Luxury Greek Island Hopping with Kids: Family Guide

Planning a family holiday in Greece doesn’t have to mean staying on just one island. Take the Family is a UK-based travel agency specialising in luxury family holidays, with experience in organising island-hopping trips in Greece for families with kids of all ages. 

Greek island hopping with kids offers a mix of adventure and relaxation, enabling families to enjoy the sun-soaked beaches and charming villages that Greece has to offer across multiple islands. From short ferry rides suitable for little ones to luxurious resorts with pools and kid’s clubs, island hopping is an unforgettable way to savour the Greek experience. 

In this guide, we’ll show you the top islands, ferry tips, and luxury resorts that make island hopping stress-free and fun for families.

Why Island Hopping in Greece Works for Families

Once a right of passage for young fresh-faced backpackers, island hopping around Greece is becoming an increasingly popular choice for families looking for more adventure on their summer holiday.

The islands among are the best place in Greece for a family holiday, and getting there is all part of the fun. There’s nothing quite like seeing the islands emerge from the sea mist like mythical creatures from the ferry deck as you sail into port.

"If you can drag yourself away from being pampered to within an inch of your life on the Halkidiki Peninsula with its luxury family resorts, the spectacular North Aegean islands beckon. Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, is the gateway to this archipelago, which includes the islands of Lemnos, Lesbos, Chios, Samos and Fourni."

And ferries are a remarkably easy way to travel around Greece with kids. Most of the main islands are well-served by regular ferries, particularly between April and October, and even the smaller, more remote islands have good service in peak season.

But with 6,000 islands to choose from – albeit only 200 or so are inhabited – how do you choose where to go? There are various routes to choose from – Athens to Mykonos, Athens to Crete, Naxos to Mykonos, and more. But rather than spend your entire holiday on the ferry, it's best to choose a group of islands such as the Cyclades, for Naxos, Andros and Mykonos, or the Dodecanese islands for Rhodes, Kos and Symi, all of which can work well for a Greece two-centre holiday.

Island-hopping around Greece can also be part of a bigger European adventure. Interrail has a four-day or six-day Greek Islands Pass add-on for their Interrail tickets, and you even get a free child pass (4-11) for up to two children for each adult travelling.

Island Hopping Itinerary Options for Families

Athens and Naxos

Travelling from the Greek capital to Naxos is a great starter island-hopping adventure.

Athens

There's no better way to learn about the birth of Western civilisation than by visiting Athens with kids, climbing the Acropolis to explore the 2000-year-old ruins of the Parthenon and staying at the gorgeous 91 Athens Riviera, a chic, luxe family glamping resort on the beach but within easy reach of the city sights.

Visit the Acropolis Museum, with brilliant interactive exhibits for kids, people-watch from pavement cafés in Plaka and picnic in the National Gardens for an easy picnic. If you can, catch the Changing of the Guards every Sunday at 11am in Syntagma Square, with betassled Evzones soldiers performing their beautiful choreographed high-kick marches.

Naxos 

After a few days exploring Athens with kids, catch a bus or a taxi to Rafina port and hop on a ferry over to Naxos in Cyclades. It takes around four hours to get to Naxos; most ferries stop at Andros, Mykonos and Tinos first Naxos. For a further adventure – or to fly home – there's also a daily ferry service over to Heraklion in Crete, taking around five hours.

One of the best places in Greece for family holiday, Naxos is blessed with long sandy beaches such as Agios Georgios and Plaka, with safe shallow waters ideal with young kids. And the villas and suites in the Naxian Collection are perfect for families looking for a luxury alternative to a hotel. Most come with private pools, and there’s also an excellent restaurant. The fantastic Naxian Collection concierge can arrange unique experiences on Naxos, including an organic wood-cooking class with the delightful Mrs Juliana, who featured on Anthony Bourdain's series Parts Unknown, a baking class in an 18th-century water mill and a private speedboat tour around the island.

Naxos is not short of fascinating ruins either. Kids can rumble around the Venetian castle, visit the Temple of Apollo in Portara, and see the ancient Temple of Demeter. The Aqua Fun Water Park in Stelida will be on the hit list too.

Athens and Santorini

Athens

Another good Greece two-centre holiday combination is Athens and Santorini. After a few days exploring the capital, maybe adding to the above a funicular ride up Mount Lykavittos for panoramic views of Athenian landmarks including the Acropolis, the Agora and the port of Piraeus, it's an easy 30-minute drive from 91 Athens Riviera to the port. Services by Star Ferries, SeaJets and Cyclades Fast Ferries take 5–10 hours to get to Santorini (SeaJets is the fastest). Most ferries have play areas and cafés.

Santorini

Santorini is considered by many as the setting for some of the best family holidays in Greece. Aside its iconic blue domes, the volcanic island is scattered with lovely beaches such as Monolithos, Kamari and Perissa, with shallow waters, soft sands and access to kid-friendly cafés and playgrounds. For older kids, hop on a boat tour of the volcano or explore Akrotiri’s ancient ruins.

A good base to stay for exploring the island is Domes Novos Santorini, a fabulous luxury resort on the outskirts of Oia. Aside its perfect hillside location overlooking the twinkling Aegean Sea, perfect for those iconic Santorini sunsets, it has the island's only dedicated kids' club. The rooftop margarita bar is a great place  to catch a Santorini sunset, with some of the best views on the island.

Santorini and Crete

These islands are ideal for a Greece two-centre holiday, whichever way around you choose to visit. If you don't want to fly into Chania or Heraklion, the Athens to Crete ferry takes between eight and 14 hours. You can usually book cabins onboard to make it a little more comfortable.

Crete

There's good reason why Crete has the reputation of being the best place in Greece for a family holiday: great beaches, ancient ruins, water parks and museums. Learn about the legend of the Minotaur at Knossos Palace, the Bronze Age archeological site with ancient Minoan ruins, and enjoy Labyrinth Park, a quirky Greek mythology theme park with mazes and mini-golf. Older teens might enjoy a scenic hike along the Samaria Gorge, Europe's longest. And foor older children and teenagers, it's worth remembering that Crete has some of the best water-park hotels in Greece.

The Porto Elounda Golf and Spa Resort overlooking the Bay of Mirabello on Crete's north-east coast has a fantastic Kids' Ark club with its own water park, a Valencia FC soccer school, and a glorious Six Senses spa for adults.

Or have a look at Domes Zeen Chania, a luxury beach resort with a Montessori kids' club, a spa and a gorgeous restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Pavlos Kyriakis (and babysitting!).

Santorini

After conquering Crete, hop on a ferry over to Santorini. Departing from Heraklion, SeaJets and Minoan Lines take around two hours and depart a couple of times a day. Ferries differ in size but usually have a café, free Wi-Fi and a small play area.

Once you've docked in Fira, it's only a 20-minute taxi ride to Oia and Domes Novos Santorini (see above).

Kos and Rhodes

Another popular Greece two-centre holiday combo is Kos and Rhodes in the Dodecanese archipelago. Hopping between the two takes little more than a couple of hours by Blue Star Ferries or Dodekanisos Seaways.

It's possible to sail to both Kos and Rhodes from Athens, but it take anything from nine to 16 hours and there's usually only one sailing a day from Piraeus. But ferries do tend to have cabins onboard.

Kos and Rhodes are two of the most southern Greek islands, so it’s also possible to reach them by ferry from Turkey. From Bodrum, you can reach Kos by ferry in less than a hour. Or regular services from Marmaris to Rhodes also take an hour, and the service from Fethiye takes two.

Rhodes

As the largest of the Dodecanese Islands, Rhodes offers some of the best family holidays in Greece. The 'Island of the Sun’ has one of the longest warm seasons, April to October, making it ideal for a late Greece family holiday for 2025 or beyond.

Aside beautiful beaches and luxury resorts such as the glorious Luxme Dama Dama in Faliraki, Rhodes is jam-packed with history, from the Colossus of Rhodes to the Knights of St John. Must-sees are the UNESCO-listed Medieval City of Rhodes and the Acropolis of Lindos.

Kos

Considered one of the best places in Greece for a family holiday, Kos also benefits from plenty of sunshine for large swathes of the year, sandy beaches such Tigaki and Agios Stefanos, and plenty of ancient ruins to sate your mini archeologist.

Moments from buzzy Kos Town, Luxme Kos is an all-inclusive luxury family resort right on the beach but within easy reach of Asklepieion, the famous ruins of an ancient healing centre.

Halkidiki and Lemnos

Halkidiki

Or maybe hop from Halkidiki to the North Aegean islands. One of the most popular destinations on mainland Greece, the Halkidiki peninsula in the Macedonia region is renowned for its heavenly sandy beaches, tepid turquoise seas and luxury family hotels such as the iconic Ikos Resorts.

One of our top recommendations for Greece family holidays, the all-inclusive Ikos Olivia is a fabulous family resort on the beach in Halkidiki. It's become a real hot spot for sporty families thanks to its summer football academy for kids from as young as 18 months. It also offers scuba-diving courses, mountain-biking trips and tennis lessons. Or its sister Ikos Oceania is another five-star beachfront resort with incredible views over Mount Olympus, a fancy spa, several infinity pools, kids' clubs, and no less than five world-class restaurants with menus by Michelin-starred chefs.

If you can drag yourself away from being pampered to within an inch of your life, the spectacular North Aegean islands beckon. Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, is the gateway to this archipelago, which includes the islands of Lemnos, Lesbos, Chios, Samos and Fourni. Blue Star Ferries and SeaJet services from Thessaloniki to Lemnos take around six and half hours, while ferries to Lesbos can take up to 12 hours. There are cabins onboard most ferries, as well as cafés, bars and play areas.

Lemnos

If you fancy getting off the beaten track a little, Lemnos (Limnos) is perfect for small Greek island holidays. Visit the pretty candy-coloured waterfront village of Myrina and its medieval castle, and with older kids and teens learn windsurfing and kitesurfing on Keros and Zematas beaches.

One of the best places to stay on the island is Mark Warner's Lemnos Beach Resort, perched on Plati Beach, the perfect setting for inclusive water-sports activities such as sailing, windsurfing and wakeboarding. It also has kids' and teens' clubs, tennis lessons and mountain-biking excursions, and is great base for exploring the rest of Lemnos.

By Tracey Davies

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