Family holidays to Greece

Enjoy a sun-soaked family trip to Greece's beautiful islands

When choosing a family break, it’s good to know that average flights times from the UK to Greece’s islands are just three to four hours.

With pleasant temperatures year-round and a wide choice of affordable resorts, it’s no surprise that Greece is a popular choice with families.

Family holidays to Greek islands come in all shapes and sizes, whether you’re looking for an action-packed getaway or something more laid back. Islands like Zante offer a wide selection of child-friendly resorts, from activity-orientated hotels with their own waterparks to quieter, rural locations surrounded by pine forests and mountains.

Greece’s largest Dodecanese island, Rhodes, is also a firm family-favourite, offering more than 30 Blue Flag beaches, ancient ruins and quiet coves away from busy tourist traps. Or, for the perfect mix of culture and countryside, Corfu has 200 kilometres of coastline and old-world villages just waiting to be explored.

Best family-friendly beaches

Greece is well known for its plethora of beautiful beaches. Take the island of Kos, for example, where families flock to seaside resorts like Marmari to take advantage of its sweeping sandy coastlines and shallow waters ideal for kids to splash about in.

Rhodes is also celebrated for its sandy shores and range of watersports. On the southern coast, Prasonisi Beach is the place for surfing and windsurfing with older kids, while the Blue Flag beach in Kolymbia offers excellent swimming and snorkelling opportunities.

Crete also has some of Greece’s best family beaches, with popular resorts like Lyttos Beach offering long stretches of golden sand lined with sunloungers and umbrellas, with a host of friendly bars and tavernas nearby.

Best family activities in Greece

The up-and-coming resort of Tsilivi in Zante offers an array of activities that all ages can enjoy, including the The Splash Fun waterpark, mini golf in gecko-filled gardens and a bowling alley.

Or for a quiet seaside town, Alykes Potamos in Corfu has all the trappings of a great family getaway, with long beaches, clear waters and a host of watersports like jet skiing and paragliding on offer. And for families who like to be in the heart of the action, the cosmopolitan capital Corfu is just a 10-minute drive away, where you can explore not one but two ancient fortresses and the Church of Saint Spyridon in the old town.

For history and culture, the islands of Crete and Rhodes also provide attractions for inquisitive families, with UNESCO World Heritage Site, medieval cities and ancient castles and monasteries to explore. Try the Palace of Knossos or Samaria Gorge in Crete and the medieval city of Rhodes, as well as its beautiful Valley of the Butterflies. Not everything has to cost a fortune either, there’s plenty of fun free things to do with the family in Greece to make lasting memories.

Other family holidays destinations

If you’re looking for a getaway that will please the whole family, here are some more options. The Balearic Islands and Canary Islands are always a popular choice with their sun-soaked beaches and family-friendly hotels. Or if you want to go somewhere further afield, the exotic Caribbean islands offer year-round sunshine, tropical scenery and a wide range of All Inclusive resorts that cater for both children and adults.

If Greece is still your preferred option, then check out our useful travel guide to help you plan your perfect family break in the sun. Below are some of the best family hotels on offer.

Cyprus | Canary Islands | Balearic Islands | Turkey

Holiday Village Kos

Ideally located on the beach, the 4* Holiday Village Kos has a host of fun activities and games for the whole family to enjoy. To keep the little ones busy, there’s a kids’ club and activity pool, waterslides, a football academy, a playground and an Aerial Adventure park. The hotel also offers a choice of child-friendly restaurants, three swimming pools and plenty of night-time entertainment, including party nights and shows. Parents can take advantage of the adults-only bar while the kids are in the club, or go for a relaxing spa treatment for a little extra cost.

Family Life Aegean Blue By Atlantica Hotel

As the name suggests, the TUI Family Life Aegean Blue By Atlantica Hotel is perfect for a family getaway, with its own waterpark, lagoon-style pool and beachfront location. This modern 5* hotel offers spacious, interconnected family rooms and a range of activities for children, including soft play, a kids’ club, children’s pool and playground. You can also catch the bus to Rhodes Town from just outside the hotel and it’s 10 minutes’ walk to the bars and cafes in the resort of Kolymbia.

Sensatori Resort Crete

If you want your family holiday to have a touch of luxury, the TUI Sensatori Resort Crete is the perfect choice. This 5* hotel offers modern rooms – some with private pools, sea views and swim-up entrances – seven stylish restaurants and six spacious lagoon-style pools. To keep the grown-ups happy, there’s an adults-only pool, a luxurious spa with 23 treatment rooms, adults-only comedy nights and a variety of activities including tennis, volleyball, Tai Chi, yoga and more. For the little ones, there’s a designated Play House, mini soccer and mini spa treatments.

Planos Bay

With its on-site waterpark, large family pools and themed entertainment, Planos Bay is perfect for families who like to stay active while away. This fun hotel offers a fantastic kids’ club with daytime and night-time sessions designed by childcare experts, as well as a children’s pool, play area and mini disco. You’ll also find table tennis, pool tables, football facilities and an array of on-site bars and restaurants to keep everyone in good spirits.

Family Life Kerkyra

Just a few steps from a secluded shingle beach, the 4* TUI Family Life Kerkyra caters for for those looking for a relaxing beach break. Set in spacious gardens, this hotel offers two pools, including one for the kids, as well as a range of food options to suit all tastes, from a Greek taverna, to an Asian restaurant and a buffet. The kids will love the soft play area, kids’ club and playground, while the grown-ups can enjoy the adults-only sun terrace, cocktail bar and daytime activities such as tennis, beach volleyball and aqua aerobics.