Crete With Children – Top 10 Best Activities & Tipps

Crete Blog › Crete With Children – Top 10 Best Activities & Tipps

The best Crete with children tips: Explore family-friendly excursions, restaurant tips, recommended hotels & the most beautiful beaches to visit with kids!

Table of Contents

Are you itching to get away to an island again? Great, because I have a wonderful island idea for your next family holiday: Greece’s largest island, Crete! I have dug up the best tips for Crete with children for you. Read on to discover the most beautiful beaches, villages, excursion destinations and delightful accommodation for a family holiday on the sunny island of Crete.

Overview

• Crete is perfect for a holiday with children – no matter how old they are. We’ll show you the best activities and excursions in Crete with children.
• Our top 3 activities in Crete with children are a trip to the beaches of Elafonisi and Balos, a jeep safari tour and visting the Crete Aquarium.
• If you are in Crete with toddlers, I recommend the Labyrinth Park and the mermaid school.
• The coolest indoor activity with children in Crete is definitely the CretAquarium. A great excursion in bad weather in Crete with children.

Best time to visit Crete

300 days of sunshine per year make Crete a popular destination, especially from May to October. If you are not tied to school holidays, June and September are the ideal months for a beach holiday, with an average water temperature of 24 degrees. May is very pleasant for hiking, with temperatures of 15-23 degrees and an average of 4 rainy days. In July and August, it gets very hot with temperatures of up to 40 degrees. Of course, it’s still beautiful.

Tip: If you are thinking about a holiday in Crete with children during the Easter holidays, you should bear in mind that the sea is still rather cold. I therefore recommend booking a hotel with a heated pool.

Eastern or Western Crete?

As Crete is very large, you should think carefully about what you would like to see during your holiday before booking your hotel.

If you are interested in the beautiful beaches in Balos, Falasarna or Elafonisi, hiking through the famous Samaria Gorge, paddling across Lake Kournas, strolling through the alleys of Chania or experiencing the authentic atmosphere in Loutro, I would recommend accommodation in the west of the island and a flight to Chania.

To discover the east of the island with highlights such as the palm beach in Vai, the town of Agios Nikolaos, the uninhabited paradise island of Chrissi Island, the Lasithi Plateau & Zeus Cave, the Amazonas Park or CRET Aquarium, a flight to Heraklion aka Iraklio is ideal, as it will reduce your transfer times.

Overall, the south of the island is much quieter than the north, where tourism is much more present.

Getting around Crete

There’s a fairly extensive bus system around Crete if you want to travel by public transport. I recommend hiring a car at the airport, which is certainly the easiest way to travel when you’ve got kids along for the ride.

Holiday on Crete With Children – The best beaches

Balos Lagoon is one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete. You can also discover this corner of Crete with toddlers.

• Perfect for: All ages
• How much time to allow: 4-8 hours
• Cost: Free

Of course, playing on the beach and swimming will be one of the main activities during your holiday in Crete with children. In addition to family-friendly holiday resorts with hotels in Crete right on the beach, there are also a few real dream beaches in Crete that are worth a day trip.

For a perfect day of swimming and relaxing in Crete, the beaches and bays in the north or north-west and in the west and south-west of Crete are generally the best.

Here are some really beautiful holiday resorts, that I recommend for staying in Crete which have great beaches for children:

1. Adelianos and Bali – East of Rethymnon

This is the most popular area for a holiday in Crete with children. Here you can find long sandy beaches and small beautiful bays with shallow entry, calm water and a good tourist infrastructure.

Grecotel Marine Palace & Aqua Park – A heaven for parents and children alike. The all inclusive includes all day dining and drinks. Location (30 min drive from the airport), food, staff and facilities are top notch for the price. Best for families with kids younger than 14 years. ☑ See prices and availability here.

2. Agia Marina & Platanias – Around Chania

Surely one of the most beautiful holiday resorts in Crete for me are to be found here. The beaches in this area are really beautiful, there are plenty of sun loungers with parasols, the water is mostly calm and the tourist infrastructure is also excellent.

Euphoria Resort All Inclusive – This all Inclusive in Kolymvari is located a 2hrs drive from the airport and offers direct beachfront access and stunning sea views. Rapaniana Beach is just a 4-minute walk away, while Platanias Square lies 6.8 mi from the property. The area around Chania offers best access to activities and cultural day trips. Best for families with kids kids older than 10 years. ☑ See prices and availability here.

3. Paleochora – Southern Crete

Paleochora in southern Crete is perfect if you are looking for a quiet, less touristy place in Crete. The beach is large, the entry is also shallow and the water is even calmer than in the north.

Libyan Princess – Spacious, stylish and comfortable rooms that are very popular with families. Friendly staff and excellent breakfast. Perfect location towards the end of town, but within a short walk of the city center and beaches. ☑ See prices and availability here.

The water in Bali Bay is super calm and the entrance is shallow. Perfect for a day of swimming in Crete with children. For a beach trip in Crete with children, I recommend visiting Elafonisi Beach or Balos Lagoon. Both are among the most beautiful beaches in Crete and you will really enjoy them.

Balos Lagoon in Crete with children

If you’re in the mood for a little adventure and want to discover a really cool corner of Crete with children, you should also visit Balos Lagoon. Balos Lagoon is a small, breathtakingly beautiful bay. The water is turquoise and the beach is white. Here you get a little Caribbean feeling included.

• Location: Balos Beach & Lagoon

The adventure on this day trip is the journey there, and you have two options: drive or take a boat from Kissamos. If you’re doing the Crete trip by car, you’ll have to prepare yourself for an 8-kilometre gravel road just before the parking. From the there, you will walk about 10 minutes down to the beach.

The boat trip, however, is also a great experience in Crete with children. The best way to do this is to drive your vehicle to Kissamos and then board one of the boats there in the harbour.

Both beaches are also unique excursions in Crete with small children. If you don’t want to drive yourself in a hire car and would prefer to relax a little, you can also book a tour to both beaches.

Tip: Be sure to take a beach umbrella with you to every beach. You can easily get a cheap beach umbrella in Kissamos. Look for Jumbo, SYN. KA supermarkets, or local tourist shops—they usually sell. There is very little shade on the beaches in Crete. There are often plenty of sun loungers with parasols, but these can all be taken, especially during peak season in Crete.

Elafonisi Beach in Crete with children

Elafonisi Beach in western Crete is my favourite beach because of the pink sand there, really cool! Here you can experience one of the most beautiful sights in Crete and spend a great day at the beach with the children. Elafonisi is perfect for you if you want to have a relaxing day out with children in Crete. You can easily drive there with your rental car (about 1.5 hrs from Chania).

• Location: Elafonissi Beach Western Crete

The water is very calm here as it is surrounded by many sandbanks. The entry is really shallow and perfect for children. Elafonisi Beach is really large. Here you will find lots of sun loungers, parasols and also two restaurants. Perfect for a day at the beach in Crete with children.

Voulisma Beach in Crete with Children

Voulisma is one of the most beautiful beaches in the north-east of the island, near Agios Nikolaos in Mirabello Bay. Voulisma Beach is renowned for its magnificent views – from its stunning turquoise waters to its awe-inspiring sunsets and pristine white sand.

• Location: Voulisma Beach

It is easily accessible by car and offers fine sand and gently sloping, crystal-clear waters in a sheltered bay – perfect for children! You can find a nice spot with your own equipment or rent a sun lounger. At the foot of the beach, there are also tavernas on the hillside and a water sports provider.

Water parks for a day out with children in Crete

The water parks in Crete really do have something for all ages. This makes them a great day out in Crete with young children.

• Perfect for: Children of all ages
• How much time to allow: 4-8 hours

Water parks are always a hit and a popular activity in Crete with children. There are even several water parks on the island, so you probably won’t even have to travel far from your holiday resort. There isn’t much difference between the water parks. We recommend simply going to the water park that is closest to your hotel.

Tip: I recommend that you buy your water park tickets online in advance. Do not buy them at the park or your hotel. Prices on site are sometimes significantly higher.

Water City Water Park near Heraklion

• Location: In Anopolis, 20 minutes from Heraklion (Google Maps)
• Cost: €30 for adults, €20 for children

Aqua Creta Limnoupolis near Chania western Crete

• Location: In Varipetro, 15 minutes from Chania (Google Maps)
• Cost: Adults €25, children aged 4-12 €18, children under 3 free

The Aqua Creta water park is great if you are staying in western Crete. There are 6 cool slides that children taller than 1.20 metres can use.

Acqua Plus Water Park near Malia eastern Crete

• Location: In Chersonisos, 15 minutes from Malia (Google Maps)
• Cost: Adults €29, children aged 5-12 €20, children under 4 free

Note: The water parks in Crete are only open from May to October. The Aqua Creta Limnoupolis Water Park even closes in September.

Hiking with children in Crete

If you want to go gorge hiking in Crete with children, I recommend the Kourtaliotiko Gorge. The hike is 6 kilometres long and the gorge is also less touristy. Kourtaliotiko is a great place for hiking with children in Crete.

• Perfect for: Children aged 5 and above
• Location: South-western Crete (Google Maps)
• Time needed: 3-4 hours
• Cost: free

Crete is home to the longest gorge in Europe: the Samaria Gorge. Of course, you’ve already thought about whether you can go hiking there with your children. I have good news and bad news for you. The good news: yes, you can go hiking in Crete with children. The bad news: I do not recommend the 16-kilometre-long hiking trail in the Samaria Gorge. The hike is too long for children, there are no restaurants or other facilities along the way, and we believe that small children in particular will get bored very quickly.

But don’t panic if you are big hiking fans. You can still go hiking in Crete with children. I recommend the Kourtaliotiko Gorge. One route here is 3 kilometres long. Admittedly, the first, short part is a bit dreary, but after a short time you will reach the deepest point of the gorge, with lots of water. Perfect for cooling off. There are also lots of rocks here for the children to climb on.

Other gorges recommended for hiking with children in Crete: With older children, the 2-3 hour hike through the Imbros Gorge and – even with younger children – the Deliana Gorge are easier to manage. The Agia Irini Gorge is also an alternative to the long Samaria Gorge, especially because the little ones can hike mostly in the shade.

Follow in the footsteps of Zeus on an excursion to the Lasithi Plateau in the north-east of the island, which promises a magnificent view over Crete. There you will find the so-called Diktean Cave, a stalactite grotto with a shimmering underground lake. According to Greek mythology, Zeus, the father of the gods, was born here. Wow! Please note: this place is a tourist hotspot and we would only recommend it for children aged ten and above. The climb is arduous.

Horse Riding

If the children like horses, a horse riding excursion is probably one of the coolest things to do in Crete with children.

Horse riding is a great activity to do in Crete with children, even if they are beginners. You will ride through the beautiful mountain landscape of Crete, past breathtaking views. You will also take a short break.

• Perfect for: Children aged 8 and above
• Where: 20 minutes south of Heraklion (Google Maps)
• How much time to allow: 2 hours
• Cost: from €60

If the children like horses, a horse riding excursion is probably one of the coolest things to do in Crete with children. On horseback, the little ones can discover Crete from a completely different perspective.

Horse riding is a great activity to do in Crete with children, even if they are beginners. You will ride through the beautiful mountain landscape of Crete, past breathtaking views. You will also take a short break. The tour I recommend here is organised by a horse farm. The animals are really well cared for there.

Labyrinth Park

The Labyrinth Park near Malia is a small, simple theme park focusing on Greek mythology and a really cool destination for a day out in Crete with children.

• Perfect for: Children up to about 14 years old
• How much time to allow: 3-5 hours
• Cost: Adults and children aged 11 and over €12, 4-10 years €10, under 4 free. Extra activities €3 per person.

The admission price includes an adventurous maze that even adults will enjoy. Really cool: if you complete the maze, you get a free round of mini golf for the whole family. With 18 cool holes. However, all other activities in the park cost extra. For €3 each, kids can try archery, mini quad biking, donkey riding, playing in the laser maze and more.

• Location: Labyrinth Park Crete

Primary school children and toddlers in particular will have a lot of fun here. I can imagine that teenagers might find it a bit boring.

Mermaid school for children

A really cool activity in Crete with toddlers, but of course also for slightly older children, is the mermaid school. Yes, you read that right, a school for mermaids and, of course, mermen. Or rather, the little ones can learn how to move like a mermaid. For little Ariel fans, this will probably be the highlight of their family holiday in Crete.

• Perfect for: Children between 4 and 14 years old
• Location: In north-eastern Crete, at Star Beach Waterpark (Google Maps)
• How much time to allow: 20 minutes
• Cost: €20 for 20 minutes

A lesson at the mermaid school for children lasts 20 minutes, during which the kids are given a tail. But you can also buy a whole outfit if you want. You’ll find this somewhat different activity for children in Crete at the pirate ship in Star Beach Waterpark, a 10-minute drive from Malia. Admission to the park is free.

Boat trip with children in Crete

When it comes to what to do in Crete with children, we have another really cool idea: a boat trip! Depending on how old the children are and what they like, there are various tours to choose from. Boat trips in Crete with children vary greatly in price and are very popular, especially in the high season. It’s best to book online in advance to secure your place.

• Perfect for: Various options for children of all ages
• How much time to allow: 1-5 hours
• Cost: €25-140

Recommended tours:

Tour with a glass-bottom boat from Chania

The highlight of this boat tour is, of course, the glass bottom. It allows children to observe the colourful marine life. This tour also includes two stops on two islands.

• Perfect for: Children of all ages
• How much time to allow: 4 hours
• Cost: €35 for adults and children aged 4 and above, infants up to 3 years old are free

The first stop is on the island of Thodorou. Here, the little ones can see Kri Kri goats. The second island is called Lazarette, a great place for swimming. Food is not included on this tour. Only one drink is provided.

Sailing trip with food and all-inclusive drinks from Heraklion

A sailing trip is also an absolute highlight of your holiday with children in Crete. The destination of the tour is the uninhabited Greek island of Dia.

• Perfect for: Children aged 4 and above
• How much time to allow: 5 hours
• Price: €30 for adults and children

Included are a meal and all drinks. There is music on the boat and the ship stops at beautiful bays for snorkelling. This Crete excursion with children will be a real adventure.

We booked our tickets, activities or tours before our trip via the booking platforms Get Your Guide or Viator. This allows you to plan from the comfort of our own home and avoid the hassle of sold-out tickets when we arrive. And you can often cancel your booking free of charge up to 24 hours in advance if things change.

CretAquarium

We know that children always love animals. That’s why the CretAquarium is a really cool indoor activity with children in Crete.

• Perfect for: All ages
• How much time to allow: 1-2 hours
• Cost: Adults €12, 5-17 years €6, up to 4 years free

Opening Hours CretAquarium: Winter (1st Nov-31st Mar) Daily, 9:30 till 16:00 Summer (1st Apr-31st Oct) Daily, 9:30 till 19:00

• Location: CRETAquarium Thalassokosmos

The small aquarium is home to many sea creatures from the Mediterranean, which children can observe at their leisure. However, the absolute highlights are sharks and the turtles. We recommend taking your time when walking through. The CretAquarium cannot be compared to a large SeaLife. If you walk very quickly, you will be through quite quickly.

The aquarium in Crete is a great activity with children, especially on rainy days. CretAquarium is also a great destination for young children.

Crete with Children – Family hotels & Accommodation

In Crete, you are truly spoilt for choice when it comes to finding a nice family hotel for your holiday with children in Crete. This is because there are an incredible number of family-friendly hotels on the island.

Where and what to eat in Crete with kids

Greek food is absolutely brilliant for children as there’s so much that can be picked at and lots of tasty snacks too. We loved picking up souvlaki, wraps filled with potatoes, salad and a sauce of your choice. The children absolutely loved these, they were really cheap and great to eat fast and on the go.

Crete is of course also a great place to pick up olives as they come in a huge variety of flavours from seasonings and spices. Definitely take the time to stop in a traditional Cretan bakery as the selection of biscuits and pastries is mind blowing. Buy a mixed box by the kilo to keep you all going through the trip.

Don’t miss Loukoumades, the honey drenched doughnuts, sooo delicious. We love spanakopita the traditional Greek pie filled with cheese and spinach. For hot meals there’s moussaka which is a must to try in Greece.

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