10 Days in Greece - 6 Family-Friendly Itineraries

Itinerary #1: Highlights of Greece on Land and Sea

If you're just introducing your school-aged children to Greece, try out this itinerary. You'll hit the top spots in Athens, then head to the islands to explore Naxos and Santorini.

Start with an easy intro to Athens as you relax in the city's parks, all of which boast distinctive views of the city and its landmarks. Then get an introduction to the Classical tales of Greece among the monuments of the Acropolis, followed by a cooking class that will teach you some Mediterranean favorites. Top it off with an evening in the Plaka neighborhood, full of tavernas and shops with some historical sites mixed in. Then take a day trip to Delphi, once the site of Apollo's oracle and her visions of the future and now a sprawling archaeological site and museum that houses sculptures and other artifacts from both the immediate area and around Greece.

Next up, it's island time. Start your Cycladic journey in Naxos, the largest island in the chain. Spend a day catching the sun on the beaches, or taking a class in windsurfing or scuba diving for sporty families. Pair it with a food tour that will show you why Naxos is known for its agricultural products. A full-day boat trip will take you to the neighboring islands of Delos and Mykonos. Delos was once one of Greece's most sacred sites as well as an important commercial hub, though today it's an uninhabited archaeological site. Mykonos, on the other hand, buzzes with jetsetters and designer shops underneath its famous windmills.

Your last stop is Santorini, its famous caldera-side cliffs wrapped in whitewashed architecture. While there are postcard-perfect views around every corner, you'll find some of the less-crowded secret spots to watch the sunset to celebrate your first evening on the island. Continue with a private guided tour from the streets and galleries of Oia down to the hidden harbor of Ammoudi, followed by a lazy afternoon on the island beaches. Your last full day can either start or end with a fishing trip and a preparation of your fresh catch, accompanied by a visit to the museum of Lost Atlantis and the archaeological site that may have inspired the legend at Akrotiri before you head back to Athens. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Explore Mainland Greece's Less-Visited Spots

Families with school-age children who have already hit the highlights of Greece can find more to explore with this itinerary. See Greece from a different angle as you head to less-explored spots like Corinth, Nafpaktos, and more.

This trip starts with a visit to some Classical monuments in Athens, but you won't linger there for too long. Explore the Botanical Garden in the company of a professional biologist who will share stories of Greek gods and goddesses and their connections to nature. Leave the city and head to Meteora, home of towering clifftop monasteries. You'll take a guided tour of these fascinating facilities and learn how they managed the logistics of life in the sky.

Next, seek Apollo's oracle at Delphi. On the way, you'll stop in the picturesque fishing town of Galaxidi to chat with locals and find some of their famous miniature ships. In Delphi itself, you'll tour the ancient temple sites, channel the Muses to find some creativity for a painting class, and explore the surrounding nature in the National Park of Mt. Parnassos. Don't miss the underground Eptastomos Cave, home to the southernmost glacier in Europe, and what the ancient Greeks believed was one of the entrances to the underworld.

Spend a night in the seaside town of Nafpaktos and stroll around the historic port. Then it's off to Corinth via the scenic Aigialeia region, where you can ride the steep Odontotos mountain railway, hike, or drive up Mount Helmos and visit the waterfalls near Mesorougi village. Take a boat trip out into the Corinthian Gulf, keeping an eye out for dolphins frolicking nearby and sites like the 19th-century Melagkavi Lighthouse or the Maltese Azure Window. In the shadow of Acrocorinth Hill, you'll find a former winery-turned-museum where you'll learn about traditional Greek life and occupations. Ride a boat down the Corinth Canal, one of Greece's most dramatic feats of engineering, before you find your way back to Athens. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Interactive Athens and Crete

Get hands-on with this itinerary that provides plenty of engaging activities for school-aged children. Whether it's painting, racing, or bread-making, everyone will find some facet of Greece to engage with.

Start in Athens with a stroll through the casual tavernas and humming streets of the Plaka neighborhood. Then jumpstart your creativity with a professionally led painting session from Pnyx Hill and its impressive views of the Acropolis. Once you've painted the famous landmark, you'll head to its top to listen to stories of Greek heroes, gods, and monsters. Work out your muscles with an exercise activity in the home of the first modern Olympics, then cool down with a private trip down the Athenian Riviera that ends with a sunset at Cape Sounion.

It's time to make your way to Crete with an overnight ferry ride to Chania, home to a charming 14th-century harbor and colorful architecture. It's also where you'll find Elafonissi beach, one of the most popular in Greece. After you've explored the city and had some lounging time, you can choose between an archaeological excavation workshop or a mosaic-making class depending on your family's interests. Head to the Natural Park of Samaria to see why Crete is known as the "minuscule continent" as you go on a treasure hunt through its diverse biomes.

Hop on the road to Heraklion, a drive of about two hours but full of pleasant stops along the way like turquoise Lake Kournas or the seaside town of Rethymno, one of Greece's best-preserved medieval old towns. While there, you'll learn to make bread and traditional Cretan rusks, a type of biscuit. Get back into myths with a storytelling visit that you can choose to combine with a trip to the archaeological site at the Palace of Knossos before you return to Athens. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Dive Into the Greek Islands

Experience the range of the Cyclades with school-aged children on this itinerary. From quieter Paros to the dramatic cliffs of Santorini, it's an island classic designed to keep kids entertained with storytelling, hands-on farming, interactive museums, and more.

Start your trip in Athens with an evening stroll through the pedestrian-friendly Plaka neighborhood. Listen to myths from Classical Greece amidst the columns of the Parthenon and the other monuments of the Acropolis and learn to play ancient strategy games, then escape the buzz in the city's many parks and down the Athenian Riviera.

From there, board a ferry out to Paros. One of the island's hallmarks is its wide, sandy beaches, and you'll have the rest of your day post-ferry to lounge on them at your leisure. Then, visit a natural permaculture family farm and the villages of Paros, including stops for the Sculpture Museum of Perantinos and a modern dairy with multiple different types of cheese made onsite. Finish your time on Paros with a day trip out to the Panteronissia islands, with stops for swimming, cliff jumping (if you're brave), and possibly even some archaeological attractions. 

Your last stop is Santorini, where you'll spend your first evening finding the perfect sunset spot among the island's many secret vantage points. Take a private walking tour of the alleys and galleries of Oia, from the top of the caldera down to the hidden fishing village of Ammoudi, before you hit the beach. On your last full day, you can either start or end your day with a sunrise or evening fishing trip and dine on your fresh catch. Pair with a wander through the museum of Lost Atlantis and a visit to Akrotiri, which may have been the archaeological basis for the Atlantis legends, before you return to Athens. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Culture and Adventure in the Peloponnese

This itinerary for school-age children takes you into the Peloponnese. Between Athens and Kalamata, you'll enjoy time divided between both natural and cultural activities like comic book workshops, cooking classes, and even a day of archery.

Start your saga by searching the streets of Athens on a scavenger hunt dedicated to the myths of Athena. Hear more stories of the Pantheon with a mythology tour covering famous sites on the Acropolis and within the Ancient Agora, then let kids tell their own tales with a comic-making workshop. Stretch your muscles with a workout in the Panathenaic Stadium, the home of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, followed by a walk in the neighboring National Garden. Then stretch your cerebral muscles with an interactive lesson in Greek at the Hellenic Children’s Museum to learn some key phrases for navigating your travels.

Once you've had your fill of city time, you'll head to Kalamata—yes, like the olives. As the capital of this part of the Peloponnese, Kalamata is home to a variety of museums and wide public squares just waiting to be explored. Get introduced to the city via a food tour in its historic center, and sleep it off the next day with some time on the beach, combined with a visit to an eco-friendly farm. Then, go back in history with a trip to Nestor's Palace, which may sound familiar if you know your Homer. Today it's one of the best-preserved Mycenean palaces, and you'll visit both the palace itself and the museum where many of its artifacts are now housed, before relaxing on Voidokilia Beach or setting out for a hike in the area, depending on how active you're feeling.

Cruise the waters of western Messenia with a boat trip out to Proti Island, named for the son of Poseidon who turned into a crocodile when angry. Calm any angry tendencies with a home-cooked meal that you'll craft yourself in a cooking class. Keep going into nature with a trip to the waterfalls of Polylimnio Gorge followed by an archery lesson. On your last full day, keep it nautical with a sea kayak tour in Navarino Bay, once the site of a decisive naval battle, then get back on land and back in time with a trip to the castle of Pylos and its archaeological museum before you depart. Learn more

Itinerary #6: History, Culture, and Nature in the Peloponnese

Time for adventure with this itinerary ideal for older kids and teens. You'll hop and hike into history in four different spots around the country.

You'll start in Athens, overlooking the city from one of its many peaceful parks. Climb up to the top of the Acropolis with a storyteller to hear the ancient tales of the Parthenon and other monuments, then down into the city streets with an artist to learn about the modern street art scene. A family cooking class will instruct you with some basic techniques to recreate your favorite Greek dishes at home and give you the knowledge to better appreciate the cuisine on your journey, then gallivant down the Athenian Riviera to spots like the floating museum, a sea turtle rescue, and more before you top it off with a sunset over Cape Sounion.

Your next stop is Nafplio, a seaside city where you'll hike up to Acrocorinth, one of the largest remaining castles in Greece. Scope out the city from above before spending an evening amid its multicultural-influenced architecture. You'll visit the Sanctuary of Asklepios and the Ancient Theater at Epidaurus, where you'll find insight into ancient Greek life and cultural practices before kayaking over some further remains of the city. Your last stop in Nafplio is the Acropolis of Mycenae, where King Agamemnon, whose name you may recognize from the "Iliad," is buried.

Head to Olympia, potentially stopping at some historic villages along the way, and roll up your sleeves to become an archaeologist for a day in the company of a professional who can help you do some preservation work of your own. Stop at a honey farm for dinner full of fresh, local produce amid the buzzing of the hives. Your last stop is Delphi, once the site of Apollo's sacred oracle. Stop in the seaside towns of Nafpaktos and Galaxidi along the drive before you arrive in the town. Once there, you'll find your own perspective on the past with a painting class, tour of the archaeological site, and hike along an ancient trail before you return to Athens. Learn more

More Great 10-Day Greece Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Greece? Check out these other 10-day Greece itineraries, with history-focused trips, beach getaways, and best-of tours to hit the highlights. 

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