The best Greek islands for families have three things in common: sandy beaches with shallow water, short distances between your room and the beach, and an airport close by. Naxos, Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Corfu, Kefalonia and Skiathos all tick those boxes, each in its own way. Below, what each one offers families, and how to combine them into a trip that doesn’t wear everyone out.
What makes an island work for families
- Sandy, shallow beaches. Pebble beaches and steep drop-offs are hard work with small children. Long sandy beaches where the water stays shallow for a while are the gold standard.
- Short distances. On a compact island, or in a well-chosen base on a big one, the beach, a taverna and a supermarket are all close.
- An airport. Islands with their own airport spare you a long ferry crossing at the start and end of the trip.
- Shelter from the wind. In summer the meltemi wind blows hardest in the Aegean, especially in the Cyclades. The Ionian Islands and sheltered beaches elsewhere stay calmer.
The islands at a glance
| Island | Group | Best for families who want | Own airport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naxos | Cyclades | Sandy beaches next to town, variety | Yes, domestic flights |
| Crete | Crete | Lots to do, history, a longer stay | Yes, international |
| Rhodes | Dodecanese | Medieval old town, sandy east coast | Yes, international |
| Kos | Dodecanese | Shallow beaches, flat roads for cycling | Yes, international |
| Corfu | Ionian Islands | Green scenery, sandy beaches, old town | Yes, international |
| Kefalonia | Ionian Islands | Caves, calm sea, a slower pace | Yes, international |
| Skiathos | Sporades | Many sandy beaches close together | Yes, international |
Naxos
Naxos is the most family-friendly island in the Cyclades. Agios Georgios, the town beach of Chora, is sandy and sheltered, and you can walk to it from the harbour. Further south, Agios Prokopios and Plaka are long sandy beaches with plenty of space. The island is big enough to keep older kids busy, with mountain villages and a Venetian old town, and it combines easily with Paros.
Crete
Crete is the largest Greek island and almost a destination on its own. Children who like history can explore the Minoan palace at Knossos near Heraklion, and the island has beaches for every taste, including the shallow lagoon at Elafonisi in the far west. Because distances are long, pick one or two bases rather than moving every few days.
Rhodes
Rhodes combines beaches with one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe: the old town, surrounded by its walls, is a hit with kids who like castles. The east coast has long sandy beaches, such as Tsambika, and the island has plenty of family-friendly resorts. It pairs well with the smaller islands of the Dodecanese, as in our 7-day Dodecanese route.
Kos
Kos is flat, compact and easy. Its north coast has long sandy beaches, such as Tigaki and Marmari, where the water stays shallow for a long way. The island is good for cycling with older children, and Kos Town has ancient ruins right in its centre.
Corfu
Corfu is green, with olive groves and cypress trees instead of the bare hills of the Aegean. It has sandy beaches on its north and west coasts and a Venetian old town with two fortresses to explore. It’s a big island with winding roads, so choose a base close to the beaches you want.
Kefalonia
Kefalonia is slower and calmer than most of the Aegean. Its caves are a highlight for kids: in Melissani you take a small boat across an underground lake, and Drogarati is a cave full of stalactites. The famous beaches on the west coast can be reached via steep roads, so families often prefer the calmer, sandy beaches in the south and east. Kefalonia is the first stop of our 10-day Ionian route, which keeps ferry crossings short.
Skiathos
Skiathos is small, green and packed with sandy beaches close together, the best known being Koukounaries, backed by a pine forest. Distances are short, so you can try a different beach every day without long drives.
Island-hopping with kids: how to make it work
- Slow down. Two islands a week is plenty with children; see our guide on how many islands to visit per week.
- Start and end on an island with an airport, so the longest journeys are flights, not ferries.
- Keep ferry crossings short, and on windy days, larger conventional ferries are usually steadier than small high-speed boats.
- Choose your base for the beach, not the view. A room a short walk from a shallow sandy beach beats a cliff-top view with a long walk down.