The Best Time To Visit Santorini For Family Vacations

The Greek island of Santorini is a popular destination for families visiting Greece for the first time. When is the best time to visit Santorini though? Let’s find out!

When to visit Santorini?

For first time visitors to Greece, their vacation would not be complete without spending at least some time in Santorini. And who can blame them?! Those pictures of blue domed churches and whitewashed buildings backed up by panoramic views are destined to give anyone wanderlust!

As a popular vacation destination in Greece though, some months are better than others when it comes to visiting. Here’s a few inside tips for you:

#1 Avoid August if you can

We fully understand that this can be difficult, especially with the kids school holidays! However, if you can avoid August in Santorini we strongly believe you’ll have a much better experience.

The fact is, that Santorini has become a little bit of a victim of its own success. This means that August is by far the busiest month of the year on the island.

In August, you can expect the largest amounts of other holidaymakers, raised prices, and the very hottest temperatures.

The team at Kids Love Greece want you to have the best experience when visiting Santorini with your family, so if at all possible, skip August and visit at another time of year.

#2 How about late Autumn?

Unlike many of the other Greek islands whose tourist industry seems to close in October, the season in Santorini carries on year through. As such, we’d recommend the mid to late Fall as the best time to visit Santorini for families.

At this time of year, the tourist numbers drop, its a little easier to find family accommodation in Santorini, and the temperatures are a lot more tolerable!

One of the bonuses of visiting in Autumn, is that the waters might (we said might only!) still be warm enough to swim in, especially if you are visiting Santorini from a colder country.

Autumn is our preferred season for family vacations in Santorini.

#3 Visit in Spring

Spring is the second best season for families to visit Santorini. In the same way as Autumn, the tourist numbers are a little lower, it’s easy to find places to stay, and the people who live on the island seem to be in a happier mood (as things haven’t gone too busy yet!).

The only negative about Santorini in spring, is that the waters may not be warm enough to swim in yet. So, if your dream family vacation to Santorini includes swimming during a sailing trip around the island, this may not be the best season for you.

#4 Visit in Winter

This is our ‘outside the box’ suggestion for families visiting Santorini. We’ll be the first to admit this is a bit of a risk when it comes to nice weather, but the counterbalance is that this is the least expensive time of year to visit.

The lack of tourist crowds may appeal to families who want to take photos without any other tourists in the way, and it’s the easiest time of year to find accommodation.

The downside of visiting Santorini in winter? We already mentioned the weather, but also keep in mind that not all the restaurants and other services will be open either. Still, for an adventurous family looking for a short 2 day break from Athens, visiting Santorini in the winter might be a good option.

If you would like help planning your next family vacation to Santorini and Greece, contact the Kids Love Greece team today. We’d love to assist you in creating an enjoyable and memorable family experience in Greece!