Best Greek islands for vacations with kids

Indulge in endless fun, carefree days and unforgettable memories on your next family vacation! Sandy beaches with shady trees, mouthwatering flavors after “exhausting” days at the beach, theme parks and museums for the curious at heart and days filled with fun activities are sure to keep your tribe happy. We've rounded up seven of the most kids-friendly Greek islands for your next vacation! Get ready, book cheap ferry tickets through Let's Ferry and sail to your next family vacation destination.

Aegina
It will literally take you one hour to say “We are on vacation!” The island of Aegina has everything you need for a weekend getaway or a lengthier family stay. Plus, you can also get a taste of the ever so popular among Greeks pistachio peanuts from Aegina! You won't need a car nor much packing or preparation and you can get there from the Port of Piraeus in a short one hour! The island features shallow water beaches and many water sports, like windsurfing, canoeing and beach volleyball that are total crowd pleasers. And, if you feel like it, you can also take the ferry to the nearby island of Agistri and enjoy its golden sandy beach.

Agia Marina beach in Aegina

Ios
Mostly known as a party island for young crowds, Ios is also an ideal destination for kids and families! Its 87 kilometers of coastline boast beautiful and non-crowded beaches, such as Kalamos, Manganari and Mylopotas, where you can spend an entire day swimming, splashing in the sea, working on your tan or chilling under a beach umbrella, enjoying water sports like tube and water skiing, and tasting the local food at the seaside taverns and beach bars. As far as the evening goes, in addition to the many local bars, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll around the shops with your crew!

Sandy beach with turquoise waters in Ios

Thassos
If uncrowded sandy beaches with shallow emerald waters and great food sounds like a good way to spend your family vacation, then let Thassos be your next destination. The mini amusement park located in Limenas and Skala Potamias is guaranteed to keep your kids entertained with table football, basketball and other fun games! Have fun with your family at the nearby water playground and try water sports like banana boat rides, canoeing and pedal boating. At Skala Prinou, visit the Horse Club and try horseback riding or just spend time with the animals and enjoy the nature.

Crete
The largest island of Greece is also a great family-friendly vacation destination that offers a host of activities to choose from. Basking under the sun, taking selfies at the Balos Lagoon and snorkelling in Elafonissi Beach alone will give you and your family memories to be cherished for years to come. In Heraklion, visit the Cretaquarium, a large sea Aquarium that is home to some 2000 sea animals and 200 different species found in the Mediterranean. Get up close and personal with some of the animals and reptiles at the Aquaworld Aquarium and Reptile Rescue Center in the town of Hersonissos. Also, worth exploring are two theme parks that attract lots of tourists every year: The Water Park, close to Heraklion and the " Labyrinth", a theme park inspired by the Minotaur and the history of Crete, located between Kastelli and Hersonissos.

View of Balos lagoon with its magical waters and the island of Gramvousa in Crete

Planet Crete, the Planetarium of Crete located in Gournes Hersonissos, is an absolute must-visit. It offers educational shows with impressive visual effects, music and virtual reality technology that allows kids to “travel” in the solar system, explore constellations and the dark matter and view simulations of colliding galaxies! So, wait no more! Book your cheap ferry tickets and a family cabin to any of the ports of Crete with Let's Ferry and let the fun begin.

Kos
If your heart is set on the Dodecanese, Kos is an ideal island for family vacations. There are plenty of activities for everyone and it is one of the few Dodecanese islands that is not swarming with tourists during the high peak summer season. To start with, there are several paved bike trails, a Go-kart track in Kamari for kids of all ages, a summer movie theater, and two water slide parks, one in Mastichari and the other in Tigaki. The island also features beautiful organized and easily accessible beaches and the Zia Natural Park, where you can feel, smell and taste the pristine nature and feed the peacocks that are wandering around the park.

Beach in Kos old harbour

You can also enjoy horse-riding lessons right by the sea offered in several ranches on the island. And, if you're up to it, given the proximity of the island to the nearby coast of Turkey, you can take your family on a day trip there. Not to be missed: The Hippocrates Garden Cultural Centre of Kos, a privately-owned replica of an ancient Greek settlement, where philosophy, agriculture and bakery seminars are regularly held! Visit, www.letsferry.com to book your cheap ferry tickets to Kos and be on your way to family fun times!

Naxos
Many Greeks think of Naxos as the quintessential family-friendly vacation island. The long-stretching sandy beaches of Agios Prokopis and Agia Anna, as well as the beaches in Moutsouna, Panermos, Agios Georgios and Plaka are not windy so kids can enjoy splashing in the bluish green waters that are frequently featured in foreign and Greek travel magazines. The Equestrian club of the island offers a unique horse-riding experience on the beach that you can enjoy with your family. Added bonus: the local cuisine is to die for and Naxos is known for having the sweetest potatoes (french fries, an all-time kids favorite). Take advantage of the island's proximity to Paros and the Small Cyclades, both of which are ideal destinations for a day trip. If you opt for an early summer vacation, June or July, you will avoid the big mid-August tourist crowds and the strong northern winds of the Aegean.

Agios Georgios beach in Naxos

Syros
The capital of the Cyclades is 3.5 hours away from the Port of Piraeus and is a great choice for your family vacation all year round. During Easter, Syros fills up with visitors who come to experience the island's unique Easter customs and traditions. Throughout the summer months, the main town hall square in Ermoupolis comes to life, particularly during the late afternoons. The sound of kids' laughter, riding their bikes and skates and enjoying the plenty of space around the square, fills the air; while, parents enjoy wine and tapas at the surrounding restaurants. The beach of Galissas is sandy, shallow and does not have much wind, while those in Kini, Delfini and Agathopes are also ideal for playing in the sand!