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10 Best Places to Visit for Family Holidays in Greece

Greece

Those traveling with family can expect the warmest welcome in Greece. There is a local saying, “Family is not the most important thing – it is everything”; so it comes as no surprise that young children in particular will be embraced and pampered endlessly. With guaranteed sunshine, golden sands and delicious, small hand-sized finger foods such as stuffed vine leaves, tasty dips and chips (here sprinkled with oregano) and “bravo”, as the locals say: you have all the essentials for a successful summer vacation.

Here are the 10 best places in Greece

1. Lefkada

Lefkada

This island in the Ionian is a favourite for family holidays in Greece. Its east coast is dotted with coves, perfect for exciting exploration by boat; the west coast has sandy beaches and impossibly blue waters; and resorts such as Nidri offer entertainment for all ages, from paragliding to pedalos.

Enjoy it all at one of the Acqua di Mare villas, Bella and Siena (or both: it’s ideal for multi-generational bookings), each of which has a private pool and direct beach access. Here, gently shelved perigialis are perfect for carefree beach days; or head to Nidri, a five-minute drive away, for a more lively atmosphere.

Places To Visit Near Lefkada

  • Castle of Agia Mavra
  • Nydri Waterfalls
  • Egremni Beach
  • Porto Katsiki
  • Sivota
  • Lefkada Town

2. Santorini

Santorini

Romantic sunsets and Instagram photoshoots might not sound like the dream family holiday in Greece, but Santorini’s charm far exceeds expectations. Boat trips are certainly popular here: kids quickly learn that tablets and screens can’t compete with the thrill of swimming below a real-life volcano and its all-natural hot springs, smouldering islets and high cliffs.

Away from the crater, find black-sand beaches on the east coast. Get the best of all worlds by staying at Canavese Epitome, with its sunset views and kids’ activities, a ten-minute walk from the island’s most famous village, Oia.

Places To Visit Near Santorini

  • Oia
  • Imerovigli
  • Amoudi Bay
  • Red Beach
  • Akrotiri Archaeological Site
  • Naxos

3- Naxos

Naxos

If the Cyclades islands are the dreamiest destination when considering a Greece holiday, Naxos is the party-free pin-up, where family-focused hotels and PG-friendly activities abound. There’s an inevitability about listing beaches here as standouts – there are more than 60 miles of beaches on the island – and yet many beaches are worth exploring separately because they’re shallow, accessible and have lifeguards.

Some of the attractive beaches are St George Beach, Agios Prokopios and Plaka, while for a more laid-back beach, Chora has horse riding facilities and Laguna Beach is great for windsurfing in super-safe waters. The Naxos Palace Hotel has a kids’ pool, spa, bike hire and shared facilities with the Naxos Horse Riding Club.

Places To Visit Near Naxos

  • The Portara
  • Naxos City
  • Mount Zeus
  • Apiranthos
  • Apano Kastro
  • Windsurf or Kitesurf
  • The Temple of Demeter

4- Halki

Halki

Most families visit Rhodes to head to the Dodecanese, but while there are plenty of golden beaches, they can be overwhelming; not so on neighbouring Halki. It’s the smallest inhabited island in the archipelago, with just one hotel, and yet sparks the imagination with a Crusader-built castle, a Popeye-style captain’s house and beaches accessible by boat.

You won’t find any waterparks or thrilling activities here, but what you will find is peace and relaxing walks. The Aretanassa Hotel overlooks the horseshoe-shaped bay of the main town of Emborios, and is just a short walk from waterfront wineries.

Places to Visit near Halki

  • Kania Beach
  • Potamos Beach
  • Town Hall
  • The Clock Tower
  • Fetnagia Beach
  • Monastery

5. Zakynthos

Zakynthos

Every Greek island has its own specialty. In Zakynthos, that “something special” is the promise of turtle watching in the clear, calm waters of Laganas Bay. The beach at Laganas is a hotspot in itself, but it’s also incredibly crowded. The Vasilikos Peninsula, on the bay’s east coast, is much more civilised.

Here, Gerakas Beach is wilder than Laganas, encouraging turtles to nest in its sand – in doing so creating endless attractions for families, with more inspiration at the beach’s information station. Stay at Villa Kossoro Ana, a three-bedroom stone house set among the peninsula’s pine forest and olive groves.

Places to Visit Near Zakynthos

  • Navagio Beach
  • The Blue Caves
  • Keri Lighthouse
  • Bochali
  • Gerakas Beach
  • Agnadi Restaurant and Zakynthos Town Market

6. Skopelos

Skopelos

If you like family kitchen discos, this island in the Sporades in Greece is for you and your super troupers. It’s where Mamma Mia! was filmed and its ultramarine coves, deserted churches and misty sands are now the place to visit, but the hype of the film has long since died down.

As well as movie-magical beaches, boat trips and water sports, island hopping here is also a joy: day trips to Skiathos and Alonissos, home to Europe’s largest marine park, are never-ending. The Skopelos Village Hotel, where the stars of Mamma Mia camped, has plenty of activities for kids.

Places to Visit Near Skopelos

  • Milia Beach
  • Cape Drastis
  • Skiathos Lalaria Beach
  • Alonissos Seacolours Dive Center
  • British Cemetry

7- Meganisi

Meganisi

While Zakynthos and Corfu keep the tourist hordes running, this south-western corner of the Ionian Sea is dotted with pebbly beaches and tiny coves with tangled olive trees. One such place in Greece is Meganisi on the coast of Lefkada.

Tourism is still in its infancy here and, apart from the two port towns of Vathi and Spilia, this Greece is much as it was in the 1960s – students still come to school by boat from Lefkada. The attitude to life is laid-back and there’s not much to do apart from relaxing on the beach, swimming and – happily – pony trekking.

Places to Visit Near Meganisi

  • Fanari Beach
  • Agrapidia Beach
  • Afteli Beach
  • Periplous Experience
  • Vathiavali Beach
  • Papanikolis Cave

8- Paxos

Paxos

It may be the smallest of the seven main Ionian Islands in Greece, but size means nothing in Greece. Here you can travel by boat and see pebbled beaches, church-filled towns and ports anchored by luxurious yachts, all without fearing you’ve drifted too far from the dock. And it’s also a great place to discover inland areas: to earn your ice cream, take a walking tour between the three towns of Lakka, Longos and Gaios.

One last tip will take you to the neighbouring island of Antipaxos, which exudes Ionian magic that will fill you with excitement. The Paxos Club Resort on Gaios has a spa, pool and – most importantly – boat rental for the island loop.

Places to Visit Near Paxos

  • Erimitis Bay Beach
  • Ali Pasha Castle
  • The Watermill Museum
  • Pythias Gallery
  • Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  • Arkoudilas Beach

9- Cephalonia

Cephalonia

From storybook-like fishing villages to paradise beaches, the island of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin is so perfect it almost feels like fantasy. Cephalonia isn’t a typical Greece island for families – it’s more wild and mountainous than many other islands – but there are also small coves leading down to sapphire-blue sea and beach bars where you can hang out even in summer.

Visitors traditionally head to the southern resorts near the capital Argostoli and Lassi, but the northern part around Fiskardo is an insider’s secret – a quiet piece of land, where postcard villages turn into spectacular untouched bays. Hiring a car is a must to do the island justice. The Amelis Nature Resort, just north of Fiskardo, is walking distance from the bluer-than-blue Amplisi beach.

Places to Visit Near Cephalonia

  • The Byzantine Museum
  • Marathonísi
  • Pefkoulia Beach
  • Drogarati Cave
  • Tsilivi Waterpark
  • Drapano Bridge

10- Corfu

Corfu

Perennial favourite Corfu has been reborn in recent years and the island, which bore the brunt of package holidays for so long, now focuses more on boutique hotels, gourmet menus and wellness trends. What hasn’t changed is the Venetian-influenced history, family-friendly beaches and stunning towns, especially on the north coast.

The island is a great choice for day trips. Let the kids play king of the castle in the Old Fortress; have fun on Paleokastritsa, Canal d’Amore or Avlaki beaches; or dive into the mysteries of the Vlacherna Monastery. As for places to stay, you won’t find a more family fun destination than Aqualand Resort & Waterpark in Agios Ioannis.

Places to Visit Near Corfu

  • Paxos and Antipaxos
  • Diapondia Islands
  • Lefkada
  • Kefalonia
  • Ithaki

Greece is filled with historical wonders and has a mythology that dates back thousands of years. Its power in literature is equally matched by its natural surroundings and the food that has been born as a result. Greece offers everything a traveler could ever want. So, plan an exciting trip to Greece and have a unique holiday experience.

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