Greece Road Trip with Kids – Our Family Adventure with 8 Amazing Stops

Greece road trip with kids? Absolutely! If Greece makes you think of island hopping, turquoise-blue water and relaxing beach vacations, you’re probably not alone. For a long time, I associated Greece mainly with its beautiful islands, too – until we packed up our two Minis, rented a car and spent two weeks exploring the country on an unforgettable road trip.

And what can I say? A road trip through Greece with kids is absolutely worth it!

Athens, charming little harbor towns, ancient sites, the beautiful Peloponnese, mountain villages, spectacular coastal roads and finally the breathtaking Meteora monasteries – our trip couldn’t have been more varied.

Along the way, our road trip somehow turned into a little bit of “mountain hopping”: almost every stop rewarded us with another incredible view. Some were simply beautiful, others absolutely breathtaking!

Add two toddlers, a rental car and plenty of Cappuccino Freddo, and you have our perfect family road trip through Greece.

Our Greece Road Trip with Kids at a Glance

Over the course of two weeks, our route took us right across Greece:

Athens → Epidaurus → Nafplio → Monemvasia → Mystras → Olympia/Platanos → Delphi → Volos → Kalambaka/Meteora → Thessaloniki

One thing we particularly liked about this route with young children was that the individual driving stages were very manageable. Most of the time, we spent around two to three hours in the car, which meant we could often time the drives perfectly with our Minis’ afternoon naps.

At the same time, the scenery seemed to change constantly. One moment we were standing among ancient ruins, a little later we were driving along the sea, and the next day we were looking down over Greece from a mountain.

So, if you’re considering a Greece road trip with kids, here we go!

1. Athens with Kids – Where Our Greece Road Trip Begins

Our adventure begins in Athens.

Of course, no visit to the Greek capital would be complete without a trip to the Acropolis. Climbing up with two small children is definitely a bit of a challenge, but for us it was absolutely worth it.

Besides the Acropolis, we discovered another viewpoint in Athens that we loved: Mount Lycabettus.

If you don’t fancy tackling all those steps with children, you can take the funicular instead. Especially with little Minis, it’s definitely the more relaxing option.

No matter how you get to the top, the view over Athens and towards the Acropolis is fantastic.

And just like that, the motto for our entire road trip was born: climb high and enjoy the view!

2. Epidaurus and Nafplio – Ancient Greece Meets a Charming Harbor Town

In Athens, we buckle our two girls into their car seats and finally set off on our actual Greece road trip with kids, heading towards the Peloponnese.

Our first stop is the ancient theater of Epidaurus.

I don’t even want to say too much about it. Just this: when you stand at the very top of the theater and look down over the ancient structure and surrounding landscape, you feel as though you’ve entered another world.

And when an Italian woman suddenly begins softly singing opera from the center of the theater far below, you experience one of those travel moments you probably never forget.

With that wonderful feeling still with us, we continue on to Nafplio.

Nafplio with Kids

Nafplio is a beautiful little harbor town and the perfect place for a leisurely stroll. Our youngest, however, quickly decides what our real destination should be: the playground right by the sea! While our Minis enjoy the swings, the Spaniard and I enjoy coffee and the sea breeze. Sometimes, family vacations really can be that simple.

Palamidi Fortress undoubtedly offers another fantastic view over Nafplio and the Argolic Gulf. But we decide to skip the climb. The time of day and our children make one thing pretty clear: food is the better idea right now.

You have to get your priorities right, after all.

3. Monemvasia with Kids – One of Our Favorite Stops

One of the Spaniard’s Greek colleagues had strongly recommended that we make a quick detour to Monemvasia during our road trip through Greece.What can I say? Thank you, dear, dear colleague! The Spaniard and I unanimously agree – and believe me, that means something – that this is one place you really shouldn’t miss when traveling through the Peloponnese .

. Even our heavenly lunch at Scorpios deserves a perfect ten. The family running the restaurant is incredibly welcoming, our children are genuinely made to feel at home, and not only is the food delicious, but the view from the lilac-colored wooden tables towards the fortress is simply dreamy. I feel as though I’ve stepped straight into one of those impossibly beautiful postcards. Even thinking about it now makes me sigh contentedly. Sitting there with a Greek salad in front of me and turquoise water in the distance, I already know: this is going to be one of the highlights of our trip.

Exploring the Fortress of Monemvasia with Young Children

That feeling only gets stronger when we arrive at our wonderful accommodation, where we have an idyllic view over Monemvasia and its island fortress. Simply gorgeous! It’s the perfect place to relax after wandering around the fortress.

As we stroll through its narrow streets, we discover lots of charming little highlights. Our youngest would probably say the adorable cats were the best part. For me, it’s a tiny café with simple wooden chairs beneath a shady little tree, just before the lighthouse. And this is where my exciting love affair with Cappuccino Freddo begins. It wins over my coffee-loving heart immediately! Walking through the narrow, car-free streets is a very special experience – although I definitely wouldn’t recommend bringing a stroller. Without the little tourist shops, it would almost feel as though we’d traveled several decades back in time. And if I weren’t a mother traveling with two little children, I would probably spend a night inside the fortress, watching the sunset with the Spaniard and a cocktail in my hand. Heavenly!

4. Mystras and Olympia with Kids

Our next planned stop is Olympia. If you’re even remotely interested in sports or the Olympic Games, you really can’t simply drive past it. But before exploring the stadium of the ancient Olympic Games, we stop in Mystras. Here, too, there’s an old fortress waiting to be climbed. It sits beautifully on a mountain and offers lovely views over Mystras and the green valley below. Thanks to our little travel companions, however, we decide on a quick lunch instead of a long and exhausting climb. After all, culture isn’t only about admiring “old stones” – discovering new food counts too!

That evening, we get another spectacular view while having dinner at our hotel in Platanos. Our tiniest Mini uses the opportunity to throw her meatballs onto the floor while surrounded by the most beautiful view over an uninhabited valley. Absolutely delightful! Especially considering that this gives me the opportunity to spend part of dinner admiring the spectacular view of… four table legs. Traveling with children certainly teaches you to see the world from entirely new perspectives.

Exploring Olympia with Kids

The following morning, we follow in the footsteps of the ancient Greek athletes and explore the birthplace of the Olympic Games.When I stop to think about everything that happened here so long ago, I can’t help but feel a little awestruck. Unfortunately, even at 10 a.m. on a beautiful May morning, it’s already incredibly hot on the way to the Olympic stadium. So we move from tree to tree – or rather, from one patch of shade to the next – while each of us carries one of our girls for much of the way. That should be an Olympic sport in itself. And let me tell you: we would definitely make it onto the podium!

5. Delphi with Kids – Between Mountains and Ancient Greece

After Olympia, we leave the beautiful Peloponnese behind and continue towards Delphi.

Much of our route so far takes us along the coast. It’s a beautiful and wonderfully relaxing sight – provided, of course, that you’re not singing a children’s song for the 358th time or trying to fish a desperately needed toy out of some impossible-to-reach crevice in the car.

Welcome to our Greek tour with kids!

Our Ascent in Delphi

Upon arriving in the small, steep mountain village of Delphi, I take a deep breath of the wonderful mountain air, while the Spaniard exhales the breath he had been holding—navigating winding roads with views of sheer drops tends to make my better half feel rather queasy, given his latent fear of heights. …But thanks to the Spaniard, we arrived safely in high-altitude Delphi; after a brief but incredibly steep tour of the village—on foot this time—we were able to enjoy a delicious dinner accompanied by a breathtaking view stretching all the way to the sea.

Afterward, we take it easy, as we have a special climb planned for the next day of our tour of Greece with the kids—an ascent to the Temple of Apollo. The challenge is heightened by the fact that I carry "Little Mini" on my back, while "the Spaniard" hauls "Big Mini" up the mountain—alternating between his shoulders, back, and arms. In fairness, Big Mini manages a good portion of the climb on her own, but eventually, it gets a bit too steep for her in the heat—and being carried in Papa’s arms is certainly much more comfortable! The view that opens up before us—stretching all the way to the famous ruins of Delphi—makes every single drop of sweat worth it! We don't have to tackle anything that can't be set right with a cool bottle of water.

6. Volos with Kids – Time for a Little Break

After our sweaty climb, we first treat ourselves to a delicious lunch – with a view again, of course – before driving towards Volos. However, our destination for the day is not the port city itself, but a hotel in a nearby mountain village. With a pool!

And after the past few days, at least the Spaniard and I feel a rather urgent need for some full-body refreshment. Our older Mini, of course, doesn’t need a reason for that. After all, swimming is always a good idea.

The next morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we drive to Volos and explore the harbor. Here, our older Mini decides that one day she is going to buy us two ships.

I’m going to hold her to that.

After a milkshake for part of the family and – of course – a Cappuccino Freddo for me, our Greece road trip with kids continues to my personal highlight.

7. Meteora with Kids – the Highlight of Our Greece Road Trip with Kids

When we were planning our route at home, one thing was already clear to me: We have to go to Kalambaka to see the Meteora monasteries.

If necessary, I would rearrange our entire route for it. Fortunately, everything fits together wonderfully. As soon as we drive into Kalambaka, the enormous rocks rise up in front of us. We can also see the rock formations from our hotel.

I’m as excited as a little child. And then our little Mini wakes me up at 5:45 the next morning. Just in time for sunrise! For the first time, I’m truly grateful to my little morning alarm siren for that.

Can You Visit Meteora with Small Children?

We spend the morning visiting the Meteora monasteries. While some can be reached via a small bridge, others are reached by uneven stairs overlooking deep abysses. For a moment, we hesitate and wonder whether we really want to attempt the climb with two toddlers and a Spaniard with a slight fear of heights… We grab the adventure by the horns and off we go… Of course we do it! Like James Bond! We climb every monastery site, no matter how steep – and it’s fantastic! In the end, it’s not nearly as bad as we feared, and the climbs are quite manageable with one child in the carrier and the other firmly holding our hand – with a little adrenaline and sweat! But, as seems to be the case throughout our trip, we are rewarded for the effort of the climb with a view – this time a phenomenal one! An absolute must-see on your Greece road trip with kids!

There they are: stone buildings perched on top of the narrowest rock pillars. Some of the monasteries are built to fit the rocks so precisely that there are frightening drops on either side. What an incredible sight! No wonder these monasteries are known as the “floating” monasteries. I can easily imagine how they appear to float when the clouds hang lower or mist moves through the valley… Wonderful! At one monastery, we see the “old” way up… Just the thought of having to climb up that way makes my stomach turn and suddenly makes me feel quite different! The “new” climb already puts your nerves to the test a little, but the “old” one… unthinkable! I am and remain fascinated!

8. Thessaloniki with Kids – the End of Our Greece Road Trip with Kids

Knowing that the Meteora monasteries, along with Monemvasia, are the highlight of our road trip through Greece, we steer our little rental car towards Thessaloniki. Of course, the city has a hard time competing with the highlight we have just seen. Nevertheless, the walk along the harbor is lovely (although the whole time I’m secretly fighting my fears – with no wall or anything similar, I can already see my two girls falling into the restless waters… Phew!), and we enjoy – once again – a Cappuccino Freddo we have grown very fond of up by the fortress. It wouldn’t be our mountain-hopping tour through Greece if we didn’t – once again – drink it while enjoying a far-reaching view over Thessaloniki and the harbor!

I’m not only looking out over Thessaloniki stretching out in front of me, but also looking back on two wonderful weeks with my three favorite people, who have introduced me not only to a wonderful country, but also to a sweet holiday romance – Cappuccino Freddo!

Greece Road Trip with Kids – Our Experience

Before our trip, we naturally wondered how well a road trip through Greece with small children would actually work. For us, it worked surprisingly well.

One big advantage of our route was the manageable driving distances. Most of the time, we were on the road for around two to three hours. Especially with toddlers, we were able to time many of these drives around their afternoon nap.

Nevertheless, I would always plan a Greece road trip with kids differently from a road trip as a couple.

For example, we deliberately skipped individual sights or climbs when the children were tired or when we simply didn’t feel like doing any more. And that is exactly what I would do again. Not every sight has to be ticked off the list. Sometimes the playground by the sea is simply the better destination.

Our Tips for a Greece Road Trip with Kids

Looking back, there are a few things that made our Greece road trip with kids considerably easier.

Don’t Plan Daily Driving Stages That Are Too Long

With our Minis, driving times of around two to three hours worked well. Whenever possible, we combined longer drives with their afternoon nap.

Bring a Child Carrier

I would definitely bring a baby carrier or backpack carrier again when traveling this route with toddlers. Many of our most beautiful experiences involved climbs, stairs or uneven paths. Especially in Monemvasia, Delphi and Meteora, a stroller isn’t practical everywhere.

Have the Courage to Change Your Plans

Mystras is a perfect example: We could actually have visited another castle. But we were hungry and the children didn’t feel like another climb. So we went out to eat instead. And you know what? That was completely fine. A road trip with children becomes more relaxing when not every item on the itinerary absolutely has to happen.

Plan Accommodation with a Pool

After several days full of sightseeing and excursions, our relaxing afternoon by the pool near Volos was exactly what we needed. On a longer road trip with children, I would deliberately plan little breaks like this on hot days.

Don’t Forget Water and Sun Protection

Our visits to Olympia and Delphi in particular showed us how exhausting sightseeing in warm weather can be with small children. Enough water and opportunities to take breaks should therefore definitely be part of the day’s schedule.

Our Favorite Stops on Our Greece Road Trip with Kids

When I look back on our trip today, I find it difficult to name just one favorite place. Monemvasia completely enchanted me with its little streets, fortress and special atmosphere. Meteora was probably the most spectacular experience of our Greece road trip with kids in terms of scenery.

But the little moments are also part of this trip for me: our Minis on a playground right by the sea in Nafplio, meatballs under the table instead of on the plate, a pool after an exhausting day and, of course, my not entirely insignificant love story with Cappuccino Freddo. It was exactly this combination that made our road trip so special for me.

My Conclusion: Is a Greece Road Trip with Kids Worth It?

For us, the answer is very clear: Yes!

Greece surprised us with its incredible variety. During our two-week road trip, we experienced big cities, small harbor towns, ancient sites, mountains, the sea and some truly spectacular landscapes.

And our route worked wonderfully for us even with two small children. Of course, we travel differently with Minis. We might climb one mountain less, but instead suddenly spend an hour at a playground by the sea. We admire historical sites while at the same time knowing pretty much exactly where the nearest shady spot is. But perhaps it is precisely these unplanned moments that make a road trip through Greece with kids so special.

So I can only encourage families who are still considering it to discover Greece beyond the classic beach vacation.

And while you’re there, definitely try a Cappuccino Freddo. Maybe it will steal your heart too.

Yours, Lia!

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Do you have any questions about our Greece road trip with kids?

If you have any questions about our route or our road trip through Greece, feel free to leave them in the comments. I’m always happy to have a friendly exchange with you!