If you’re dreaming of whisking your family away this year, hoping for sun cream blobs on noses and hearing your children laugh; enjoying the kind of experiences with your loved one you know they’ll remember forever, Crete is the perfect destination. With an abundance of beautiful beaches, incredible culture and history that even your little ones won’t find boring, amazing food and plenty of things to do, you’re sure to have a fantastic time.
But making sure you have the right, child-friendly accommodation for your Greece family vacation is just as important as where you visit and what you do. You don’t want to feel cramped or restricted when you’re trying to build memories with your family. That’s why we suggest booking a villa.
Why choose a villa for a Greece family vacation?
When you’re planning your family vacation, their safety and happiness is priority. That’s why, when it comes to accommodation, choosing somewhere where your children can have the time of their lives in a home away from home, is essential. Giving them the freedom to explore a private, secure garden, and have a splash in a private pool, is much better than navigating the shared facilities any hotel can offer.
Furthermore, you may be tempted to choose a luxury, bespoke tour with pre-arranged accommodation and trips for your family. However, selecting a villa offers you the freedom and choice that you simply cannot get anywhere else. You decide where you go and when, and when the children need to take a break from excursions. Your plans can change as and when you see fit, rather than adhering to a strict schedule created by someone who doesn’t understand the unique needs and requirements of your family.
But… are you thinking it might be easier said than done to work out which villas provide a child-friendly experience, with everything included to create a safe, memorable vacation? Never fear! We have done the leg-work for you and selected some of our favorite hand-picked villas in Crete, which will be perfect for your Greece family vacation.
Our picks for family-friendly villas in Greece
Our top family villas are based in Crete, which is a beautiful, long and thin island located South of the Greek mainland. With plenty of beautiful views and dreamy beaches, read on to find out more about our Cretan family-friendly properties.
1. Sky Beachfront Villa, 6 Bedroom – Crete
Your kids are sure to have childhood memories of bright blue skies and crystal clear oceans, with a stay at the Sky Beachfront Villa, which lies around an hour’s drive west of the capital of Crete – Heraklion. This villa comes equipped with everything you might want on your holiday, including a private pool, a terrace where you can relax in the evenings once the kids have gone to sleep, with incredible views over the shore, and plenty of bedrooms so everyone can have their own space. We love this villa for the family-friendly vacation, as it comes with outdoor playground equipment for the younger children, so they can let their imaginations run wild.
Furthermore, this villa is in a fantastic spot. The shore is only a few minutes walk away, and is close to the local village of Skaleta, which offers plenty of amenities including restaurants and a market. This villa truly is perfect for families who want everything on their doorstep, for the ultimate in stress-free vacations.
2. Villa Eolos, 3 Bedroom – Crete
The Villa Eolos is an absolutely stunning vacation home your family will remember forever. Located high up, this villa offers views over the blue Mediterranean for miles and miles. Can your children spot the magical island of Dia in the distance?
Wile away the evenings in the beautiful pool surrounded by the lush, shimmering ocean, or kick-back on the sun loungers knowing your kids are having the time of their lives – and don’t forget to stick around to watch the sky blaze at sunset! This villa also comes complete with a small, indoor playroom, which is perfect for your little ones when they tire of the sun. When it’s time to venture out of the villa, you are located in the sought after location of Agia Pelagia, which offers several beaches within good driving distance.
3. Villa Avra, 6 Bedroom – Crete
The Villa Avra is a truly unique vacation home, built in a warm, orange stone that lights up to glow against the navy blue sky at dusk. You can relax on the terrace to take in the beautiful views of the surrounding area, and enjoy a dip in your own private pool, which also offers a shallow section for your little ones to safely play in. We love this villa for families, because inside, this villa boasts a game room, complete with billiards and table football!
But the games room isn’t the best bit about this villa (yes, really!). The Villa Avra is located in the stunning area of Rethymno, which lies just over an hour’s drive West of Heraklion, close to the beach. In fact, it is so close to the beach that you simply need to open your front door, and you are there! Enjoy easy and immediate access to a beautiful, golden beach, for a morning dip, an evening stroll, or a whole day basking in the Greek sunshine, for an absolutely unforgettable vacation with your family.
4. Villa Golden Crest, 3 Bedroom – Crete
The Villa Golden Crest is located a half hour drive East of Heraklion on the island of Crete. It is an extraordinarily luxurious villa, with a serene infinity pool, thoughtfully designed white and stone exterior, and a sumptuous, elegant interior with open brick work and classy, yet homely, colour schemes. Outside, the villa also offers beautiful gardens your little ones can explore, as well as a children’s play area. There is outdoor dining and a barbeque available, so you don’t have to go back inside if you don’t want to!
The Villa Golden Crest is a great option for those hoping to stay in one place and enjoy a relaxing holiday without needing to travel far, as you will be located close to the Hersonissos resort. Hersonissos offers shops and restaurants within walking distance of your vacation home. There are also plenty of beautiful beaches located nearby too, so this villa really does offer everything you could hope for from a Greece family vacation.
5. Thalassa Beachfront Villa, 4 Bedrooms – Crete
Another beautiful villa located in the popular area of Skalata, Rethmyno, which is approximately an hour’s drive West from Heraklion. Our absolute favorite thing about this villa is it’s location. Open the front door, and step straight out onto the golden sand of the popular Skaleta beach. In fact, the Thalassa Beachfront Villa is so close to the beach, that you could quite easily rest on the terrace and keep an eye on your older children, who would be only metres away as they play in the sand. Your villa occupies a prime position for easy access to the shore no matter the time of day, as well as all the local amenities in Skaleta.
On the property, you will find your own private pool, complete with little slides and other equipment for toddlers and young children. Inside, the décor is warm, charming and welcoming, a real home-away-from-home that you and your family can relax and unwind in.
6. Villa Aclando, 3 Bedrooms – Crete
The Villa Aclando is a beautiful, sand-coloured villa located close to the popular area of Rethymno, and lies around an hour and twenty minute drive from Heraklion. Though it is more inland than some of our other properties, it is still only a ten minute drive to the sandy, golden stretches of the coast, and you can benefit from the more quiet, tranquil scenery around you. You are also only a five minute walk away from the nearest supermarket, so ensuring the kitchen is well-stocked for your family is nice and easy.
This villa comes with a beautiful pool and large garden, where you are free to spend your days basking in the Crete sunshine. You can also enjoy a spot of table tennis, and the little ones can make use of the small children’s playground on the lawn. There is a large, covered dining area with a beautiful, built-in barbeque, where you can cook up a storm each evening. Inside, the décor is warm and charming, and the rooms offer relaxing views over the surrounding olive trees.
7. Villa Apollo, 3 Bedrooms – Crete
Located in Agia Pelagia, and with elevated, panoramic views of the surrounding area and far-reaching sea, the Villa Apollo is one of the best places to stay in Greece with family. It is a pretty, welcoming property surrounded by lush greenery, with a large, private pool with a separate section for children to safely use, a patio with ample space to stretch out, and a stunning outdoor area where you can take your meals. You can also choose to dine on the property’s terrace, as you gaze out at the glittering ocean. When you’re ready to hit the beach with your family, the pretty beach of Psaromoura is located nearby, complete with sunbeds and beautiful rock formations reaching out to sea. If you are bringing a car, there are plenty more beaches nearby for you to explore.
Our favorite thing about this property, and the main reason why it is featured on our list of family-friendly villas, is the incredible amenities on offer. A hybrid tennis court and basketball court adjoin the property, so if your children aren’t tired after a long day of swimming and exploring the local beach, they certainly will be after a game or two!
8. Villa Lygaria, 3 Bedrooms – Crete
Villa Lygaria is one of our most aesthetically pleasing properties in Crete, with a stunning white and pink exterior that stands out proudly in front of the deep blue of the sky. A shimmering, crisp pool sits within the outdoor patio, surrounded by sun beds, and by a beautiful lawn complete with flowers and greenery. There is also a stunning built-in barbeque available for your use, with plenty of scenic spots to sit and enjoy your meals. Inside, the decor is rustic and traditional, so you will feel like you are truly getting an authentic, Greek experience.
This is a fabulous place to whisk the family away on holiday, as its stunning design and beautiful, rural backdrop is certainly one to remember. Furthermore, the fantastic position of this villa means you are 100m from Lygaria beach, which lies less than a half an hour drive West of Heraklion. There are also plenty of tavernas, bars, and a mini market available here, as well as more beaches, each more beautiful than the last, to explore along the Cretan coast.
9. Villa Eleni, 3 Bedrooms – Crete
Also located in the ever-popular area of Rethymno, this classic Greek villa is a sand-coloured property, surrounded by beautiful, flower-dotted gardens and nestled amongst ancient olive groves. The outside offers ample space, with a private pool with separate shallow section for children and plenty of sunny spots to put your sun lounger. There are some beautiful dining spots with views over the ocean, as well as a barbeque free for your use. To keep the kids happy (and the adults too!) there is an outdoor pool table, and table tennis available for hours of entertainment.
This property is well situated for access to the local, stunning beach, Adelianos Kampos, with a long stretch of deeply golden sand and sun beds for hire. There are also a variety of water sports available in the local area for the more adventurous families.
10. Villa Karteros, 5 Bedrooms – Crete
The Villa Karteros is perfect for larger families, with 5 bedrooms and sleeping 11 people. It is a beautiful, bright gem situated amongst lush, green surroundings, including several large palm trees besides the private pool. Complete with outdoor dining spots, covered built-in barbeque area, sun loungers, manicured gardens and with views of the ocean in the distance, this is the perfect villa for a safe, relaxing holiday with your family. The décor on the inside is just as warm as the villa’s appearance on the outside. Expect cosy and comfortable rooms, a homely kitchen, and beautiful, wooden ceilings in some places.
Not only is Villa Karteros the perfect, comfortable place for your family to rest and enjoy their meals, but it is in a fantastic location too. Lying near the village or Karteros, which is a fifteen to twenty minute drive East of Heraklion, you have easy access to several beaches, including the beautiful Karteros beach, as well as an abundance of activities for all the family to enjoy nearby, including horse riding, and a variety of water sports.
Looking to book a child-friendly villa for a Greece family vacation?
Villas truly are the way to go if you are looking for a relaxing vacation you can enjoy on your own terms, with no stringent itineraries, full flexibility, and a real home-away-from-home where all of your loved ones can relax and really make the most out of their quality time together.
We hope you have found something that caught your eye in our list of Crete villas, perfect for a family vacation in Greece. If not, we do have plenty more on offer. Make sure you check out the full list of our hand-picked and personally checked villas, and find the perfect home for you and your family.
