Is Greece OK for a family holiday in summer?

[Splat92]

I’m Australian and I’ve never been to Europe. Due to the sale of our house we now have some cash spare to take our boys (20,18 and 13) on a nice holiday next year.

I asked the kids which country they would go to if they could go anywhere and they all said Greece. I was going to start checking that out but I was chatting to my sister who told me to avoid summer as it’s really busy. The problem is the only time I can line up all our holidays (2 schools and 2 universities) is mid July.
Is it really crazy then? Is it just the islands and mainland Greece is OK?

YANBU - Greece is fine in July for a family holiday
YABU – Greece is too busy

Additionally I’d welcome any alternative suggestions for holiday locations. I think they liked the historical aspect of Greece. They like cultural experiences although I will admit on our trip too Japan a couple of years ago they loved the country but got a little bit over temples and shrines on our tours because there were so many of them.

Greece has a dry heat so if you are in general ok with 30+ degrees in the shade you should be ok.

European school holidays are from June - August mainly. So you will find tourists all the time but I would say mid-July onwards is the main season.
While Greece is very popular with the British, you will find Germans and French as well. When we were in Rhodes 2 years ago there were also lots of Italians.

If you plan trips, you will be up very early, to avoid the heat and the queues. But I know that Athens actually closed the Akropolis this Summer at one point because of the heat so you may want to research.

Any island which doesn’t have an international airport will be less busy. So your best bet for quiet is to fly to Athens or to one of the islands with an airport, and then take a ferry to a different island

Even the ones with airports generally have some quiet bits (except Santorini and Mykonos).

As pp said, early July is quieter than late July.

If you want classic white & blue Greek island then aim for the Cyclades or the Sporades. The Ionians west of Greece are lovely (and greener) but look more Italian in style.

If you want history your best bets are Athens (& then ferry or internal flight to an island for beach) or Crete. A little bit on Rhodes and Naxos. Most other islands don’t have much historical sightseeing tbh, maybe the odd ruined castle or monastery or well preserved port town.

We had a lovely holiday in Crete a couple of years ago. We rented a villa with a good sized pool which was brilliant for the teens, and we took them to Watercity, which went down well. Just make sure the bedrooms all have air con. We stayed slightly up in the hills which was a few degrees cooler.

We flew into Athens August and it was HOT. My 9 year old is a big fan of the podcast "Greeking Out" so we did the Acropolis, Oracle of Delphi and about 4-5 days in Athens and around. We stayed at two backpacker hostels because I like the idea of the kids mixing with other travellers. We did Athens Backpackers (family ensuite room) and also City Circus. City Circus is part hotel and the room was AMAZING.

Then we did Island hopping. Paxos, Naxos and Santorini. Have a look at a IG account / blog called Travel Babbo and also Santorini Dave as there is a lot on there about Greek Islands.

Other option would be Italy....

So many incredible places on the mainland that are often overlooked in favour of islands too. Going to work now but will come back with some suggestions later and a couple of islands that (imo) are really worth it :)

You're spoilt for choice with Greece! Thassos is fabulous, as is Paxos ( by ferry from Corfu). Kefalonia beautiful and very unspoilt. I would avoid Santorini and Mykonos as very very expensive and crazy busy.

Greece is lovely, beautiful and with great history. I have to go in school hols and it is quite busy but not too busy for you to have a wonderful time.

This is all very helpful info, thanks

You will love Greece, the Greeks are family orientated and we've always found them very friendly when our kids were younger.

We've visited many Greek Islands. Some are more commercialised than others.

In terms of being unspoilt and being authentic, we loved Kefalonia, Crete, Poros (not to be confused with Paros - you leave Athens via boat, it's a 3 hr(?) ride to Poros}

For Crete and Kefalonia I'd suggest hiring a car and exploring the Island. Fantastic tavernas/restaurants and gorgeous beaches.

I have two older teens and they both love Greece. Our best combo so far was Santorini for a couple of nights, then ferry to gorgeous Naxos (chilled, great beaches, lots of artists) for a week (book online in advance), then fly to Athens for a couple of days, then we went on to a week in beautiful Croatia. It will be hot, busy, incredible sunsets, food and culture. Go for it!

YANBU.

I am greek and I second hobesmanc post. I would recommend Ikaria, only a short flight away from Athens, beautiful island unspoilt by tourism and doesn't get too busy even in August.

I’ve travelled in Greece a lot and over many years. International tourists cluster in certain parts of Greece. Athens will obviously be busy - there is no way round that. It will also be very hot. For other sites you can beat the crowds by getting there early as most coach tours don’t arrive till later in the morning (and in July you want to be at the sites early as it is getting hot by 10). Delphi first thing in the morning is one of the most magical places on earth (stay in the village the night before). Many parts of the mainland are not super crowded and it isn’t hard to get off the beaten track. For ancient sites, the mainland is the best option - hire a car and drive round the Peloponnese. You can also get a ferry from Athens and spend some time on an island - the ones that do not have airports are quieter (but even on the touristy islands, if you have a car you can find quiet places well away from the big resorts.)

If you go to an area where mostly Greek tourists go, you will have the beaches to yourself if you go in the morning. We have often got to the beach at 9:30 or 10 to find it completely empty. Greeks prefer to go to the beach around lunchtime to escape the heat of the day.

Happy to answer any questions by DM - I know Greece pretty well, from backpacking all over it as a student to beach holidays more recently with the kids.

We've just been to Skopelos and Skiathos for 2 weeks, 2 adults and 1 13 year old. Skopelos was beautiful as all the people not staying on the island are gone by sunset, I found Skiathos a bit chaotic but I think Skopelos being so amazing almost set it up to not be as good (if that makes sense). If we'd just done Skiathos it would have been lovely I'm sure

West of Athens, the Peloponnisos region is wonderful. Look at Nafplio, Monemvasia Kalamata, Kyparissia, Kardamili,Pylos Koroni, Kyllini (mix of beaches, ancient sites etc, including Ancient Olympia. From the Peloponnese you can reach easily the Ionian islands eg: Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Corfu if you want some island time - also Lefkada which is an island technically but connected to the mainland so you can drive there

Next door to the Peloponnese in the northwest,you have the Epirus region - Parga and Preveza are lovely too. I think Preveza has an airport.
heading inland the area around Ioannina also has some wonderful Lake scenery and as you head inland from there, you’ve got the Pindus mountain, national parks galore etc.

Up in the North don’t overlook Halkidiki and Vourvourou close to Thessaloniki.

Coming down the other side into Thessaly,
There is the Pelion peninsula and Volos to look into.
Finally, directly east of Attica and Athens is Evia - another island connected to the mainland with a bridge so you can drive. Some of the most beautiful beaches. From this side of things it’s an easy boat trip to Skiros,Skopelos and Alonnisos islands.

islands which I do think are worth a mention and maybe you could do some hopping:

Cyclades
-Syros for the neoclassical architecture of the main city Ermoupoli
-Naxos for some of the most beautiful beaches
-Andros, for its uniqueness in the Cyclades in having the green mountains and valleys too.

Small Cyclades: Amorgos for its picturesque Chora and easily accessible beaches. Folegandros for some beautiful Rocky beaches with almost lunar landscapes

In July these will be heaving, so you have a better chance of finding some less bustling spots on Naxos and Andros which are bigger.

Other islands I liked very much and would personally recommend in no geographical order: Ikaria, Kea, Skiros, Ithaca, Kythira

We did Athens last Oct, it was amazing. The Parthenon was genuinely moving .. seeing it in person was fantastic. Can't imagine Athens very comfortable in the heat of summer though, beautiful islands all around it though if you wanted to do the city and a coast too

We went in August about 10 years ago and it was far too hot, we'd only consider going at Easter or October half term. It isn't set up with air con like many other hot countries.

@kαλοκαλοκαιρι thank you!

Boiling hot.

OP Yes it's hot but as a teenage history/classics geek I can still remember the thrill I got not only in Athens - do book for sites/museums there - but also at just seeing road signposts to 'Sparta', 'Delphi' etc.

Even with an AWFUL lot of coastal over-development, Greece is still a very beautiful country.

Especially if going to Ithaca, suggest your children re-read the Odysssey - stunning story - and perhaps bits of the IIliad. Plenty of teen-friendly and graphic-novel versions available of both.

Also - as your children probably know already - many Greek myths are based in particular locations, especially dramatic ones. The stories have lasted because they connect with so many very basic human problems, tragedies and joys. Even now, well over 2000 years later, it's amazing to see where they were created.

I love Greece. Lots of families go. Wouid recommend Rhodes, Corfu and Crete.

PurpleFlower1983
I love Greece, it’s fabulous! We’ve just come back from Paxos and it was absolutely amazing

Any tips for a day trip to Paxos? Where to eat, what's best to see?
Unfortunately cant stay overnight so will only spend a day from about 8am-5pm.

If you don’t want busy go to Milo’s. It’s stunning and small and not heaving like Santorini