On the coast, the fine sand beckons you to build castles. In the sea, you nimbly swim with the turtles through the deep blue. Gentle mountains, pine forests and cute villages become an adventure playground. Vacations on Greece's islands are as varied as they are dreamlike, for adults as well as for children. At the same time, some islands are better suited for family vacations than others. 

The Greek islands promise unique memories for the whole family. © Shutterstock

The right ingredients for the family vacation

The perfect family vacay on the Greek islands is an interplay of many factors. The island must have good transport links as well as infrastructure so that families with young children can be on site quickly. Safe bays with shallow sea access are a must. And because the beach is not everything, entertainment options such as playgrounds, amusement parks or ancient sites should not be missing.

From the more than 6,000 Greek islands we have therefore selected five jewels in the Mediterranean Sea that meet these criteria and are ideal for family vacations with children of all ages. 

1. crete, aegean sea

Flight time: 2,5 hours from Vienna to Heraklion
Best time to visit: May till November
Best Beach: Ammoúdi and Voulisma
What: Beach, city and culture

Crete, the birthplace of Zeus, the father of the gods, is a true place of longing. And that for young and old. The largest of the Greek islands is located particularly far south, but has excellent connections by plane and ferry. On the island itself, families will find a variety of beautiful hotels, such as the Stella Palace Resort & Spa. Crete's north, near Heraklion, is ideal for families. Around the capital, adventure-seekers will find a wide range of city life, beach idylls and cultural diversity. A must-see, which will also please the little ones, is the excavation site of Knossos. There are also large amusement parks and many restaurants that offer lots of delicious food - for example, the Taverna Oninsimos. 

Then it's off to the island paradise: Crete has over 1,000 kilometers of beaches. Ideal for families with children is, for example, the quiet Voulisma with its fine sand and the shallowly sloping shore. If you're looking for more entertainment options, open your umbrellas at Ammoúdi Beach. Rather unsuitable for children: the party towns of Malia or Chersonissos.

2. naxos, cyclades

Flight time: from 4 hours from Vienna to Naxos with stopover in Athens
Best time to visit: June till October
Best Beach: Plaka and Agia Anna
What: Beach, city and culture

Around Naxos, the largest of the Cyclades islands, turquoise expanses stretch, which could be observed for hours from enchanting towns, paradisiacal beaches and cultural sites. With the kids, explore the beautiful alleys of Chora (Naxos Town) with its Venetian-Cycladic buildings before paying a visit to the famous marble Portara on Palatia. The panoramic view of the town and the sea that you can enjoy from there makes an excellent backdrop for a joint holiday photo. The Greek island is also not lacking in luxurious accommodations - such as the Naxos Island Hotel in Agios Prokopios, only ten minutes drive from Chora.

Naxos convinces with multifaceted diversity without being too touristy: Directly at the city, dreamlike beaches are lined up, which are quite crowded in the high season, but still beautiful. Agia Anna is a bit quieter; for those for whom stalls and entertainment on the beach are a must, drop by Agios Georgios with your loved ones. The north of Naxos offers variety: here, beautiful mountain landscapes stretch out for contemplative family hikes; the ideal starting point is the dreamy village of Chalki.

3. skiathos, northern sporades

Flight time: 2 hours from Vienna to Skiathos
Best time to visit: April till October
Best Beach: Koukounaries
What: Beach, nature

Skiathos, an island of the Northern Sporades, is a real paradise for families with very young children. Although the island is known for the fact that the more than 60 beaches are among the most beautiful in the whole of Greece, it remains relatively spared from tourist crowds. Children run free along the long sandy beaches and wade through the shallow waters, while parents enjoy the balmy evenings with good wine and local olives.

In the interior of Skiathos, the sweet village of the same name is located amidst cool woods that invite you to take a walk. The dreamy island is also ideal for vacations on a boat . Especially because you can only reach the beautiful Lalaria beach in this manner. Also, the choice of hotels is great on Skiathos - especially nice is for example the Skiathos Avaton Hotel - Suites - Villas, which is located directly on the island's capital.

4. kos, dodecanese

Flight time: about 3 hours from Vienna to Kos
Best time to visit: May to September
Best Beach: Marmari, Agios Stefanos Beach
What: Nature, beach and action

Kos in the eastern Aegean Sea is not only lined with beautiful sandy beaches, but also with luxurious all-inclusive hotels that cater to every wish of their guests, young and old alike - including the Michelangelo Resort & Spa. Kids can also let off steam in water parks, and a trip to the island's capital of the same name is always worthwhile: streets flanked by palm trees and hearty Greek cuisine are delicious for the whole family. Those who have had enough of walking can simply hop on the small "City Train Bus" for a charming tour of Kos town. 

The beaches are, as usual for Greece, gorgeous - but even so, Kos offers extraordinary sights: for example, the Peacock Valley, the natural Embros thermal spring, which should rather be visited with older children, or the abandoned village of Palio Pyli with its mythical castle ruins. Families should not miss the charming mountain village of Zia, the highest village on the island. Here, in the small zoo of the village, goats, rabbits, sheep, deer, hares and turtles cavort.

5. Zakynthos, Ionian Islands

Flight time: about 2 hours from Vienna to Zakynthos
Best time to visit: May until the end of September
Best Beach: Kalamaki Beach
What: Nature, Animal lover, Sport

Zakynthos is perfect for a family vacation: children's eyes will widen at the sight of the ghost ship, which to this day lies in the lonely Smuggler's Bay. Likewise on Turtle Island, home to the hawksbill turtle, the only one of three species left in the Mediterranean. Swimming here becomes an experience! The sea dwellers can be found all over Zakynthos, by the way - so you may also confidently spend a beach day at the famous Kalamaki Beach. While the children romp on the soft sandy beach and happily plunge into the waves, parents enjoy the Greek sun. 

Furthermore, Zakynthos attracts with water sports and great hiking trails, cute villages and the eponymous capital with wonderful fish restaurants at the harbor. The best way to recover from the wild vacation days is to stay at the five-star resort Lesante Classic Luxury Hotel & Spa.

Travel Inspiration: 5 unique travel ideas for a family vacation 2022