Five amazing family holidays in Greece for 2024
With its toddler-friendly tavernas serving crowd-pleasing cuisine, fascinating archeological sites and museums, glorious sandy beaches, and laid-back hotels and resorts, Greece is without doubt one of Europe’s most family-friendly destinations.
Far from being shunned because you have children in tow, you and your kids will be adopted by locals wherever you go – in fact, your biggest problem will be prying them away from that friendly yia yia (granny) or smiling receptionist when you leave.
It’s no surprise then to learn that Greek flag carrier Aegean Airlines recently launched a fantastic offer, letting children fly free (when travelling with their parents) between March and October 2024 (book before February 12 to take advantage).
From a stylish hangout on the island where the animal-loving Durrells once lived, to a faraway haven packed with watersports activities and within easy reach of Athens, here’s our pick of Greece’s five best family holidays for 2024.
1. Catch the early rays in Crete
When frost is still nipping the buds back home, Crete already basks in sunshine, making it the perfect destination for a spring holiday. Easter falls early this year, but most of the tourist shops and beachside tavernas in Hersonissos, in the east of Greece’s largest island, will be open for business.
An hour’s drive from the Minoan Palace of Knossos and museums in Heraklion, this lively seaside resort is only a short drive from east Crete’s capital Agios Nikolaos, famed for its “bottomless” (actually 64-metre deep) lake and maze of cobbled shopping lanes. Adventurous families can join a jeep safari to explore the windmill-studded Lasithi plateau, or hop on a boat to Spinalonga, the leper island of Victoria Hislop’s novel.
Seaside resort Nana Golden Beach has six pools, eight restaurants, and its own waterpark. A seven-night all-inclusive break, departing March 28, costs £2,163 for a family of four (tui.co.uk).
2. Full bloom in Corfu
Lush, lovely Corfu comes into its own in May, when flowers bloom on the pine-studded hillsides and days are warm without being stifling.
You can easily spend an entire day exploring the Ionian island’s Unesco-listed old town, with its ancient fortresses and narrow alleys grouped around the café-lined Spianada central square, where you can try tsitsibira (ginger beer) and (if you’re lucky) catch a cricket match. Fans of the animal-loving Durrells can take a dedicated tour which includes a visit to the White House – now a fascinating museum – where Lawrence Durrell once lived.
Further afield, explore a string of dune-studded beaches along Corfu’s wild southern coast or head for Agios Stefanos, on the island’s northern tip, where boats leave for the Diapontia, a dozen near-deserted islands that are the stuff of castaway fantasies.
Gazing out over one of the island’s loveliest beaches, chic spa retreat Domes of Corfu has several pools and a handful of gourmet restaurants. A seven-night all-inclusive, departing on May 27, costs £6,330 for a family of four (jet2.com).
3. Lazy days in Naxos
With crowded streets and eye-wateringly expensive accommodation, Mykonos and Santorini can be overwhelming in summer – especially for younger families. Often overlooked for her glitzy Cyclades sisters, Naxos makes a peaceful alternative, with plenty of activities to keep all the family happy. And when it comes to beaches, from the lively golden sands of Agios Prokopios to the remote pine-forest-shaded Alykos – it has some of the loveliest in Greece.
Away from the seaside, rent quad bikes and explore a plethora of fascinating mountain villages: Melanes, home to the island’s mysterious kouroi, giant marble statues dating back to 570BC; Chalki, where they’ve been making lemony liquor since 1896; and Apeiranthos, with its maze of marble-paved alleys and tavernas serving traditional treats.
High on a clifftop with breathtaking sea views, Naxian Utopia Suites and Villas makes a luxurious base for exploring. Seven nights’ B&B accommodation in a Loft Suite with a private pool costs £2,364 for a family of four, from August 6 (olympicholidays.com).
4. Holiday like a Greek in Evia
Mainly favoured by well-heeled Athenians who have their summer homes here, under-the-radar Evia, only a couple of hours drive from the capital, is an ideal family destination. Although the island has plenty of attractions to boast of (including blissful beaches and hot springs), families might prefer the convenience of a resort.
Only accessible by boat, Club Med’s Gregolimano stands in splendid isolation, surrounded by pine forests overlooking a swathe of sand on the island’s northwest coast. There are plenty of fun activities for all the family here, including tennis lessons, cookery classes, wakeboarding, dinghy sailing and live entertainment, and the surrounding forest is strung with hammocks and studded with tree houses, providing a thrilling playground.
A seven-night all-inclusive stay at Gregolimano, from August 16, including watersports and other activities, costs £4,773 for a family of four (clubmed.co.uk).
5. Late-season sun in Rhodes
Ideal for a late-season getaway with the family, Rhodes bathes in more than 300 days of sunshine per year. Legendary site of the Colossus statue and paradise for nature lovers, this dazzling Dodecanese island also has a plethora of pristine Blue Flag beaches and a Unesco-listed old town.
Exploring the museums, palaces, mosques and labyrinth-like shopping streets of this medieval site is like stepping back in time; as is a trip to see the ancient temples, tombs and high-flung Acropolis of lovely Lindos.
For more modern thrills, grab swim togs and seek out Kalithea’s pretty bay, where 1960s classic The Guns of Navarone was filmed, hike out along the tangle of trails in Butterflies Valle, or spend a fun evening at Koukous, a quirky vintage-styled taverna where pastries and pies are baked in a wood-fired oven.
Mitsis Alila Resort & Spa has plenty of children’s entertainment options along with lots of grown-up fun, including half a dozen a la carte restaurants. Seven nights’ all-inclusive at Mitsis Alila, from October 24, costs £2,183 for a family of four (loveholidays.com).
