Santorini is not an obvious family island. It is steep, it is hot, and a lot of it sits on the edge of a cliff. It still works with children, as long as you pick the right half of the island and the right hours. This page lists the things to do in santorini with kids that we see working every week, and the ones that end in tears. We drive families around the island all season, so the timings and the warnings come from the road. If you want the day planned with a driver who knows where the shade is, start at Santorini tours.
Below: what the island is really like with children, what suits each age, the beaches, the boats, the sites, getting around, where to stay, food, bad weather days, safety, a three day plan and the questions parents send us.
What Santorini is actually like with children
If you are planning things to do in santorini with kids, start with the shape of the island. Santorini is only about 18 km long. But the main caldera villages of Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia sit on a cliff edge, not on flat ground. That means steps, steep paths and low walls are part of the day, not an occasional obstacle. A pushchair will slow you down badly in these villages. In some spots you will need to carry it.
The heat is the next thing to plan around. July and August bring the meltemi wind, which can make the temperature feel easier. But the sun is strong and shade is limited on the caldera path and on Nea Kameni. Midday walks with young children are a mistake. Start any walk before 9 in the morning or leave it for after 5 in the afternoon. The heat changes which things to do in santorini with kids are worth the effort.
The cliff edges are real. The paved path from Fira to Oia is about 10 km and takes 3 to 4 hours for fit adults. Much of it is exposed, and parts have no railing. When you plan things to do in santorini with kids, the full walk is rarely the right choice. Do the short section from Fira to Firostefani or from Imerovigli towards Oia for the view, then use a bus or taxi.
Distances shape the day more than you expect. The airport is near Monolithos, but the ferry port at Athinios sits 8 km below Fira on a switchback road. The island taxi fleet is small, so on ferry days taxis are hard to find. Buses radiate from the Fira station. That means you often change in Fira even when two places look close on a map. A realistic plan for things to do in santorini with kids has one base and one direction per day, not a long list of attractions.
Hotels can add extra steps. Many are cave houses built into the cliff, with small plunge pools rather than large swimming pools. That is charming, but with a toddler it means you cannot just open a door to a lawn and a pool. Check the number of steps between the room and breakfast before you book, especially in Oia and Imerovigli. This matters more than the view when you compare things to do in santorini with kids from different bases.
A workable family day usually has one main outing in the morning. Then take a long rest at the beach or pool. Finish with a light second outing after 5. The beaches are black sand or pebble. Kamari and Perissa are the main organised ones, Perivolos is quieter, and Monolithos is shallow, sheltered and closest to the airport. Black sand gets very hot underfoot, so children need sandals even close to the water. This rhythm avoids the worst heat and the worst crowds, which is what matters for things to do in santorini with kids.
Ages: what works, honestly and separately
The right things to do in santorini with kids at age three are not the right things at age thirteen. The island does not have a single best family plan. The base you pick and the time of day matter more than the attraction itself.
Toddlers
For toddlers, the best things to do in santorini with kids are shallow water, short transfers and early meals. Make Monolithos or Kamari your base, not Oia. Monolithos is shallow, sheltered and close to the airport. That means a short transfer and water that stays calm. Kamari has more tavernas and a proper beach front, but the beach is black sand and pebble, so small children need sandals. Greek tavernas serve early and are relaxed about children, so dinner at 6.30 is normal and easier than a late meal in a cliff village.
Skip the Red Beach path when you choose things to do in santorini with kids. Access to Red Beach near Akrotiri has had restrictions because of rockfall, and the path is not suitable for a small child. Also skip the Nea Kameni crater walk, which is 30 to 40 minutes on loose gravel with no shade. The cable car from Fira to the old port is short and fun. But the 580-step path beside it is shared with donkeys and is slippery in places. Use the cable car both ways if you go down at all.
Primary school children
This age gets the most from Akrotiri. The Bronze Age town was buried about 3,600 years ago, and the site is roofed and shaded. That makes it one of the few cultural things to do in santorini with kids in the middle of the day. Do not expect a child to read every sign, but the buildings hold attention for about an hour. The Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira is small and worth a stop on a very hot day.
The boat trip to Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni is the big excursion. Boats leave from the old port below Fira, from Ammoudi below Oia, and from Vlychada marina. The crater walk is 30 to 40 minutes on loose gravel with no shade, so bring water and hats. Swimming at Palea Kameni means jumping from an anchored boat to warm iron-stained springs. It stains light swimwear, and children need to be confident swimmers because there is no beach or shallow edge. The boat trip is one of the things to do in santorini with kids that works from about age six upwards, not younger.
Kamari has an open-air cinema, which works well at this age after a beach afternoon. The caldera path can also work if you keep it to a section. Do not plan the 10 km Fira to Oia walk with a primary school child in July. Pick the part from Fira to Firostefani instead. When you choose things to do in santorini with kids this age, pair one morning site with an afternoon in the water.
Teenagers
Teenagers can do the things smaller children cannot. The full Fira to Oia path is still 10 km and takes 3 to 4 hours, but an early start makes it possible in summer. Ancient Thira sits on Mesa Vouno above Kamari and Perissa, and the walk up is steep with no shade. The ruins are less protected than Akrotiri, so go early or skip it if the day is very hot. Among the things to do in santorini with kids this age, this is the one that feels most independent.
Perivolos is the quieter beach option for older children who do not need shallow water as much. Kamari and Perissa are more organised, with more food and bus connections. The meltemi wind in July and August can make boat trips rough. So a teenager who gets seasick needs a plan that does not depend on a boat. Vlychada has pale wind-carved cliffs and feels less busy than the main beach strip. A teenager can handle more of the things to do in santorini with kids. But set a meeting point in Fira because the small streets eat phone signal.
The beaches for families, compared
If you are listing things to do in santorini with kids, start with the beaches and treat the black sand as a problem to manage. The dark volcanic ground heats up quickly. By mid morning it can burn bare feet, so water shoes or sandals that stay on in the sea are not optional. Keep children on wet sand near the water, and do not run across dry sand without shoes.
Monolithos is the most useful beach for small children, so it is one of the most useful things to do in santorini with kids. The water is shallow and the bay is sheltered, so it is often calmer than the east coast beaches. It is the closest beach to the airport, which means you will hear planes, but the gentle entrance matters more than the noise. The trade-off is that it is plain and has fewer places to eat or hire shade than Kamari or Perissa.
Kamari is the easiest organised beach for families. It has a long promenade, sunbeds, tavernas and a mix of black sand and pebbles. The water deepens gradually, but the pebbles are hot and can be slippery. Kamari also has an open-air cinema and enough restaurants serving early, which adds two useful things to do in santorini with kids after the beach.
Perissa has a longer black sand beach and a straightforward bus connection from the Fira station. There is more room than Kamari, and the shallow water extends far enough for children to paddle. It is busy in July and August, but you can walk south to find space. For families, this is one of the most reliable things to do in santorini with kids because the bus ride is simple and the water is shallow.
Perivolos is the quieter continuation of Perissa. Away from the bus drop-off it is less crowded, but some of it is aimed at adults. Beach bars at the southern end can be loud by late afternoon. It may not be the first choice among things to do in santorini with kids, but it works before noon. The water is similar to Perissa, but food and shade are more spread out.
Vlychada is the one to visit for the pale wind-carved cliffs, not for a long swim with small children. The scenery is dramatic, but the beach is more exposed and has fewer facilities than Kamari or Perissa. The entry is not as gentle as Monolithos, and the open setting can feel rough when the wind picks up. It is not one of the better things to do in santorini with kids for swimming, more for a short look.
For most families, the easiest things to do in santorini with kids are Monolithos in the morning and Kamari or Perissa after the sun softens. The small water park style playgrounds near the beach resorts are basic, not full water parks, but they can occupy children for an hour between meals.
Water and boats with children
Water is behind many of the best things to do in santorini with kids, but a boat trip is not automatically a good choice. Boats leave from the old port below Fira, from Ammoudi below Oia and from Vlychada marina. The old port means the cable car or roughly 580 steps shared with donkeys. With a pram or a tired child, that access alone can be hard. Ammoudi is reached by a steep road and gets crowded. Vlychada marina is the easiest departure point if you have a car.
The volcano trip to Nea Kameni is popular but hard for small children. The crater walk takes about 30 to 40 minutes on loose gravel with no shade. There is no stroller access and no shaded rest point. In July and August the heat is strong, and a child who starts excited may be crying before the top. The volcano trip shows why some advertised things to do in santorini with kids are not matched to young children. If you still go, carry water, hats and closed shoes, and expect to carry a small child part of the way.
The same trip often stops at Palea Kameni for a swim in warm iron-stained springs. You get there by swimming from an anchored boat, not by walking in from shore. The water is deep beside the boat, and the rusty colour can mark pale swimwear. Confident swimmers like it. For a child who cannot swim well, this stop is frightening. This is one of the things to do in santorini with kids only if your children are already comfortable in deep water.
Smaller boat trips can fit family life better than the volcano circuit. Some leave from Vlychada or Ammoudi and run short coastal routes with one or two swimming stops. The boat may have limited shade and a basic toilet, so check before you board. A half-day is usually enough for children. Short trips are usually the better things to do in santorini with kids on boats. Ask how you get back on board from the water, because a high ladder is hard for small legs.
For actual swimming, beaches are safer than boats. The caldera side is deep and drops away quickly, so a boat stop is not a swimming lesson. If your child needs a life jacket, use one. The warm springs at Palea Kameni are not a place to learn. Monolithos or Perissa give you far more control. When the water is deep, the best things to do in santorini with kids are close to the shore, not far from it.
A boat day is a bad idea when the meltemi wind blows in July and August. Planning a boat as one of the main things to do in santorini with kids on a windy day is a mistake. The sea becomes rough, small children get seasick, and the ride stops being fun. It is also the wrong choice for toddlers, for non-swimmers, or when you would have to use the stepped donkey path from Fira with a stroller. On those days, stay ashore. Akrotiri is roofed and shaded, the Museum of Prehistoric Thera is in Fira, and the beaches are easier to manage with a child.
If you do book a boat, keep it short and choose a morning departure. The wind often rises later in the day, and morning water is calmer, so morning is the best time for things to do in santorini with kids on a boat. Bring water, snacks, a change of clothes and child-sized life jackets if the boat does not provide them.
Choosing among the many things to do in Santorini with kids means worrying less about landmarks and more about heat, steps, and travel time. Santorini is about 18 km long, but the caldera villages sit high above the ports and the beaches lie mostly east and south. A sensible day for things to do in Santorini with kids has one main stop, a swim, and an early taverna dinner.
Sites and museums that children actually enjoy
Akrotiri
Akrotiri is a Bronze Age town buried by the eruption about 3,600 years ago. It is roofed and shaded, which makes it one of the few sightseeing things to do in Santorini with kids in the middle of a hot day. You walk on raised metal walkways above two-storey buildings, so children can look into roofless rooms and doorways instead of staring at rubble. Tell younger children to look for the big storage jars and the window frames preserved in the ash. Most children hold attention for 45 to 60 minutes. The walkways are narrow and pushchairs are not practical. Go early or late.
Museum of Prehistoric Thera
The Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira is small and cool, and it is one of the shortest things to do in Santorini with kids. It holds the original frescoes from Akrotiri, including the blue monkeys and the boxing children. Give children one or two images to find. The visit usually lasts 30 to 45 minutes. It sits near the Fira bus station, so it works as a rest stop.
Ancient Thira
Ancient Thira sits on Mesa Vouno above Kamari and Perissa. The road up is a slow series of hairpins, and the site is exposed with no shade. I count it among things to do in Santorini with kids only for older children, roughly from seven or eight years up. The ruins hold attention for 40 to 60 minutes if children like climbing along old streets and looking at house walls, a theatre and public areas. Go early or late. Carry water and hats.
Villages and walks that work with children
The caldera rim towns are beautiful but not built for running, prams or tired toddlers. Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia sit on the rim and are linked by a paved path. The full Fira to Oia walk is about 10 km and takes 3 to 4 hours, too long for most children. The practical things to do in Santorini with kids are short sections of that path, with a village start and finish.
Short rim sections
The easiest of the rim things to do in Santorini with kids is the paved section from Fira to Firostefani, or on to Imerovigli if the mood holds. At a slow child pace, Fira to Firostefani takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Firostefani to Imerovigli adds roughly another 20 to 30 minutes. The path is mostly flat with low walls in many places. Keep children on the inside because the drop is close. Start before 9:00 if you want the path quiet, and stop in Firostefani for water.
Skaros rock
Skaros rock below Imerovigli is the best short climb for children who want to move. The path drops on gravel and stone to the base of the rock, and the return climb is steep and in full sun. Most children from about six or seven can manage it with water and a snack. The flat ground below the rock gives them space, rare on the rim. This is one of the more active things to do in Santorini with kids, but it turns into a chore in the middle of a hot day.
Fira old port and the cable car
The stepped path between Fira and the old port has roughly 580 steps and is shared with donkeys. It is not an easy family walk. The steps are worn and the animals pass close. This is not one of the things to do in Santorini with kids if anyone is nervous around animals or already tired. Use the cable car instead. It runs between Fira and the old port and is quick, but queues can build when cruise ships are in port.
Villages with space to run
For flat space, go down to the beach villages rather than staying on the caldera rim. Kamari has a long black-sand beach, a flat promenade, and an open-air cinema, so an evening there is simple with children. Perissa is similar but the black sand becomes very hot underfoot. Monolithos is best for very young children because the water is shallow and sheltered, and it is close to the airport. For many families, the better things to do in Santorini with kids are in these flat seaside villages, not the stepped caldera towns.
Oia and sunset crowds
Oia is the least child-friendly of the rim villages in high season. The lanes are narrow, the steps are many, and parking is difficult. It is better at 8:00 in the morning than at sunset, when the castle area fills and children see only backs. Among the things to do in Santorini with kids, Oia is best kept short unless your children are used to crowds.
Beaches and the meltemi wind
July and August bring the meltemi wind. In an open beach resort such as Perissa or Kamari, the wind can blow sand hard enough that small children are miserable. The caldera side is usually calmer in the afternoon. On windy days, Monolithos is one of the calmest things to do in Santorini with kids because its water is shallow and sheltered. Red Beach near Akrotiri has had rockfall access restrictions, so check before making a special trip. Vlychada has pale wind-carved cliffs but it is not a sandy paddling beach.
Hotels, buses and taxis
Many hotels are cave houses with steps and small plunge pools rather than large swimming pools. That matters when children need to burn energy after a day of things to do in Santorini with kids. The island taxi fleet is small, and buses radiate from the Fira station, so getting around with children means waiting more than most visitors expect. One of the least obvious things to do in Santorini with kids is to check the hotel’s steps and pool before booking, not after you arrive.
Getting around with children
Santorini is only about 18 km long, but the island’s height is the real problem. The ferry port at Athinios sits 8 km below Fira on a switchback road. When planning things to do in santorini with kids, accept that short distances can take longer than they look. A drive from the airport near Monolithos to Oia can take a long time in summer traffic, and the airport area is the flat side close to a shallow beach.
Buses are cheap and all main routes leave from the Fira station. That means a simple day from Kamari to Oia usually means a change in Fira. The buses get very crowded in July and August, and there is rarely room for an unfolded pushchair. Fold it, carry the child, and keep your bag small. For ordinary things to do in santorini with kids, buses work if you stay in one beach resort or use Fira as a base.
The island taxi fleet is small, so do not expect to find one quickly after ferries arrive or at late night. For many things to do in santorini with kids, book a taxi in advance if you need a child seat, because not every car carries one. Taxis are useful for the airport run and for one-way trips, but daily taxi use is expensive and you depend on the same few drivers.
Hire cars give you the most flexibility for things to do in santorini with kids, especially if you want to move between beaches and the Akrotiri site. Book the smallest car you can manage, because lanes in Oia and Fira are narrow and parking is scarce. Ask for a car seat when you book, then check it at the desk. Some rental seats are old or dirty, so bringing your own booster seat is safer if the airline allows it.
The cable car runs between Fira and the old port below. Use it if you are taking a boat to the volcano, because the only other way is a stepped path. That path beside it has roughly 580 steps and is shared with donkeys. With young children, the cable car is the only sensible way up or down. The donkey question matters because many things to do in santorini with kids start at the old port, but the path is not one of them. Boats to the volcano also leave from Ammoudi below Oia and from Vlychada marina. Queues for the cable car going up can be long in late afternoon in August, so go down early and return before the tour boats all come back.
Do not put children on the donkeys. The animals are large, the steps are steep and slippery, and there is no child seat or harness. I would not use them for any child under about 12, and honestly I would not use them at all. The boats that leave from the old port below Fira are easier reached by cable car. For some things to do in santorini with kids, the old port is only a starting point, not a place to spend time.
Where to stay with children
Your choice of area decides how much of the day you spend climbing, driving or waiting. The most useful rule for things to do in santorini with kids is to match your hotel to the age of your children. Caldera rim villages give big views but many steps. Beach resorts give flat ground, easier evenings and faster access to the sea.
Many Santorini hotels are cave houses cut into the cliff. That means steps, low walls, terraces and small plunge pools rather than large swimming pools. Some cave rooms have a long flight of steps from the road to the door. Ask the hotel for the exact number before booking, and ask whether the steps have a handrail. For things to do in santorini with kids, a cave room on the rim can be lovely for one night, but for a week it can feel like a staircase holiday.
Check the pool before you think you have one. Many photos are taken with a wide lens. A plunge pool a few metres across is fine for cooling off, but not for children who want to jump, play or swim lengths. If a proper pool matters, look at beach hotels in Kamari or Perissa, where several have larger pools and flat access. If you plan your days around things to do in santorini with kids, the pool decision is not a small detail.
Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia sit on the rim and are linked by a paved path. The full walk from Fira to Oia is about 10 km and takes 3 to 4 hours. Small children will not do that walk, but you can walk a short section between Firostefani and Imerovigli and then turn back. The path is exposed and hot in the middle of the day, so do it early or late. For most things to do in santorini with kids, the rim is a base for views, not for swimming or beach time.
The beach side is easier with children. Kamari and Perissa are the main organised beaches with black sand and pebbles. Monolithos is shallow, sheltered and closest to the airport. Perivolos is quieter. Black sand gets very hot underfoot, so children need shoes or sandals on the beach, not just on the path. The meltemi wind blows in July and August, which can make the sea rough and the sand sting. For beach-based things to do in santorini with kids, Monolithos is the safest entry point because it is shallow and protected.
Vlychada has pale wind-carved cliffs and a marina, but it is less set up for young children. Red Beach near Akrotiri has had access restrictions from rockfall, so see it from the viewpoint above rather than taking children onto the small beach. Akrotiri itself is a Bronze Age town buried about 3,600 years ago, roofed and shaded, so it is one of the better culture stops in hot weather. The Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira is small and quick, which helps with short attention spans when you plan things to do in santorini with kids.
Before you book, check these practical points about things to do in santorini with kids:
- The exact number of steps from the road to the room, and whether they have handrails.
- The real pool size and depth, and whether there is any shallow end.
- How far you have to walk with luggage, especially at night after parking.
- Whether the hotel accepts young children at all, because some cave houses are not suitable.
- How close the nearest taverna and small shop are without using the car.
Greek tavernas are relaxed about children and usually serve early, so an early dinner is easy with tired children. Many things to do in santorini with kids are better if you choose a base with one flat route to food, a shop and the beach. That matters more than the view.
Eating out with children on Santorini
Most tavernas are relaxed about children. Eat before the sunset rush. A 6pm or 6.30pm table gets a calm kitchen and faster food. Greeks often eat later, so an early meal means your child does not wait hungry. This timing is one of the simplest things to do in santorini with kids because it stops most meltdowns before they start.
They will eat grilled chicken fillet, pork souvlaki, chips, pita bread, tzatziki and plain rice. Most kitchens will do spaghetti with tomato sauce if you ask. Avoid whole grilled fish with small bones. Fried small fish or calamari are easy finger food. Beach tavernas in Kamari, Perissa and Monolithos are the least formal. You can watch a child play near the table while food is prepared, which makes eating there one of the easier things to do in santorini with kids.
Lunch should be at 12 noon before the 1.30pm rush. Bring water and a dry snack. Caldera restaurants in Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia have many steep steps and little room for a buggy. Choose a beach restaurant at Perissa or Kamari. You lose the view, but you are not holding a toddler on a staircase. This is one of the few things to do in santorini with kids that gets easier when you lower the setting.
Do not plan dinner in Oia at sunset with small children. It is crowded and the walk back is long. The same meal at 5.30pm or 6pm in a side street is easier. A takeaway gyros on your hotel terrace may be the better plan. This matters more than the view when you are choosing things to do in santorini with kids at the end of a long day.
Portion sizes are large enough to share between two children. Ask for an extra plate and cut the food yourself. If your child only eats plain pasta, say “with butter, no sauce”. Most kitchens understand. The beach resorts have small playgrounds and splash areas next to some restaurants, giving you an extra 20 minutes at the table. Many of the best things to do in santorini with kids at mealtimes come down to ordering early, ordering plain, and leaving before the restaurant fills.
Rainy, windy and very hot days
Start by accepting that an outdoor plan may fail. The island is about 18 km long, so you can change location quickly with a car or taxi, but the taxi fleet is small and buses radiate from Fira. On a very hot day, the worst things to do in santorini with kids are the Fira to Oia path and the Nea Kameni crater walk. The volcano path is 30 to 40 minutes on loose gravel with no shade. Do not take children there in strong sun.
For very hot days, the two best indoor and shaded things to do in santorini with kids are the Akrotiri site and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira. Akrotiri is a Bronze Age town, roofed and shaded. The museum is small and central. Pair it with a cold drink in a shaded cafe. The paved path from Fira to Oia is about 10 km and takes 3 to 4 hours with little cover. It is a morning or evening walk, not a midday one.
Windy days are often worse than hot ones. The meltemi wind blows in July and August. Black sand at Kamari and Perissa feels like grit in your eyes and umbrellas may close. Red Beach near Akrotiri has had access restrictions from rockfall, so wind is a good reason to skip it. Use the wind as an excuse for a covered site and an early meal. When the wind is strong, the calmest things to do in santorini with kids are roofed, not open-air.
Rainy days are rare. The open-air cinema in Kamari will not help then, but the roofed sites will. The old port below Fira has a stepped path of roughly 580 steps shared with donkeys, and it becomes slippery in rain. A rainy day is better spent at the Museum of Prehistoric Thera and a long taverna lunch. If your hotel is a cave house with steps and a small plunge pool rather than a large pool, a wet afternoon can feel closed in. Get out anyway to one of the few indoor things to do in santorini with kids on the island.
When a day falls apart, rebuild it in this order:
- Cut the activity to one thing. Do not try to save a three-stop plan with an overtired child.
- Move the main meal earlier. A tired child will cope better after food, even at 5pm.
- Switch to the nearest indoor or shaded option. In Fira that is the museum. Near the south it is Akrotiri. In Kamari it is a beachfront restaurant with awnings.
The mistake is to keep walking toward Oia when the wind picks up or the child is red-faced. The same goes for the volcano boats. A rough sea to Nea Kameni is not fun for children, and Palea Kameni means swimming from an anchored boat to iron-stained springs. That is an adult adventure. When you list realistic things to do in santorini with kids, skip the volcano on windy days.
Very hot days are not the time for the stepped path beside the Fira cable car. It has roughly 580 steps and shares the way with donkeys. In heat the stone radiates and the donkeys add noise and smell. Use the cable car only if you really need the old port. Otherwise keep your things to do in santorini with kids to one indoor stop and one long shaded meal in the middle of the day.
If a boat trip is cancelled because of wind, your child may be disappointed. Boats leave from the old port below Fira, from Ammoudi below Oia and from Vlychada marina. Explain the change quickly and offer an immediate replacement. Ice cream in Fira or an hour in a Kamari splash area often resets the day better than a rescheduled boat. You can always find other things to do in santorini with kids when the sea is rough, but the replacement must be close by.
Shade is scarce on the caldera rim. Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia sit on the rim and are linked by a paved path with almost no trees. A sun hat and water are not optional. If you are pushing a buggy, fold it and use a carrier or take the bus between villages. This is why a good list of things to do in santorini with kids in summer is usually shorter than the adult list. It includes one beach, one roofed site and one early taverna, not all four villages in a day.
If the day goes wrong, avoid long bus rides. Buses radiate from Fira station, so changing villages often means going back through Fira first. The taxi fleet is small, and waiting in full sun can push a tired child past recovery. The most useful things to do in santorini with kids on a difficult weather day are usually within the same village as your hotel.
A realistic three day plan for a family
When you choose things to do in santorini with kids, split the island into one rim day, one beach day and one history day. The island is about 18 km long, so bases in Fira, Kamari or Perissa work well. Buses radiate from the Fira station, but the small taxi fleet means you may wait in high season.
Day 1: Fira, the old port and a short caldera walk
Start early in Fira before the day gets hot. Walk a short stretch of the paved rim path towards Firostefani, so children see the caldera without attempting the full 10 km to Oia. The full Fira to Oia walk takes 3 to 4 hours and is too much for most children under 10.
Take the cable car from Fira down to the old port. The stepped path beside it has roughly 580 steps and is shared with donkeys, so it is slow, hot and smelly in summer. For a better plan, things to do in santorini with kids include riding the cable car down, looking at the boats, and riding back up. The Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira is a cool indoor stop after the heat, with finds from Akrotiri.
Day 2: Monolithos first, then Kamari
Make the beach day one of the easier things to do in santorini with kids. Start at Monolithos, near the airport, because the water is shallow and sheltered. Bring water shoes, as much of Santorini is black sand or pebble and gets hot underfoot.
Later move to Kamari, the main organised beach on the east side. It has sunbeds, tavernas and a long seafront path where children can walk safely. Kamari also has an open-air cinema, which is a useful evening option for older children. Avoid overplanning this day. The beach is one of the simplest things to do in santorini with kids.
Day 3: Akrotiri and the calmer south
Use the third day for the Bronze Age town at Akrotiri. It is roofed and shaded, which makes it one of the more sensible things to do in santorini with kids when the midday sun is fierce. The town was buried by the eruption about 3,600 years ago, and children can spot old walls and pots as they walk through.
After Akrotiri, think carefully about Red Beach. Access has had restrictions from rockfall, and the path can close. It is often better to view it from the road above than to climb down with children. Then travel south to Perivolos, which is usually quieter than Perissa, for a late swim and an early taverna dinner.
Questions parents ask about Santorini with children
Is Santorini too hilly for a pushchair?
Assume the caldera rim is not pushchair friendly. Many things to do in santorini with kids become hard work if you stay in Fira or Oia, because the streets and paths are full of steps. Kamari, Perissa and Monolithos are much flatter. If you stay on the rim, expect to carry a pushchair up and down stairs several times a day.
Which beach is best for small children?
Monolithos is the safest choice because it is shallow, sheltered and close to the airport. For small children, the calmest things to do in santorini with kids are usually east coast beach mornings and early lunches. Kamari and Perissa are organised but can drop off quickly. Put water shoes on children and test the depth before they run in.
Can we take children on the volcano boat trip?
Only if they can manage a crater walk of about 30 to 40 minutes on loose gravel with no shade. The volcano trip is not one of the automatic things to do in santorini with kids, because Nea Kameni gets very hot and there is no sand or shallow water. Boats leave from the old port below Fira, from Ammoudi below Oia and from Vlychada marina. The warm iron-stained springs at Palea Kameni require swimming from an anchored boat in deep water.
Are taxis easy to get with children?
No. The island taxi fleet is small, and July and August are busy. Book a taxi through your hotel or wait at a rank in Fira. Buses are cheaper and radiate from the Fira station, but they can be crowded at the end of the day. This is one reason to stay in Kamari or Perissa, where many of the easier things to do in santorini with kids are within walking distance.
Where should we stay with children?
Kamari or Perissa are easier than the caldera rim. Many cave houses in Fira and Oia have steps and small plunge pools rather than large swimming pools, which sounds romantic but is not relaxing with toddlers. When you choose a base, it shapes which things to do in santorini with kids you can actually manage without a taxi.
Is the Fira to Oia walk realistic with kids?
The full route is about 10 km and takes 3 to 4 hours, with sun and no shade for long stretches. That makes walking from Fira to Oia one of the least sensible things to do in santorini with kids under 10. Do a short section from Fira to Firostefani or Imerovigli instead. You still get the caldera view without a forced march.
What do families do in the evening?
Greek tavernas are relaxed about children and serve early, so dinner at 7pm is normal. Kamari has an open-air cinema, and the beach resorts have small playground-style water features at some beachfront businesses. On the caldera rim, the sunset in Oia is crowded and less relaxing than simpler things to do in santorini with kids earlier in the day.
Should we avoid July and August?
July and August bring the meltemi wind, high heat and the biggest crowds. The wind is strongest on the water and can make boat trips rough, so many outdoor things to do in santorini with kids become less fun. May, June and September are calmer and cooler, but the sea is warmest in late summer. If you come in August, plan the beach for early morning and the volcano trip only on a calm day.
Why does the ferry arrival feel so slow?
The ferry port at Athinios sits 8 km below Fira on a switchback road. Coaches and taxis climb slowly in high season. The airport near Monolithos is easier for families because it is flat and closer to the east coast beaches. That means flying instead of taking the ferry often makes the first day among the easier things to do in santorini with kids.
Safety on the island with children
Any sensible list of things to do in santorini with kids starts with the caldera edge, not the postcard villages. Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia sit directly on a steep volcanic rim. Large stretches of the paved path between them have no fence or only a low wall. Hold a small child by the hand in these villages. Do not let children run ahead. The full walk from Fira to Oia is about 10 km and takes 3 to 4 hours, which is too far for most young children in summer heat.
Hot black sand. Kamari and Perissa are the main organised beaches, and their dark sand and pebbles get very hot by the middle of the day. Water shoes stop burnt feet and help on the pebbles. Monolithos is shallow, sheltered and closest to the airport, so it is often the easiest beach day with small children and one of the easiest things to do in santorini with kids. Perivolos is quieter but has the same dark surface. Put a towel down before a child sits.
Red Beach near Akrotiri has had access restrictions from rockfall, so it is not a good choice with children. Skip it and stay on the organised east coast beaches. That choice keeps many of the best things to do in santorini with kids simple and low risk.
Sun and dehydration. The meltemi wind blows in July and August. It cools the skin but hides how quickly children lose water. Carry water, use high factor sun cream and put a hat with a strap on every child. Plan the beach for early morning or after 4pm. When you plan things to do in santorini with kids, put shaded indoor stops in the middle of the day. Akrotiri, the Bronze Age town buried by the eruption about 3,600 years ago, is roofed and shaded. The Museum of Prehistoric Thera is in Fira. Both work as midday escapes.
Boat steps and boat landings. Boats to the volcano islands leave from the old port below Fira, from Ammoudi below Oia and from Vlychada marina. At the old port below Fira, the stepped path has roughly 580 steps and is shared with donkeys. The steps can be slippery and donkeys may push past. The cable car runs between Fira and the old port and is the safer option with children. For Palea Kameni, the warm iron-stained springs are reached by swimming from an anchored boat. Those springs are one of the things to do in santorini with kids only if your child is a confident swimmer and the sea is calm.
Nea Kameni has a crater walk of about 30 to 40 minutes on loose gravel with no shade. It is not a toddler walk. Older children who can walk steadily on grit may manage it, but take water and go slowly. If your list of things to do in santorini with kids includes the volcano, treat it as a morning trip only.
Scooters and the roads. The ferry port at Athinios sits 8 km below Fira on a switchback road. The taxi fleet is small and buses radiate from the Fira station. Do not rent scooters or quad bikes with children. The roads are narrow and the corners are tight. Use a bus, a taxi or a prebooked private transfer. If you need a child car seat, arrange it in advance. A realistic list of things to do in santorini with kids leaves out open two-wheel transport completely.
What to pack and what to leave behind for a family trip here
The pushchair question has a clear answer. Leave a large pram at home. Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia are full of steps, narrow lanes and cave houses with small plunge pools. A large pushchair will be carried, not pushed. A very small folding stroller can work in Kamari, Perissa or Monolithos if you are only doing beach days, but you still have to lift it on and off buses and in and out of taxis. For the caldera villages, a baby carrier is far more useful. This one decision changes more of your list of things to do in santorini with kids than any single item of clothing.
Pack for rough surfaces and strong sun. Most things to do in santorini with kids happen outdoors, so sun protection is the first priority. Bring water shoes with a thick sole, a sun hat with a strap, a rash vest and high factor sun cream. A refillable water bottle goes everywhere. Add a small first aid kit with plasters for scraped knees on lava and pebbles. A lightweight long-sleeved layer helps on windy boat trips and in strong air conditioning. A small dry bag keeps phones and dry clothes safe on the sand and on boats.
If your list of things to do in santorini with kids is mainly beach days, pack less. A few swimsuits, water shoes, a hat and a cover-up are enough. The beach resorts have small water park style playgrounds and Kamari has an open-air cinema, so children will not need a bag full of toys. Shops in Kamari and Perissa sell anything forgotten, but children’s sizes go quickly in season.
Leave behind heavy toys, scooters and anything that needs smooth pavements. Many hotels are cave houses with steps and small plunge pools rather than large swimming pools. Large pool inflatables are rarely worth carrying. The simple things to do in santorini with kids need almost no equipment: shallow water at Monolithos, pebbles, a bucket and shade.
Do not pack for a city break. The island is about 18 km long and the best family days happen in swimwear and water shoes. If you plan things to do in santorini with kids such as an open-air cinema night in Kamari, add one warm layer for the evening.
For boat trips, many things to do in santorini with kids involve climbing from a quay or swimming from an anchored boat, so pack shoes that can get wet and a towel that dries fast. A small dry bag does the same job on a boat as it does on the sand.
The packing decision that matters most is the pushchair answer above: a carrier for the caldera, a small stroller only for beach resorts. That is the best packing move for any list of things to do in santorini with kids.
Month by month with children: April to October
When you shortlist things to do in Santorini with kids, start with the month, not the village. Santorini is about 18 km long, but sea temperature, wind and opening dates change quickly. What works in June can be too hot or too rough in July.
In April the air is mild but the sea is still cold, so water-based things to do in Santorini with kids are limited. Most small children will only paddle. Beach tavernas and sunbed rental may not be running yet, especially at Perivolos and Vlychada. You can still see the pale wind-carved cliffs there, but beach service is thin. Akrotiri and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera are open and quiet. Greek Easter can be busy for a few days.
May is one of the easiest months for things to do in Santorini with kids. The air is warm rather than hot, and the sea becomes swimmable in the second half. Kamari and Perissa start full beach service with sunbeds and cafes. Crowds are still light enough for the paved caldera path between Fira and Firostefani.
By June everything is open and the sea is usually warm enough for long swims. The meltemi wind has not yet arrived in full, so Monolithos and Perissa are easier for young children. Crowds build from mid-June. Early beach mornings are the most reliable things to do in Santorini with kids in June.
July is hot and the meltemi wind blows on many afternoons. The sea is warm, but rough water and blown black sand can be uncomfortable. The best things to do in Santorini with kids in July are usually water-based. Try a boat trip from Vlychada or an early swim at sheltered Monolithos. The full Fira to Oia caldera walk is too exposed in the middle of the day. Some boat trips call at Palea Kameni, where swimmers step off an anchored boat into warm iron-stained springs.
August is the hottest and busiest month. Everything is open, the sea is warm, and the caldera villages are very crowded after sunset, so plan outdoor things to do in Santorini with kids for the cooler morning hours. Book car hire and boat places early. On windy days, choose Monolithos over open Perissa.
September is summer without the peak crowd, and many things to do in Santorini with kids are more relaxed. The sea is still warm from August. Heat is still strong in the first half. After the first week, beaches are quieter and restaurants are still open. Boat trips to Nea Kameni are possible, but the crater walk is still hot at midday. Greek tavernas are relaxed about children and serve early, which makes evening meals easier than in peak August.
October is cooler and the sea is still swimmable early in the month. Many beach businesses start to close from mid-October. Boat trip frequency drops. Akrotiri and the museums stay open, and the lower heat makes parts of the caldera walk possible with older children. Do not plan long beach days late in the month.
Mistakes families make on Santorini
A common mistake is booking a caldera cave house with a toddler. Many cave houses in Oia and Imerovigli have steep outdoor steps, low walls and only a small plunge pool. The consequence is that an adult carries the child up and down several times a day, and the pool is too small for proper swimming. If your list of things to do in Santorini with kids is mostly beach and pool, a cave house will fight you every day.
Another mistake is trying the full Fira to Oia walk with small children. The paved path is about 10 km and takes 3 to 4 hours, with little shade in summer. A child who starts well can be in tears by Firostefani, leaving you with a long bus or taxi return. If you want this as one of your things to do in Santorini with kids, split the route or do only the Fira to Firostefani section.
Families often assume Santorini has soft golden sand. Most beaches are black sand or pebbles, and the surface gets hot underfoot by midday. The consequence is burned feet at Kamari or Perissa unless you carry water shoes. Red Beach near Akrotiri has had access restrictions from rockfall, so a safer list of things to do in Santorini with kids keeps Red Beach as a viewpoint, not a beach day.
Taking the stepped path beside the cable car between Fira and the old port is a serious mistake with children. It has roughly 580 steps and is shared with donkeys. A slip, a kick or a frightened child is a real risk. Use the cable car instead, even if there is a queue.
Going to the Nea Kameni crater with small children often goes wrong. The crater walk takes 30 to 40 minutes on loose gravel with no shade. A tired child can refuse to walk, and there is no quick way back to the boat. This is one of the few things to do in Santorini with kids that is better left until children are older.
Trying to watch the Oia sunset from the caldera edge with small children is usually a mistake. The path becomes very crowded and there is little room to move. The consequence is a long wait with a hot, bored child, then a crush to leave and a full bus back from Fira. Better things to do in Santorini with kids at sunset include an early taverna meal in Ammoudi or an open-air film in Kamari.
Many families rely on renting a car after they arrive. In July and August car hire sells out and the island taxi fleet is small. The consequence is waiting at the Fira bus station with tired children or missing a boat departure. When you plan things to do in Santorini with kids, do not build the day around an unconfirmed rental car.
Another mistake is assuming day boats leave from the ferry port at Athinios. Day boats to the volcano and hot springs leave from the old port below Fira, from Ammoudi below Oia or from Vlychada marina. The consequence is going to the wrong port and missing your departure. When you check boat-based things to do in Santorini with kids, confirm the departure point before you book.
Plan the Family Days With Us
We run private cars and small buses, with child seats if you tell us the ages in advance.
A driver is worth more with children than without them. You get dropped at the top of a village instead of parking ten minutes away. Bags, towels and the buggy stay in the car. If the day falls apart at two in the afternoon, we take you back to the hotel and start again tomorrow. Most of the things to do in santorini with kids on this page are easier that way, and some of them are only realistic that way.
Send us your dates, the ages of the children and where you are staying. We will send back a plan you can change on the day.
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