Family Vacations to Greece

Why Go?

History

Greece has 18 World Heritage archaeological sites, including Athens’ Acropolis and Delphi.

Island Hopping

The country has more than 200 inhabited islands, collected into six groups and stretching from the coast of Athens to Crete in the south.

White and Blue Beauty

Santorini sits on the edge of one of the world’s largest calderas – normally, you have to climb mountains for such a spectacle.

Archeological Findings

Crete is on the same latitude as Cyprus, and has temperatures between 63°F and 68°F in autumn.

Easy Travel

There are direct flights to Athens from New York, Philadelphia and other East Coast cities.

National Parks

Greece has 12 National Parks, including Zakynthos Marine Park, where several beaches are Loggerhead Turtle nesting sites.

Athens

One of the busiest, noisiest cities in Europe, Athens is not recommended for a relaxing family vacation. But it’s home to the Acropolis and pretty thrilling for older kids. Have the best of both worlds and do as the locals do: enjoy the bustle of Athens before escaping to the nearby Peloponnese Peninsula. This is the land of Helen of Troy and Hercules, home to ancient Olympia and the place to find big, sunny bays and blue seas to go with the classical myths.

For beautiful beaches, Venetian and Byzantine influences, sea fortresses, stunning mountains and Olympia itself, head to the Messenia region in the south.
The seaside city of Kalamata is good for four- and five-star family resort hotels and just under two hours drive from Athens.

Rhodes

Rhodes is an almost perfect Greek island for a family vacation. The medieval old town at the heart of the waterfront city charms everyone, but if kids are more interested in beaches than history, Rhodes has all that, too. And it’s almost as far south as Crete, so it’s warm and sunny well into October.

The island’s east coast is famous for golden sands, shallow seas and a wide range of all-inclusive hotels with everything from water activities to kids’ clubs and spas.

Crete

The largest of the Greek islands, Crete has the oldest archaeological sites, the longest and sunniest summers and some of the best rock climbing, walking and hiking in Europe. It’s also the island for waterparks, lively cities, mysterious caves to explore, ruins to ramble around and wild, wonderful countryside packed with everything from ravines to magnificent forests. Plus there’s plenty of beaches, too.

A good island for family resorts – more like small villages than hotels – pretty guesthouses in smaller mountain towns and boutique hotels by the sea.

Corfu

The greenest of all islands, Corfu is called the Garden of Greece, and lives up to its name by producing some of the finest olives in the world – the wildflowers are fairly spectacular, too. And there’s even more color in World Heritage Corfu old town, famous for its painted buildings and elegant mish-mash of Italian, French and Colonial architecture.

Choose five-star beach hotels with activity camps for kids, or go a little more authentic and rent a traditional farmhouse in the lush countryside. You’re never far from the sea in Corfu.

Halkidiki Peninsula

For Blue Flag beaches and a strong resemblance to the Algarve, try the Halkidiki Peninsula. It lies just south of enormous Thessaloniki city.

Kassandra, to the west, is a popular family area, with a wide selection of all-inclusive hotels, great water activities and kids’ entertainment.

Educational Value for Kids

Go scuba diving on sites round Palaiokastrítsa in the northwest of Corfu. Water temperatures are a constant 77°F in summer.

Pick up a kids’ guide to Greek mythology before you go to engage imaginations in advance of seeing the sites.

If you’re in or around Zakynthos between May and October, kids can get up early and go to watch (and help with) the turtle-hatching on Gerakas Beach.

Horseback riding on Corfu is a tradition and pony trekking is a great way to see the island.

Getting Around with Kids in Greece

If you’re planning to visit one of the more remote islands, make sure you know exactly how long the ferry journey is before you book (some can take up a whole day). Renting a car for a few days is a good way to explore larger islands, but getting around by local taxis and public transportation isn’t too difficult. It’s all about connections in Greece, so try to fly direct if you can, and if you have ferries in the mix, prepare to make the voyage part of the vacation adventure.