50m²
Honeymoon Suite
Cave suite with caldera-facing veranda — designed for couples and milestone trips.
View roomWe get this question every week from family travelers: "We are coming with two kids under 8. Should we stay at your hotel?" Most of the time, our answer is no. Not because we do not want family guests, but because Aroma Suites is built into a caldera cliff in Fira. The path to most of our rooms involves a hundred or more steep stone steps. There is no kids' pool, no children's menu, no kids' club, and the rooms are designed around couples and honeymooners.
This is the honest version of "Santorini with kids" written by a hotel that knows itself well enough to tell you when we are not the right fit. We will tell you where you should stay, where to swim, what to do, what to skip, and which Santorini towns make life easier with young children.
This guide is part of our wider Santorini travel guide.
Quick Answer: Santorini works for families, just not the cliffside version that dominates Instagram. With kids under 12, stay in Kamari or Perissa (flat ground, beaches, family hotels) or rent a villa in Pyrgos like our sister property Casa di Terra Villa. Avoid steep cliff-edge hotels in Fira, Imerovigli, and Oia. The island is fantastic for kids, archaeology at Akrotiri, boat trips, swimming, but the famous caldera-edge accommodation is built for couples.
The honest part: why Fira cliff hotels are not great with young kids
Three reasons.
1. The steps. Cliff hotels in Fira, Imerovigli, and Oia are built into the caldera. Most rooms are reached by stone steps, sometimes 100+ of them, with iron railings on one side and a sheer cliff drop on the other. The steps are uneven, slippery when wet, and not designed for strollers, ankles, or anxious parents.
2. The terraces. The whole appeal of cliff suites is the private terrace looking down at the caldera. The drop from those terraces is 100-200+ meters straight down. Most have walls or railings to about 80-90 cm. That works fine for adults. It works less fine for a toddler who climbs.
3. The vibe. Cliff hotels in this category are designed around couples on honeymoons, anniversary trips, and elopements. The neighbors are eating quiet candlelit dinners on the terrace next door. The pool (where there is one) is for adults. Bringing energetic kids into that environment is not a great experience for anyone.
We say this because we have learned from the families who booked us anyway and then had a stressful trip. Save yourself the stress and stay somewhere built for what your family actually needs.
Where to stay in Santorini with kids
1. Casa di Terra Villa (Pyrgos): if you want our family-version property
Our sister property Casa di Terra Villa sits in Pyrgos, the inland medieval village at the center of the island. It is a private villa with its own pool, multiple bedrooms, a full kitchen, garden space, and flat ground around the house. Pyrgos has zero cliff edges. The village is quiet, traditional, and surrounded by vineyards.
If you want a Santorini base that is calm, private, and built for families to spread out, this is the recommendation we send our own family-traveler enquiries to. Same ownership, same hospitality standard, no caldera steps. Note: the only owned property we will link to in our family content (no cliff suites here).
2. Kamari (eastern coast)
Kamari is a flat-ground resort village on the east coast. Long dark-sand beach with shallow water and family-friendly tavernas right on the seafront. Plenty of family hotels with kids' pools, more space, and walking-distance everything. Best for families who want a beach-day-every-day trip with low logistics.
3. Perissa (southern coast)
Perissa is similar to Kamari but more relaxed. Also flat ground, dark sand beach, family hotels, easy access to Akrotiri archaeological site (15-minute drive) and the Red Beach.
4. Megalochori (inland)
Small traditional village south of Pyrgos. Quiet, walkable, with several villa-style rentals that work for families. A bit less convenient for beaches than Kamari, but more authentic. See our Emporio and Megalochori guide for the area.
Where to avoid with young kids
- Cliff hotels in Fira, Imerovigli, Firostefani, and Oia (steps, drops, couples vibe)
- Boutique cave suites anywhere on the caldera rim (same reasons)
- Properties advertised as "honeymoon," "romantic getaway," or "couples" (built for adults, by design)
What to do in Santorini with kids
Best for kids
Akrotiri archaeological site. Older kids (8+) genuinely love it. They walk through an actual Bronze Age city, see 3,600-year-old streets, learn about a volcano that buried a town. It is air-cooled under a shelter. About 1.5 hours. See our Akrotiri guide for full visit details.
Kamari and Perissa beaches. Shallow shelves, dark sand, plenty of beach bars and tavernas with kid menus. The water is warm (see our sea temperature guide for swim months).
A short boat trip in the caldera. A half-day catamaran cruise without the full sunset add-on works well for kids 6+. Most include a swim stop and lunch on board. Kids who get seasick should skip.
Walking the caldera path in Fira (during the day). The wide section from central Fira up to Firostefani is paved and stroller-passable. Stop for ice cream. Look at the views. Avoid sunset hour when crowds are heavy.
The Museum of Prehistoric Thera, Fira. Small, manageable, and shows the original Akrotiri frescoes. Good rainy-day or hot-afternoon option.
The Santorini Animal Welfare Association (SAWA) cares for the island's rescued and retired donkeys and mules. Visiting and volunteering arrangements vary by season, so check ahead, but supporting SAWA is a positive alternative to the donkey-riding "attraction" in Oia and Fira, which we do not recommend on animal welfare grounds.
Skip with young kids
- The Fira cable car at peak hours (very crowded, long queues)
- The 200+ steps down to Ammoudi Bay below Oia
- The Fira to Oia caldera hike (long, hot, no shade, 10+ km)
- The volcano hike on Nea Kameni in midday summer heat (no shade, loose ash)
- Sunset at Oia Castle (crushed crowds, no fun)
Practical logistics with kids
Strollers do not work in cliff villages. The streets in Fira, Imerovigli, and Oia are stone, uneven, narrow, with steps everywhere. A baby carrier is your friend. A heavy-duty stroller is a punishment.
Buses are family-friendly enough but luggage-unfriendly. The KTEL bus network (getting around Santorini) works for short hops between villages. Fares are EUR 2.20-2.80 per person per ride. Strollers can ride free but get crowded.
Renting a car is the right call for families. Easier with luggage, child seats, beach gear, and stops at supermarkets. Book in advance. Confirm child seats with the rental company.
Supermarkets exist. Larger supermarkets in Fira, Kamari, and Perissa, including AB Vassilopoulos branches, stock everything from baby formula to nappies. Prices are slightly higher than the mainland but everything is available.
Pharmacies are common. Greek pharmacies are well-stocked and pharmacists usually speak English. They handle minor scrapes, sunburn, and earaches quickly.
Hospital. The main hospital is in Fira, with 24-hour emergency. Smaller medical clinics in Karterados (near Fira) handle most non-emergencies.
What about babies and toddlers?
Santorini works for babies and toddlers if you stay in the right place. Pyrgos, Kamari, or Perissa with a villa or family hotel. Skip the caldera-edge accommodation entirely. The flight to Santorini Airport (JTR) is direct from many European hubs (see Santorini airport guide).
The big challenge with very young kids is shade. Santorini has very little natural shade, the trees are sparse, the sun is brutal from 11:00 to 17:00 in summer. Plan around early mornings and late afternoons. Always carry water and high-factor sun cream.
When to visit with kids
May, June, September, and early October are best. The sea is warm enough for swimming (see sea temperature guide), the air is not yet at peak heat, crowds are lighter, and prices are 30-40% lower than peak summer. For full month-by-month context, see our best time to visit guide.
Avoid late July and August with kids unless you handle heat well. Temperatures regularly hit 30+°C, the Meltemi wind picks up, and the famous spots are at maximum crowd density.
Winter (November-March) is quiet but most family hotels, kids' clubs, and beach facilities are closed. Not the move with young children.
Frequently asked questions
Is Santorini good for families with young kids?
It can be, if you stay in the right area. Kamari, Perissa, or a villa in inland villages like Pyrgos work well for families. The famous cliff-edge accommodation in Fira, Imerovigli, and Oia is built for couples and is not well-suited to families with young children due to steep steps, drop-offs, and the romantic vibe.
Where should families stay in Santorini?
We recommend Kamari or Perissa for beach-focused family trips, or a private villa in Pyrgos or Megalochori for families wanting privacy and space. Our sister property Casa di Terra Villa in Pyrgos is the option we send family enquiries to.
Is the Akrotiri archaeological site suitable for kids?
Yes, for kids 6 and up who can walk for 1.5 hours and have any interest in old things. The site is covered (shaded), walkable on raised walkways, and genuinely impressive. Younger kids who are tired and hot will not enjoy it. Visit in the morning. Full details in our Akrotiri guide.
Can you take a stroller in Fira?
Not easily. The streets in Fira, Imerovigli, and Oia are stone, uneven, narrow, and full of steps. A baby carrier works much better. If you want stroller-friendly ground, stay in Kamari, Perissa, or Pyrgos.
Are there family-friendly beaches in Santorini?
Yes. The east-coast beaches at Kamari and Perissa have shallow water, dark sand, beach bars and tavernas with kid menus, and rentable umbrellas and loungers. The sea temperature is also slightly warmer here than on the caldera side (see our sea temperature guide).
What is the best time to visit Santorini with kids?
May, June, September, and early October. The sea is warm enough, the air is comfortable, crowds are lighter, and prices are lower than peak summer. Avoid late July and August unless your family handles heat and crowds well.
Are kids' clubs common in Santorini hotels?
Kids' clubs exist mainly at the larger resort hotels in Kamari and Perissa. Most boutique caldera-edge hotels (including ours) do not have them and are not the right fit for families wanting children's facilities. Check specific hotel listings if a kids' club is important.
Can you do a Santorini day-trip with kids?
A 24-hour cruise stop with kids is feasible if you stick to the basics: take the cable car up from the port, walk Fira's main caldera path for an hour, have lunch, head back. Skip Oia (too far, too crowded for a short stop). For a longer trip, plan 4-6 nights to do Santorini properly with kids.
This guide is part of our Santorini travel guide. For our recommended family-friendly base, see Casa di Terra Villa in Pyrgos, or read more on Pyrgos village, the Perissa vs. Kamari beach guide, and the Santorini beaches hub.
