With 227 inhabited islands to discover and one of many world’s most historic cities (only for starters), you may fortunately spend a lifetime discovering Greece with youngsters.
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Massively family-friendly, with great coast, unspoiled countryside, incredible meals and the prospect to pack a number of locations into one straightforward journey, I’ve been again over and over with my daughter.
So if you happen to’re questioning the place to start your loved ones journey to the nation, this information to Greece with youngsters provides you concepts on planning a household vacation in Greece, concepts for a metropolis break or an island hop, when to go, the place to remain and extra.
Sensible information
Attending to Greece
There are 15 worldwide airports in Greece. Solely 5 of those are on the mainland, whereas the remainder are positioned on the Greek Islands. An extra 20 regional airports assist join the lesser-visited areas and smaller islands.
Many low-cost carriers fly immediately from European locations to Greece and the Greek Islands.
If you happen to’re coming from outdoors of Europe, most nationwide airways solely fly to Athens airport (ATH). Flights to different areas and the islands will embrace a connection in a bigger metropolis equivalent to Athens, London, or Paris.
When to go
Greece has its deserves it doesn’t matter what time of yr you determine to go to. The very best climate in Greece is from April to November. Wherever you go to within the nation throughout this time, you possibly can count on to get pleasure from sunny days and little or no rain.
Throughout peak summer time, temperatures in Greece can soar to 35C+. That is nice if you happen to’re stress-free on a seashore on a Greek island (simply bear in mind to use loads of sunscreen) – however not very best for exploring cities and wandering round historic ruins.
Keep away from visiting Athens in August except you get pleasure from heatstroke… and large crowds.
The shoulder months of April, Might, September, and October are one of the best occasions to go to Greece for heat however bearable climate and smaller vacationer crowds.
Nevertheless, the Easter weekend can get notably busy, and costs undergo the roof over this era – keep in mind that that is celebrated in line with the Greek Orthodox calendar, and is often barely later than in the remainder of western Europe.
Throughout the winter, you possibly can discover the historic websites of Athens with out the crowds (very best if you happen to’re visiting Athens with a child or youthful youngsters. Or head all the way down to the extra southerly Greek islands equivalent to Crete, Kos or Rhodes for a few of the mildest winter climates within the Mediterranean.
It received’t fairly be sunbathing and swimming climate, however it is going to be heat sufficient for sightseeing. There’s additionally extra open on these bigger islands through the low season than on the smaller islands that shut down after most vacationers go away.
What to see
From the world-famous archaeological websites, together with Unesco World Heritage websites and historic ruins of Athens to the attractive white sand seashores and luxurious vacation resorts of the Greek islands, there’s definitely no scarcity of incredible issues to see and do all throughout Greece.
And whereas Greece is greatest recognized for its historic cities and delightful seashores, 80% of the nation is roofed in mountains so it’s even an excellent vacation spot for climbing holidays.
Fancy an island break? The nation contains 6,000 islands and islets, though solely 227 of those are inhabited.
Plus after all, extra historical past than you possibly can shake an historic artefact at: not simply the Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens, you will discover extra at Knossos on Crete, on Delos close to Mykonos, on Kos, in addition to elsewhere on the mainland equivalent to Sparta (though discovering historic Spartans is simply one of many issues to do in Sparta, Greece).
To begin you off, beneath is a short introduction to the most important cities, areas, and island teams, and their highlights.
| Metropolis/Area | Highlights |
| Athens | Capital Metropolis, The Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, Parthenon, Temples and Historic Ruins |
| Thessaloniki | Ottoman White Tower, Roman Discussion board and Palace, Byzantine Church buildings |
| Halkidiki | Stunning Seashores, Seaside Resorts, Watersports, the close by island of Ammouliani Greece |
| Peloponnese | Historic Olympia, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Archaeological Websites |
| Epirus | Parga, Mountains, Mountaineering, Seashores |
| Ionian Islands | Corfu, Kefalonia, Paxos, Zante, White Sand Seashores |
| The Cyclades | Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, Luxurious Inns and Resorts, Nightlife |
| Dodecanese Islands | Rhodes, Kos, Karpathos, Medieval Structure |
| Crete | Heraklion, Minoan Palace of Knossos, Seashores, Meals and Wine |
| Sporades Islands | Skiathos, Nationwide Marine Park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades |
| Saronic Islands | Salamina, Hydra, Aegina, Póros |
Detailed articles
For extra journey tips about visiting Greece with youngsters, try a few of my posts:
Island hopping in Greece – itineraries for the Ionian islands and Cyclades
13 causes to go island hopping in Greece with youngsters
Athens
The very best issues to do in Athens with youngsters
Visiting Athens with a child – a 2-day Athens itinerary
Evaluate – an Acropolis tour with youngsters
Evaluate – a avenue artwork tour of Athens with youngsters
Evaluate – Athens4 resort with youngsters
Evaluate – Acro City Suites aparthotel
Thessaloniki & Halkidiki
The very best issues to do in Thessaloniki with youngsters together with concepts if you happen to’re planning a day journey from town
The place to remain in Halkidiki – my Cora Lodge overview with youngsters
Ionian islands
The very best issues to do in Kefalonia with youngsters
Visiting Kefalonia’s Melissani Cave with youngsters
The greatest seashores in Kefalonia with youngsters
The very best issues to do in Corfu City with youngsters
At some point in Corfu – misplaced and located
Sporades
The very best issues to do in Skiathos with youngsters
Dodecanese
The very best issues to do in Kos with youngsters
The very best issues to do in Rhodes with youngsters
Suggestions for visiting the Acropolis of Lindos with youngsters
Gennadi Grand Resort – my overview
Crete
The very best issues to do in Crete with youngsters
Visiting Knossos with youngsters – tips about exploring the traditional Minoan palace
The very best issues to do in Heraklion with youngsters
North Aegean islands
Travelling inside Greece
One of the best ways to journey across the Greek mainland is by street. Greece’s rail community is extraordinarily restricted and can solely take you between the principle cities.
The nation’s intensive bus community is operated by KTEL and connects most cities, cities, and main points of interest. Buses in Greece are trendy, snug, and inexpensive. You should purchase tickets on the stations or on board.
Alternatively, hiring a automobile for your loved ones journey provides you extra freedom to journey at your personal tempo and go to off-the-beaten-path places. Automobile rent is pretty low cost and roads are straightforward sufficient to navigate if you happen to’re planning day journeys. UK license holders don’t want an Worldwide Drivers Allow to drive in Greece.
If you happen to’re planning to rent a automobile to discover Greece with youngsters, certainly one of my favorite websites is Zest Automobile Rental which I used for our journey to Rhodes
If you happen to’re simply on the lookout for an airport switch to one of many main Greek cities, or don’t want a automobile for each day, try Welcome Pickups which we’ve utilized in Athens.
For hopping across the Greek Islands, boat is the most well-liked solution to journey – there’s all the time someplace new to find only a ferry trip away. The Ferryhopper web site is an efficient solution to examine routes and costs.
Pedestrian and automobile ferries join the mainland with most of the islands, and often run between the islands. The farther away islands will be reached by in a single day ferry or regional planes.
Flight assets
Skyscanner is the web site I have a tendency to begin with to match charges for my flights.
Cash-saving tip: Don’t enter any dates to scan one of the best obtainable occasions to go OR merely enter ‘Greece’ as a substitute of a selected airport – you might get a less expensive flight!
For extra methods to save lots of on a metropolis break with youngsters, try my high ideas
Lodging assets
Once I journey, I typically want to e-book a villa to present me loads of area whereas exploring Greece with youngsters, in addition to all of the amenities together with a kitchen which makes life simpler on household holidays (though you’re lacking out if you happen to don’t go to just a few native tavernas).
Take a look at Plumguide, which has a spread of lodging that’s been individually vetted, and which you’ll filter if you happen to’re travelling with infants or youngsters, together with some nice locations to remain in Athens with youngsters.
For a luxurious villa keep, firms like Prime Villas.has properties throughout Greece, together with the mainland in addition to the islands.
There are some nice accommodations to decide on in Greece with youngsters too – we’ve stayed on the pretty all-inclusive Ikos Dassia in Corfu in addition to the luxurious Elivi Skiathos and Lagas Aegean Village in Kos, plus Cora Lodge in Halkidiki.
Or try a few of the massive bundle vacation operators like TUI which has a mixture of self-catering flats in Greece proper as much as all-inclusive accommodations.
Jet2Holidays additionally has a spread of locations to remain in Greece with youngsters, together with lodging on a number of completely different islands and flights included.
For traditional resort stays, Reserving.com often presents some good offers, together with free cancellation, or try accommodations.com.
Security ideas
Greece is mostly a really protected vacation spot to go to. Crimes towards vacationers are extraordinarily low and the nation is welcoming in the direction of households.
Petty crimes equivalent to pickpocketing typically happen in busier locations like Athens. Take primary precautions and take care of your belongings, particularly when strolling via crowded areas, visiting touristy landmarks, and travelling on the metro.
There have been some latest stories of minor scams towards vacationers at seashore resorts on the Greek Islands, equivalent to overcharging at eating places.
To keep away from scams, do your analysis upfront, search for menu costs earlier than sitting down, and test the invoice earlier than paying.
Cash saving ideas
Greece has shifted from a finances backpacking spot to a luxurious vacation vacation spot over the previous few a long time. However there are nonetheless methods it can save you cash in your journey.
- Go to throughout low season to save lots of on flights and lodging.
- Get off-the-beaten-path quite than heading to standard vacationer locations.
- Usually, the mainland is cheaper than the Greek Islands.
- When island-hopping, e-book the older, slower (typically in a single day) ferries quite than the high-speed catamarans and hydrofoils.
- Go for Gyros and different tasty avenue meals quite than consuming at costly eating places.
- Discover free actions to do, equivalent to stress-free on the string of household pleasant seashores or climbing.
For extra tips about methods to save lots of on a metropolis break with youngsters, together with metropolis passes and discovering low cost (or free) excursions, try this publish.
Packing for Greece
If you happen to’re visiting Greece through the scorching summer time months, be sure that to pack sunscreen, aftersun, solar hats, and water bottles. Except you wish to return house with a household of lobsters that’s!
Unfastened, light-weight clothes will probably be your greatest pal on sticky, humid days, though if you happen to’re visiting in shoulder season, it’s price together with a light-weight umbrella.
When swapping between the mountains and seashores in some areas of Greece, layers are a should. Temperatures can change considerably relying on the terrain and time of day.
And positively don’t overlook your digicam. The traditional ruins and delightful whitewashed island cities make incredible backdrops for household images.
Take a look at my full household vacation journey planner right here, together with packing lists and extra
E-book record
Lonely Planet guides are all the time my favorite place to begin – the Lonely Planet Information to Greece & the Greek Islands covers the entire nation or strive the Pocket Athens information if you happen to’re visiting the capital.
If you happen to’re more likely to be exploring historic websites, there are additionally some nice books for teenagers on Historic Greece to deliver the traditional stones to life, together with So You Assume You’ve Obtained It Dangerous? A Child’s Life in Historic Greece, whereas the Horrible Histories vary contains Groovy Greeks.
My daughter additionally has this attractive Usborne E-book of Greek Myths, good for teenagers who love tales of gods, heroes and monsters.
For extra concepts of the greatest youngsters’ books about Greece, try my high picks
Disclosure: This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Boat at Skiathos/Symi/Lagas Aegean Village/Issos seashore copyright MummyTravels, all different Iiages courtesy of Depositphotos