Greece › Folegandros › Hotels for Families
By Santorini Dave
Main pool and view toward the port of Karavostasis at Anemi Hotel, the best family-friendly hotel in Folegandros.
Folegandros Hotels – Tips & Recommendations
- Folegandros is a small island in the Cyclades near the major tourist hubs of Santorini and Mykonos. But unlike its cosmopolitan neighbors, the island has managed to retain its rustic charm and authenticity. Its rugged landscape features sheer cliffs, pristine beaches, and traditional farms laid out in terraces down the hillsides. Folegandros is compact with one paved road connecting the island’s port with its two villages and beach settlement. Dirt roads and trails split off from the main road to reach the more remote beaches; some beaches are only accessible by boat. Most families opt to stay in the capital, Chora, for its range of lodging, dining, shops, and sights, including the iconic Church of Panagia and the old Kastro neighborhood. Most of the village is closed off to cars, making is safe and fun to walk through it’s narrow, cobbled lanes and leafy squares. There is regular bus service connecting all the main towns, but families with children will find it easier to drive to explore the more remote outposts of the island.
- There are no banks in Folegandros and just three ATMs (one at the port town Karavostasis and the other two in Chora). Despite this, many businesses only accept cash, so plan accordingly.
- The best restaurants on Folegandros are Blue Cuisine (Chora), To Zimaraki (Chora), Pounta (Chora), O Psaromiligkas (Agali), Pasithea (Agali), Sea Sense (Karavostasis), Dal Capo del Porto (Karavostasis), Sinadisi (Ano Meria), Irini’s (Ano Meria), and Folegandros Bakery (Ano Meria).
- Folegandros is wrapped in beaches, but only three of them are semi-organized with restaurants and (seasonally) sunbeds and umbrellas to rent. Agali Beach is the most popular resort area, served by a handful of tavernas, cafes, and small hotels. Agali is connected by a cliffside walking path or boat taxi to Agios Nikolaos Beach, which has another two casual tavernas. Chochlidia Beach, next to the port in Karavostasis, has a handful of tavernas, cafes, and an outsized amount of luxury resorts.
- Most beaches in Folegandros are undeveloped, with no shops, restaurants, or even shade, so plan to bring your own supplies – especially water. Some beaches and sea caves are only reachable by boat, and most boat tours leave from Karavostasis. Visiting these wild beaches and swimming spots is highly recommended. Katergo Beach is considered one of the most beautiful in the Cyclades, while the sea cave Chrysospilia is filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and ancient grafitti – over 400 names are scrawled inside the cave, most dating back to the 4th century BC.
- Best Towns on Folegandros: Most hotels, dining, shops, and pharmacies in Folegandros are found in Chora, the capital and largest village. This easily walkable town brims with picturesque squares, centuries-old churches, and casual tavernas. Kastro is the oldest neighborhood here, with the tightly packed houses making up the former castle’s walls. The Church of Panagia, sat above the town, is the island’s most popular sunset spot. Karavostasis is the port settlement, where you’ll find some excellent luxury resorts, a few tavernas, boat tours to remote beaches, and five beaches within a 3 to 20-minute walk. Chochlidia Beach is the busiest, but it has the calmest water, great for beginning swimmers. Agali Beach is the most popular beach destination – embraced by tall cliffs, shielded from the wind, and with gentle water for easy swimming and play. Two other beaches (Fira and Galifos) are connected to Agali by coastal hiking trails; as mentioned before, Agios Nikolaos is connected by hike or water taxi. Ano Meria is the second largest village. Unlike Chora it has no village center. Family farms, restaurants, churches, the Folklore Museum, and small hotels are strung along the roadway and branching off down smaller footpaths. Though idyllic, it may be too quiet and remote for families with very young children, though active families may enjoy hiking through the hills and down to the beaches nearby.
The 8 Best Family Hotels in Folegandros
1. Anemi – Karavostasis
Hotel phone: + 30 22860 41610
The only five-star hotel in Folegandros, Anemi welcomes families with an infinity pool and adjacent kids’ pool (both saltwater), a playground, and a playroom. Spacious rooms and suites sleep three to six guests, all with bathtubs, wet bars, and private balconies or terraces. Suites add sitting areas and sofa beds, some with private pools. The gourmet Mediterranean restaurant offers kids’ menus and is open all day, from 8:30 a.m. until midnight; a la breakfast is included in all bookings, and room service is available during restaurant hours. Grounds feature tennis and basketball courts and a vineyard. Babysitting is available on request. Superb location just 300 meters (less than a 5-minute walk) from Chochlidia Beach, four more beaches, casual dining, and the port.2. Chora Resort – Chora
Hotel phone: + 30 22860 41590
Relaxed yet high-end resort with plenty of kid-friendly amenities, including Folegandros’ largest pool and mini golf. Junior Suites and Two-Bedroom Suites sleep up to four guests and include a jacuzzi bath and private patio or terrace (the two-bedroom has a second balcony). Crowd-pleasing favorites are on offer from the hotel’s Greek restaurant, pool bar, and pastry shop/cafe. An American buffet breakfast is complimentary and served from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m. Excellent location less than a 5-minute walk from the island’s best restaurants, the village squares, and the picturesque Kastro neighborhood.3. Polikandia Hotel – Chora
Hotel phone: + 30 22860 41322
Family-owned small hotel with a pool, lush gardens, and a cafe/snack bar in the heart of Chora village. Junior Suites sleep up to four and include a bathtub, kitchenette, and a balcony or terrace; one-bedroom suites add a second balcony and second bathroom with a hydromassage shower. Convenient location just a short walk to dining, shops, and the hiking trail up to the Church of Panagia.4. Blue Sand Boutique Hotel & Suites – Agali Beach
Hotel phone: + 30 22860 41042
Upscale boutique hotel perched on a hillside above Agali Beach. Suites sleep families of three to four, each with a walk-in shower, furnished balcony, sea view, and a king-sized bed, plus a sofa bed or twin beds. The all-day Greek restaurant and bar is open until 10:30 p.m., and a la carte breakfast is included in the room rate. The hotel sits on the hiking trail to Galifos and Agios Nikolaos Beach, near the water taxi and a handful of casual tavernas.5. Folegandros Apartments – Chora
Hotel phone: + 30 22860 41239
The closest hotel to the landmark Church of Panagia, Folegandros Apartments sits at the north end of Chora, just a short walk from charming Kastro and plenty of dining, shopping, and lively squares. The hotel centers on a large pool and attached jacuzzi with refreshments available throughout the day at the pool bar. Open-plan studios sleep up to three guests, while one and two-bedroom suites sleep families of four to six. All rooms feature kitchenettes and private verandas; the Family Suite is split into two floors with a second bathroom.6. Fata Morgana Studios – Chora
Hotel phone: + 30 22860 41237
Built on the cliffside in Chora, Fata Morgana offers fourteen unique studios with kitchenettes, open-style showers, and private balconies – all with jaw-dropping sunset sea views. Facilities include a deep swimming pool (fun for diving) surrounded by sunbeds and umbrellas. The pool bar serves breakfast (included), snacks, and beverages throughout the day until a little past sunset. Room service is available during bar hours. Quiet location at the south end of the village, yet just a 5-minute walk to island’s best dining, shopping, and sights. Pet friendly, too.7. Lemon Tree Houses – Ano Meria
Hotel phone: + 30 22860 43481
Kid-friendly and pet-friendly, this collection of five houses (sleep families of five to seven) is arranged around an infinity pool and served by an all-day Greek-Mediterranean restaurant. A la carte breakfast is included in the room rate. The whitewashed houses include kitchenettes, walk-in showers, and two private verandas; all are furnished in a contemporary style paired with traditional Cycladic architecture. Located in the farming village of Ano Meria near local-style tavernas and the Folklore Museums. Active families may enjoy hiking to the five remote beaches in the area, but most will prefer to drive part way. Though there is regular bus service to Chora and the port from here, renting a car is strongly recommended.8. Perigiali Rooms & Apartments – Agali Beach
Hotel phone: + 30 22860 41105
Cheerful, budget hotel just steps from sandy Agali Beach. The Studio sleeps three with one queen and one twin bed with a shared terrace, while the two-bedroom Family Apartment sleeps five with one queen and three twins, plus a full kitchen and two private, furnished balconies. A simple, tasty breakfast at the cafe is included in the room rate. The cafe serves snacks, coffee, cocktails, and refreshments throughout the day. A handful of casual tavernas are just a short walk away, as is the water taxi to Agios Nikolaos Beach and the hourly bus into Chora.
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