With 227 inhabited islands to discover and one of many world’s most historic cities (only for starters), you would fortunately spend a lifetime discovering Greece with children.
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Vastly family-friendly, with great coast, unspoiled countryside, implausible meals and the prospect to pack a number of locations into one simple journey, I’ve been again again and again with my daughter.
So should you’re questioning the place to start your loved ones journey to the nation, this information to Greece with children 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.
When you’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 corresponding to Athens, London, or Paris.
When to go
Greece has its deserves it doesn’t matter what time of 12 months you determine to go to. The most effective climate in Greece is from April to November. Wherever you go to within the nation throughout this time, you may anticipate to take pleasure in sunny days and little or no rain.
Throughout peak summer season, temperatures in Greece can soar to 35C+. That is nice should you’re stress-free on a seashore on a Greek island (simply keep in mind to use loads of sunscreen) – however not excellent for exploring cities and wandering round historic ruins.
Keep away from visiting Athens in August except you take pleasure in heatstroke… and big crowds.
The shoulder months of April, Might, September, and October are the perfect instances to go to Greece for heat however bearable climate and smaller vacationer crowds.
Nonetheless, the Easter weekend can get notably busy, and costs undergo the roof over this era – keep in mind that that is celebrated in accordance with the Greek Orthodox calendar, and is normally barely later than in the remainder of western Europe.
In the course of the winter, you may discover the traditional websites of Athens with out the crowds (excellent should you’re visiting Athens with a child or youthful children. Or head all the way down to the extra southerly Greek islands corresponding to Crete, Kos or Rhodes for among the mildest winter climates within the Mediterranean.
It gained’t fairly be sunbathing and swimming climate, however it will likely be heat sufficient for sightseeing. There’s additionally extra open on these bigger islands in the course of the low season than on the smaller islands that shut down after most vacationers depart.
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 implausible issues to see and do all throughout Greece.
And whereas Greece is finest identified for its historic cities and delightful seashores, 80% of the nation is roofed in mountains so it’s even an incredible 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 in fact, extra historical past than you may 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 corresponding to Sparta (though discovering historic Spartans is simply one of many issues to do in Sparta, Greece).
To begin you off, under is a short introduction to the most important cities, areas, and island teams, and their highlights.
Detailed articles
For extra journey tips about visiting Greece with children, take a look at 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 children
Athens
The most effective issues to do in Athens with children
Visiting Athens with a child – a 2-day Athens itinerary
Evaluation – an Acropolis tour with children
Evaluation – a road artwork tour of Athens with children
Evaluation – Athens4 lodge with children
Evaluation – Acro City Suites aparthotel
Thessaloniki & Halkidiki
The most effective issues to do in Thessaloniki with children together with concepts should you’re planning a day journey from town
The place to remain in Halkidiki – my Cora Resort assessment with children
Ionian islands
The most effective issues to do in Kefalonia with children
Visiting Kefalonia’s Melissani Cave with children
The most effective seashores in Kefalonia with children
The most effective issues to do in Corfu City with children
In the future in Corfu – misplaced and located
Sporades
The most effective issues to do in Skiathos with children
Dodecanese
The most effective issues to do in Kos with children
The most effective issues to do in Rhodes with children
Ideas for visiting the Acropolis of Lindos with children
Gennadi Grand Resort – my assessment
Crete
The most effective issues to do in Crete with children
Visiting Knossos with children – tips about exploring the traditional Minoan palace
The most effective issues to do in Heraklion with children
North Aegean islands
In the future in Chios
Travelling inside Greece
The easiest way to journey across the Greek mainland is by street. Greece’s rail community is extraordinarily restricted and can solely take you between the primary cities.
The nation’s in depth bus community is operated by KTEL and connects most cities, cities, and main sights. Buses in Greece are fashionable, snug, and reasonably priced. You should buy tickets on the stations or on board.
Alternatively, hiring a automotive for your loved ones journey provides you extra freedom to journey at your personal tempo and go to off-the-beaten-path areas. Automotive rent is pretty low-cost and roads are simple sufficient to navigate should you’re planning day journeys. UK license holders don’t want an Worldwide Drivers Allow to drive in Greece.
When you’re planning to rent a automotive to discover Greece with children, certainly one of my favorite websites is Zest Automotive Rental which I used for our journey to Rhodes
When you’re simply on the lookout for an airport switch to one of many main Greek cities, or don’t want a automotive for on daily basis, take a look at Welcome Pickups which we’ve utilized in Athens.
For hopping across the Greek Islands, boat is the preferred technique to journey – there’s all the time someplace new to find only a ferry trip away. The Ferryhopper web site is an effective technique to evaluate routes and costs.
Pedestrian and automotive ferries join the mainland with most of the islands, and frequently run between the islands. The farther away islands could be reached by in a single day ferry or regional planes.
Flight sources
Skyscanner is the web site I have a tendency to start out with to match charges for my flights.
Cash-saving tip: Don’t enter any dates to scan the perfect obtainable instances to go OR merely enter ‘Greece’ as a substitute of a selected airport – chances are you’ll get a less expensive flight!
For extra methods to avoid wasting on a metropolis break with children, take a look at my prime suggestions
Lodging sources
Once I journey, I typically choose to guide a villa to provide me loads of house whereas exploring Greece with children, in addition to all of the amenities together with a kitchen which makes life simpler on household holidays (though you’re lacking out should you don’t go to a couple of native tavernas).
Try Plumguide, which has a spread of lodging that’s been individually vetted, and which you’ll be able to filter should you’re travelling with infants or children, together with some nice locations to remain in Athens with children.
For a luxurious villa keep, corporations like High Villas.has properties throughout Greece, together with the mainland in addition to the islands.
There are some nice resorts to decide on in Greece with children too – we’ve stayed on the beautiful all-inclusive Ikos Dassia in Corfu in addition to the luxurious Elivi Skiathos and Lagas Aegean Village in Kos, plus Cora Resort in Halkidiki.
Or take a look at among the huge bundle vacation operators like TUI which has a mixture of self-catering residences in Greece proper as much as all-inclusive resorts.
Jet2Holidays additionally has a spread of locations to remain in Greece with children, together with lodging on a number of totally different islands and flights included.
For traditional lodge stays, Reserving.com normally gives some good offers, together with free cancellation, or take a look at resorts.com.
Security suggestions
Greece is usually a really secure vacation spot to go to. Crimes in opposition to vacationers are extraordinarily low and the nation is welcoming in direction of households.
Petty crimes corresponding to pickpocketing typically happen in busier locations like Athens. Take fundamental precautions and take care of your belongings, particularly when strolling by way of crowded areas, visiting touristy landmarks, and travelling on the metro.
There have been some latest studies of minor scams in opposition to vacationers at seashore resorts on the Greek Islands, corresponding to overcharging at eating places.
To keep away from scams, do your analysis upfront, search for menu costs earlier than sitting down, and verify the invoice earlier than paying.
Cash saving suggestions
Greece has shifted from a funds 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 avoid wasting on flights and lodging.
Get off-the-beaten-path moderately than heading to well-liked vacationer locations.
Usually, the mainland is cheaper than the Greek Islands.
When island-hopping, guide the older, slower (typically in a single day) ferries moderately than the high-speed catamarans and hydrofoils.
Go for Gyros and different tasty road meals moderately than consuming at costly eating places.
Discover free actions to do, corresponding to stress-free on the string of household pleasant seashores or climbing.
For extra tips about methods to avoid wasting on a metropolis break with children, together with metropolis passes and discovering low-cost (or free) excursions, take a look at this publish.
Packing for Greece
When you’re visiting Greece in the course of the scorching summer season months, ensure to pack sunscreen, aftersun, solar hats, and water bottles. Except you wish to return dwelling with a household of lobsters that’s!
Unfastened, light-weight clothes can be your finest buddy on sticky, humid days, though should you’re visiting in shoulder season, it’s value 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 neglect your digital camera. The traditional ruins and delightful whitewashed island cities make implausible backdrops for household pictures.
Try my full household vacation journey planner right here, together with packing lists and extra
Ebook checklist
Lonely Planet guides are all the time my favorite start line – the Lonely Planet Information to Greece & the Greek Islands covers the entire nation or strive the Pocket Athens information should you’re visiting the capital.
When you’re prone to be exploring historic websites, there are additionally some nice books for teenagers on Historical Greece to convey the traditional stones to life, together with So You Suppose You’ve Acquired It Unhealthy? A Child’s Life in Historical Greece, whereas the Horrible Histories vary contains Groovy Greeks.
My daughter additionally has this beautiful Usborne Ebook of Greek Myths, good for teenagers who love tales of gods, heroes and monsters.
For extra concepts of the perfect children’ books about Greece, take a look at my prime picks
Disclosure: This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Boat at Skiathos/Symi/Lagas Aegean Village/Issos seashore copyright MummyTravels, all different Iiages courtesy of Depositphotos
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