Tips for Traveling to Greece with a Toddler and Baby
Best Places to Visit in Greece with a Baby
There’s no bad place to visit with kids in Greece. While some places such as Santorini may seem like honeymoon destinations, it’s actually more kid-friendly than you think.
I think every single person told me to skip Mykonos with a baby as it is a party destination, but frankly… it’s been super nice.
The only not-so-toddler-friendly place was the Acropolis, but it doesn’t mean it was impossible to visit. We had fun, we just didn’t know how to plan it right beforehand (don’t worry, I’ll help you with that).
Whether it’s self-catered apartments you’re looking for, or just want to chill at hotels, and explore the food scene, Greece is very baby-friendly and I’m definitely looking forward to returning and exploring it more, now with two toddlers instead of one.
We went to Greece when Dylan was 14 months old so he was basically a toddler but still a bit of a baby in diapers, with a binky in his mouth. He was walking at the time, but falling as it was his specialty.
Greece Itinerary with a Toddler
Where can you go in Greece with a baby? I would say that every island can be a child-friendly Greek island. Most families head to Crete, Rhodes, or Naxos the most.
While these might be considered the best Greek islands with a baby, we opted for a common route: Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, and Zakynthos, as I’ve already been to Crete and Rhodes before.
The only island we decided to skip last minute was Milos. While it’s awesome, most of the activities were pretty inaccessible for babies and toddlers so we left it for another trip when kids are older.
Every single place we visited in Greece was very kid-oriented. We opted for hotels as we wanted the amenities of housekeeping and services if we needed them, but in Santorini we had an apartment with a small kitchenette (never cooked there) mainly because I was set on the location.
All restaurants had high chairs (even a kebab stand offered us one) and some (especially in Zakynthos) had a play area. Hotels usually had a shallow area in the pool for kids to play. There were other parents taking kids to a fancy restaurant in Mykonos and it was never an issue – in fact, both waiters and clients played with Dylan a lot.
What Can Toddlers Do in Greece?
Toddlers can be easily fascinated with simple things, so even a simple ferry ride was exciting for a small bub. The Greeks adore children.
We explored a lot of ancient ruins and Dylan seemed pretty interested as everything was big and impressive to him.
We spent some time at beaches and let him play in hotel pools to cool down and have fun. He wasn’t the biggest fan of beaches at this stage, so in those places, we tried to find some playgrounds nearby and it was possible everywhere really.
Restaurant hopping was a hit. Dylan was hooked on olives which we could order anywhere. If he was fussing there was always something kids-friendly like french fries, pasta, or bread. Your toddler won’t go hungry in Greece for sure.
Mykonos with Baby or Toddler
Mykonos is a beautiful place families can enjoy, despite its reputation as a crazy party spot. There are lots of things to do with a baby and toddler.
Walking around town was nice and easy as you pass by busting boutiques and restaurants. You can watch sunsets on the promenade and let the kids play with friendly pelicans. Dylan had a blast in Mykonos running around and admiring everything while saying hi to people.
Mykonos is pretty flat, so we were able to ride with a stroller everywhere (full-size American stroller like Uppababy Vista won’t fit in narrow streets and through some doors, but no issues with Babyzen Yoyo – it fit barely, but did fit).
All baby products like diapers and wipes were widely available at stores. Every single restaurant we went to had high chairs.
We even went to the famous Cavo Tagoo with the little one as it’s actually kids-friendly.
We took buses to nearby beaches as we left renting a car for another island, but it wasn’t an issue. We always got a spot.
Remember that Mykonos is windy in the summer months, so you might want to bring a blanket for the evenings.
Santorini with Baby or Toddler
Santorini can be toddler-friendly. We weren’t the only ones with a toddler there and keep in mind there are also locals living there with their kids, so it’s not impossible.
We almost never travel with a carrycot, as most places (hotels, Airbnbs) provide cribs. Santorini was no different. At home, Dylan was already in a toddler bed, but it was easier to keep him contained on our trip to Greece.
There are a few things to plan when traveling with a toddler or baby to Santorini. The town is full of cobblestones and stairs but there are also areas that have flat strolls with only a few steps, which gives you two options: either bring a baby carrier or bring a small lightweight stroller.
It was hot when we visited during the summer so we opted for both, but we were completely fine with Babyzen Yoyo stroller almost exclusively in Santorini. If we only brought a carrier it would have been a nightmare having to drag a sweaty baby on top of the sweaty yourself.
With a stroller in Santorini, we could put the toddler for a nap when he was tired and strap him when we wanted to take photos or quickly enter the store. We simply folded the stroller where there were stairs in a few seconds and carried it on the shoulder. It was MUCH easier than visiting Matera with a baby.
The stroller was absolutely awesome at restaurants as we just fed him in a stroller where they had no high chairs (I’d say at least 50% of places offered them). There were plenty of flat areas for the stroller to ride on in both Oia and Fyra.
Beaches in Santorini are full of stones, so not all kids will like them but ours hates sand so it was actually better for him. Bring water shoes if your toddler is walking.
We booked a super kid-friendly boat tour (what kid doesn’t like motion?) and we got to swim in the volcanic part as well. It’s totally doable and fun with young kids.
Athens with a Baby or Toddler
We spent a few days in Athens due to flight schedules and we all loved it.
The big bonus of having a baby with us was that we didn’t need to wait in line to the Acropolis, as families skip the line. Acropolis wasn’t the most toddler-friendly place, but we brought a harness with us, just in case – might have been a specific case because Dylan loves running away. We would have been better off with a carrier.
At Acropolis, we had to leave our stroller in a stroller area at the main ticket office which took us a while to find – I recommend checking the exact location of this entrance beforehand. If we pre-booked our tickets we’d be able to enter anywhere so I recommend doing that.
I still recommend bringing it with you if you’re planning on exploring the town that day. If you want to cool off, head to Acropolis Museum next for plenty of AC.
Panathenaic Stadium was a big hit for Dylan. As a new walker, he kept running down the track, falling and laughing and kept running again. It was a scene we’ll never forget so I highly recommend visiting.
Street cats were totally amazing for a toddler and restaurants always took care of us as a family. Definitely don’t skip Athens on your trip to Greece with a toddler.
Zakynthos with a Baby or Toddler
We rented a car for our entire stay in Zakynthos, as otherwise, it would be too tough to get around. Driving in Greece was easy and the roads were great.
Zakynthos is full of kids and families so most hotels and restaurants even have small play areas
We visited the famous shipwreck beach viewpoint. While we were visiting the path was still open. We carried our son and the stroller so we had a spot to strap him while we took photos as I didn’t trust him not to wander away which would have been super unsafe.
Car Seats in Greece
Greece car seat laws say that while you need to have your child in a car seat in a private car you don’t need a car seat for a taxi.
We encountered zero problems when using public transportation with a baby. Whether it was a taxi or public bus, it was pretty easy and drivers always made sure that we were comfortable and so was the child.
We didn’t need to bring our own car seat, but we rented a car for our entire stay in Zakynthos so we traveled with WayB Pico.
Baby Products and Diapers in Greece
We were able to buy anything we needed to buy for the baby in Greece. There was a selection of diapers, even in the smallest store on the islands. Always a few types of wipes and baby food.
The only thing we couldn’t really find was apple juice that our son loves to drink and it took him a few days to get used to the “tropical mix” juice we could find in Greece. But that’s really not an issue at all.
Bringing Babies to Restaurants in Greece
Babies in Greece eat whatever you eat. I never saw any kids’ menus, but we have a rule of feeding our kids whatever we eat when we travel. Everyone always found a high chair or brought more bread, or anything to make the toddler happy.
At the end of the 2-week trip, Dylan was pretty much Greek with the way he ate and always wanted to order more olives, Greek salad, and bread with oil.
Do you have any questions about traveling to Greece with a baby or toddler?
HI Anna, my wife and I are REALLY keen to visit Milos with our 10 month old. You mention it’s quite inaccessible with young children. Our main drawcard is Sarakiniko. Any tips, thoughts, concerns? Thanks
I’m usually a firm believer that everything can be done with a baby, but Sarakiniko would be an exception. I wouldn’t do Sarakiniko with a baby or child under 3.5 years if your child is mature, so realistically 5+, unless you want to have a nightmare of a trip. It’s a beautiful place, but there’s really nothing in Sarakiniko, just cliffs which are gorgeous and fantastic for cliff jumping but obviously not with a baby. The shallow section is really tiny and very crowded. At 10 months your baby might want to move so sitting in a carrier while you roam the rocks doesn’t sound very fun (and not all parents will be comfortable walking around those cliffs with a baby in a carrier), not to mention having to bag all the dirty diapers to bring back because there are no facilities. It’s definitely worth a visit, but unelss you really want to stop there for like an hour I wouldn’t recommend.
Hi Anna, thank you for the detailed write-up. Did you spot any diaper changing facilities while visiting Athens and the islands of Greece? Thank you in advance.
Hmmm… there were some changing tables at the airport and if I’m not mistaken there was one at the museum in Athens, but I’m not even 100% sure about that one. Always have a changing mat (something like this) so you can change the baby on a random bench or your own knees in a toilet. Alternatively, in a stroller 🙂
Did you rent a car? And if so, did you travel with car seats?
Yes, we rented a car in Zakynthos! In other places we used taxis and public buses. We brought out own car seat (WayB Pico is the one we use for travel).
Do you have good itinerary for athens for a few days? We are about to travel with my toddler and are nervous as to how she will adjust to the time and curious what we can do with her day to day.
I haven’t had time to write it all up yet, but my husband did on his blog: https://expertvagabond.com/athens-things-to-do/ (that’s all we did in 3 days, then just chilled and walked around the last day). No worry, kids are super adjustable 🙂
thanks for your blog Anna, i found it very useful. I am planning a trip to Crete in June with my partner and baby who will be just over 1 years old. We have never been on holiday with our baby before and wonder whether taxi’s have car seats you can book easily? Do you have any recommendations of areas to stay in Crete that is easily accessible to walk into town with a stroller?
No, taxis don’t come with car seats normally, but they’re also exempt from car seat rules keeping your baby in your lap in the back seat is the common practice. It’s this way anywhere you go really, it’s super rare to book taxis with car seats honestly so most opt for renting a car or just holding the baby.
Hersonnisos would be your best bet because it’s easily walkable.
Hi Anna,
We think of visiting Greece this year with our baby boy, he will be 16 months old. I wonder how did you travel between all this destinations?
Did your baby adjust well to changes of hotels every few days?
Before Greece we traveled a ton with our son, so he’s been pretty used to changing hotels. He’s now almost 4 and loves hotels 😀
We traveled by plane to Athens, then by plane to Mykonos and then by ferry to Santorini from there. Then from Santorini to Zakynthos by plane again.
Hi Anna,
Thanks for writing this post, very helpful! I was wondering what boat trip you did in Santorini? All the ones I’m looking at are 5 hours+ which feels too long for my 11 month old, thanks!
We did the 5 hour boat, but ours was a private one so I’m pretty sure we finished around 4.5 hours. It takes a while to go snorkeling in the hot spring and get there, put everyone and a boat and so on.
Hi Anna! Thank you for the write-up! very insightful –
I’m currently in Greece with my 21-month-old, but struggling with the heat at certain hours of the day… That means only able to go out after 7 pm to the playgrounds and outdoor areas… Making playtime followed by dinner a very late affair for the small one, messing up the toddler’s schedule as a result… Did that happen to you? Any tips?
We didn’t have that issue to be honest with you. Mostly because we were all used to heat and I remember playground in Santorini had local kids in the afternoon, but we also never followed any strict routines as we travel a ton and also lived in Italy where kids are out and about late, so changing it up wasn’t an issue. Whether the kids went to bed at 8pm or 11pm and/or slept in the stroller at dinner it didn’t matter, same with naps on the go – kids always napped whenever they were tired, not because it was nap time. Basically trained them that way because otherwise it would be a mess any time we travel. I will say follow the child and don’t stress about schedules. It takes practice, but eventually, the child will become more flexible and it will be less stressful for everyone.
This is a very helpful post – thank you! We are traveling to Mykonos, Paros and Santorini soon with our almost 2 year old. We just bought the Wayb car seat. Did you have any issues installing in your rental car and taxis? And overall are you happy with it?
We haven’t been to Paros so can’t speak for that part. But overall it depends. In Mykonos we took a taxi/shuttle from the ferry port to the hotel (there was no other option) and it wasn’t possible to instal a carseat because the shuttle was full and baby had to be a lap baby. Then, heading to the airport we had a private taxi and it was fine to install. Then the rest was either walking or public bus to the beach (on which baby must sit as a lap baby), but we used the car seat for the part to the airport. In Santorini we used one taxi from the airport and one going back and if I remember correctly going from the airport it wasn’t possible to install anything because there was not possible to sit in the front and we were obviously 3 people so no space. Realistically we were only able to use it in our rental car in Zakynthos and no issues with that.
WayB has pros and cons. It’s great for travel, but not super comfortable on long rides for sleeping. I wrote a full review here: https://annainthehouse.com/wayb-pico-car-seat-review/
We are thinking of travelling to Athens, Santorini, and Crete with our three month old baby. We were only going to stay in Athens for one day and spend the majority of our time in Santorini 2-3 nights and Crete 4-5 nights. Do you have any tips for us with our three month old? We are hoping he stays healthy and don’t have much information on medical facilities in the islands. Any tips on activities that would be easy for us? We are planning to go at the end of October.
I never worried about medical facilities anywhere over the years honestly, doctors are everywhere in case something happens 🙂
Hello! We are thinking of possibly taking our 14 mo in August for a wedding in Mykonos. Any tips for hotels to stay at while there? Or Airbnbs? Thanks!
They will all be very welcoming to little kids, so anything you think that suits you best 🙂
Hello, I’m planning to go to Greece for a wedding at the end of august. We will travel to Athens and Santorini coz the wedding will be at Santorini. I have two toddlers 6 and 4yrs. Obviously we can not carry stroller coz they are too old for that so we think to bring a cart I stead but seeing your post it won’t be convient to carry it. What do you suggest? Athens we think to take public transport and Santorini will rent a car. Thank you
For a 4 and 6 year old I’d say nothing to be honest. It would be extremely inconvenient in Santorini. For Athens you could use it, but maybe something like Dream on Me “stroller” between both of them.
Hi Anna. Thanks for keeping this blog- so useful! We are thinking of going to Crete, Naxos and Mykonos in July. We will have a 3yo and 9 month old. Both used to travelling and pretty easygoing kids- we’ve always travelled by moving around a lot. We’ve always took a small travel stroller with us on holidays but now we have 2 kids are trying to work out whether we are best to take a double or a single or possibly 2 travel strollers. Did you find you ate out lots in the evening? What sort of time do people tend to eat? We like a stroller as they’ll both fall asleep out and we are left to enjoy a nice dinner while they sleep in the stroller, but wonder if it’s too much hassle with strollers in Greece? Would you advice minimal luggage on ferry’s travelling between islands or does it not matter so much? Also you mentioned you found high chairs most places? Do you think that would be true on each of these islands? Thanks!
Hi!
We ate out every night in Greece. People tend to eat around 8-9pm, because it’s hot during the day you most people let the kids run around before. I’d say if you go to a restaurant at 7:30pm you might be the only weird person there and kitchen might not even be fully open. Kids will just adapt to this late nights and then napping in the middle of the day, don’t worry! 🙂 Definitely recommend a stroller for this exact reason, you might need to carry it up and down the stairs, but that’s not a big deal with a lightweight one.
High chairs honestly will be a hit or miss anywhere. We usually got a high chair, but quite often there was only one available so we got our kids used to eating without a high chair from like 1.5 years old and in the worst cdase scenario earlier they just ate sitting in the stroller or our lap.
For the WayB pico car seat did you need a locking clip?
If you need a locking clip you need to message the company and they’ll send you one 🙂
I don’t recommend Mykonos with a non walking baby, lots of hills, narrow streets no side walks, I couldn’t wait to get out of there with my 11 month old, it was honestly scary pushing a stroller. I recommend Naxos with babies, lovely beach, shallow water and much more family friendly… also much more authentic Greek food