Greece - Athens and an island?

[babybouncer]

We’ve spent ages thinking about where to go with our 11 and 14 yr old this summer and have decided to try a few nights in Athens (for culture/history/interest) and then a week on a Greek island (for the beach) to try and please everybody.
Anyone know which island would be good (and easy to get to)?
What is the best thing to do in Athens?
Thank you!

Following

Depends if you want to fly from Athens or catch a ferry. ‘Easiest’ option would be for you to fly into Athens, then travel to an island, and fly directly back to the UK.

Generally, the islands with direct flights from the UK (or other Northern European countries) will be busier. Being in Athens already, I think you should go to an island not so easy to get to from the UK.

Ferry to Sifnos? Good food scene, popular with French, family friendly.

Crete would be quicker to fly- but cheap when there.
Kos/Rhodes/Corfu- more bucket and spade with all inclusives rather than Dmitria and a pension.

Avoid Santorini-vastly overpriced and a victim of its own success. Avoid Mykonos- it’s a party island mainly for the gays and wannabe influencers.

Greece is my absolute fave place- I can give some island suggestions and possible routings if you let me know more of what you are looking for 😃

Crete would be quicker to fly, but can get overnight ferries which may mean you waste less time travel.

We have done Athens-Santorini-Crete staying only a couple of nights in Santorini. I wouldn't have wanted to stay there for long, but it was somewhere we did want to visit.

Agistri. Easy and quick to get to, small enough to see it all, nice beaches and good food. Aegina is slightly closer, but a lot bigger (haven’t been there, but it also looks nice!).

Crete is a long way and not really a Greek island with typical characteristics you might want. So many more handy islands. I can certainly recommend Corfu. Beaches are not everywhere so choose your village carefully. It’s pretty though. We have also sailed around Paxi and Lefkada. Ithaca and Kefalonia should be on your list too. We have also stayed on Aegina. That’s not far from Athens. The smaller islands have such character. Corfu is obviously bigger with more to do. It has the advantage of flights home being available and all types of accommodation.

Aegina is easy to get to- a ferry from Piraeus (I did it in a smaller boat). It’s used as a weekend place for people from Athens.
Unless it has changed hugely, it’s very quiet. It really is a beach and taverna type of place. You wouldn’t need more than a week.

Like PP I'd consider Aegina, though it is a very long time since I've been there.
Easy to get to from Athens. There are various resorts on the island, Aegina town and also the Temple of Aphaia which is worth a visit. From the island you can also do a day trip to Poros and Hydra.

From advice on here we travelled to Athens DC 15,13 & 11 then got an hours ferry to Poros which was great. Super friendly with a lively Marina with lots of restaurants. For 7e you can hire electric bikes & explore all the beaches & ruins. If you like what you see of the island pm me and I’ll give you contact details of the excellent hotel. In Athens we stayed at The Stanley which is 3 metro stops away from the centre with a rooftop pool to relax in after all the sight seeing.

Following for ideas also, thanks!

Another one following.

agistri. poros or spetses - all with ferry from Piraeus. I recommend Agistri for good value and it is only one hour from Athens.

Ahhh Poros was my first holiday without my parents back in the 80s - was fantastic then!! Traditional Greek island with tavernas, marina etc.

Spetses was always known as party island, and Aegina were Athenians summered.

all easy to get to from Piraeus.

Is Athens not blisteringly hot in the summer? We were thinking of a week on an Island then Athens for a few days in late July but thought it may be unbearable. Does anyone have any ideas?