key, enjoying afternoon ice creams and sunset dinners at Oia restaurants.
Visiting Santorini With Younger Children
Oia has easy walking paths, but you’ll want to wander the cliff paths. Personally, I wouldn’t feel comfortable with a child under 8 there. From that age, they can appreciate the location and better navigate the walkways. Though I did see tourists with strollers and babies.
If unsure about taking a toddler or baby, think about what you want from the holiday. If just a sunny Greek vacation with little ones, try nearby Crete or Naxos instead. That said, if Santorini with a baby is your goal, Oia is certainly the place to stay – it’s easiest for navigating with a stroller.
Best Villages for a Santorini, Greece Family Hotel:
Oia: (pronounced ee-yah )
In the Pretty Village of Oia, Northwest Santorini Oia is certainly Santorini’s most famous village. It’s the one you see on most postcards. Additionally, Oia sits on the caldera’s edge. Here you’ll find those white houses and blue-domed churches. Evidently, Oia offers magnificent sea views you’ll love admiring and photographing on every street.
Moreover, Oia is the place to enjoy breathtaking sunsets. Each evening, thousands gather to watch Santorini’s famous sunset spectacle. If you want the most picturesque Santorini village, Oia is best!
Positives for Staying in Oia:
- If you wish to be in the island’s prettiest village
- If you want a dreamy hotel with a pool and caldera view
If you like a lively atmosphere - If budget isn’t an issue or you want a romantic treat
Imerovigli:
Tranquil Imerovigli is a great choice for breathtaking Caldera views.
Imerovigli also offers tranquillity along with views of the volcano and breathtaking sunsets. A main square leads up to the Caldera and traditional hillside cave settlements. If you continue on the Oia road, Imerovigli’s lower plains similarly provide wonderful east coast sunset views.
The 1956 volcano eruption destroyed much of Imerovigli. Some residents perished, while others moved to the mainland. Since then, Imerovigli has been restored. It’s now home to some of the island’s most beautiful hotels and traditional cave house settlements.
Fira:
The Heart of Santorini – Fira Village Fira is the second-most famous village after Oia. It’s certainly an excellent place to stay.
Fira is the island’s capital. You’ll find those iconic white and blue houses here. Notably, stunning viewpoints that made Santorini world-famous are also present.
A beautiful walk along the caldera leads from Fira to Firostefani in just ten minutes on foot. You can similarly reach Imerovigli in only 30 minutes walking. Imerovigli would be a shame to miss, as it’s at the caldera’s highest point. You can furthermore hike from Imerovigli to Oia on a beautiful trek.
Positives for Staying in Fira:
- As a central base to explore the whole island.
- You can enjoy the nightlife here, as Fira has Santorini’s widest bar and club selection.
- Alternatively, luxury accommodations are available, albeit slightly less expensive than Oia.
Kamari and Perissa:
The villages of Kamari and Perissa are on Santorini’s east side, below the airport. Ancient Thera’s archaeological site separates them.
Unlike Oia and Fira, they resemble seaside resorts more.
- You will find quite a few bars and nightclubs here. They cater to a younger crowd with lively evenings.
- Kamari and Perissa boast having long black sand beaches. So if you want to stay near the beach, I recommend these villages.
- Additionally, lodging is usually more affordable here than western and central Santorini.
Akrotiri:
Akrotiri is located in Santorini’s south. This area is known for the Akrotiri archaeological site and Red Beach. Red Beach is famous for its ochre cliffs and red sand. You can only access it by foot on a trail taking less than 10 minutes.
While pleasant, the village itself may not have those postcard-typical houses like other areas. However, it’s a great Santorini stay if you want to avoid the most touristy spots.
Why We Chose Oia for Our Santorini Family Hotel
We stayed in Oia because it’s the prettiest place in Santorini, although Imerovigli is gorgeous too but feels more couple-oriented. Despite Oia’s tourism, even lazy days felt magnificent staying there. It doesn’t come cheap, however some affordable options exist. Small supermarkets and a bakery are nearby where we had breakfast daily.
Advantages of Staying in Oia:
- Within steps you have Santorini’s best – gorgeous daytime and sunset views – right at your doorstep.
- You avoid fighting crowds on buses to/from Fira or driving there for parking.
- Oia is elegant and clean, while Fira bustles with people.
- If you stay in Oia, you can see a lot in the cooler morning hours before the crowds and heat arrive.
The Downside of Oia:
- Accommodation costs more.
- We found cheaper food places in Fira, minus the views we got everywhere in Oia.
- Oia also has massive crowds, large groups come for sunset views and photos.
- Trying to take an “iconic” photo there can get unpleasantly packed.
Is Santorini a Family Hotel Destination?
We visited in April before peak season. Consequently, it looked exactly like the pictures. Nevertheless, planning logistics for this family vacation was quite complicated. I’d definitely recommend starting far in advance.
Whether Santorini suits your needs depends entirely on your priorities. For instance, I wouldn’t list it as particularly kid-friendly. Conversely, if you want a romantic adults-only getaway, Santorini should absolutely make your list.
Reasons Not to Book Santorini Greece Family Hotels
Here are a few reasons why Santorini is great for romantic/adults trips but challenging with kids:
- It can be expensive
- Much charm comes from fancy clubs and gourmet dining, not really kid stuff
- Steep, winding walkways aren’t stroller-friendly
- Getting there is relatively awkward
- Island transportation can be difficult
So for couples’ or adults-only vacations, Santorini is ideal. But with kids, you may want to consider elsewhere unless you don’t mind the challenges.
That said, we had a great time and found kid-friendly things without spending too much. We don’t really vacation without our kids – I wish they were there when we travel sans kids. These factors made Santorini a nice stop for us.
In summary, if your kids are at least 8, you can make Santorini work and should go for it. If, however, you’re looking for an easier, cheaper couples getaway, do that trip kid-free and take the kids somewhere else.
If You Go to Santorini Greece Looking for Family Hotels
Here Are Our 6 Top Tips:
1. Rent a Car
Santorini isn’t as pedestrian-friendly as expected. Roads lack side walks, so walking means being in the street. Cars drive ridiculously fast with no apparent police regulation. Walking felt dangerous whenever our plans required it. Buses are nice but have limited schedules, are confusing, and don’t reach everywhere easily. Rent a car with Rentalcars.com, it makes life easier.
2. Visit in Spring
We went in the first two weeks in May – amazing! Still lively but not overly crowded. Temperatures ranged 55-70°F, sunny 8 out of 9 days. Wildflowers bloomed, accentuating the landscape and architecture beauty. Too cool for swimming but nice for sunbathing and playing on black sand beaches.
3. Rent a Hotel Suite With a Kitchen
Food and drinks cost about double compared to elsewhere in Greece. I dislike eating out for every meal. Our kids appreciated having some dinners at home after long walking days. Take a look on Booking.com for self catering accommodation.
4. Plan Travel Well in Advance
I wrongly assumed abundant options, but ferries and some flights weren’t running until after we arrived. Have more options travelling directly from Athens.
5. Expect Rapid Temperature Drops at Spring Sunset
One minute basking in warmth, the next in jackets with hoods up.
6. For Babies/Toddlers, Use a Carrier Not a Stroller
Strollers don’t work well in Santorini’s terrain – bring a carrier or backpack instead.
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