How To Have The Best Family Trip To Greece

Family-favorite Greek Ports

Athens

Sitting beneath the massive columns of the Parthenon, Athens is the heart of Greek mythology. Climb to the top of Acropolis Hill to ponder the temples where ancient Greeks worshipped gods and goddesses. Afterward, head to its respective archaeological museum, where marble sculptures like The Caryatids still stand larger than life — don’t miss the equally impressive sculpture of Nike adjusting her sandal that once graced the Parthenon. To streamline everything, book a guided family tour of the Acropolis and its surrounding Plaka neighborhood, and tack on some stops at the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch to add some layers to the narrative without overwhelming younger attention spans.

Santorini

Built into volcanic cliffs plunging 1,000 feet into sapphire water, Santorini's white-and-blue villages cling to the caldera rim like a pretty sandcastle. Sail out into the caldera itself on a sunset cruise to find hidden coves and volcanic hot springs, or take a thrilling cable car ride from the old port up to Fira and spot the famous donkey path zigzagging below; either way, the terrain is simply captivating.

Rhodes

In Rhodes, tales of medieval knights, Byzantine mosaics and Bronze Age citadels await. To step right into a fantasy novel, stroll through Rhodes’ UNESCO-listed Old Town where cobblestone lanes and fortress walls will have the whole family wondering how they withstood everything from Ottoman sieges to earthquakes. Kids love exploring the Palace of the Grand Master’s chambers and underground passages, while parents appreciate nearby Lindos Beach for some post-history R&R. Rhodes is also the legendary location of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Colossus of Rhodes, a massive bronze statue of the Greek sun god Helios.

Corfu

Many Greek islands run golden and dry, with cute little whitewashed villages, but Corfu is green, lush and the epitome of old-world elegance with its forested hillsides and four-century-long stint as a Venetian vassal. A far cry from the Cycladic islands, Corfu’s Old Town, with its French-style arcades and cricket pitch legacy leftover from British rule, offers a distinctly different flavor. The real star of the show, though, is Paleokastritsa, a charming coastal village with dramatic rock formations, hidden sea caves and a magnificent monastery to top it all off. No, really — the 13th-century Byzantine monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary sits proudly on a hill overlooking the bay, surrounded by trees of olives and cypress. Grab a kayak for paddling in the still waters of the caves below.

Katakolon

Katakolon is a small port village with a spectacular purpose: delivering visitors to Ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games. Regardless of how sporty your family is or isn’t, walking through the original stadium where athletes competed 2,800-some-odd years ago, where your family can stand on the actual starting line, will change all of the future Olympics to come. You’ll also find ruins of the Temple of Zeus, once home to another one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, a mighty statue of Zeus, and the Palaestra and Gymnasia, ancient training sites where athletes would warm up before competition.

Time Your Trip Right

Greece’s cruise season goes from about May to October. Late May and early June deliver milder temps with blooming landscapes and thinner crowds before European school holidays begin. July and August are guaranteed to be full of sunshine and more daylight hours, perfect for maximizing port time, but also bring a hot 90F and some pretty dense traffic at major sites like the Acropolis. September hits the sweet spot for many families: seas are still warm enough for swimming, crowds are fewer, and the shoulder-season pricing can stretch the budget a bit farther. 

Book Excursions Early

You’ll also want to consider shore excursions that may deserve earlier attention or have capacity limits. For example, popular family activities like sunset sails in Santorini, guided mythology tours in Athens and beachy adventures in Corfu often sell out 30-60 days before departure in the summer months. Good news? You can filter options to match your family’s energy levels and mobility needs.

Pack the Essentials

The Mediterranean is known for its balmy weather, but you’ll still want to pack strategically for Greece’s microclimates. Santorini’s exposed clifftops catch a strong wind even in August, while Athens’ marble surfaces put off some major heat. Comfortable walking shoes are a must; families routinely log 15,000+ steps exploring archaeological sites and island villages. Don’t forget sun protection either; be sure to bring hats, reef-safe sunscreen, shades and refillable water bottles to keep everyone hydrated.

Ready, Set, Sail! 

In Greece, you don’t have to choose between culture and relaxation, adventure and ease, ancient or modern … a cruise delivers it all simultaneously. No coordinating ferries between islands, no hotel check-ins with exhausted children (and parents), no debates about whether you rented the right car or booked the right place. Instead, the whole family wakes up one day in Santorini’s caldera, explores Rhodes’ fortress by the next, and sails toward Olympia at dinner. Royal Caribbean Greece itineraries handle all the logistics while you handle the memories — whether that’s your youngest finally understanding why Percy Jackson loves Camp Half-Blood, your teenager admitting those cliffs are “actually pretty cool,” or you realizing you’ve taken more family photos the past week than the past year.