Kids to go: Crete with the kids
It is really not surprising that families often love the Greek islands: the weather is almost always great, the flight from the Netherlands does not take long, the beaches are compact and well-organized and the country is simply very affordable: just as we like it. And even if the weather is bad, Crete is versatile and the largest island in Greece is perfect for a good road trip. Green, varied, very Greek and fully equipped. Win win win and therefore a Kids to Go place from the books.
What a wonderful part of Crete: the south coast, seen on a map, approximately in the middle of the island. Here you will find a number of tourist beaches, but if you set your navigation correctly you will come to a small collection of three beaches that are less known and oh so.
The northernmost (and most touristy) is Plakias beach. A large and nice family beach with numerous very cozy holiday-style restaurants and bars.
If you drive a little further, you will come to it Ammoudi Beach. Good idea indeed. Here also a fairly wide (compared to most Greek bays) beach with nice beds and 3 or 4 restaurants, of which we Taverna Violakis 1967 found the best.
Drive straight ahead – yes, over that scary mountain pass – and you will come to the most special of the bunch: Damnoni Beach, a small (nude) beach with an authentic bar against a rock consisting of several plateaus equipped with cozy thatched parasols with – surprise because the outlet looks a bit like a shack – the most delicious, simple hamburgers: just right. Big tip.
No, of course you would rather not go to places that bear the 'Aquaworld' stamp... Neither do we. But admit it: don't your toddlers think it's crazy if they can go to a Candy Castle-esque place at home for a day...? Correct. And then Aquaworld on Crete is really enjoyable. It is one of the most popular things to do in Crete, especially with toddlers. You find Aquaworld in Chersonisos, it was Crete's first water paradise and it is home to local marine life and reptiles from all over the world. Look, they also learn something this way. Most of the animals have been rescued or injured and now have a loving home at Aquaworld. Or go to Cretaquarium (good name), one of the largest and most modern aquariums in Europe. It was founded as part of Thalakssokosmos, the largest maritime research complex in the Mediterranean.
Would you prefer an old-school water (amusement) park? Acqua Plus is a good plan (near Hersonissos) or Limnoupolis near Chania.
If you follow the route that runs from Rethimnon (see below) to the south coast, and not the 'fast' but the 'beautiful' route, you will pass through truly beautiful mountain passes: an outing in itself (really!). Make sure you include the Argiroupoli waterfalls on your to do. A beautiful pit stop.
Like Kourna Lake – a little more than a pit stop. The lake is surrounded by beautiful flora and fauna and you can easily spend an afternoon or day swimming and lounging around. A 'gem' that was tipped to us by locals and highly recommended.
If you want to do a bit of culture but don't feel like dealing with dusty Greek, you can do so Arkady Museum put on his to do. Or not, but at least we have also tipped you something cultural. Don't mention it.
The reason we had that museum on our to-do list is because it is close by the picturesque village Margarites is a beautiful and cozy hamlet known for its ceramics. Really nice (and we also bought a pair of typical Greek slippers for the whole family).
Family friendly beaches on CreteThere are quite a few of them! Is it coming:
Elafonisi Beach: This small island is located on the southwestern side of Crete and has beautiful white sandy beaches. You can walk to Elafonisi from the mainland and it is about 75 km from Chania.
Falassarna Beach: This popular beach is located on the west coast of Crete and consists of several strips of sandy beach with beautiful turquoise waters.
Chrissi Akti beach: 'Golden Beach' just 2,5 km west of Chania and consists of two beaches separated by rocks. To the west is Chrissi Akit and on the other side is Aptera beach. Chrissi Akti is most popular with families because of its parasols, lifeguards, cafes and a playground in the shallow water.
Platanias beaches: Platanias beach is located 11 km west of Chania. A nice day trip from Chania, but busy. It's a long stretch of sand dotted with beach bars, snack bars, lifeguards, water sports and more.
Tersanas Beach: 13 km from Chania and a popular beach with families. The small sandy beach is next to warm, shallow water that is perfect for younger children. It gets busy, especially on weekends, so plan your visit well. There is a snack bar on the beach and a small restaurant nearby.
Bali beach: Bali Beach is located between the towns of Rethymnon and Heraklion on the central north coast of Crete. A beautiful beach for families with cool, calm waters perfect for swimming.
Matala beach: One of Crete's most famous beaches, Matala made a name for itself in the 1960s when hippies sought shelter in the arched caves of the nearby cliffs. Today, this golden beach is popular with families.
Agia Pelagia Beach: Located 21km west of Heraklion, this busy beach is thanks to the popular tourist town of the same name, which is dotted with hotels, cafes, bars and more. The calm waters of the bay are great for swimming.
Makrigialos Beach: 58 km southeast of Agios Nikolaos lies the small town of Makrigialos. It was once a small fishing village, but now it is a bustling tourist town. Locals often call the beach Hani or 'Long Beach', due to its long length.
Balos Lagoon: This is one of the most photographed beaches in Crete because of its turquoise water and white and pink sand. The sea is shallow and warm making it a perfect paddling area for young children. Balos Lagoon gets busy during the months of July and August, so plan your visit early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
The small town of Rethymno or Rethymnon is also mega kid-proof. Small streets, a wide beach, plenty of ice cream shops and entry-proof restaurants everywhere.
Read our restaurant tips here Rethymnon.
At the harbour. Among the restaurants where the props are flying around your ears (no no no no!) there is also – surprise – restaurant Fraoules and that is therefore highly recommended. Delicious food and a sommelier who knows his Pappenheimers.
Do you want a hip café with instagrammable soft green shutters? On to the corner building that bears the name Nafpigio wears. Just fun and perfect for a beer and a dance move.
In the old town you stroll through the old street and find numerous shops Hasika restaurant ends. A contemporary business with contemporary Greek 'tapas'.
Hersonissos? Sorry? Say what? Yeah! Hersonissos! But not the famous seaside resort, no (or actually...): in addition to the famous Hersonissos you will also find Hersonissos Piskopiano. And there you don't feel anything about the Barbies of this world. In fact, we think it is one of the nicest and most beautiful parts of Crete where you can easily take all the little ones, 20 minutes by car from Heraklion airport. Here you will find the cozy ribbon village Piskopiano where it is simply a lot of fun to spend your holiday and where you stumble over the restaurants. We slept in hotel Casa Blu (very nice, very neat, nice place just outside the hustle and bustle, mega (megamegamega) sweet staff) and had a delicious meal at Nikos The Fisherman.
But the main reason to stay here is the 7 minute drive to Sarantari Beach. A perfect small and super quiet (quite unknown) beach where the Saradari Restaurant is also located. And Sarantari Restaurant is a must!
Small but nice: Plaka Village. With a beautiful view over Spinalonga, you can take a lovely walk through Plaka Village, where you will find nice restaurants and shops on the harbor to your left and right. And if you really like the view over Spinalonga (that's true, fact over opinion), you can also visit the island, as there is a boat from Plaka to the island every half hour.
