Santorini Family Holiday: Black-Sand Beaches, Volcano & Villages

Today the family enjoys an easy, fun day in cheerful Kamari. You spend the morning on the long black-sand beach, swimming in the shallow, warm sea, playing in the sand and relaxing under umbrellas, with lifeguards, loungers and seaside cafes close at hand. You stroll the lively seafront promenade for ice cream and lunch at a taverna almost on the water, and perhaps rent a pedalo or try the shallow-water fun. Older children and energetic families might take the trail or a short drive up to Ancient Thira on the headland above, with its old ruins and huge views. In the evening, the whole family enjoys the famous Kamari open-air cinema, watching a film under the stars among bougainvillea and olive trees, with popcorn and drinks. As the day ends, everyone is happy and relaxed. Rest well, for tomorrow you sail to a real volcano.

Today the family sets off on a great adventure, a boat trip to a real volcano. You cross the caldera by boat to the black, smoking islet of Nea Kameni, the young volcanic cone at the heart of the drowned crater, and hike its easy trail up to the steaming, sulphurous crater, still active, an unforgettable thrill for children and grown-ups alike, with astonishing views back to the villages high on the cliffs. Then you anchor off Palea Kameni to swim in the warm, mineral-rich, ochre hot springs, splashing in water heated by the volcano itself. You take in the whole spectacular caldera from the water. As the day ends, you return to Kamari, full of stories. This evening, savour a relaxed family dinner by the beach. Rest well, for tomorrow you explore a buried ancient city and the vineyards.

Today the family explores the ancient south of Santorini. You step into the astonishing buried Minoan city of Akrotiri, a whole Bronze Age town frozen in volcanic ash for 3,600 years and sheltered beneath a vast roof, wandering its ancient streets on wide, easy walkways past multi-storey houses and clay pots, while a friendly guide tells the gripping story of the great eruption. You take in the dramatic Red Beach nearby, backed by towering rust-red cliffs, and visit a family-friendly winery such as Santo Wines on the caldera rim, where the grown-ups taste the crisp Assyrtiko and the children try grape juice among the low, basket-pruned vines, with the whole caldera beneath you. As the day ends, you return to Kamari. This evening, enjoy a final beach dinner in Kamari. Rest well, for tomorrow you move to lively Fira.

Today the family transfers to lively cliff-top Fira, the dazzling white capital perched on the caldera rim. You settle into your hotel, then explore Fira together, riding the cable car down and up the cliff to the old port far below, a thrill for children with sweeping views over the bay, watching the donkeys on the old steps and gazing out to the volcano you climbed. You wander the maze of marble lanes, whitewashed churches and caldera-view terraces, browsing for souvenirs and stopping for ice cream, and might visit the Museum of Prehistoric Thira to see the treasures from Akrotiri. In the late afternoon, the family finds a spot to watch the caldera sunset, the sky glowing over the volcano. As the day ends, you savour Fira by night. This evening, enjoy a fun family dinner with a view. Rest well, for tomorrow you depart.

After a final family morning in lively Fira, perhaps a last ride on the cable car, some souvenir shopping in the lanes or a final ice cream with a caldera view, you are transferred to Santorini's airport or port for your onward journey. The family leaves having enjoyed a fun and varied holiday on beautiful Santorini, the black-sand beach and open-air cinema of cheerful Kamari, the great adventure of climbing the smoking volcano and swimming in the hot springs, the buried Minoan city of Akrotiri, a friendly winery with grape juice among the vines, and lively Fira with its cable car. The memories stay bright long after you leave, the warm black-sand beach, the steaming volcano, the buried ancient town, and the cable car high above the caldera. Santorini offers beauty, adventure, relaxation and fun for all ages in abundance, and the family departs already dreaming of a return.