Best Greece Holidays For Families – Planning a holiday to Greece? Read our guide to the best regions, with expert advice on islands such as Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Crete and Corfu, and the mainland, including the Peloponnese and Northern Greece. You can also find travel recommendations there. By Jane Foster, Greece travel expert.
A holiday in Greece conjures up images of deserted islands, long sandy beaches, sun-bleached ruins and turquoise blue seas. But with miles and miles of mainland coastline and over 1,000 islands (no one knows how many – even those numbers vary), 227 of which are inhabited, how do you find the ideal holiday destination?
Best Greece Holidays For Families
Of the hundreds of pristine beaches on Greece’s many islands, Navagio “Shipwreck” Beach on Zakynthos is instantly recognizable.
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First, the islands. The Argo-Saronic archipelago, including many people’s favourites, tiny Hydra, is home to beautiful boutique hotels that occupy restored neo-classical houses, and Aegina, with its pistachio orchards, is the closest to Athens. The most popular of the Cyclades, Santorini and Mykonos, tend to be rocky and dry, and are known for their iconic whitewashed cube buildings. Santorini and Mykonos are Greece’s most commercial and expensive islands, and also have the largest concentration of five-star hotels, attracting international travelers in search of glitz and luxury, while smaller islands such as Antiparos and Kofonissi are more lucrative and quiet.
On the far side of the Aegean, close to Turkey, the Dodecanese spread around Rhodes, with its stunningly beautiful medieval old town, and smaller Patmos, with its timeless monasteries, and Skiathos in the less pine-scented Sporades.
In the center of the Northeast Aegean islands is Mytilini (Lesbos Island), where anise-flavored ouzo comes from, and Chios, with its medieval villages and mastic trees. Crete, Greece’s largest island, stands proudly out of the Libyan Sea towards North Africa. Its main entry points are Heraklion and Chania. The islands that cannot be reached by boat from Piraeus are the green Ionian Islands and the popular Corfu. The Ionians are favored by British holidaymakers (and Italians in August), and cover a wide range from budget to luxury markets. They also have spectacular beaches.
Most package holidays will take you to the islands on direct flights from the UK – which is fine, but that means they can be busy and touristy. To reach quieter destinations, it takes a few hours to travel independently and study the prohibitively complicated Greek ferry timetable (greekferries.gr).
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Some tour companies have caught on to this conundrum and have offered a possible solution: Greece specialist Sunvil (020 8568 4499; sunvil.co.uk) offers several central itineraries that combine two destinations in one holiday, such as Kefalonia and Ithaca, Samos. Patmos or Ikaria, or Athens and Andros (as a favorite for wealthy Athenians).
Back on the mainland, the Peloponnese is all about rugged mountains, fertile valleys and notable archaeological sites such as ancient Corinth, Ancient Olympia and Epidaurus – the latter close to Nafplion, considered by many Greeks to be the most beautiful and romantic city.
In the southern Peloponnese, Kalamata (where the olives come from) near Mani is a rugged peninsula with breezy villages of old stone cottages, some of which have been restored as holiday homes.
Located in the center of Thessaloniki, popular with holidaymakers from Northern Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia, they stay at the large modern seaside resorts of Halkidiki, close to the monasteries of Mount Athos (which occupies a separate peninsula).
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Wherever you go, warm, sunny days and snowy nights are guaranteed from June to September. Like other Mediterranean countries, Greece sees the hottest months of the tourist season, July and August. If you want to avoid the crowds and the heat, in June or September, when the sea is warm enough to swim, hotels and restaurants are open for business, but the onslaught of vacationers is unpopular with the locals. Jane Foster
For advice on booking agents and tour operators for specific holiday types, see our beach listings, villas, arts and culture, food and wine and holidays pages.
British Airways flies from Heathrow to Athens (£144 return), Mykonos (£172 return) and Santorini (£347 return). Also flights from Gatwick to Thessaloniki (9 out of 169 return).
New routes for 2015 are Heathrow to Corfu (from 7 347 return) and Kos (from 150 return). Also Gatwick to Rhodes (9 of 249 return) and Heraklion in Crete (9 of 169 return).
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EasyJet flies from London Gatwick to Athens all year round, with prices from £31.99 one-way and continues to Edinburgh and Crete and Glasgow to Kos (introduced last year). It also flies to Corfu, Kefalonia, Zante, Kalamata, Athens, Mykonos, Crete (Heraklion and Chania), Gosvik to Kos and Rhodes and regional airports.
DialAFlight and Charter Flight Center sell tickets on the tour operator’s charter flights to major UK airport holiday destinations. Greece is an ideal destination for a family summer vacation. This beautiful country has everything from bustling, vibrant cities to some of the world’s most stunning beaches.
So, if you’re planning to travel to the beauty of Greece this year, here are the best Greek islands for your family.
Visit Greece’s largest island with attractions that will keep the whole family happy. Spend time on beautiful beaches and kick back in taverns.
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Crete is the largest island in Greece, and it’s perfect for families. It takes about four hours to get there by plane, which is a good time for families with small children who get a little bored in the air.
Once you land, you’ll want to breathe in the fresh air and head to the beautiful east coast of the island. Here you will find blue skies and clean sand. You will also be close to the lovely towns of Agios Nikolaos and Elounda.
Elounda is a popular destination for families looking for a little luxury on their weekend. It’s also easy to get to, this part of the island takes about an hour from Heraklion airport. If you want to see more of the island, hiring a car at the airport is a fantastic option; you will see beautiful contrasting Cretan landscapes while driving, commuting or otherwise!
East Crete has many beaches, including Kolokitia Beach, which is relatively sheltered, sandy and perfect for the younger members of your family. During your stay, why not visit one of the town’s tavernas for a traditional Greek meal, including locally produced olive oil and feta cheese – you can even add raki (ipuro) to your order for the adults in your group!
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Elounda Dome is a wonderful hotel with a family friendly atmosphere; it’s a beachfront resort overlooking the sparkling Aegean Sea and uninhabited Spinalon.
Stay at this beautiful hotel during the summer months, when the heat is bearable for the kids, or in September for fall. It is about an hour’s drive from Heraklion airport to the hotel, surrounded by beautiful beaches, beaches and the warm, calm waters of the Aegean.
Activities in Elounda include cooking classes, scavenger hunts, guided tours and treasure hunts. The dome also teaches children about sustainability and healthy living, part of life in a luxury hotel and in the Mediterranean.
A bit of history, the excitement of a water park and the clear blue sea. Corfu is an excellent choice for families of all ages.
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Corfu is another popular Greek island family. Due to its size, Corfu has plenty of amenities, and if you’re in the mood, there are plenty of great places to take a family day trip. Since the island is quite large, it’s a good idea to get a rental car to visit your family’s favorite spots, including Corfu Town and historic sites like Venice.
Maybe your kids want to run around all day? In this case, Aqualand is where you want to be; an exciting water park, one of the largest in the world! If none of these options suit you, why not take the yacht out to island-hop or stay ashore to cruise the crystal clear shallows?
This beautiful Ionian island has all the sun, sea and soft sand you’d expect from a Greek island. It’s only a three-hour flight time in the UK, and there’s plenty to see and do for the whole family. Best beaches for families include the long golden sands of Glyfada on the west coast or Messonghi Beach further south. The family-friendly beach has gentle waves, perfect for surfing with young family members.
Corfu TheDomes is a beautiful luxury hotel, ideal for a peaceful escape for the whole family. Dome resorts take care of accommodating all family members including children. Based on the beautiful sandy beach of Glyfada, it is the perfect place for a morning walk, a bit of family football or watching the sunset over the sea.
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Children can participate in the KiEpos Kids Club, where they will learn about growing their own plants, sustainability and the environment, all while having fun.
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