With 20 visits to Greece under my belt it’s no secret that I love Greek holidays. So, I thought the time had finally come to share some of the beautiful and easy-to-reach holiday destinations in Greece that we’ve loved visiting as a family over the last couple of years.
Corfu
We’ve been to Corfu three times now, because, in my opinion, it’s one of the best value Greek Islands.
Multiple airlines offer direct flights from the UK and we’ve found both package deals and villa rentals on this island far more affordable than other parts of Greece.
While Corfu doesn’t offer the sugar-cube buildings you find in the Cyclades, it does offer lush mountains dotted with cypress and olive trees, and beautiful little bays with crystal clear water.
On our first 2 visits to Corfu we based ourselves in Kalami, a small bay in the north of the island that has a handful of traditional tavernas and more trendy eateries like Callao Corfu.
It’s also where you’ll find The White House Restaurant, an upmarket eatery housed in the former residence of Lawrence Durrell. (And where the ITV series The Durrells was filmed.)
Our favourite thing to do in Corfu is to choose a different beachfront taverna to dine at every evening. From Kalami you can take a taxi boat to the traditional seafront tavernas in Agni, where you’ll find not only gorgeous food and sunset views, but getting whooshed back home in the dark after dinner adds a little thrill to the evening!
This area also has some beautiful swimming spots like Bataria Beach in Kassiopi, Liapades & Rovinia Beach and Porto Timoni, which has spectacular twin beaches backed by lush hills that people often hike to take in the views of.
For something a bit different head to the once-abandoned historic mountain village of Old Perithia, where you’ll find a small number of tavernas and a trendy B&B amongst the crumbling stone buildings.
Other great things to do in Corfu include taking a boat trip to Paxos and Anti-Paxos, Parga or even Albania. Corfu Town is worth visiting too, even if just for a few hours before your flight like we did. We enjoyed wandering around the pastel-coloured Venetian buildings and grabbing one last gyros before flying home.
Click here for a detailed guide to north Corfu
Where to stay in Corfu
On our first visit to Corfu we stayed at the adults-only San Antonio Resort right on Kalami Beach. You can find a full review here.
For our first family holiday to Corfu we stayed in a beautiful little villa with a view called Artist’s House at Villa Rastoni.
Perched on a mountainside in-between Kassiopi and Kalami, this 2-bedroom villa has incredible views from the outdoor terrace and infinity pool. But I must admit the drive to get there is rather hairy, so you want to be a confident driver to book this property. (You can book local taxis to get around but this adds up quickly.)
Looking for a more picture-perfect Greek Island? Read about our family holiday to Paros.
In summer 2023 we did something we don’t normally do in Greece and booked a luxury all-inclusive resort – the brand-new Ikos Odisia which opened in Corfu that June.
Ikos are known for their award-winning, ‘ultra all-inclusive’ lifestyle packages that includes everything from a la carte meals created by Michelin-starred chefs, to 24/7 room service, kids club, dine out programmes and complimentary car hire.
Ikos Odisia also has a striking modern design that has been thoughtfully merged with the surrounding mountains and cypress trees on a jewel-like peninsular in Dassia. It is one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever stayed and, because everything is taken care of, it was the most relaxing too.
Read our detailed Ikos Odisia review
Mani Peninsula
Inspired by my mum, who is a huge fan of the southern Peloponnese, we spent a week in summer 2024 exploring Mani, which is known for its rugged untouched landscapes and unique stone towers.
We loved that it felt more authentic and less commercialized than other regions of Greece, but is also well set up for tourists who are seeking a slow travel experience.
The absolute highlight of our trip to Mani was laying eyes on Limeni for the first time.
Located close to Areopoli, the capital of the Mani region, this breathtaking fishing village is surrounded by lush green mountains and traditional stone buildings, and just exudes a certain magic.
We also loved exploring atmospheric Areopoli where stone buildings, ancient churches and cobbled streets are dotted with rooftop bars, candlelit cafes and reasonably-priced restaurants.
After moving further down the coast, we spent most of our days in Stoupa lounging at Enigma Cafe Bar Stoupa and enjoyed evenings at Agios Nikolaos, a small harbour town with a charming waterfront that has a mix of traditional and trendy restaurants.
There are a smattering of interesting attractions in the Mani region – such as the Diros Caves, Vathia and Sparta – but we didn’t get to them on this trip as they are all quite spread out and, in all honesty, we wanted to spend as much time as possible at our beautiful accommodation rather than driving.
Where to stay in Mani
Struggling to choose just one place to stay along the peninsula, we flew into Kalamata Airport and stayed in 2 gorgeous properties, spending 2 nights at Aria Estate Suites & Spa near Limeni and 5 nights in Amani Living Villas near Stoupa.
I’d say Limeni is the more aesthetic and trendier of the 2 locations, with more boutique hotels and stone villas than Stoupa. But Stoupa, with its long golden beach and bustling tavernas, is far more family-friendly, so by breaking up our week we got to experience the best of both worlds.
Just 5 minute drive uphill from Limeni is the Aria Estate Suites & Spa, which offers 16 chic self-contained suites that have been built in traditional Peloponnese style. The curved infinity pool with views of the mountains meeting the ocean is an absolute show-stopper.
We stayed in a generous Sea View Superior Suite that was not only immaculately styled but had the most beautiful outdoor spaces where we could sit with a cup of coffee and enjoy the surroundings.
Our stay included a delicious a la carte Greek breakfast and we enjoyed dining at the hotel’s elegant Horizon Restaurant under pink skies one evening.
Read all about our stay at Aria Estate Suites & Spa
Nestled in the hills above Stoupa, Amani Earthy Living consists of two separate villas with private pools that have also been built in traditional Mani style. Rather conveniently for smaller families or couples, one of the villas is split into 2 apartments so you can rent just part of it.
We stayed in the Ground Floor Sea View Suite and, while technically we should have shared the pool and outdoor areas with guests in the first-floor apartment, for most of our stay that apartment was empty and we had the whole place to ourselves.
The pool area is simply stunning. I loved not just the plush sun loungers but how many cosy seating areas had been set up around the patio in order to soak up the endless ocean views.
We also had a delicious freshly cooked breakfast delivered every morning. We simply put in an order via Whatsapp and at the appointed time a tray filled with Greek yoghurt, eggs, fresh juices and pastries would be laid on the table by the housekeeper.
Read more about our stay at Amani Earthy Living
Kefalonia
In summer 2025 we visited Kefalonia, which is the largest of the Ionian Islands and I think also now my favourite.
The Ionian Islands consist of Zakynthos, Ithaca, Lefkada, Corfu, Paxos, and Antipaxos – so there’s a high number of them in this post!
One of the reasons it appeals to us so much is because it’s very relaxed and not overhyped but there’s plenty to see and do. Although spread out, you can easily focus on different areas of the island and see and do a variety of things in one day.
In the far north of the island you can explore Fiskardo, a colourful cosmopolitan harbour with original Venetian architecture, stopping on route in Assos Village, which has pastel-coloured houses on a distinctive promontory.
We fell in love with the jaw dropping scenery of secluded Fteri Beach on the north west coast of the island and enjoyed the buzzing atmosphere of the sandy organised beaches in the south. We loved discovered traditional tavernas tucked away in hilltop villages as well as beachfront restaurants like Sea Salt on Ai Helis Beach.
In the island’s capital, Argostoli, you can spot sea turtles bobbing in the harbour and just outside Sami is the mesmerising Melissani Cave where you can hop on a row boat and travel across an underground lake.
Kefalonia really is beautiful and, considering we visited at the end of August, was not too crowded either.
Where to stay in Kefalonia
For the first half of our week in Kefalonia we stayed in the most beautiful boutique hotel that’s perfect for families who are seeking affordable luxury.
Poesia Suites is a hidden gem in Lakithra village that consists of just 5 stylish studios and a peaceful shared pool. Each room has its own private patio facing the pool and a secret garden off the bedroom with an outdoor shower shaded by huge banana trees.
Sleeping up to 2 adults and 2 children, the suites have a generous high-ceilinged living room with 2 sofa beds, a dining table and kitchen including an oven and cooktop. The minimalist chic bedroom is accessed via a walk-through closet and bathroom.
Located just 7 mins from the airport, 10 mins to Argostoli and under 10 mins to some of the best sandy beaches on the island (eg Platis Gialos & Ai Helis), Poesia is the perfect base for a stress-free holiday with young children.
The owners are very welcoming and helpful, sending through a fantastic list of recommendations for the local area and offering a breakfast delivery service if you don’t fancy self-catering.
Conveniently there are a handful of restaurants and a mini market within walking distance to the hotel. Just across the road is a popular restaurant, Osteria del Borgo, that serves contemporary Greek and Italian cuisine including delicious pizzas and tiramisu with sunset (and runway) views. There is also an amazing grillhouse called Obelix and a pastry shop called Antonis a short walk away.
If you don’t mind a short drive to the beach I really think this is a wonderful place to stay in Kefalonia and for £130/night for a family of 3 in school holidays the price is hard to beat!
For larger families or groups seeking a stylish stay I highly recommend Homer Luxury Villas near Sami. These 2 sister properties offer 3 generous double rooms, private heated infinity pools and sweeping views of the Ionian Sea all the way to Ithaca.
Read all about our stay at Homer Luxury Villas here
Lefkada
Lefkada is one of the lesser-known Ionian Islands (south of Corfu), which happens to boast some of the most striking beaches in Greece.
Rather handily, this ‘island’ is attached to the mainland via a causeway so although there are no direct flights to Lefkada, it’s an easy 30-minute drive to get there from Preveza Airport.
The steep white cliffs & cobalt water of Porto Katsiki are a must-see. We also loved sipping a frappe at the beachfront tavernas in the small resort town of Agios Nikitas. From here you can hop on a taxi boat to Milos Beach, an incredible secluded sandy bay with luminous waters.
Where to stay in Lefkada
We visited Lefkada in 2021 and stayed at Mousses – a collection of 12 family-friendly villas with excellent kid’s club & fully trained nannies, exclusive to Simpson Travel.
There’s a large gated swimming pool and poolside taverna on site and, while the interiors of the villas are quite dated, there is no doubt that they have thought of everything when it comes to babies and toddlers.
From stair gates, to child locks, toilet seats, baby baths and a toy box – this is the most family-friendly place we’ve ever stayed and was perfect for Miles when he was in that runaway 2-year-old phase!
Mousses is located close to Agios Ioannis, which is where you’ll find the historic Lefkada windmills, including one that’s been turned into a cafe. (Orlof Mill Cafe.)
There aren’t a huge number of places to eat within walking distance to Mousses but the resort’s restaurant is wonderful and your booking comes with car hire, so you can always drive the short distance to Lefkada Town for some variety. There’s also the option to leave little ones with the nannies for an adults-only evening.
While we didn’t end up using it ourselves, the reason so many families love Mousses is that your stay here includes daily complimentary childcare with fully qualified nannies for children aged 6 months to 11 years. Fresh out of lockdown and not yet in nursery, our 2-year-old was understandably reluctant to leave our side. But what we did see of kids club looked amazing and every other family at the resort was making the most of it.
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Samos
In 2021 we took a chance on Samos, a little-known Greek island in the eastern Aegean Sea that lies less than 2km from Turkey.
Samos is probably one of the least touristy islands we’ve visited in Greece. We met hardly any other English tourists there (this could have been partly due to Covid) but at the time it was rather refreshing to feel like we were in unchartered territory.
We stayed in Pythagorion, which is the most popular resort in Samos, and it was such a pleasant surprise. I’d read about its history as the birthplace of Pythagoras 2500 odd years ago, but wasn’t expecting quite so many modern restaurants, gelaterias & cafes dotted around the waterfront & cobbled streets.
The charm here is that the balance feels just right – there’s a traditional seafood restaurant, like Taverna Maritsa, for every modern European restaurant like Knife & Fork.
Modest fishing boats are moored next to the handful of super yachts that make their way here. Even the statue of Pythagoras (a right angle no less!) sits next to a children’s play park where local children play next to visitors.
I think this sums up why we liked Samos so much. It’s beautiful but unshowy. Just the right level of touristy. It has everything you need but still feels authentically Greek. It’s not the type of Greek island you’d usually see on Instagram- there’s not a blue & white dome anywhere – but perhaps that’s a good thing.
Our favourite things to do in Samos were bathe in the warm and gentle waters of Psili Ammos and explore Kokkari, the traditional fishing village backed by mountains that has perhaps the most picturesque little cove in Samos.
Where to stay in Samos
Found quite literally at the end of the runway, Fito Aqua Bleu Resort, is the perfect place for a fly-and-flop family holiday in Samos. (If you don’t mind the odd aircraft flying over your sunbed!)
We loved that the transfer time is just 8 minutes and had such a warm welcome at this small, family-run beachfront resort that I can see why guests return year after year.
We also liked that the simple rooms each had their own outdoor space and the restaurant were great at letting us order takeaway to enjoy outside our room when our little one was napping.
It’s an easy 15 min walk from the hotel into Pythagorion for dinner each evening. (And an even easier taxi ride back at the end of the night!) The beach in front of the hotel is rather pebbly though, which is why we hired a car to drive to sandy Psili Ammos a couple of times.
So that’s everywhere in Greece we’ve been to and loved the last couple of years. Follow the links below if you’d like more details.
Read more:
What to do & where to stay in Limeni, Greece
Stoupa family holiday: What to do & where to stay
Are Ikos Resorts worth the money?
Jayne, your guide to family-friendly destinations in Greece is fantastic! With your extensive travel experience, it’s clear that you’ve picked out some truly special spots. Corfu and Lefkada sound perfect for families, with their beautiful beaches and accessible amenities. I especially appreciate the detailed insights into accommodation options and local attractions. Your recommendations for both relaxation and adventure make planning a Greek holiday for families much easier. Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips!