5 Tips for Families Visiting Santorini, Greece

Our family of three recently took a trip to Greece for the Easter holiday, and one of our stops was the island of Santorini, where we stayed for a week. I wanted to balance my church-going with sight-seeing, nature, fresh air and fresh food, and the island was the perfect combination of all those things. This is the first of a series of posts on our trip, as I have been asked a lot of questions by friends who saw our photos on Facebook and Instagram. Santorini is one place that is truly as beautiful as the photos you see in guidebooks or on wall calendars. It was a blessing to be able to make ourselves at home and get to know the island, and I would recommend staying for a while and getting to know the place, as opposed to just making a few hour stop-over on a cruise ship, for example.

1. Don’t Be Afraid to Take Your Kids

Although the island of Santorini is probably most thought of as a romantic destination, it’s possible not only to survive, but to actually enjoy a visit with a toddler. In general, Greeks love children and are very family-oriented, so you don’t really have to worry about funny looks if your little darling loses his sh*t in public. A few things to consider:

– Hotels far down the side of the cliff will have a lot of stairs to get to. If you will be coming and going frequently during the day, and if your child is too heavy to be carried with ease (yet too young to be able to climb the stairs over and over all day) you might want to get a hotel which is up closer to the main pedestrian roads. In addition, you might want to ask the staff at the time of booking for a room near reception/top level and with the safest room balcony.

– If you are planning on visiting the caldera (volcano) and want to hike to the highest point, which takes about 30 minutes at an average pace, keep in mind your young child’s abilities, as well as your own abilities to carry them! Kevin was just able to carry a mostly-sleeping Fergus the entire way up in the Ergo carrier. A year from now, that might be too much of a struggle for the both of them.

– Strollers are manageable on the wider pedestrian streets and on most roadways, but you will frequently encounter stairs, so you might want to just wear your baby or else let them walk, if they are able. We brought a light umbrella stroller on our trip, and never once even opened it up, much less used it. It would have been too much of a hassle.

– Ask your hotel manager for restaurant recommendations nearby. In Fira, we discovered Ouzeri, which was a God-send for us. Conveniently located less than a minute’s walk from our hotel Villa Renos, Ouzeri has the Ikea kid’s kitchen plus a play table stocked with all manner of toys. We developed a routine of coming in to ‘our table’, and Fergus would immediately become engrossed in play, which meant we could actually eat and enjoy our meal! The café has a fantastic bathroom area with an Ikea changing table, a long bench with cushions for breastfeeding or just taking a breather, and the toilet area was very clean and maintained.

2. Hire a Car and Get Lost

Although you could probably spend forever in your little village of white-washed wonder, do rent a car, at least for a day, and explore the island. Road signs are in English as well as Greek, and having your own vehicle means you can cover more ground on your own terms. Santorini has numerous wineries you can visit, in addition to beaches, archaeological sites (be sure to check out Akrotiri – it is covered so you can enjoy it even if it is raining or scorching hot outside), and sleepy cafes for a coffee or meal. Make sure to check out your parking options when you return to your home base, as the main towns have public parking lots which might fill up fast in the evening.

3. Go To the Top of Pyrgos

It seemed like a long hike up to the top of the hill that is to village of Pyrgos, but don’t pass up the chance to see the reward that awaits your efforts – the church and the view! We had driven through the city center with the rental car one day, but did not stop to get out. However, on Holy Friday I wanted us to attend the Lamentation service that Pyrgos is famous for, and so we had to work our way to the Kasteli, as it is called, and the highest point of the village. We wandered through twists and turns and passed by intimate churches, cozy homes, oddly-placed businesses and little old ladies until we finally were dumped out by the maze of white-washed corridors and passageways into the front of the church. The view of the rest of the island is remarkable from that vantage point, and the church is a beautiful example of an old but still very much functioning village Greek Orthodox chapel.

4. Sample the Local Products (And Bring Some Back Home With You!)

Santorini is known for its production of cherry tomatoes, capers and fava. You can try local dishes at most better cafes and restaurants, and can also purchase food items at tourist shops and winery gift shops. For the health nuts, there are two charming little health food shops in Fira – The Green Donkey (the organic marble halva here is divine!) and Safran, which is a beautiful shop selling spices, dry goods and general health food items, both local and imported. Other Greek items of interest are Korres and Aptiva toiletries, which can be purchased at any pharmacy.

5. Go When No One Else Is There

Visiting Santorini, Greece is best when the weather is cool and the tourists are sparse. If you want to be outside all day enjoying the views and leisurely meandering around village paths, it would be better to avoid the hottest months of July and August, along with the accompanying crowds. Planning a trip for the late spring or early fall means you have more of the place to yourself, and can enjoy the moderate climate.

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