Family Travel
17 of the best Greek islands for families
Like the pillars that hold up the Parthenon, family relationships are the foundation of life in Greece. “Family is not an important thing — it is everything,” goes a local saying, so it’s perhaps inevitable that young children are embraced and toddlers and babies endlessly cooed over when you pick the country for a family holiday. Add in kiddie-friendly hotels and resorts, fuss-free Mediterranean cuisine, golden sand and guaranteed sunshine, and “bravo”, as they say locally, you’ve all the essentials for a successful summer holiday. You’ll be right to applaud.
But wait. There’s a big decision to be made. With 227 inhabited islands and nearly 40 destinations in Greece accessible from the UK, it can be a headache deciding which island to settle on. Each has a slightly different personality, offering a different slant on summer escapism by plane or ferry, and where some of the grandest stones and ancient ruins on Earth still stand, there will be a beach or bay with your name on it. So whether your family thrives best amid beautiful landscapes or somewhere that inspires young minds with stories of Zeus, Apollo or the mythical lost city of Atlantis, you’ll find an island just right for you.
Here’s our pick of the best Greek islands for families.
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1. Lefkada
A quiet beach in Lefkada
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This island in the Ionian is a favourite for family holidays. Its east coast is peppered with coves that call for swashbuckling explorations by boat; the west coast has sandy shores and translucent waters in impossible blues; and resorts such as Nydri offer entertainments for all ages, from paragliding to pedalos. Enjoy it all from either (or both: it’s ideal for multi-generational bookings) of the Acqua di Mare villas, Bella and Siena, which each have private pools and direct beach access. Here, gently shelving Perigiali lends itself to carefree beach days; or decamp to Nydri, a five-minute drive away, for a livelier atmosphere.
• Discover our full guide to Greece
2. Santorini
A family enjoying the sights of Santorini
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Romantic sunsets and Instagram photoshoots may not sound like the stuff of dream family holidays, but Santorini’s appeal goes beyond the expected. Boat trips here are a guaranteed hit: kids quickly find that tablets and screens are no match for the thrill of a real-life volcano and all of its natural hot springs, smouldering islets and swimming beneath soaring cliffs. Away from the crater, find black-sand beaches all along the east coast. Get the best of all worlds by staying at Canaves Epitome, which has sunset views and children’s activities within ten minutes’ walk of Oia, the island’s most-famed village.
3. Zakynthos
The southern part of the island of Zakynthos
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Every Greek isle has its USP. In Zakynthos, that “something special” is the promise of spotting turtles in the clear, calm waters of Laganas Bay. The beach at Laganas itself is a hotspot, but it’s also incredibly crowded. Far more civilised is the Vasilikos Peninsula, which forms the bay’s eastern flank. Here, Gerakas beach is wilder than Laganas, encouraging turtles to nest in its sands — in doing so providing endless fascination for families, with further inspiration at the beach’s information station. Stay nearby at Villa Cossoro Ena, a three-bedroom stone house among the peninsula’s pine woods and olive groves.
4. Cephalonia
Emplisi beach in Cephalonia
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From storybook fishing villages to paradise beaches, the island of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin is so perfect it almost feels imaginary. Cephalonia is not a typical Greek island for families — it’s wilder and more mountainous than many — but there are also tiny coves with steps down to sapphire-blue seas and beach bars where you will have the run of the place outside summer. Visitors traditionally stick to the southern resorts near capital Argostoli and Lassi, but the north around Fiskardo is the insider’s secret — a quiet hook of land, where postcard villages give way to gloriously unspoiled bays. Renting a car is essential to do the island justice. Emelisse Nature Resort, north of Fiskardo, is within walking distance of bluer-than-blue Emplisi beach.
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5. Naxos
Agios Prokopios beach in Naxos
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If the Cyclades islands are the destination most dream of when considering a Greek holiday, then Naxos is the party-free pin-up, with family-centred hotels and PG-friendly activities aplenty. There’s an inevitability about listing the beaches here as standouts — the island has more than 60 miles of them — and yet many are worth singling out because they’re shallow, accessible and have a lifeguard. A few with curve appeal are St George beach, Agios Prokopios and Plaka, while for something with more bounce, those near Chora offer horse rides and Laguna beach is great for windsurfing in super-safe waters. Naxos Palace Hotel has a kids-only pool, spa, bike rentals and shared facilities with the Naxos Horse Riding Club.
6. Skopelos
Skopelos was the location for Mamma Mia!
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If you love a family kitchen disco, then this island in the Sporades is for you and your super troopers. It’s where Mamma Mia! was filmed and its ultramarine coves, lonely churches and fudgy sands have room to roam now the film’s hype has long since died down. As well as the movie-magic beaches, boat trips and water sports, island hopping is a joy here: gimme, gimme, gimme a day trip to Alonissos, with its seemingly never-ending marine park that’s Europe’s largest. Skopelos Village Hotel, where the stars of Mamma Mia! camped out, has a whirlwind of activities for kids.
7. Corfu
Corfu Old Town
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Perennial favourite Corfu has undergone a rebirth in recent years and the island that shouldered the package holiday burden for so long is now more concerned with boutique hotels, tasting menus and wellness trends. What hasn’t changed is the Venetian-influenced history, the family-friendly beaches and terrific towns, particularly those on the north coast. The island is a great pick for day trips. Let the kids play king of the castle at the Old Fortress; mellow out on Paleokastritsa, Canal d’Amour or Avlaki beaches; or dip into the secrets of Vlacherna Monastery. As for places to stay, you won’t find anywhere packed with more family fun than Aqualand Resort and Waterpark in Agios Ioannis.
8. Meganisi
Vathi harbour in Meganisi
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While Zakynthos and Corfu continue to chase the tourist pound, this southwestern corner of the Ionian Sea remains full of smaller satellites with pebbly beaches and tangled olive groves. One such place is back-to-basics Meganisi off the coast of Lefkada. Tourism is in its infancy here and besides the two harbour towns of Vathi and Spilia, this is Greece as it was in the 1960s — pupils still ferry over to Lefkada to go to school. The attitude to life is easy-going and apart from beachcombing, swimming and pony trekking there is — happily — little else to do.
9. Halki
Most families head to the Dodecanese to visit Rhodes, but while it has plenty of golden beaches, they can be heaving; not so the case on neighbouring Halki. It’s the smallest inhabited island in the archipelago, with only one hotel proper, and yet sparks the imagination with a crusader-built castle, Popeye-style captain’s houses and boat-accessible beaches. You won’t find a waterpark or thrill-a-minute activities here, but what you will find is peace and unhurried pace in spades. Aretanassa Hotel overlooks the horseshoe bay of the main town, Emborios, and is an olive’s throw from a strip of waterfront tavernas.
10. Amorgos
The chapel on Agia Anna beach in Amorgos
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Everyone knows the big hitters of the Cyclades Islands. But for a family vacation that’s more laid-back and low-cost than Mykonos or Santorini, this tiny speck has comet-trail beaches aplenty. There’s a series of sandy coastlines, a cliff-edge monastery, an archaeological museum and exquisite kayaking, snorkelling and scuba. Your kids won’t care a jot, but French director Luc Besson shot The Big Blue here and the seascape remains as cinematic as ever. Aegialis Hotel & Spa is sandwiched between two beaches and with both outdoor and indoor pools for those rare rainy days.
11. Sifnos
A church in the Sifnos village of Apolloni
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Despite travellers obsessing over the Cyclades, it’s worth remembering many of the islands are hardly spoilt for kid-friendly beaches and activities. Sifnos is different, with lazy sands for every day of the summer, some 125 miles of hiking trails for older children and a long-in-the-tooth ceramics history, with pottery workshops a part of the family holiday experience. Boat trips are ten a penny and, for those fascinated by ancient history, there’s a monster hilltop acropolis in the shape of Agios Andreas. Verina Terra is a bohemian-chic beachfront outpost beside Platys Gialos, the island’s largest beach.
12. Paxos
It may be the tiniest of the seven main Ionian islands to visit, but size counts for nothing in Greece. Here you can boat-trip on a loop to see a multitude of pebbly beaches, church-spiked towns and harbours anchored with swanky yachts, all without fearing you’ve strayed too far from the dock. And what a place to discover inland too: to earn your ice cream, hike between the three towns of Lakka, Longos and Gaios. One last tip will take you to the neighbouring island of Antipaxos, which delivers the sort of Ionian magic that’ll make you giddy with excitement. Paxos Club Resort, located in Gaios, has a spa, pool and — the clincher — boat rentals for island loops.
13. Symi
The blue waters of Symi
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Family holidays are a breeze on this Dodecanese island north of Rhodes. Given its lesser-known status, much of the appeal lies in its unfussy beaches that you need a water taxi to reach. Here the only thing more ubiquitous than an empty swathe of sand is the sight of a bewitchingly blue cove that’s irresistible for a swim. Besides the coast, the amphitheatre-tiered town of Symi is a crayon-coloured tumble of giant Lego blocks and there are also ancient ruins and hiking routes into the interior to explore. And should the kids be keen for something a bit more action-packed, a quick trip to myth-making Rhodes might just be the solution. Iapetos Village Hotel has a palm-fringed garden, pool and family rooms spread throughout a jumble of neoclassical houses.
14. Crete
The Minoan palace of Knossos
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No list would be complete without the largest island in Greece. Think of Crete and it appears before the mind’s eye as a land of Minoan temples and Venetian harbours with archaeological sites filling the spaces between. It has a wealth of faded splendour, even if the island is as famous these days for bumper-to-bumper rental car firms and all-inclusive hotels. And yet, because it has a little bit of everything, it delivers whatever you want from it. Quiet beaches and coves for first-time parents? Yup. Water parks, aquariums and shopping malls for older kids? Undoubtedly. Palaces, gorges, hiking trails and a crash course in Ancient Greek history? All of that too. Elounda Beach Hotel and Villas has rooms, villas and suites for every family size, plus kids’ clubs and a water sports centre.
15. Milos
Low-key Milos — the outlier of the Cyclades group — has around 70 uncrowded beaches to explore. We recommend the lunar-like Sarakiniko or calm inlets between the coves of Papafragas, which can also be visited by boat. There’s a good dose of culture too. This is the island where the Venus de Milo statue (now in the Louvre) was found, and it’s one of the best places to see traditional Syrmata boat houses. Plus, kids can explore the catacombs, look for our pirates on a boat trip to nearby Kimolos and hike to the ancient theatre of Milos. Delmar Apartments & Suites has beachfront villas and is a short walk from the restaurants and shops of Pollonia village.
16. Paros
Santa Maria beach in Paros
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Families in search of an affordable alternative to Santorini or Mykonos should opt for this up-and-coming Cycladic island, which has similar picturesque hilltop villages and golden beaches without the crowds — our picks are Chrissi Akti and Santa Maria. Activities centre around the sea, from boat trips with fresh-fish barbecues to water sports and snorkelling. Happily, most of the island is flat, making it easy for families to explore by bike or use the stroller. Summer Senses Luxury Resort has a family-friendly lounge pool, babysitting service and kids’ menu.
17. Rhodes
Butterfly Valley in Rhodes
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Kids’ imaginations are easy to fire up in Rhodes, whether by exploring Rhodes Town’s medieval walls or discovering stories of knights and crusaders. As Greece’s fourth largest island, there are heaps of family-friendly day-trip options, from visiting a butterfly-filled valley or taking a submarine safari (not to mention more traditional activities such as go-karting and mini-golf). Those with babies and toddlers will feel especially supported here thanks to family-friendly resorts offering childcare, flexible dining hours and menus for stress-free meals. Holiday Village Atlantica Rhodes is a five-star all-inclusive 250m from Kolymbia beach, with its own waterpark.
• Best affordable villas in Greece
Additional reporting by James Litston
Family fun finds home at two new Andalusia destinations
Published 4:30 pm Friday, August 1, 2025
- LEFT: Adalynne Butler enjoys play time at Aunt Dawnie’s Indoor Playground. RIGHT: Fully-trained macaw parrots are ready for your visit to Andalusia Animal Adventures. Both businesses opened to the public in Andalusia approximately three weeks ago. (PHOTOS BY KELLEY SCHEPPER)
Written by Kelley Schepper for the Star-News
Two new businesses in Andalusia are giving local families something they have long hoped for: safe, fun and imaginative spaces for children to explore. From hands-on animal encounters to indoor pretend play, the newest attractions in town are drawing praise and foot traffic from residents eager for more family-friendly options.
Aunt Dawnie’s Indoor Playroom: “Big Smiles and Little Giggles”
Inspired by a social media video and a lifelong love of children, Dawn Baker opened Aunt Dawnie’s Indoor Playroom this summer with the goal of sparking joy and imagination in young visitors.
“I watched a TikTok of a grandma’s playroom and thought, why can’t I do that here?” Baker said. “I’ve worked with kids for 35 years. It’s all I’ve ever known.”
The space is filled with hands-on, screen-free play areas like a pretend vet clinic, mini kitchen and market, all themed to spark curiosity and creativity. Baker said she intentionally keeps the play space small and simple.
“The only machines here are the kids’ feet,” she said with a laugh. “It’s all about using your imagination.”
Baker described the playroom as a place for “big smiles and little giggles,” a phrase she chose carefully. “I want kids to be excited from the moment they walk in, and I want parents to feel welcome too,” she said. “It’s open and relaxed. Parents can sit and watch or even join in. The space is designed for connection.”
Aunt Dawnie’s also plans to host rotating monthly themes, like a construction zone or dress-up party, along with limited-ticket seasonal events. She is already brainstorming holiday celebrations like a Nutcracker-themed day or a dino dig party.
“I get bored easily,” Baker said. “So I plan to change things often. That way, it stays fresh for the kids and for me.”
Though the playroom has only been open since late July, the community response has been strong.
“I haven’t even had my grand opening yet,” Baker said. “People just started showing up as soon as we got the green light from the city.”
With plans to host mommy meetups, small group classes and more interactive fun, Baker hopes Aunt Dawnie’s becomes a regular part of the community.
“If you’ve got the heart for it, it’ll work,” she said. “We prayed about this from the start, and the support from the town has been incredible.”
Andalusia Animal Adventures: An Up-Close Safari for All Ages
Another new option, Andalusia Animal Adventures, is offering a different kind of family experience, one where kangaroos, spider monkeys and sloths take center stage.
Owner Shea Hensley, a lifelong animal trainer and educator, brought the attraction to Andalusia after decades in the film and wildlife industries.
“I’ve owned four big animal facilities and trained animals for movies for 35 years,” he said. “We didn’t know anyone in Alabama, but Andalusia just felt right.”
The facility is home to dozens of animals, including kangaroos, spider monkeys, tortoises, exotic birds and more. What sets it apart from a traditional zoo is the level of interaction.
“Every one of our animals is trained for handling,” he said. “You don’t just stand behind a fence. You go into the habitat with one of our handlers and sit with the animals.”
Visitors can feed and hold spider monkeys, cuddle baby kangaroos and even watch birds that talk and climb custom-built trees indoors.
“I’m so anti-cage,” he said. “Our birds don’t live in cages. They live in trees inside the building. One even started laying eggs after we brought her here.”
Education is at the heart of the mission. Each visit is led by a handler who provides facts and context about the animals. Many staff members are former teachers, and the center offers special programs for children with autism or developmental delays, all free of charge.
“We want people to feel something different when they walk in here,” Hensley said. “It’s not just about the animals. It’s about making memories together.”
Though the center is still expanding, including a sloth pen and an indoor show space, it has already welcomed a steady stream of school groups and curious families.
“We’ve been open three weeks and haven’t had a five-minute break,” he said. “There’s been so much interest, and we haven’t even advertised.”
The team also runs traveling programs, bringing animals directly to schools for educational events. Inside the facility, large group visits are welcome, with space to host up to 100 guests at a time.
“There’s nothing else like this in the entire United States,” he said. “Not just in how close you get to the animals, but in the feeling you get when you walk through the doors.”
A Community With Growing Options
With both Aunt Dawnie’s and Andalusia Animal Adventures opening their doors in the same season, local families now have more ways to spend time together indoors, safely and memorably.
“It’s about creating joy,” Baker said. “Not just for the kids, but for the parents too.”
Hensley echoed that sentiment. “We want people to build memories,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
As Andalusia continues to grow, these two businesses offer a glimpse into the community’s future, one filled with creativity, connection and care.
For Paris Hilton, family traditions and luxury hotels go hand in hand. Over the last two years, the iconic world traveler has been posting stunning photo albums of her young family’s stays at the Grand Wailea in Maui for their holiday vacations on social media, sharing that it’s been a family tradition since she was two years old, with her sister, Nikki Hilton, chiming in: “Favorite hotel.”
So what makes the Grand Wailea—a Waldorf Astoria Resort and one of the premier Hilton properties—the Hilton sisters’ favorite? Paris Hilton talked with Travel + Leisure earlier this month, revealing why the resort means so much to her family, including husband Carter Reum and their young children, son Phoenix and daughter London. “Grand Wailea is one of my favorite places on Earth. It’s just so beautiful and peaceful. The second we land, I feel like I can just relax and get away from it all,” Hilton shared with T+L. “It’s become such a special place for my family. London actually took her very first steps there, which I’ll never forget. Now it’s where we make new memories together, and that means everything to me.”
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Choosing to spend Christmas and New Year’s at Grand Wailea is not just “sliving the dream” for Hilton; it also means she has experienced the transformation of the resort throughout its multi-year, $500 million renovation, which included the debut of the 50,000-square-foot Kilolani Spa, newly appointed guest rooms and suites, and wellness collaborations with Erewhon and The Biostation, culminating with the opening of the first Nobu restaurant on Maui in early May. Hilton launched skincare brand Parivie this May, so she’s naturally a fan of the state-of-the-art super-spa, which integrates Native Hawaiian moon rituals in its treatments. So far, she has indulged in two signature treatments. “The new spa is amazing. I had the Lomi Lomi Massage and a facial that left my skin glowing,” she said. “I’ve always been super into skincare, especially now with launching Parivie, so I love when a spa really gets it.”
11:11 Media
Hilton says she appreciates the other upgrades at Grand Wailea, too. “It’s gotten even more gorgeous over the years. I love how it still feels warm and relaxed, but now with these really beautiful, elevated details. And I’m so proud of my friend Melissa Wood-Tepperberg. Seeing her MWH workouts featured on the in-room TVs at the resort is so cool. She’s such a beautiful soul and has built something so inspiring,” she shared. “As a mom, I appreciate how easy it is to be at the resort with kids—they’re having fun, and I still get to relax. When we’re there, we love just hanging out by the pool, going on beach walks, and snuggling up for family movie nights.”
With Paris Hilton
First thing you do when you check in?
Take a mirror selfie and check out the view.
In-room essentials?
My full Parivie skincare routine, my pink silk sleep mask, and my iPad loaded with baby videos.
Go-to room service order?
Truffle fries and green juice.
Favorite lounging outfits?
Velour tracksuit or a soft matching set—always cozy.
Best thing about staying in a hotel?
It feels like a reset: calm, cozy, and a little magical.
Any Paris-inspired hotel partnerships in the works?
We’re working on some exciting ideas right now that I can’t share just yet, but let’s just say I’m dreaming big. And we’re definitely looking into ways to bring Parivie into Hilton hotels soon. That would be such a dream come true.
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Hilton/11:11 Media
Of course, the international influencer and hotel scion—who has partnered with Hilton’s “It Matters Where You Stay” advertising campaign since it launched in 2022, in collaboration with her own 11:11 Media company–has a few other must-stay hotels on her list. As part of the campaign and to celebrate her “Infinite Icon” album release last fall, she collaborated with The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on the creation of Paris-inspired “Stay Like An Infinite Icon” pink-on-pink suites. And, while you might think that Paris, France, would hold a special place in her heart, it turns out that it’s another city across the pond that truly calls to her. “London is my favorite city. It’s where I feel most inspired, and of course, we named our daughter London,” Hilton told T+L. “I love the London Hilton Park Lane. It’s classic, elegant, and feels like a true home away from home.”
11:11 Media
Another longtime personal favorite: Waldorf Astoria New York, which Hilton recently toured with Gayle King for CBS Morning News ahead of its eagerly anticipated grand reopening this summer. “It’s such an iconic building. It was so great getting to chat with Gayle. She is amazing, and we talked about so many beautiful memories,” Hilton said about her times living in the flagship hotel, laughing about her escapades sneaking out to hit hotspots in the city that never sleeps when she was young. “I’ve spent so much of my life in hotels—they’re a huge part of my story.”
CBS
Over the years, Hilton says she has perfected her hotel rituals. Her go-to hotel tips as a new mom are “unpack right away, bring some familiar little extras for the kids, and stick to your routine.” To make her family’s hotel suites feel more like home, “I always set up my skincare and makeup right when I arrive. I like having a little glam station.” Like most of us, Hilton also admits that one of her hotel habits is lounging in her hotel robe. “I pretty much live in the hotel robe as much as possible.”
While slaying her stay and nonstop traveling with her family in tow has become a way of life for Hilton, she says she doesn’t take anything for granted. “I am grateful to be in this era of my life— getting to travel, spend time with my family, and create new traditions. Truly feeling like a ‘Sliving Mom!’”
Laurie Lyons-Makaimoku is a Hawai‘i Island-based freelance journalist and travel writer. She has had the privilege to visit all six of the major islands in Hawai‘i and has written about them for such publications as Fodor’s Travel, Matador Network, Hawai‘i Magazine, SF Gate, Trip Advisor, Local Getaways, and others. Her writing carries with it the kuleana (responsibility) of helping to produce more educated, conscientious visitors to this culturally and ecologically sensitive place, advocating for tourism that is sustainable and ethical. Laurie’s areas of expertise include Hawai‘i hotels, family travel, luxury travel, food & beverage, Indigenous excellence, animals, sustainability, voluntourism, and nonprofits. You can read her work on her website, or follow along with her on social @hawaiitravelwriter.
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