Santorini with a 3 year old
Visiting Santorini was a dream come true. We visited Santorini with my 3 year old daughter and my Mom. While at first, we were not sure if taking our daughter was the right thing, we discovered that Santorini in our opinion is for kids too. This is the second post out of a series of three, of our time on this Island. If you want to read the first one please click here.
We spent all our time together except for one date night, Jerry and I had. When planning our trip we were focused on finding things to do as family.
Here are some of the things we want share with you.
Enjoy the Sunsets– When visiting Santorini this is a must, hands down you will enjoy breathtaking sunsets. We made this a priority on our stay and that’s why we chose the hotel and location we chose. Our balcony and pool in the hotel were the perfect place to watch all the sunsets. Every evening we spent time together talking, eating and sipping on local wine and beer while enjoying the magical sunsets.
Family Photo Shoot– I always wanted to have spectacular pictures of us with the caldera as the background. As soon as we confirmed our trip to Santorini, I started looking for options for our family photos. After my research I decided to go with Local Lens. Our photos where scheduled for our second full day and the chosen place was Oia. Everything was set and I was as excited as I could be, but I wasn’t counting on Isabella canceling picture day. Yes, my daughter was not in the mood for pictures and she expressed it perfectly, even before leaving the hotel. All she wanted to do was to enjoy her day at the pool. So the shooting didn’t turn out as I imagined. Isabella was not looking at the camera, no smiles, no posing, no nothing. I was really stressed and upset about it. We tried hard to capture that perfect picture I was dreaming about, but our girl was just not into it. After all I ended up loving our pictures, because they truly represented us and the photographer captured a moment of our lives that has become a funny story that we often tell. Vacations as life are not perfect, so it is always good to have an open mind.
Explore Oia– Oia is a coastal town on the northwestern tip of Santorini. Is one of the most beautiful villages I have ever seen and it is also one of the most photographed as well. Oia has narrow streets and white and blue architecture, stunning views and plenty of entertainment. We wondered around the streets looking at some of the shops, taking in the views and posing for plenty of pictures. Of course we stopped for beers and ice-cream and we had a great time. From Fira to Oia we took a Taxi, and then to return to our hotel we took public transportation. Both of them super easy and affordable. One thing to notice is that there’s a lot of tourist all the time in Oia but specially at sunset. So plan accordingly so you can have the best time while visiting.
Explore the Island– While in Santorini Jerry suggested to rent a car and drive the whole Island. We used a local rental place and it was very easy and cheap. We had a lot of fun stopping in different areas, appreciating the views and stopping randomly at a great tavern for lunch. The Island is small and it’s a great way of exploring more in less time.
Visit the Red Beach- We stopped and enjoyed the magnificent Red Beach. To access the beach you need to walk through a very bumpy path, climb and maneuver a lot, but once you are there is completely worth it. The view is out of this world, we wondered around, dipped into the water and of course played with Isabella. One funny thing that happened was that once we got to the beach, I realized I forgot Isabella’s swimsuit. I felt like the worst Mom ever! But we made it work and she had a blast. I strongly recommend you make time to visit this beach when you are in Santorini, it’s a unique experience that you must have.
The Orthodox Metropolitan Church of Santorini– This church was very close to the hotel we were staying, so one night we decided to come in. The church was built in 1827 and offers an impressive view to the caldera. It is a beautiful cathedral with a nice mosaic on the outside and an impressive bell tower.
Evenings– For us the evenings were different, as we travel with a 3 year old. We had one date night at a restaurant near by our hotel. After that we spent some time walking and having some drinks. As a family on evenings we walk the beautiful small streets, discover places, have dinner and eat ice cream. If you are visiting with out kids you will have plenty of options for a great night out.
Other Tips
My Mom and I decided to wake up extra early (6am) on our last day in Santorini and take a walk. If you want to take great pictures and the streets for yourself, believe me, do this.
As a side note, I want to share that one night Jerry went to get pizza for Isabella. When he returned he told us that in the pizza place he met a Puerto Rican guy and that the Puerto Rican flag was displayed on one of the walls of the place. And of course I went to see my Puerto Rican flag in Santorini.
When doing my research before visiting Santorini, I found that there are many more activities appropriate for families. Staying closer to the beach is a great alternative for families. There’s a water park, museums, ruins, outdoor movie theaters, food tours, wine tours and other activities you can enjoy as a family.
Santorini is whatever you want it to be, if you are a honeymooner I believe this is an amazing place to visit. If you are looking for a more upbeat vacation with friends, you will find great alternatives here and if you are a family like us Santorini is the place for you as well.
Amazing caldera views, a magical island and their happy and charming people made our stay a perfect one.
Stay tuned for my next post where I will be talking about all the delicious things we ate in Santorini. You know we love to eat so we will share our experience in that area as well.
Meanwhile tell me, have you visited Santorini?