Greece › Family Holidays
Updated: August 31, 2026 • By Santorini Dave
Questions? dave@santorinidave.com
See Also
- Athens – Where to Stay & Go
- Santorini – Where to Stay & Go
- Mykonos – Where to Stay & Go
- Naxos – Where to Stay & Go
- Paros – Where to Stay & Go
- Crete – Where to Stay & Go
My boys on a boat in the Santorini caldera. A boat tour of the caldera is one of the highlights of a family trip to Greece.
My Advice: 10 Things to Know for a Family Trip to Greece
1. Greece is One of My Favorite Destinations for Families
Greece and the Greek Islands are my top recommendation in Europe for a family vacation. Greeks are very welcoming to kids, restaurants are casual, beaches are easy to enjoy as a family, and children often love traveling between the islands by ferry.
2. Naxos is the Best Island for Most Families
If you only pick one island, make it Naxos. It has some of the best sandy beaches in the Cyclades, good food, reasonable prices, and plenty to see beyond the beach. Agios Georgios has shallow water and is especially good with younger children.
Other excellent choices:
* Paros: Good beaches, lively towns, and easy day trips.
* Crete: Best if you want beaches, history, hiking, and lots to explore by car.
* Rhodes: Excellent for history, with the medieval Old Town and Lindos.
* Corfu: Green, easy to explore, and a good choice for family resorts.
* Mykonos: Expensive and busy, but with excellent beaches and lots of good family hotels.
* Santorini: Best with older children who will enjoy the views, boat tours, and archaeological sites and can handle the stairs.3. Direct Flights Can Save a Lot of Time
Many Greek islands have seasonal nonstop flights from the U.K. and continental Europe, including Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Corfu, and Rhodes.
From North America, I usually recommend flying nonstop to Athens, spending a night or two there, then continuing to the islands by ferry or domestic flight.
4. June and September are the Best Months
For a family beach holiday, June and September are my favorite months. July and August are hotter, busier, and more expensive. May and October are good for sightseeing and hiking, but swimming is less dependable and ferry service is more limited.
5. Give Athens Two Full Days
Do not rush straight through Athens on the way to the islands. Two full days works well for most families and gives you time for the Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, Plaka, and some wandering without exhausting the kids. Stay in Plaka or Koukaki for easy walking to the major sights.
If you are taking a ferry after an international flight, spend the night in Athens first. I would not schedule a ferry connection shortly after a long-haul arrival.
My kids on the beaches of Mykonos. Mykonos has a party reputation, but the nightlife is easy to avoid and there are plenty of family-friendly hotels, restaurants, and beaches.
6. Do Not Try to See Too Many Islands
Every ferry move takes more time than the sailing time suggests once you include packing, getting to the port, waiting to board, and checking into the next hotel. For a one-week family trip that includes Athens, I prefer Athens plus one island. With 10 to 14 days, two or three islands works well.
7. Choose Beaches Carefully with Young Kids
Greek beaches vary enormously. Naxos has lots of soft sand and shallow water. Santorini’s volcanic beaches are darker, coarser, and can get very hot. Water shoes are useful for pebble beaches and hot volcanic sand, but you do not need them everywhere.
On Mykonos, Ornos is my favorite beach area for families because the water is protected and there are lots of hotels and restaurants nearby. On Naxos, Agios Georgios is hard to beat with small children.
8. Eating Out with Kids is Easy
Most Greek tavernas are casual, meals are unhurried, and children are welcome even late in the evening. Even picky kids can usually find something simple: souvlaki, grilled chicken, potatoes, pasta, bread, pita, tzatziki, or grilled meat and fish.
9. A Good Guide Makes Ancient Sites Much More Interesting
For the Acropolis or Knossos, a private guide who is good with children is worth the money. Without some explanation, a large archaeological site can quickly become a collection of old stones to a child. For the Acropolis, book your timed-entry tickets in advance during busy months.
10. I Prefer Booking Flights, Hotels, and Ferries Separately
Booking the pieces yourself gives you much more choice over hotels, ferry times, and the order of your trip.
- Google Flights to compare airfares and flight times.
- Booking.com for hotels and family rooms.
- Ferryhopper.com for ferry schedules and tickets.
- Welcome Pickups for airport and port transfers.
- Booking.com for rental cars.
- GetYourGuide.com for tours and activities.
What are the Best Greek Islands for a family holiday?
Folegandros is a good choice for families who want a quiet island with excellent hiking and few crowds.
The 7 Best Greek Islands for Families:
• Crete
• Rhodes
• Paros
• Naxos
• Santorini
• Mykonos
• Corfu
- Best Greek Island for Families: Naxos. The best overall combination of beaches, food, family hotels, and easy exploring.
- Best Greek Islands for Beaches: Naxos, Crete, Paros, and Mykonos.
- Best Greek Islands for Teens: Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, and Naxos.
- Best Greek Islands for History: Crete (Knossos), Rhodes (Old Town and Lindos), Santorini (Akrotiri), and Mykonos (for day trips to Delos).
- Best Greek Islands for Hiking: Crete, Sifnos, Santorini, and Naxos.
- Best Greek Island for Biking: Kos. Easily the most bike-friendly island in Greece.
- Best Greek Islands for Luxury: Santorini and Mykonos.
- Best Greek Islands for Quiet and Solitude: Folegandros, Ikaria, and Karpathos.
- Best Greek Islands for Outdoor Activities: Crete, Naxos, and Santorini.
- Best Greek Islands for Food: Crete and Naxos.
- Best for a Family Cruise: I prefer staying on the islands. You get more beach time, better evenings, and much more time to explore.
- Best for Island Hopping: Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Ios, Mykonos, and Milos are all well connected in summer.
How far in advance should I book hotels?
Paros has good family beaches and two of the best towns in the Cyclades, Parikia and Naoussa. Family rooms and suites at the best hotels sell out early for July and August.
- For July and August on the most popular islands, book early. Rooms for 4 or more, connecting rooms, and hotels with pools or beachfront locations are usually the first to sell out.
- If you want a specific hotel or room type, I would book 6 to 9 months ahead for peak summer. June and September are easier, but the best family rooms still go early.
- Booking.com is my favorite hotel site for Greece because it makes it easy to compare room types and reserve flexible rates while you finalize flights and ferries.
- For May, early June, late September, and October, availability is better, but I would still book ahead if you need a large room, beachfront hotel, pool, or specific location.
- I would not rely on arriving without a reservation when traveling with kids. It can work for flexible budget travelers, but not if you need a family room, crib, pool, or particular location.
When is the best time to visit Greece for a family vacation?
Waterfront dining in Naxos. For family beach trips, June and September are my favorite months.
June and September are the best months for most family trips to Greece. The weather is warm, swimming is good, and crowds are lighter than in July and August. September has warmer sea temperatures; June has longer days.
July and August are the hottest and busiest months. Expect higher hotel prices, crowded ferries and beaches, and strong Meltemi winds in parts of the Aegean. The winds are most noticeable in the Cyclades and can make high-speed ferry rides rough.
May and October are better for sightseeing, hiking, and lower prices than for a dedicated beach holiday. The sea is cooler and ferry schedules are thinner, especially later in October.
My advice: If swimming and beaches are the priority, go in June or September. If school holidays limit your dates, late June is preferable to the busiest weeks of late July and early August.
How do I get to the Greek Islands?
The three easiest options are:
- Fly to Athens and continue by ferry. This works especially well if you want to see Athens first and are visiting Cycladic islands such as Naxos, Paros, Santorini, or Milos.
- Fly to Athens and take a domestic flight. This is often easier with young kids when traveling to Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Kos, or another island with a good airport.
- Fly directly to an island from Europe. Many larger Greek islands have seasonal nonstop flights from major European cities.
My advice for families: From North America, fly to Athens, spend the night, and continue the next day. I would not plan a ferry shortly after a long-haul arrival.
How should families travel between the islands: ferry or flight?
Kids often love ferry travel, but with a family I try to keep travel days to a minimum.
- Choose ferries when traveling within one island group, especially the Cyclades. Naxos, Paros, Santorini, Mykonos, and Milos have good inter-island connections in summer.
- Choose flights for long distances, when changing island groups, or when a flight saves most of a travel day.
- Larger conventional ferries are slower but more stable. High-speed ferries are faster but can be rougher in windy weather.
- If anyone is prone to motion sickness, I prefer a large conventional ferry when schedules allow.
How far in advance should I book ferry tickets?
- For popular summer routes, I recommend booking once your itinerary and hotels are fixed. You do not need to book every ferry months in advance, but I would not leave an important July or August crossing until the last minute.
- Foot passengers have more flexibility, but booking ahead helps families get the departure time and seating they want.
- If you are traveling with a vehicle, book earlier. Car-deck space can sell out before passenger seats.
- Ferryhopper is the easiest site for comparing schedules and booking tickets.
How do ferry e-tickets work?
- Most Greek ferry companies now use e-tickets. The exact boarding procedure depends on the ferry company, so follow the instructions in your booking confirmation.
- Some companies require online check-in before your boarding pass becomes available. A few still require a printed ticket or collection at the port.
- If you have a mobile boarding pass, save it to your phone before leaving for the port so you are not depending on a good signal at the dock.
- For most island ferries, I recommend arriving at the port at least 45 minutes before departure. With a car, arrive about an hour early unless your ferry company tells you otherwise.
How many islands should I visit with kids?
- For a one-week trip that includes Athens, I prefer Athens plus one island.
- If you skip Athens, two nearby islands can work well in a week, especially an easy pairing such as Naxos and Paros.
- For a 10- to 14-day trip, Athens plus two islands is an excellent pace. Three islands can work if ferry connections are short and simple.
- With toddlers or younger children, I would stay longer in fewer places.
Should I rent a car on the islands?
- A car is useful on Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Naxos, and Paros if you want to explore beaches, villages, and sights away from the main towns. You do not necessarily need one for your entire stay.
- On Naxos, families staying in Naxos Town or Agios Georgios can easily spend several days without a car, then rent one for a day or two to explore the interior and more distant beaches.
- On Santorini and Mykonos, whether you need a car depends largely on where you stay. Buses, taxis, and transfers can work well, but a car is useful for exploring independently or staying somewhere remote.
- If you need a child seat or booster, reserve it in advance.
Do I need to stay in Athens before taking a ferry?
- If you are arriving on a long-haul international flight, I recommend it. Flight delays, baggage, and the transfer from Athens Airport to Piraeus leave too many opportunities for a missed ferry.
- Athens Airport is connected to Piraeus by Metro Line 3 and airport bus X96, but it is still a significant transfer.
- Spend the night in Athens and take the ferry the following morning. It is much easier with kids and gives you some protection against a delayed flight.
What are the best island groups for family island-hopping?
Ferry connections are much better within an island group than between different groups. For a first family trip, I would usually choose one group rather than trying to connect distant islands.
- Cyclades: The easiest choice for a first island-hopping trip. Naxos, Paros, Santorini, Milos, and Mykonos have frequent summer connections.
- Dodecanese: Rhodes and Kos are the easiest family bases, with ferries to smaller nearby islands.
- Ionian Islands: Excellent family destinations, but not as easy for the sort of multi-island ferry hopping you can do in the Cyclades.
- Crete: Best treated as a destination in its own right, not just a quick add-on.
Suggested Family Itineraries
- 1 Week: Athens + 1 island. My first choice with younger kids is Naxos. With older kids, Santorini is also excellent.
- 10 Days: Athens + 2 islands. Naxos + Santorini or Naxos + Paros are easy first-trip combinations.
- 2 Weeks: Athens + 2 or 3 islands, or Crete + 1 Cycladic island.
- My advice: Add nights before you add islands. Moving every two or three days gets tiring quickly with kids.
Santorini Dave was started in 2011 when I posted a short guide to visiting Santorini with kids. Now, my site publishes regularly updated guides to 
Hi Dave. I have about 23 nights to spend in Greece in June/July next year. We’re a famiy of 5, with 3 kids 12, 10, and 7. We’re thinking of arriving into Athens, spending 2 or 3 nights there, then the rest of the time heading to the islands. What would be the best use of time? Create for 1 week? Then followed by which others? I do not want to go to Mykonos or Santorini. Naxos and Paros are close together – can we stay at one, then visit the other for day trips, or will this be too hard?
The smartest way to structure a 23-night family trip to Greece is to place your time in Athens at the very end. This provides a buffer for your international flight home, eliminating any stress from potential ferry delays. For your family, the best itinerary is eight nights in Crete, seven in Naxos, five in Paros, and a final three nights in Athens. This creates a fantastic, well-paced journey through some of Greece’s best family destinations.
After flying into Athens International Airport and you should immediately take a connecting domestic flight to Chania (CHQ) in Western Crete. If you book these flights separately, ensure you have at least a three to four-hour layover in Athens to comfortably clear immigration and check in for your domestic flight. Crete is a massive island, so you must focus on one region, and the west is best for its stunning beaches and charming towns. Upon arrival in Chania, pick up your pre-booked rental car, which is essential for exploring the island. For your eight nights in Crete, base yourselves in or near the city of Chania; a family hotel in a nearby beach town like Agia Marina is a great choice. Explore the magnificent beaches of Elafonisi and Falassarna and take a boat trip from Kissamos to Balos Lagoon, which is the easiest way to visit with children.
From Crete, your island-hopping journey continues north into the Cyclades. Take the daily high-speed ferry from Heraklion to Naxos for a seven-night stay. Naxos is the best Greek island for families, it has incredible sandy beaches with calm, shallow water like Plaka and Agios Georgios. A rental car is recommended here as well (though not absolutely essential as the bus system is quite good). After Naxos, take the very short 30-minute ferry ride to Paros for your next five nights. While it is easy to day trip between the two islands, it is a far better use of your time to stay on both to fully appreciate them. On Paros, explore the harbor town of Naoussa, the mountain village of Lefkes, and do an easy day trip by boat to the nearby island of Antiparos.
Travel from Paros to Athens by ferry. Stay in a central, walkable neighborhood like Plaka or Koukaki. This gives you ample time to visit the Acropolis and explore the world-class Acropolis Museum. As this trip is during the peak season of June and July, the most important advice is to book everything well in advance. All flights, ferries, rental cars, and your family-sized accommodation should be secured 6 to 8 months ahead of travel.
Hi Dave, I am looking to plan a trip to Greece for the first time with my family (husband and kids ages 7 and 11). We would be flying out of the US (Boston). I am thinking 12-14 days. What would you suggest as an itinerary that both maximizes our time and allows us to see and experience as much as possible in that time frame?
Heidi Desautels
Hi Heidi, here is a 12 to 14 day Greece itinerary for a first-time family trip. This plan minimizes hotel changes and travel time while maximizing your experience on the ground.
Greece Itinerary for a Family
For a first visit with kids aged 7 and 11, the my recommended combination is Athens, Naxos, and Santorini. This gives you ancient history, the best family friendly island with great beaches (Naxos), and the stunning, iconic views of Santorini. A 4th island is possible but with 12 to 14 days, three locations is the perfect number.
Athens (2-3 nights): The essential historical stop. See the Acropolis and then get to the islands.
Naxos (5-6 nights): My top pick for families in all of Greece. Fantastic, sandy beaches with shallow, calm water. It is relaxed, affordable, and has some of the best food in the Cyclades.
Santorini (4-5 nights): The views are as incredible as you have heard. A boat tour of the caldera will be a highlight for the entire family. The caldera hike is also great for active teenagers.
Flights and Ferries
Flights: The most important tip I can give you is to book open-jaw tickets. Fly from Boston into Athens and fly home from Santorini (most likely via Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, or London). This saves you a full day of travel backtracking to Athens at the end of your trip.
Ferries: Travel between the islands by ferry. For this route, the large, stable Blue Star Ferries are best if anyone is sensitive to seasickness. They are like mini cruise ships with decks to walk around on. Book all ferry tickets online in advance at Ferryhopper.com.
Recommended 14-Day Itinerary
This itinerary assumes 13 nights in Greece. To make it a 12 day trip, simply remove one night from Naxos and one from Santorini.
Day 1: Fly to Athens
Your flight from Boston will be overnight.
Day 2: Arrive in Athens
Take a pre-booked taxi from the airport to your hotel. Settle in and take a walk around the Plaka neighborhood, find a taverna, and have your first Greek meal.
Day 3: Athens History
Go to the Acropolis first thing in the morning to avoid the heat and crowds. Buy tickets online in advance. In the afternoon, visit the fantastic Acropolis Museum, which is air conditioned and has a great cafe and LEGO model of the Acropolis that kids love.
Day 4: Ferry to Naxos
Take a morning ferry from Piraeus port to Naxos (about 5.5 hours). Check into your hotel and immediately head to the beach. St. George Beach is a short walk from Naxos Town and is perfect for families, with calm, shallow water.
Day 5: Naxos Town & St. George Beach
A full beach day. The water is idyllic and kids can play for hours. In the evening, explore the winding alleys of Naxos Town and walk out along the causeway to the Portara (Gate of Apollo’s Temple) for sunset.
Day 6: Explore Naxos by Car
Rent a car for the day. It’s the best way to see the island. Drive into the mountains to the villages of Halki and Filoti. Have lunch at a traditional taverna. You can also visit one of the ancient, oversized Kouros statues lying in a field.
Day 7: Best Naxos Beaches
Use your rental car to visit the incredible beaches south of Naxos Town. Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna are two of the best in Greece. The farther south you go, to Plaka Beach, the quieter it gets.
Day 8: Relax in Naxos
Your last full day in Naxos. Enjoy the beach, the pool, or wander through Naxos Town one last time.
Day 9: Ferry to Santorini
Take the 2 hour ferry to Santorini. The arrival into the caldera is breathtaking. Get a taxi to your hotel. Stay in Fira, Firostefani, or Imerovigli for the best views and a good central location.
Day 10: Explore Fira & the Caldera Path
Walk the caldera path from Fira north to Imerovigli or all the way to Oia. The views get better as you move north. The path is mostly pedestrian-friendly and safe for kids.
Day 11: Santorini Boat Tour
This is a must-do activity. Book a catamaran tour that takes you to the volcano, lets you swim in the volcanic hot springs, and sails across the caldera. Most tours include lunch or dinner. The kids will love it.
Day 12: Oia Village & a Beach
Visit the beautiful village of Oia in the morning to avoid the sunset crowds. Walk down the steps to Ammoudi Bay for a fantastic seafood lunch right on the water, there’s swimming and cliff jumping nearby. In the afternoon, take a bus or taxi to one of the black sand beaches like Perissa or Perivolos for a swim.
Day 13: Last Day in Santorini
Relax by the pool, do some last minute souvenir shopping in Fira, or revisit your favorite spots. Have a final great dinner with a caldera view.
Day 14: Fly Home
Fly from Santorini’s airport (JTR) back home to Boston.
Best Family Hotels in Athens:
• Herodion Hotel – Excellent location near the Acropolis Museum, rooftop deck with hot tubs and Acropolis views, and a small pool.
• A for Athens – Located right on Monastiraki Square with an amazing rooftop bar/restaurant. Family rooms are available.
• Ava Hotel and Suites – All-suite hotel in the Plaka, great for families needing more space.
Best Family Hotels in Naxos:
• Galaxy Hotel – Fantastic hotel with a large pool, located directly on St. George Beach. A top choice for families.
• Nissaki Beach Hotel – A more luxurious option also on St. George Beach, with a great pool and restaurant.
• Iria Beach Art Hotel – Wonderful hotel on Agia Anna beach with family rooms and a great swimming pool.
Best Family Hotels in Santorini:
• Anteliz Suites – Great hotel in Fira with a pool, caldera views, and family-sized suites. A short walk to the center but quiet.
• Homeric Poems – Superb hotel in Firostefani with a beautiful pool and suites that can accommodate families.
• Astra Suites – A luxury pick in Imerovigli with incredible views and larger suites perfect for families who want to splurge.
Mother, daughter and 9-year-old granddaughter looking to visit Greece for the first time from US. We have 8 or 9 nights. What itinerary do you recommend? Want to see at least 3 islands if possible. Do we start/end in Athens?
You most likely will fly into and out of Athens (most visitors do) but if you can avoid it with direct flights to an island, that’s fine too. Naxos, Paros, Milos, Sifnos, and Serifos are some of my favorite islands and all good choices. Mykonos too, which would allow for direct flights from Western Europe (if you want to skip Athens).
What are the best housing options for a group of 13, it’s 4 families mixed with kids. Are villas our best option? And if so which island is best for this large of a group?
It is not a cheap option but the villas at Aria Suites would be my top choice. If you rented the 4-neighboring villas you’d have a shared courtyard completely your own, 4 hot tubs, and marvelous caldera views. The pool at the hotel is a short walk up the lane. I have some great memories of lounging in the private pool here, and staring out into the caldera.
Hello, We are a family of six with four kids ages – 14 to 1. We are thinking of doing two weeks in Greece. Do you recommend one week in Crete and what three islands do you suggest with the kids?
Probably Santorini (I recommend a boat tour), Naxos, and Paros. Though doing 2 might be better than 3. Mykonos might also be worth some consideration as you can then fly directly from there (or Santorini) to Western Europe.
HI Dave;
We are a family of 5 with 3 teenage girls. What would you suggest around Athens with the kids that are fun things to do?
Thanks you and great Site.
My recommendations for fun things to do in Athens with kids/teens:
• Street Art Tour
• Athens Food Tour
• Bike Tour of Historic Athens
• Day Trip to Saronic Islands
We are planning a nearly 3-week vacation to Greece for our family – my husband and me, and our 7 kids ages 13 down to <6 months old – from late December (a couple of days after Christmas) until mid-January. We are coming from Iowa, USA, and travel extensively, usually in the off-season, though we’ve not been to Greece. I am thinking about Athens, Crete, and Santorini, but Rhodes and a day or two in Turkey would be great also. We will be renting a van that I am currently working on the details for now. We are homeschoolers who love to learn about history, culture, and food! Any suggestions, Dave? Your website is amazing!
Greece can be wonderful in winter. The biggest problem is getting between the islands. For example, there will be no Crete to Santorini ferry running in winter. There might be a once-weekly ferry from Crete to Rhodes – but maybe not. And there are some Rhodes to Turkey ferries in the off-season but not a lot so you’ll have to organize and research more than you would in summer. Getting a van on ferries is an expensive hassle – much easier to go as a walk-on passenger and rent different vehicles in each location. (In any case, few rental companies allow their vehicles to go on a ferry.) I would suggest limiting yourself to Athens and Crete. Crete is a large island (and the warmest in winter) and could easily fill 15 to 20 days of driving and exploring.
Hi Dave,
We are heading to Paros and Santorini with our 2.5-year-old in August. Just wondering if an ATV is safe for our 2.5 year old to sit on in between us or if we should hire a car?
Thanks Claire
ATVs are the least-safe way to get around the islands. I recommend going by bus or rental car.
Hi Dave. Thanks for your fabulous website! My husband and I and our 8 year old daughter have been spending our summer vacations in Greece for the past 3 years. Naxos is our fave, as well as Paros and Antiparos. This year we’ve booked Naxos again, but also have plans to visit Ios and Santorini for a few days each. School hols mean we have to travel in July/August, but I’m concerned that Ios is going to be too loud and insane in early August. I’ve booked Island House Hotel on Mylopotas beach – any advice on that area? Your description and the pics of the beach look lovely, but I don’t want to be listening to house music for 4 days and nights. Sorry for this long post, and many thanks in advance.
Sally [Amsterdam]
Ios is not as crazy as you might have heard. Yes, there are plenty of young people there to party but it’s pretty calm and (almost) quiet through the day. The real party starts late at night in the Chora (and nowhere near where you’re staying). Of course, your perceived vibe of the island can change depending on who’s staying at your hotel or who the regulars are at a nearby taverna during your stay. So there can be big swings in the atmosphere based on unpredictable variables. But all that said, I’d be surprised if you found Ios “too crazy”. The beaches are wonderful. And even the Chora is pretty family-friendly until well into the evening.
Can you tell me if it is best or nessesary to rent a car on any specific island? We plan on visiting Naxos, Santorini, and Rhodes. Very quick short visits.
Those are 3 islands where it’s nice to have a rental car for a day or two. Not sure what you mean by “quick shorts visits” but if you had 3 days on an island spending one of them exploring the island with a rental car would be good.
Hi Dave! Thank you for all the great info in this post. We are a family of 5 (kids ages 5, 3 and 1) and are coming from the USA. Which island would be best for staying at a house directly on the beach? Preferably a beach where the kids/us can get into the water without worrying about giant waves or too many rocks. Thanks in advance!
There are not a lot of house-like rentals directly on the beach. So it’s not so much which island but searching to find the right place (regardless of island). Naxos would be a good place to start. (Note, there are no giant waves in the Greek islands.)
Hi Dave – awesome tips! Our family of four (kids 3 & 4 yrs) will be enjoying the islands for 3 weeks in August and September. Thinking Crete + Cyclades. Debating hiring a car so we can drive on/off ferries, rather than struggling carrying all luggage and 2 young kids. Plus we’ll have transport to explore the islands. Limited info available online, seems hire cos don’t like their cars travelling between islands. Is this your understanding? We’ll fly into Crete from UK, and home to Australia from Athens, so will be a point-to-point booking. Should we pursue, or will a car be more trouble than it’s worth? TIA.
Renting a car and taking it on the ferry to multiple islands is not worth the effort and you’re right: most car companies won’t allow it.
What would you recommend for a family of 4 considering a family holiday to some of the Greek islands? We have 2 weeks holidays and debating between 1 week in Greece (with 1 week in Italy) and 2 weeks in Greece? We would be flying out of Heathrow and want to visit Mykonos, Santorini, Naxos, and Crete. Athens is not a necessity but would be nice too. Suggestions on our itinerary?
Thanks
Derrick
You either have to limit the islands you visit or forget about Italy and only visit Greece. With 1 week in Greece, I would only visit 2 or 3 islands. Either fly Heathrow to Mykonos, ferry to Santorini, then fly Santorini to Italy, or could add Naxos in between. But if you spent the entire two weeks in Greece then you could fly to Athens, ferry to Mykonos, ferry to Naxos, and ferry to Santorini spending 1 full day in Athens and 3 or 4 nights on each of those 3 islands. Personally I would drop Italy from this trip and leave it for another holiday. Also, Crete (much larger than the other Greek islands) is an island too far for this holiday and would spread your time too thin.
Family of 5 looking for an idyllic Greek island with kid-friendly beaches. What Greek island is best for a family holiday?
There are many great islands in Greece for a family holiday – you almost can’t go wrong. But the best of the best are Naxos, Paros, Crete, Rhodes, Kos, and Mykonos. If you can only do one then go with Naxos.