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We will be visiting Santorini for a week and I am not sure where to stay. 3 children - ages 14, 9 and 5. I want to please them but also want a taste of old Santorini for my husband and me. Fira or Ia, which is the better base? Any hotels, B & B or apt suggestions would sure be appreciated. Thanks

brotherleelove2004

Fira is centrally located and is Santorini's social/commercial center. The island's bus hub is there. The best beaches, Kamari and Perissa, are about 20 minutes away. There are more hotels, shops and restaurants in Fira than anywhere else on the island. If you want a location convenient to everything Fira is where you should stay.

Oia is the most beautiful and architecturally intact village on the island. By that I mean it "feels" less affected by development even though there's a lot about it that's changed over the years. You won't see any power lines inside the heart of the village, in the pedestrian-only area. It's much different than Fira even though it gets very busy in the summer. There are lots of excellent hotels, shops and restaurants in Oia. It's 7 miles from Fira on the northern tip of the island so it will take extra time and effort to reach the beaches as well as the other villages on the island.

http://www.santorini-web.com/map.pdf

If you want hotel recommendations give us your maximum combined daily room budget and what your travel dates will be.

KayF

We have stayed in both Fira and Oia and I'd think Fira would be more suited to your family. Oia is prettier but seemed to me to be full of couples - we were one

There are more shops in Fira, as mentioned above the bus station is there, plus there are more 'cheap and cheerful' places to eat.

When are you going? I doubt you'd see much of 'old Santorini'. It's a very touristy, though stunning, island and had changed a lot in the years between our visits - more built up with a lot more people, though that may have been because of the different times of the year we visited.

If you stay in Fira, try and visit Oia for the sunset. It gets very crowded so I'd suggest leaving Fira quite early and give yourselves plenty of time to get the bus, then make your way down the lanes towards the end of the island. I believe the last bus back to Fira leaves quite early, though there should be taxis.

Kay

geetika

I'd say Oia if it was just the two of you, but Fira might be better suited to a family with kids. But you absolutely must make a couple of day trips to Oia, the sunsets there are fabulous. Crowds apart Santorini is one of the loveliest places you could ever see

brotherleelove2004

There are plenty of kids in Oia. Don't let that stop you.