Santorini Itinerary
Many people think of Santorini as a honeymoon destination filled with starry-eyed newlyweds and wedding proposals around every corner. However, Santorini is actually an amazing destination for a family vacation and is filled with fun activities to do with your kids. There is no need for electronics to keep your kids entertained and never once did they say they were bored. Being in Santorini is like walking into a postcard and this concept is not lost on kids. Here is a Perfect Itinerary for a Week in Santorini.
DAY 1
Today is all about exploring Oia.
BYZANTINE CASTLE RUINS
If possible, get up early to beat the crowds and head over to the BYZANTINE CASTLE RUINS. The actual building is more like a shell but the views from around it is breathtaking. 360 degrees of blue water, white buildings, and amazing cliffs welcome you from the top of the ruins.
Spend the rest of your morning getting lost in the maze of streets of Oia. Peek into little shops and small art studios. Have breakfast in a tiny café and enjoy some delicious Greek coffee! There are hundreds of steps in Oia, so be prepared to get a good workout.
Pool Time!
After lunch, head over to the Lounge Café Pool Bar, LIOYERMA. Spend the afternoon swimming and drinking cocktails by the pool while enjoying the view of the water,
Head to dinner earlier than you normally would so you can get a good spot to watch the sunset.
DAY 2
Akrotiri Archaeological Site
Drive to AKROTIRI ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE, a 17th century B.C city that was buried under volcanic ash. It’s an amazing place to explore because it shows what life was like during that time period. This beautifully preserved site is housed inside a building so the sun is not beating down on you like most archeological sites. Don’t bother getting a guide because there are signs that will tell you what you are seeing.
Red Rock Beach
After grabbing a bite to eat, drive over to RED ROCK BEACH: The towering dark red cliffs serve as a backdrop to a clear beach with red sand. Even if you don’t want to go down to the beach, you can stand at the top of the cliffs to get a look at how beautiful it is. The beach can get very crowded so you may want to swim at the next stop. Also, the dark sand gets extremely hot so you may want to wear water shoes.
Kamari Beach
Finally, head over to KAMARI BEACH. Spend the rest of the afternoon swimming, relaxing in a chaise chair under an umbrella, and enjoying the ashen towering cliffs that line this beach. Have dinner here and watch the sunset.
DAY 3
Spend another morning walking around town.
Amoudi Bay
This afternoon, walk down to AMOUDI BAY. This gorgeous bay sits at the bottom of the island from Oia and feels like a completely different area than the town. You can either drive down to the bay or walk the staircase with 200 steps down from town. There are amazing places to swim down there and people gather to sun themselves on the rocks, swim in the water, and cliff dive from a small island you can swim to. There are no facilities at the swimming area so be sure to bring water, towels, and a change of clothes if you plan on eating down here.
. This is the perfect place to have dinner. This tiny seaside spot contains small fish taverns with seats that are right at the water’s edge. Grab a table at the water’s edge and order some seafood. You’ll have a great view of the people watching the sunset and can be thankful you are not stuck in the loud crowds above you.
DAY 4
Another morning of exploring the town. Trust me…you’ll never get tired of these views.
It’s all about the water this afternoon
After lunch, it’s time to head over to the boat you’ve chartered for the day. With your boat, you can spend the afternoon exploring the water doing…
SWIM IN THE HOT SPRINGS: How often can you say you swam inside of a volcano? Swimming in the hot springs of the caldera is a popular excursion for tourists. An interesting part of this experience is the water is hot at the surface, but if you hang your legs straight down the water is cool so you are feeling two different temperatures at once. The water has a copper color to it and it can discolor your bathing suit so you may want to wear an old one for this activity.
SNORKEL AT WHITE BEACH: The sand and towering cliffs of white beach are a stunning ashy grey color and the water is crystal clear. You are able to see colorful fish but the best part is you can see the actual drop-off of the volcano.
This is absolutely the best place to watch the sunset. The orange glow of the setting sun reflects off the stunning pearl colored town of Oia.
DAY 5
Wine Time
After lunch, head to the KOUTSOYANNOPOULOS WINE MUSEUM. The kids will love seeing the lifelike figures doing recreations of what life was like as a winemaker.
Village Time
Next, head over to the beautiful town of MEGALOCHORI, a traditional Greek island village full of white washed houses and quaint churches. Explore the labyrinth of streets and explore.
Head back to Oia and do a little shopping. Just look how cute these shops are…
More things to see/do nearby
Santorini Sunset Luxury Sailing Catamaran Cruise with BBQ, drinks, transfer
Private Flying Dress Photoshoot in Santorini
Experience Santorini: Wine Tasting Small Group Tour
Santorini Volcano & Hot Springs Tour
ATV-Quad Santorini Experience Tour
Horse Riding to Black Sandy Beach
Santorini Fishing Tours – Private Santorini Boat tours
Where do you fly in?
The best place to fly in is Thira International Airport, while ferries arrive at the new port of the island, Athinios.
CLICK HERE TO FIND AN AMAZING FLIGHT
Have an extra day and want to head to an island near Santorini?
Take a 45-minute ferry ride to Ios. The town is breathtaking, with windy streets made of cobblestone paths that you get lost in. There are beautiful churches, cafes, and countless number of bars. The ads all over town are hysterical as they each try to outdo each other with deals on shots. Spend the afternoon walking around the old part of town, stopping for a beer at one of the many outdoor bars, and do some shopping.
Spend the night at the Liostasi Hotel. A car will pick you up at the ferry docks and when you arrive at the hotel there is someone there to greet you, check you in, and give you a quick tour of the hotel.
The rooms are spacious and if you choose one that has a sea view you will have the most spectacular sunset from your private patio.
The pool takes center stage here and it should because the view from there was perfect.
The staff was attentive, courteous, but not overbearing. Have dinner at the hotel’s poolside restaurant.
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