Best family hotels in Santorini for a Greek getaway with the kids

If you want to be near the action of Oia but not smack bang in the middle of it, then the Andronis Arcadia is the answer. Located a short walk away from the island's most visited village, this stylish luxury resort boasts whitewashed buildings crafted from polished plaster and decorated with modern art. 

The hotel's main pool is one of the largest on the island and is also one of the best places to enjoy Santorini's legendary sunsets. Spacious suites and villas also come with their own private plunge pool. For families, Andronis Arcadia is a winner with an excellent kids’ club run by Shift Education. There are also child-friendly spa treatments, tennis classes, yoga sessions and family cooking lessons on offer. 

Nearest beach: Armonia Beach (0.5 miles)

Nearest airport: Santorini Airport (7.5 miles)

Enjoy hotel facilities with self-catering convenience at Lucia Villa. This value-for-money property sits in a quiet neighbourhood near to the heart of the coastal village of Perissa and its magnificent beach, famous for its remarkably blue waters and black lava sand. 

Built in the traditional Cycladic style, this family-run hotel offers 16 rooms ranging from a simple studio sleeping two to an apartment that sleeps four people. At the heart of the property is a small swimming pool flanked by dark blue deck chairs. The hotel does not have a restaurant but there are a number of delicious tavernas nearby. 

Nearest beach: Perissa beach (10-minute walk)

Nearest airport: Santorini Airport (3 miles)

Santorini has a reputation for being one of the most expensive Greek islands, but Meltemi Village proves that it is possible to enjoy paradise without blowing the budget. This friendly, family-run hotel was one of the first hotels to be built in the coastal village of Perissa, on the southeastern edge of the island, and continues to wow its guests today. 

There are 56 rooms and studios (some of which can sleep up to four people), a pretty palm-fringed swimming pool, a playground for younger children and a breakfast buffet that guests rave about. One of the island’s famed black beaches is a short walk away and there are dozens of good restaurants and tavernas nearby for lunch and dinner; don't miss the moussaka at Cyclades or the Winegrower's lamb at the Apollon Restaurant. 

Nearest beach: Perissa Beach (450 metres)

Nearest airport: Santorini Airport (8 miles)

The Andronis Concept Wellness Resort is the kind of luxury hotel that you wish all family resorts could be like. Sandwiched between the capital Fira and Oia, this spa resort sits on top of a slope offering views over both sides of the island. Unlike many (read, most) Santorini hotels, the Andronis does not mimic the traditional Cycladic architecture of the island and instead goes for an earthy, understated design that blends into its surroundings. 

Service is top notch, and nothing is too much trouble but what we really love is their attitude towards kids. Children are a big deal and there are oodles of activities for them to enjoy, from tennis camps and cooking classes to kids’ yoga and mini spa treatments. Add to that three large swimming pools, a delicious restaurant overseen by a nutritionist, and family-friendly suites. It's one of our favourite family hotels on the island. 

Nearest beach: Exo Gialos Beach (3 miles)

Nearest airport: Santorini Airport (4 miles)

Escape the crowds at this glorious contemporary hotel set on the edge of Santorini's famed caldera in the picturesque village of Mesaria. Spread out over 45 acres, the resort boasts the largest pool on the island as well as restaurants, two bars, a yoga deck, and a luxury spa with its own vitamin bar. There's also a games area and a naturalist garden. 

The design for Noūs - meaning mind in ancient Greek - takes inspiration from the island's geography and features bespoke mosaics, quirky geometric shapes and spaces, and plenty of contemporary artwork dotted along corridors and public spaces. Children of all ages are warmly welcomed but given that there’s no kids’ club or babysitting available, Noūs is better suited to older children and teens who are happy playing in - and lounging by - the pool. 

Nearest beach: Eros Beach (0.6 miles)

Nearest airport: Santorini Airport (2 miles)

On Santorini’s southern coast, the Sea Breeze Santorini Beach Resort, Curio Collection, is the Hilton group’s first hotel on the island. Inspired by the domed whitewashed Cycladic architecture, this family-friendly hotel on Santorini is pure holiday joy with three swimming pools, two restaurants and an indulgent spa. They even have their own private beach complete with complimentary water shoes for navigating the black volcanic sand. 

There’s a range of accommodation options with some rooms sleeping up to five guests, perfect for larger families. Even better, all rooms have their own private pool. Two restaurants rustle up tasty Greek and Mediterranean dishes accompanied by views of the Aegean Sea and a range of traditional Santorini wines. Finally, guests wanting to balance the sand and sea with a dose of culture can head to the nearby Akrotiri Excavations for a glimpse of ancient Minoan civilisation. 

Nearest beach: The hotel has its own private beach. 

Nearest airport: Santorini Airport (5 miles)

For unrivalled views of Santorini’s caldera islands and technicolour sunsets head to Imerovigli, a picturesque clifftop village and home to Kapari Nature Resort. Today this corner of the island is a popular place to stay but it very nearly didn’t exist; a devastating earthquake in the late 1950s destroyed most of the buildings. Determined not to be defeated, the locals carefully uncovered and restored homes, including the building that today houses this beautiful family-run hotel. 

Positioned over three levels and formed from a collection of old troglodytic houses and newer built ones, this unique resort is a smart, sustainable and utterly gorgeous place to stay. The 14 units range from ‘Vanilla Rooms’ for couples to the Private Residence that combines five units and can sleep up to 15 people and has its own private courtyard and outdoor whirlpool. 

Nearest beach: Pori (3 miles)

Nearest airport: Santorini Airport (4 miles)

For families looking to escape the crowds, Voreina Gallery Suites is ideal. It's located on the quiet northern edge of Pyrgos, a beautiful hilltop village that feels far more local and laid back than Fira or Oia. Sure, you might not be on the caldera or have direct access to the beach but what you do get is a uniquely local experience without the cruise ship crowds. 

Voreina Gallery Suites consists of nine suites and four villas, all beautifully designed with original art donated by past resident artists, minimalist furniture and splashes of colour. All four villas, plus the Spring Suite, can sleep up to five people and the Sunset Suite sleeps four. Some of the suites can accommodate a cot if you're travelling with young children but this property is best suited to travelling teens. Every residence comes with its own own plunge pool. 

Nearest beach: Kamari Beach (3 miles)

Nearest airport: Santorini Airport (2 miles)

Teens will be in Instagram heaven at Bellonias Villas, a stylish beach retreat on the east coast of the island. At the heart of the resort is the palm-tree lined pool flanked by white double daybeds and wooden canopies. If you can persuade your teen to move from here, then black sand Kamari Beach is nearby (the hotel has its own section of beach with white wood sun loungers) as well as a number of good bars and restaurants. 

The 25 accommodation options at Bellonias range from stylish doubles to the Apartment Suite that can sleep five people and comes complete with a fully equipped kitchenette and dining area. 

Nearest beach: Direct access to Kamari Beach 

Nearest airport: Santorini Airport (2 miles)

Perched on a hilltop on the outskirts of the capital, Fira, this family-friendly five-star property oozes Greek charm. Open year-round, De Sol offers guests the choice of 38 light-filled, stylish rooms and seven exclusive suites that come with private heated plunge pools. The dedicated family suites can sleep up to four people in interconnecting rooms. 

At the heart of the property is a sparkling free-form swimming pool alongside a smaller pool for guests travelling with little swimmers. Tucked away in the basement is the spacious spa offering a range of relaxing massages and treatments. The hotel's Seven Steak Lounge serves creative Greek cuisine and Mediterranean dishes. The poolside bar enjoys views over nearby Pyrgos village.