With so many interesting places to see and a lot of exciting things to do, Greece is the ideal destination for your summer holiday and Greek islands for family holidays keep the first page of many publications.

This should not be a surprise for you because Greece is not just beautiful but it also has affordable prices and it is safe and clean with welcoming locals and incredible food.

Don’t be surprised if your kid will receive a free doughnut from the corner shop as Greek people love kids and treat them with attention and a lot of care.

 

 

But with over 200 islands spread around the mainland, it is very hard to choose the best spot for your ultimate family holiday in Greek islands.

In this article, I will tell you not just when is the best time to visit Greece with kids but also which are the best Greece islands for a family holiday.

Now let’s start with the beginning and see when you should visit Greece to maximise your time spent with your kids.

When you should visit Greek islands

The peak season in Greece is the months of June, July and August when it is the summer season.

This might also translate into lots of tourists, higher prices and crowded beaches, not to mention the long queues at museums and other important Greek attractions.

From all these three months August is the busiest and the most expensive with tourists everywhere, fully booked hotels and restaurants.

Summer is the ideal time for going to the beach and waterfalls with many hours of light and high temperatures all over the mainland and the islands.

Shoulder season, on the other hand, is late spring and early autumn, more precisely May and September, even the first part of October and the second part of April.

During this part of the year the prices and crowds are low, while the weather is great for exploring the ancient ruins and archaeological sites, or why not hiking and admiring the scenery.

Most of the islands open their tourist season around Eastern and everything is open until the second part of October.

So, the best time for an unforgettable family holiday in Greek islands would be in late May or June and September, when the prices are still low and the weather is great for the beach but also exploring the area.

During these months there are daily flights to most of the islands from Athens, Greece capital.

There are also regular flights from many European cities, not to mention the charter flights from most European countries.

Getting to Greek islands has never been easier so you don’t have to worry about flight details and the long flight as time flies fast and you’ll reach your dream destination faster than you’ve imagined!

Stay safe while you travel

Now you know when is the best time to visit Greece, so it’s time so see which are the best Greek islands that you and your family have to visit this summer!

Greek islands for family holidays

Crete

The island with the longest summer from Europe, not just Greece, Crete is a popular travel destination for those travelling with kids.

It is one of the largest Greek islands, extremely safe for tourists and many activities for kids.

There are many child-friendly beaches spread all over the island with soft sand and shallow turquoise waters, out of which the most famous are Makrigialos, Agia Pelagia and Matala.

But before you leave the island to pay a visit to the dusky pink sand from Elafonisi, a beach listed among the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Where to stay

Definitely, Hotel Lyttos Beach is the best choice for family holidays in Greek islands because it is located right on the beach and has its own private waterpark where kids can have fun the entire day.

The resort also has a football pitch, a pool dedicated to kids and a kids club with many daily activities and evening entertainment.

Family activities to try when in Crete

• Have a lot of fun at Acqua Plus, the biggest and safest aquapark from Chersonisos, Crete
• See how dinosaurs looked like at Dinosauria Park
• Explore the Dikteon Caves
• Book a tour with a glass-bottom boat in the Old Town of Chania
• Step back in time at the ancient Minoan Palace in Knossos

Top attraction for your kids

I am sure that your children will absolutely enjoy the time spent at Aquaworld from Hersonisos, the first aquarium from Crete.

This is the best place to go if you want to get in touch with rescued sea life and reptiles. Include into your tour CretAquarium, one of the most modern and also the biggest aquariums in Europe.

Corfu

Among the best Greek islands for family holidays I name Corfu, also known as the Emerald Isle considered one of the greenest islands of Greece.

On this Ionian island, there are plenty of things to visit on this island, including the UNESCO listed Old Town, the amazing mountain villages and the long and sandy shorelines.

Corfu has more than 55 sandy beaches, most of them with calm and shallow waters, ideal for kids.

Pay a visit to Dassia Bay which is a Blue Flag beach perfect for kids, with shallow water and to Glyfada, a child-friendly beach considered to be the liveliest on the western part of the island.

Where to sleep

A great hotel from Corfu perfect for your family holidays in Greek islands is Kontokali Bay Hotel , a child-friendly hotel with its own Children’s Village where your kid can enjoy their specially designed pool and enjoy the playground and playroom.

This family friendly hotel has its own private beach and special activities like horse riding, waterskiing or mountain hiking can be organised upon request.

Family activities to try when in Corfu

• Walk a donkey at Corfu Donkey rescue
• Take a day trip to the nearby Vidos Island
• Explore Kassiopi castle
• See marine life and reptiles at Corfu Aquarium
• Explore the ancient ruins at the Temple of Artemis in Korkyra

Top attraction for your kids

For the little ones, I would recommend the Aqualand from Agios Ioannis, which is a water park designer after Disney attractions, so your kids will definitely have a lot of fun here.

And for older children I suggest paying a visit to Hydropolis Waterpark from Acharavi, where you can enjoy the lazy river or try the water rides considered to be the most spectacular from the island.

Rhodes

One of the most visited islands of Greece and a popular choice for Greek islands for family holidays, Rhodes is the most important isle from the Dodecanese Archipelago.

Besides the ancient settlements and ruins, on the island, there are many Blue Flag beaches where you can enjoy some quality time near the sea.

For those of you looking for shallow and warm waters we recommend you go to the east coast where 30 miles of beach are waiting for you.

As for must-see places from the island, I would name The Old Town, the beautiful town of Lindos and the village of Lagos.

Both places are famous for their beautiful sandy beach and shallow waters, perfect for you and your family.

Where to sleep

A great choice for your family holidays in Greek islands is Princess Andriana Resort Spa Rhodos , a hotel located just 100 metres from the beach with a playground and separate pool for children.

On-site there is a mini-golf course, animation programmes, table tennis and archery, all there are designed to keep your kid entertained and happy.

Family activities to try when in Rhodes

• Stroll along the medieval town of Rhodes
• Enjoy some quality time in the beautiful Butterfly Valley
• Explore the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights
• Have some fun at Aqua Park in Faliraki
• Discover new things about sea life at Rhodes Aquarium

Top attraction for your kids

I am sure that your kids will be more than happy to come face to face with a magnificent creature who’s on Earth from the dinosaur era.

The ostriches from Farm of Rhodes are the highlights of this settlement where you can also see llamas, camels, kangaroos, raccoons and many other interesting creatures.

Zante or Zakynthos

Zante is for sure one of the best Greek islands for family holidays with many child-friendly resorts and lots of entertaining programmes for the little ones.

The most child-friendly resorts from the whole area are Tsilivi, Kalamaki and Alykanas with their amazing beaches and lots of restaurants with tasty food.

Among the most popular beaches from the island is Navagio Beach located on the northwestern part and is famous not just for the sandy beach but also for the Shipwreck of a boat that transported illegal cigarettes, in 1983.

Where to stay

Choosing a hotel in Tsilivi, Kalamaki and Alykanas is a smart move as there are plenty of child-friendly hotels in the area.

We stayed at Hotel Petros Zakynthos from Tsilivi, a beautiful hotel with a kids’ pool and a large playground.

The hotel is 10 minutes walk from the beach and close to many restaurants from the area.

Family activities to try when in Zante

• Explore the magnificent Blue Caves
• Have some fun at Tsilivi waterpark
• Take your snorkelling equipment and find the rare sea turtles
• See with your own eye the endangered monk seal
• Go horseback riding on Kalamaki beach

Top attraction for your kids

Your family holidays in Greek islands of Zante should include a visit to the Marine Park located on the southern coast right between Marathia’s Cape and the beach of Gerakas.

In this protected area come the endangered sea turtles to lay their eggs and if you are lucky enough you might see them in action, or the little ones hatching.

Santorini

Santorini, a beautiful Cyclades islands is by far the best well known Greek islands for family holidays and for honeymooners too.

It is not just a romantic place but also a great destination for families with kids, especially for older children.

The island is famous for its breathtaking views and whitewashed houses, not to mention the incredible beaches where you can relax and enjoy your holiday.

From all the beaches from the island, Kamari beach is the most famous one but it is also extremely crowded and noisy.

It is a Blue Flag stretch of sand with clear waters ideal for water sports like standup paddling, snorkelling, surfing, kite surfing and waterskiing.

Another interesting beach from the island is Perissa beach with its black sand and many activities to practice around.

Where to stay

Located in an old winery and offering many activities for kids plus childcare on request, Vedema Resort Santorini is one of the best choices when in Santorini.

The hotel is surrounded by vineyards and offers amazing views of the Aegean Sea.

Family activities to try when in Santorini

• Explore the ancient site of Thira
• Stroll along the white-washed villages along the caldera
• Prepare your camera for amazing sunsets at Oia
• Book a tour of Nea Kameni volcano
• Try some watersports as there are plenty of offers on the island

Top attraction for your kids

I bet your kids love to explore and be active so why don’t you book a tour of the island of Palea Kameni and bathe in the hot springs from Agios Nikolas bay?

Kos

One of the most interesting family holidays in Greek islands was the one from Kos, a beautiful island located close to the Turkish coast.

It is a pretty large island so you can find something suitable for every taste, no matter how picky you are.

The most popular part of the island is the southern side with Kefalos being the most popular town from the whole island.

A crowded and beautiful beach is Paradise beach, located between Kefalos and Kardamena with shallow waters and sandy stretch of sand, ideal for the little ones.

Where to stay

The 4 stars Kipriotis Village Resort Kos  is a great choice for you and your family as it comes with a huge pool, water slides for kids and an outdoor hot tub.

The hotel has themed nights in its main restaurant, Italian specialities and barbeque snacks for lunch which I am sure your kids will enjoy.

Family activities to try when in Kos

• Try the two aqua parks Aquatica and Lido
• Bath in a thermal spring
• Visit the Castle of the Knights
• Visit the last working windmill from the island
• Pay a visit to Kos Archeological museum

Top attraction for your kids

Generally, kids like honey but most of them don’t have any clue about how this tasty product is obtained.

Your family holidays in Greek islands are a good opportunity to relax and enjoy the sun, but also to learn new things.

We strongly recommend you to pay a visit to Melissa Honey Factory to taste this incredible food but also to learn new things about beehives and production.

These are the best Greek islands for family holidays where you should spend your next holiday.

All of them have child-friendly hotels, beautiful beaches and many activities to keep your kids busy the entire holiday.

So, have you decided which of these Greek islands you are going to visit on your next family holiday to Greece?