Greece Holidays

Crete holidays: The largest Greek island and, in most ways, the most complete. Chania suits couples after charm and good food; Malia suits those after nightlife; Heraklion is the right base for Knossos. It is the island customers book more than once. 

Santorini holidays: The island sits on the rim of a volcanic caldera, with cliff-top villages looking straight down to the sea. Oia is the photograph everyone recognises; Fira is the practical base with more options for accommodation and getting around. Worth knowing: it suits couples considerably better than families, given the terrain and the absence of traditional beach resorts. 

Corfu holidays: The most northerly of the Ionian Islands, with a UNESCO-listed Old Town that reflects centuries of Venetian, French, and British rule. The north coast has calm shallow bays that work well for families with young children; couples who want somewhere greener, quieter, and cooler than the Aegean tend to head here too. 

Rhodes holidays: The Old Town dates to the 14th-century Knights of St John and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: it is a proper medieval city, not a ruin. Faliraki offers resort infrastructure and one of the largest waterparks in Greece; Lindos is the quieter alternative up the coast. One of the few Greek islands that genuinely suits history lovers, families, and couples in equal measure. 

Zante holidays: Navagio Beach, the shipwreck cove you can only reach by boat, is the image most people associate with Zante, and it lives up to it. The island also has loggerhead turtle nesting sites on the south coast. It has a strong following among younger couples and groups, though the south is noticeably quieter and more family-friendly. 

Kos holidays: Straightforward, good-value, and easy to get to, that is the honest summary of Kos. Long sandy beaches, a lively main town with good waterfront restaurants, solid all-inclusive infrastructure, and direct flights from plenty of UK airports. It is the right first Greek island for a lot of families, and it tends to deliver exactly what people come for. 

The Acropolis, Athens: The Parthenon has stood on this limestone hill since 447 BCE and remains the most significant ancient monument in Europe. Visit early morning or after 4pm to avoid the worst heat and the largest crowds. 

Meteora monasteries: Six working monasteries perched on rock pillars up to 400 metres high in central Greece, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Monks first settled here in the 11th century; the scale of the landscape is unlike anything else in Europe. 

Samaria Gorge, Crete: A 16 km walk through the White Mountains, one of the longest gorges in Europe. Most walkers take four to six hours; the gorge ends at the coastal village of Agia Roumeli, with boats running back to Hora Sfakion. 

Nafplio: Often considered Greece's most beautiful mainland town, Nafplio charms visitors with its Venetian architecture, waterfront promenade, and historic atmosphere, making it ideal for both first-time and repeat visitors. 

Watersports and boat trips: Most resorts offer jet-skiing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and banana boats off the beach. Day trips to smaller islands, Paxos from Corfu, Symi from Rhodes, are popular right through the season and consistently rate among the highlights guests mention. 

Waterparks: Limnoupolis near Heraklion in Crete and Faliraki Waterpark in Rhodes are the best-established. Both run full-day sessions with slides for all ages and dedicated zones for younger children. Most north-coast and east-coast resort hotels can arrange transfers.