Day 1 · Athens
Arrive in Athens
Metro from the airport, then the centre on foot.
Airport metro
A direct line into the centre in about 40 minutes.
Plaka and the Ancient Agora
Shaded streets and an open site that is far quieter than the Acropolis.
Athens & a Greek Island
10 days · ages 6+ · city, culture, beach
About this trip
The classic Greek shape: a short city stay at the start while everyone is fresh, then a week on an island doing very little. Two days is the right length for Athens with children — enough for the Acropolis and its museum, not long enough for anyone to tire of ruins in the heat.
Ages 6+10 daysRelaxed paceA little drivingMid-range
Why the route is built this way
- Athens first, because sightseeing works better before a week of swimming than after it.
- A short internal flight rather than a ferry: faster, and not weather-dependent.
- One island, one base. Island hopping with children costs more days than it looks like on a map.
- The island half has no fixed schedule beyond two day trips.
Who this trip is not for
Families who want several islands. Ferry connections are slow, cancelled in wind, and each move costs most of a day.
Itinerary overview
1
2
Trip map
Where the route goes, in order, with how you travel between each stop.
Destinations on this trip
- 1
Athens
Days 1–3
- 2
Crete
Days 4–10
Flight · 1h
Day-by-day: 10 days in Greece
A suggested plan, built around one main thing a day with the heavier days followed by lighter ones.
- Easy day
- Moderate
Day 2 · Athens
Acropolis at opening
The rock, then its museum, then a rooftop.
Acropolis and Acropolis Museum
Be there at opening. The museum below has glass floors over a live excavation.
Good to know. No shade on the rock and polished marble underfoot. Summer opening is 08:00 — take that slot.
- Easy day
Day 3 · Crete
Fly to Crete
Short flight, collect the car, settle in.
Athens to Heraklion or Chania
Under an hour, and far more reliable than the overnight ferry.
- Easy day
Day 4 · Crete
Beach day
Nothing scheduled.
Local beaches
Drive south if the north coast is windy.
- Moderate
Day 5 · Crete
Knossos
The Minoan palace, early.
Palace of Knossos
Book a timed entry and go at opening.
- Easy day
Day 6 · Crete
Old town and sea
A Venetian harbour morning.
Rethymno or Chania old town
Both walkable in a morning, both shaded.
- Moderate
Day 7 · Crete
Elafonissi
A long drive to the pink-sand lagoon.
Elafonissi lagoon
Shallow, warm and knee-deep a long way out.
Good to know. Leave early — parking fills by mid-morning in summer.
- Easy day
Day 8 · Crete
Free day
Beach, or a short gorge walk.
Nothing scheduled
The buffer day of the trip.
- Easy day
Day 9 · Crete
Last beach day
Nothing scheduled.
Local beach
Pack in the evening.
- Easy day
Day 10 · Crete
Home
Drop the car and fly.
Airport transfer
About an hour from most bases.
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Where to stay
Accommodation on this route
Areas and property types for each stop, with what to check before booking.
Plaka / KoukakiMid-rangeAthens — apartments below the Acropolis
A two-night stopover works best within walking distance of the site and the museum, and apartments here sleep four for less than two hotel rooms.
- Walk to the Acropolis and its museum
- Metro to the airport and the ferry port
- Rooftop terraces with a view of the rock
Fitting a family in
One and two-bedroom apartments are plentiful in Koukaki, just south of the tourist centre.
Watch out. Many older buildings have no lift, and Plaka's streets are noisy late into the evening.
Check hotel prices — opens Klook in a new tab (affiliate link)Live availability for your dates
Rethymno / Chania / HeraklionMid-rangeCrete — north-coast family hotels
The north coast has the sandy town beaches, the airports and the widest range of hotels, from all-inclusive resorts to apartments with a pool.
- Sandy beaches within walking distance in the main towns
- All-inclusive and half-board options side by side
- Central for day trips to Knossos and the gorges
Fitting a family in
Family rooms and two-bedroom apartments are both widely available and reasonably priced outside August.
Watch out. The north coast catches the summer meltemi wind. If calm water matters, check which way your beach faces.
Check hotel prices — opens Klook in a new tab (affiliate link)Live availability for your dates
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through one, the price is the same for you and we may earn a commission. How this works.
What to book before you fly
These sell out or cost meaningfully more at the gate. Everything else on this route can be arranged locally.
CultureBook aheadAcropolis & Acropolis Museum
Athens
The Parthenon and its surrounding monuments, plus the modern museum below, built over a live excavation with glass floors.
- Ages
- 6–17
- Time
- 4h
- Adult, from
- €20
Good to know. No shade on the rock and polished marble underfoot. Open at 08:00 in summer — take that slot.
CultureBook aheadPalace of Knossos
Crete
The largest Bronze Age site in Crete and the centre of Minoan civilisation, with partially reconstructed halls and frescoes that make the layout legible.
- Ages
- 6–16
- Time
- 2h 30m
- Adult, from
- €15
Good to know. Open, exposed and very hot by mid-morning in summer. A guide makes a substantial difference with children.
AdventureBook aheadSamaria Gorge
Crete
A 16 km descent through one of Europe's longest gorges, ending at a coastal village reached only by boat.
- Ages
- 12–17
- Time
- 7h
- Adult, from
- €30
Good to know. A serious full-day hike on rough ground with no exit point once started. Not suitable below about twelve.
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Practical information
The decisions that are easy to get wrong and expensive to fix once you have arrived.
Getting around
Fly to the island rather than taking the ferry
The internal flight costs a little more but saves the better part of a day and is not cancelled by wind.
What this trip costs
A planning estimate for a family of four, broken down so you can see which line is yours to change.
Estimated cost
4 people · 10 days · EUR
€4,420
≈ €111 per person per day
| Category | Estimate |
|---|---|
| FlightsFour return fares plus the internal leg. | €1,100 |
| Accommodation2 nights Athens apartment, 7 nights Crete apartment or family hotel. | €1,600 |
| TransportMetro, car hire on Crete, fuel. | €400 |
| FoodTaverna meals and self-catered breakfasts. | €900 |
| Activities & ticketsAcropolis, Knossos and museum entries. | €300 |
| ExtrasIncidentals. | €120 |
| Total | €4,420 |
How to read this figure. Indicative planning figures for a family of four in shoulder season, based on published prices at the time of writing.
Common questions
How many days do you need in Athens with kids?
Two. One for the Acropolis and its museum, one for the centre and a park. It is a strong bookend to an island week rather than a week in itself.
Should you island hop in Greece with children?
Generally not. Ferries are slow, sailings are cancelled in wind, and every move costs most of a day. One island with day trips works better.
Book this trip
Everything you need to put it together
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