If you wish to experience a relaxing summer in the best kid-friendly beaches in Greece, and to combine leisure, family fun with a bit of sightseeing, history & mythology and great food, here is the best family itinerary for beach vacations in the Peloponnese!
Peloponnese with Kids in Summer
There is nothing like the carefree feeling of the extended Greek summer in the Peloponnese. Visit the Peloponnese with kids from May until October and discover the authentic beauty of Greece away from the tourists’ crowds, savor the Mediterranean flavors, swim along the beautiful shores next to dunes and sea lilies growing in the sand, soak up the Greek sun holidays with your family and create unique memorable experiences for a lifetime!
In this summer trip itinerary in the Peloponnese, MAMAKITA family travel specialists will help you trace the best Greek beaches for families, as well as the best cultural tours and activities to enrich your holiday with the must-see highlights! Follow this 12-day family itinerary for beach vacations in the Peloponnese and explore the kid-friendliest side of Nafplio, and the sandy coves in West Messenia around Voidokilia beach and the Gulf of Navarino.
Need some help in trip planning by the best family travel agents in Greece? MAMAKITA family travel specialists can customize this family itinerary for beach vacations in the Peloponnese according to your preferences, age of kids, travel pace and budget. Enjoy your family trips in Greece without worrying about family friendly accommodation or kid-friendly tours and activities by making your request here.
Brief Family Trip Itinerary for Beach Vacations in the Peloponnese with kids
- Day 1: Arrival in Athens, Drive to Nafplio, Free Afternoon & Dinner in Nafplio
- Day 2: Free Beach Day near Nafplio, Nature Play with Rita
- Day 3: Sea Kayak Above Epidaurus Sunken City, Epidaurus Afternoon Visit
- Day 4: Visit Acropolis of Mycenae, Mythical Argolis Creative Workshop for kids
- Day 5: Visit Ancient Nemea, Private Family Cooking Class at a Winery
- Day 6: Treasure Hunt & Olive Oil Tasting, Free Beach Time in West Messenia
- Day 7: Free Beach Day in Voidokilia & Navarino Gulf, Visit Nestor’s Palace
- Day 8: Sea Kayaking in the Navarino Gulf, Free Afternoon in Pylos
- Day 9: Archaeologist for a Day in Ancient Olympia, Honey Tasting & Private Dinner at a Farm
- Day 10: Sailing Proti Island, Family Art Workshop & Eco Tour, Local Sunset Dinner
- Day 11: Return to Athens and Sunset at Cape Sounio & Lavrio National Park
- Day 12: Departure from Athens International Airport
Detailed Family Trip Itinerary for Beach Vacations in the Peloponnese with kids
Day 1: Arrival in Athens, Drive to Nafplio, Free Afternoon & Dinner in Nafplio
Drive from Athens to Nafplio, and enjoy some time exploring the first capital of modern Greece and one of the country’s most beautiful towns. Featuring a mix of Venetian, Ottoman, and Greek architecture, Nafplio is marked by the Bourtzi Fort, built on the small islet of Agioi Theodoroi, Palamidi built on the 216-meter-high hill and Acronafplia. Walk along the coast to Arvanitia beach, or even to Karathona bay, and enjoy your dinner by the water!
Day 2: Free Beach Day near Nafplio, Nature Play with Rita
Enjoy a leisurely day at one of the many beaches near Nafplio town. You will find plenty of options catering to different interests. Whether you want a lively coast with lots of amenities, like Tolo beach or a quiet corner to yourself like Kantia or Asini, you will have the chance to enjoy a relaxing beach day swimming in clear waters! For perfect seafood, there are a couple of relaxed fish taverns on the coast of Vivari lagoon, which is not suitable for swimming, yet you will have the chance to taste excellent fish and enjoy your meal, while your children play in the sand.
In the afternoon, if you are in the mood, hike and play in nature with our pedagogue! Get acquainted with the Mediterranean vegetation, visit a monastery, learn all about Greek myths, play outdoors with your kids, create unique handmade crafts and enjoy a picnic in nature!
Day 3: Sea Kayak Above Epidaurus Sunken City, Epidaurus Afternoon Visit
Discover the sunken city of Epidaurus, known as Argolida region’s “Lost Atlantis” with a morning sea kayak excursion. After that refreshing experience, enjoy some free time for swimming and lunch along the shores of Old and New Epidaurus.
In the afternoon, visit one of the most impressive archeological sites in Greece: the Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus, the most famous healing center of the Greek and Roman world. It is considered to be the birthplace of medicine and is thought to have had more than two hundred dependent spas in the eastern Mediterranean. Its monuments, true masterpieces of ancient Greek art, are a precious testimony to the practice of medicine in antiquity. Among them, the ancient theatre, the Stadium, the Temple, the Gymnasium, the Stoa of Abaton, Tholos, the Temple of Artemis, and the Greek baths. A kid-friendly knowledgeable guide will help you depict how this place was in ancient times.
Day 4: Visit Acropolis of Mycenae, Mythical Argolis Creative Workshop for kids
The center of the Mycenean civilization, the “rich in gold” as Homer describes, Mycenae was founded by Perseus, the hero who killed the gorgon Medusa. Fortified by the Cyclops, legendary and impressive, Mycenae was the mythical kingdom of King Eurystheus who ordered Hercules to execute the twelve labors and the historical kingdom of Agamemnon, thus the place from which the Trojan War began.
Today, the well-preserved stone walls and the beehive tombs will take you back to the Mycenae’s glorious past. Step through the Lion Gate and enter the citadel. Try to imagine the life at the palace and the joy that archaeologist Schliemann felt when he revealed a treasure trove of grave burials, today hosted at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. Do not miss the beehive tombs of Clytemnestra, wife of Agamemnon and the Treasury of Atreus, also referred to as the Tomb of Agamemnon. In the Museum, you will find two models of Mycenae that will help you visualize how the citadel was like in the past and reproductions of the golden burial findings, such as the famous “mask of Agamemnon”.
In the hot hours of the day, you can enjoy your lunch and cherish some relaxing time while your kids are having fun at an art workshop in Fougaro Artcenter, which is located in what in the 1930s was the tomato canning factory “Anthos” in the outskirts of Nafplio. Depending on your kids’ age and interest there are options such as a pottery workshop, comics & illustration, theatrical play and many more.
Day 5: Visit Ancient Nemea, Private Family Cooking Class at a Winery
The ancient city of Nemea, famous for the myths of Hercules and the killing of the Nemean Lion that was threatening the local population, today is surrounded by the largest wine-producing zone in Greece. Visit the Ancient Sanctuary of Zeus, where you can see some ruins of the temple amidst the vineyards, and the Ancient Stadium where the Nemean Games were held.
Continue your tour by visiting a couple of Nemean wineries and vinegar factories to taste the native variety of the Agiorgitiko grape, organic vinegar, “petimezi“, the traditional pure grape molasses, and “moustalevria“, a traditional dessert made of must, and then head to an astonishing place to take a cooking class that you and your family will never forget!
Day 6: Treasure Hunt & Olive Oil Tasting, Free Beach Time in West Messenia
Discover the secrets behind Greece’s liquid gold, the extra virgin olive oil, with a family-friendly excursion which takes you into the Messenia region, known for its famous black Kalamata olives. You will enjoy a fun, informative, and interactive olive oil tour, complete with games, storytelling, tastings, and a delicious lunch!
Then, relax on the famous sandy beaches around Pylos, also known as Navarino. “Sandy Pylos” is how Homer refers to the Kingdom of Nestor in “The Odyssey.” With a coastline stretching from the Gulf of Kyparissia until the southwestern part of Greece, the region offers until today, some of the best sandy and kid-friendly beaches, such as Romanos, Mati and Petrochori, ideal for leisure and fun for the whole family.
Day 7: Free Beach Day in Voidokilia & Navarino Gulf, Visit Nestor’s Palace
Ancient Pylos and its King Nestor are cited both in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, when Telemachus visits the city seeking information regarding his father Ulysses’ fate. Archeologists from Greece and the rest of the world are still curious and have sought to find the precise location of Ancient Pylos, the Kingdom of Nestor. In 2015, the discovery of the unplundered “Tomb of the Warrior” close to Chora and the Palace of Nestor by Sharon Stoker and Jack Davis, Professors in Archaeology at the University of Cincinnati, contributes to the assumption that Ancient Pylos lies somewhere around Chora, where many Mycenean tombs have been found and excavated. Nestor’s Palace, and the small and old-fashioned, yet very interesting Archaeological Museum of Chora that hosts Linear B tablets are really worthy of a morning visit.
After your visit, gratify yourself on the stunningly gorgeous Voidokilia Beach and the Gulf of Navarino. Voidokilia is imprinted on travel magazine covers as one of the best places to visit in Greece. Its name signifies the belly of the ox, the same as “Voufrada”, as referred to by Homer in his epic poems, Iliad and Odyssey. It is sandy and shallow; however, it is not recommended during the peak season, especially August. The area is a Natura 2000 protected zone, so no facilities are allowed. You should carry water, umbrellas, sunscreen and sunhats, for the whole family. There is no shade, it is usually crowded, parking is difficult to find and the possibility to find the water clear and transparent is very low. However, in spring it is the ideal beach for your first swim!
The south hill of Voidokilia, Paleokastro is ideal for a family hiking excursion in shoulder seasons. The path ascends the dunes, continues through the amaranths to the Cave of Nestor and then to the top of the medieval Frankish Castle in about 30 minutes depending on your pace. The path descends to the beach of Divari, on the other side of the hill, the closest point between the coast of the Gulf of Navarino and the island of Sfaktiria. Divari is a children’s paradise and the ideal place to enjoy the sea on a windy day and swim to Sfaktiria.
Day 8: Sea Kayaking in the Navarino Gulf, Free Afternoon in Pylos
Explore Navarino Bay’s natural beauty with a sea kayak tour, gliding through its calm, protected waters. Paddle along the harbor and admire the urban sites, such as Niokastro (the New Castle) and the colorful building facades. Enjoy the impressive rock formations and sea caves. Take a break and enjoy swimming, snorkeling, or sunbathing, followed by a picnic lunch with fresh bread, local produce, homemade olive oil, and regional cheese.
Next, enjoy some free time and visit modern Pylos and see where the most decisive naval battle during the Greek Revolution took place, the Battle of the Gulf of Navarino. This was also the last major naval battle in history fought entirely with sailing ships. To see the Gulf from above and to understand the location of the naval battle, you are recommended to make a stop at the telescope you will find on your way before arriving to Pylos.
Day 9: Archaeologist for a Day in Ancient Olympia, Honey Tasting & Private Dinner at a Farm
Today, visit Ancient Olympia, where the Olympics first started in 776 BC. You will see all main attractions as well as the site’s highlight, the ancient stadium and athletic training facilities, where athletes competed and trained in the original Olympic Games over 3,000 years ago.
Next, roll up your sleeves and become an archaeologist for a day with an educational hands-on archaeological experience, where all the family members have the chance to become archaeologists and excavate a house of the 5th century B.C., the Ancient Gymnasium and an impressive Roman bath with mosaics next to the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia!
Before ending your day, savor a delicious meal at a local honey farm! Try different recipes, sip drinks, and chat in the garden of a traditional farmhouse. After the meal, have some fun with an interactive workshop, where both kids and adults will enjoy learning about the secrets of honey and caring for bees.
Day 10: Sailing Proti Island, Family Art Workshop & Eco Tour, Local Sunset Dinner
Discover the crystal-clear waters of Proti island in western Messenia and enjoy relaxing on the tiny sandy beach Vourlia, swimming, or hiking uphill towards the top of the island to cherish the views of the Ionian Sea!
Next, explore your creative side and attend an art workshop at an eco-farm. Set in the coastal village of Marathopoli, you will learn how locals and artists live in harmony with nature, the animals, the sea, and the sun. After a tour around the farm, kids will create handmade art from materials collected from the sea while parents can enjoy a massage with a glass of wine. To end your day savor a delicious local dinner based on fish and seafood with great sunset views of the Ionian Sea.
Day 11: Return to Athens and Sunset at Cape Sounio & Lavrio National Park
Return to Athens, but skip the city center and head toward the Athens Riviera! Visit the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounio, enjoy the unique views from the southernmost tip of Attica, where stories and legends are unveiled and complete this unique experience of your family trip to Greece with the best memories from the place where the Aegean Sea took its name!
Need some help in trip planning by the best family travel agents in Greece? MAMAKITA family travel specialists can customize this family itinerary for beach vacations in the Peloponnese according to your preferences, age of kids, travel pace and budget. Enjoy your family trips in Greece without worrying about family friendly accommodation or kid-friendly tours and activities by making your request here.
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