Greece has been a favourite with British families for generations, and it’s easy to understand why. Beautiful beaches, warm Mediterranean weather, family-friendly resorts and a huge choice of islands make it possible to find a Greek holiday for almost every type of family.

But choosing where to go can be the difficult part. A family holiday in Crete can feel very different from a week in Rhodes, Kos or Corfu, and choosing the right island — and the right resort area — can make a huge difference to your holiday.

This guide will help you plan your Greece family holidays, including the best Greek islands for families, where to stay, when to travel, things to do with children and practical advice for families travelling from the UK.

Why Choose Greece for a Family Holiday?

One of Greece’s biggest advantages is choice. The country has thousands of islands and islets, with hundreds inhabited, alongside mainland beach resorts and historic cities. That means a family holiday to Greece can be as relaxed or as active as you want it to be.

Families can spend their days on sandy beaches, explore ancient sites, take boat trips to hidden bays, visit water parks or simply enjoy a hotel pool before heading out for dinner in the evening.

Greece is particularly well suited to families because you’ll find:

• A huge choice of beach resorts
• Plenty of direct seasonal flights from the UK
• Family hotels ranging from simple apartments to luxury resorts
• Beaches with shallow water on many of the popular islands
• Water parks and family attractions
• Boat trips and island-hopping excursions
• Historic sites that can add something different to a beach holiday
• Restaurants and tavernas that generally make eating out as a family straightforward

Best Greek Islands for Families

There isn’t one Greek island that’s automatically best for every family. The right choice depends on the age of your children, how much exploring you want to do and whether you’re looking for a lively resort or somewhere quieter.

For most UK families, Crete, Rhodes, Kos and Corfu are excellent places to start your search.

Crete

Best for: families who want lots of choice and plenty to explore.

Crete is Greece’s largest island, which gives families an enormous choice of resort areas, beaches, hotels and attractions. It’s particularly useful if you don’t want to spend every day around the hotel.

There are traditional towns, archaeological sites, boat trips, beaches and family attractions across the island. Because Crete is so large, however, location matters. Check exactly where your hotel is and how far it is from the airport and places you want to visit before booking.

Rhodes

Best for: combining beaches, family attractions and sightseeing.

Rhodes is one of the most versatile Greek islands for a family holiday. You can combine beach days with Rhodes Old Town, visit Lindos, take boat trips and find plenty of family-focused resorts.

Families wanting plenty going on may like areas around Faliraki, while other parts of the island offer a quieter atmosphere.

Kos

Best for: an easy-going beach holiday on a relatively manageable island.

Kos combines family-friendly beach resorts with enough sightseeing and activities to stop the holiday becoming repetitive. Its size can also make exploring feel less daunting than on somewhere as large as Crete.

It’s a particularly interesting option for families who want a traditional Mediterranean beach holiday with the opportunity to hire a car, cycle, take a boat trip or explore Kos Town.

Corfu

Best for: green scenery, pretty beaches and exploring by car or boat.

Corfu feels noticeably greener than many of the Aegean islands and has a varied coastline of sandy beaches, coves and rocky bays.

Different parts of Corfu suit different families, so again, don’t choose purely on the hotel. Look at the beach, resort atmosphere and transfer time as part of the decision.

Where to Stay in Greece with Kids

The hotel can be just as important as the island when you’re travelling as a family.

For younger children, features such as a shallow pool, splash area, kids’ club and short walk to the beach can make life considerably easier. Families with older children and teenagers may get more value from waterslides, sports facilities, larger pools and easy access to activities outside the resort.

When comparing family accommodation in Greece, look beyond the star rating and check:

• Family room size and sleeping arrangements
• Whether children get proper beds or sofa beds
• Kids’ club age ranges
• Pool and waterslide restrictions
• Distance to the beach
• Whether the beach is sandy or pebbly
• Restaurants within walking distance
• Airport transfer time
• Whether you’ll need a hire car

If you’re travelling during the main UK school holidays, the most popular family rooms and larger accommodation can disappear well before standard double rooms.

Best Time for Greece Family Holidays

For most families looking for a traditional beach holiday, the main Greece holiday season runs through late spring, summer and early autumn.

May and June

Late spring and early summer can be a great time to visit. Resorts are open for the season, temperatures are generally more comfortable for exploring than during the hottest part of summer, and beaches can be quieter outside school-holiday periods.

July and August

This is peak family-holiday season. Expect hot weather, busy resorts and stronger demand for flights and the most popular family hotels.

If you’re tied to the school summer holidays, booking earlier gives you a better chance of finding the room type and resort you actually want rather than choosing from what’s left.

September and October

September can be particularly attractive for families with preschool children because the sea has had all summer to warm up and the busiest period has passed.

As you move further into autumn, conditions become more variable and some seasonal tourist facilities begin winding down. Weather also differs between the islands, so check the destination rather than treating Greece as having one identical climate.

Things to Do in Greece with Kids

A Greece family holiday doesn’t have to mean spending every day beside the hotel pool. One of the country’s strengths is how easily you can mix relaxing days with excursions and activities.

Take a Boat Trip

Boat trips are one of the easiest ways to add an adventure to a Greek beach holiday. Depending on the island, trips may visit smaller islands, sea caves, secluded beaches and swimming spots that are difficult to reach by road.

Visit a Water Park

Several of Greece’s major family destinations have water parks, making them an easy change from the beach for children and teenagers.

Always check current opening dates, height restrictions and transport before visiting, particularly outside the peak summer months.

Explore Historic Greece

Ancient sites can work surprisingly well with children when you avoid trying to turn the day into a history lesson. Castles, old towns, temples and archaeological sites give families something completely different from the beach.

Rhodes Old Town and Lindos are obvious examples on Rhodes, while Crete has some of Greece’s best-known archaeological attractions.

Try Water Sports

Many organised beaches offer activities such as paddleboarding, kayaking and other water sports. Availability and minimum ages vary, so check locally before promising a particular activity to children.

Explore by Car

A hire car can completely change a Greek island holiday. Instead of staying around one resort, you can find quieter beaches, traditional villages and restaurants away from the main tourist areas.

If you’re considering driving, our Travel Tips section has more practical holiday-planning advice.

All Inclusive vs Self Catering in Greece

Both can work extremely well for families, but they create very different holidays.

All Inclusive

All inclusive can make budgeting easier and works particularly well if your family expects to spend most days around the resort. Drinks, snacks and meals being readily available can also make life easier with younger children.

Before paying a large premium for all inclusive, however, consider whether you’ll actually be at the hotel enough to use it. Families planning several day trips may end up paying for meals they’re rarely there to eat.

Self Catering

A villa or apartment gives families more space and flexibility. Having a fridge and basic kitchen can be useful with younger children, and Greece is a destination where eating out at local tavernas can be part of the holiday rather than an inconvenience.

Self catering can be particularly attractive if you intend to hire a car and explore rather than staying inside one resort.

How Long Should You Spend in Greece?

Seven nights works well for a straightforward fly-and-flop family holiday where you’re staying on one island and mainly using one resort as your base.

10 nights gives you more breathing room and makes excursions easier to fit in without feeling that you’re sacrificing too many beach days.

14 nights is ideal if you want a slower holiday, plan to explore extensively or want to divide the trip between two areas.

For most families, we’d avoid trying to squeeze several Greek islands into a standard one-week holiday. Ferry timetables, packing, transfers and hotel changes can quickly eat into the time you thought you’d spend exploring.

Getting Around Greece as a Family

How much transport you’ll need depends heavily on the island and resort you choose.

Airport Transfers

If you’re booking a package holiday, transfers may already be included. If you’re arranging flights and accommodation separately, check the distance from the airport before booking the hotel.

A beautiful resort can look perfect online until you discover it involves a lengthy transfer after a late flight with tired children.

Car Hire

A hire car makes most sense when you actively want to explore. On larger islands such as Crete, distances can be greater than they initially appear on a map.

If you plan to spend most of the holiday at a beachfront resort and take organised excursions, hiring a car for the entire stay may be unnecessary.

Buses and Taxis

The usefulness of public transport varies significantly between islands and resort areas. Major tourist destinations generally have bus and taxi options, but don’t assume every beach or attraction will be straightforward to reach without a car.

Greece Family Holiday Costs

There isn’t a useful single figure for the cost of a family holiday to Greece because prices vary enormously according to the island, hotel standard, departure airport and school-holiday dates.

The biggest opportunities to control the budget are usually:

• Comparing several UK departure airports if practical
• Checking package prices against booking flights and accommodation separately
• Comparing all inclusive with bed and breakfast or self catering
• Booking popular family room types early
• Checking transfer costs before choosing a remote hotel
• Planning excursions before you arrive rather than buying everything impulsively in resort

For more ways to plan around the overall cost of a trip, visit our Budget Guides.

Practical Tips for UK Families Visiting Greece

Check Your Passport

Greece is part of the Schengen area. Passport rules for British travellers are different from simply checking the printed expiry date, so check the current requirements before travelling.

Allow Extra Time at the Border

European Entry/Exit System procedures are being introduced across the Schengen area. Processes can change, so check the latest official guidance before departure and allow appropriate time at the airport.

Take Sun Protection Seriously

The Greek summer sun can be intense, particularly in the middle of the day. Pack high-factor sunscreen, hats and plenty of water, and plan sightseeing around the heat where possible.

Check for Wildfire Advice

Wildfires can occur during the warmer months in Greece. Follow local instructions and check current official travel advice before and during your trip.

Get Suitable Travel Insurance

Make sure your policy covers your family, itinerary and any activities you’re planning rather than choosing purely on price.

Check the latest Greece travel advice on GOV.UK →

Greece Family Holidays: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Greece good for family holidays?

Yes. Greece offers a large choice of beach resorts, family hotels, water activities, historic attractions and excursions. The key is choosing the island and resort area that best matches your children’s ages and the type of holiday you want.

Which Greek island is best for families?

Crete, Rhodes, Kos and Corfu are all strong family options, but for different reasons. Crete offers enormous variety, Rhodes combines beaches and sightseeing, Kos is relatively easy to explore, and Corfu combines beaches with lush scenery and attractive coves.

Is Crete or Rhodes better for families?

Crete generally offers more choice because of its size, while Rhodes can be easier to combine into a straightforward beach-and-sightseeing holiday. Your choice should depend more on the specific resort and hotel than the island name alone.

Is Greece suitable for toddlers?

It can be excellent for toddlers, particularly if you choose a hotel with a shallow pool, suitable room layout and a beach within easy walking distance. Pay particular attention to transfer times and beach type.

Is Greece good for teenagers?

Yes, particularly if you choose a resort with water sports, boat trips, water parks or plenty happening outside the hotel. Older children may appreciate a more active itinerary than spending every day around a pool.

Do we need a car in Greece?

Not necessarily. Families staying in a well-located resort and using organised excursions may not need one. A car becomes much more useful if you want to explore beaches, villages and attractions independently.

How many days are enough for a Greece family holiday?

Seven nights is enough for a simple single-resort holiday. Ten to fourteen nights gives families more time to explore while still leaving plenty of relaxed beach and pool days.

Start Planning Your Greece Family Holiday

Greece gives families an enormous amount of choice, which is both its biggest advantage and the reason planning the trip properly matters.

Start with the island. Decide whether your priority is beaches, sightseeing, activities or simply a great family resort. Then compare the areas and hotels within that island rather than choosing accommodation purely because it looks good in photographs.

Over the coming Greece guides, we’ll go deeper into Crete, Rhodes, Kos and Corfu, along with the best family hotels and things to do with children, so you’ll be able to plan each part of the holiday in much more detail.