Updated October 2026 · Written by the Santorini Day Tours local team

Short answer: Santorini is a good family destination if you plan around three things: the summer heat, the many steps in the caldera villages, and the long drives between sights if you rely on buses. Families get the most from a private tour (children up to 12 travel free on ours, and you set the pace and the stops), a catamaran cruise with swimming stops, the black-sand beaches of Perissa and Kamari, and the Akrotiri excavations, where under-18s from outside the EU and EU citizens under 25 enter free.

Best things to do in Santorini with kids

• Sail the caldera. A catamaran cruise is the activity most children remember: swimming off the boat at the Red and White beaches, a dip in the volcano’s warm springs, and lunch on deck. Life jackets and pool noodles are on board.
• Walk through a Bronze Age town. At Akrotiri the houses, staircases and giant storage jars are still standing under a roof. Older children enjoy the Atlantis legend.
• Black-sand beaches. Perissa and Kamari have long stretches of sand, sunbeds and tavernas. The volcanic sand gets very hot by midday, so bring water shoes.
• Drive to the top of the island. The drive up Profitis Ilias, the highest point, gives a 360° view of the island.
• See it from the air. A 30-minute helicopter flight over the caldera and the volcano; infants can fly on a parent’s lap.
• Watch the sunset without the crush. Oia gets extremely crowded at sunset. With children, Fira, Imerovigli, Pyrgos or the Akrotiri lighthouse are easier — see our sunset spots guide.

What children pay

Activity	Children
Our private sightseeing tours (4-hour, 5-hour, 8-hour)	Free up to 12 years; the price is per group of adults
Our private wine tours	Under-18s join free of charge
Small-group (shared) wine tours	Not allowed — adults 18+ only
Akrotiri excavations	Free for non-EU visitors under 18 and EU citizens under 25 (adult ticket €20)
Fira cable car	Child ticket about €5 one way (adults about €10)
Private helicopter	Priced per flight; infants on a lap do not take a seat

Prices as of October 2026. Ask us about child prices on shared catamaran cruises when you book.

Why a private tour works well for families

Buses between villages are cheap but crowded in summer, with changes in Fira and waits in the sun, and parking in Oia and Fira is difficult. On a private tour the driver picks you up at your hotel, stops when the children need a break, and builds the route around their attention span — for example Oia early in the morning, the black beach before lunch, and back to the pool in the afternoon. Because the price is per group and children up to 12 are free, a family of four often pays less than four seats on a shared full-day tour. Our 4-hour Santorini in a Day tour starts at €300 for up to three adults. Tell us the children’s ages when you book. More on the cost comparison in is a private tour of Santorini worth it?

Practical tips

• Strollers: Oia and Fira are built on cliffs with many steps and narrow marble lanes. A baby carrier is far easier than a stroller there.
• Heat: in July and August plan outdoor sightseeing for the morning and late afternoon. Akrotiri is covered and works in the middle of the day.
• Cliffs and edges: caldera paths and terraces often have low walls; keep small children close, especially around Oia and on the Fira–Oia footpath.
• Beaches: Red Beach has had rockfall restrictions in recent years; view it from the official viewpoint. Perissa and Kamari are easier with young children.
• Cruise families: with small children, ride the cable car up from the Old Port rather than walking the 588 steps. See our cruise port guide.
• When to go: May, June and September are warm enough to swim and less crowded than July and August. See the best time to visit Santorini.

Frequently asked questions

Is Santorini good for kids?

Yes, especially for children old enough to enjoy boats, beaches and history. Plan around the heat and the steps in the cliff villages, and use a private driver or tour rather than buses.

Do children pay on private tours in Santorini?

On our private sightseeing tours, children up to 12 travel free; the price is per group of adults. On our private wine tours, under-18s join free.

Can children go on a wine tour in Santorini?

Yes, on a private wine tour, where under-18s join free. Small-group wine tours are for adults 18 and over only.

Is Oia stroller-friendly?

Not really. Oia’s lanes have many steps, so a baby carrier is easier.

Which beach in Santorini is best for families?

Perissa and Kamari, the long black-sand beaches on the east and south-east coast, with sunbeds, tavernas and easy access. Bring water shoes, as the sand gets hot.

What is the best family boat trip in Santorini?

A morning catamaran cruise: usually calmer water, swimming stops at the Red and White beaches and the volcano’s warm springs, and lunch on board.