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In 2024, we spent the UK Easter holidays exploring Greece—a first for us as a family, and honestly, one of the best trips we’ve ever taken.
Travelling in April meant gorgeous spring weather, no crowds, and at times, having entire beaches in Kefalonia all to ourselves. It was the perfect blend of culture, coastlines, and ancient ruins—without the summer heat or prices
This trip was all about food, history, road trips, and stunning beaches. Here’s exactly how we did it:
Days 1–3: Athens & Day Trip to Piraeus
We kicked off our trip in Athens, spending three nights soaking up the city’s ancient sites and buzzing street life. We actually didn’t think we’d love Athens as much as we did but I think Athens is one of the best European capitals we’ve visited.
What we loved:
- Climbing up to the Acropolis and standing in front of the Parthenon – busy at any time I think but it’s a must-do
- Taking in the view of the Acropolis and the sensational sunset view from Philopappos Hill
- The food. We found an incredible place to eat here. Everything on the menu is incredible, you sit on tables on the pavement, it feels a bit random, which is everything I love about being in different cities. It’s also ridiculously affordable, we went three times, ordered too much, ate it all, loved it. We also loved the gyros, obviously.
We also hopped on a short train ride to Piraeus, Athens’ historic port, for a chilled afternoon by the sea. I’m not sure we’d do this again but it was nice to get the train to the coast for a few hours. The train only took 30 mins and we got some delicious seafood for lunch.
Day 4: Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion
We picked up our hire car and cruised down the coast to Cape Sounion, home of the stunning Temple of Poseidon. We weren’t actually able to get into the temple for some reason so we climbed up the opposite hill to get a view from there. It was arguably better seeing from afar and obviously totally free!
We stayed nearby overnight and watched the sunset from the cliffs—absolutely worth it!
Days 5–7: Ancient Corinth & Nafplio
Driving west, we made a stop at Ancient Corinth to see the ruins and the Acrocorinth fortress—very Game of Thrones vibes. Little parenting hack…we didn’t actually go in to see the ruins as many are very visible from the outside. We did, however find a little park opposite the entrance and somewhere to buy ice creams. Sometimes you just have to admit defeat and go with the path of least resistance. As you can see below, though, it’s all pretty visible so we didn’t really miss seeing it.
Then it was on to Nafplio, a gorgeous seaside town with Venetian charm. we LOVED it here. we had a really good place to stay and felt like the town had a really nice friendly, vibrant feel to it.
Nafplio Highlights:
- Hike up to Palamidi Fortress for sweeping views
- Meander through the Old Town
- Enjoy a seafood dinner by the harbour
- More gyros
Day Trip from Nafplio: Epidaurus
From Nafplio, we took a short drive to Epidaurus to visit its renowned ancient theatre. Still used for performances today, the theatre is especially famous for its incredible acoustics—you can hear someone speaking from the stage even in the highest seats. The structure is remarkably well preserved, and exploring it really gives you a sense of the scale and engineering of ancient Greek architecture. It was a great day trip and definitely worth the drive. The kids even enjoyed it!
Days 8–9: Kalamata, Mystras & Ancient Olympia
We continued down to Kalamata—not overly exciting but we wanted to see more of the Peloponnese and it made a great detor between Napflio and Ancient Olympia.
On the way we popped into Mystras, which was really beautiful and totally empty! It’s quite the hike uphill but really worth it. The views were incredible, I am partial to a good view.
We only stayed in Kalamata one night but then carried on up to Olympia. Olympia was predictably pretty busy but still worth a trip. I imagine it would be very hot and very crowded in summer but it was definitely worth it.
Days 10–13: Kefalonia – Beaches, Argostoli & Fiskardo
Time to hit the Ionian Islands! We booked ferry tickets through Direct Ferries about 3 days before sailing and headed to Kefalonia. I imagine you would need to book in advance during the summer months but in April it was almost empty and very easy to be flexible. We stayed in the biggest town on the island, Argostoli. As it was just before the tourist season started, we wanted to stay somewhere we knew would have shops and restaurants open.
Top Kefalonia Moments:
- Myrtos Beach – Dramatic cliffs and turquoise waters
- Antisamos – Secluded and stunning
- Agia Kiriaki beach – deserted, remote and beautiful
- Fiskardo – A lovely harbour village up north
- Turtle spotting in Argostoli harbour
Having a car here was a must. We explored beaches, villages, and viewpoints without needing a plan. The roads were almost deserted so driving was very easy. It was stunning and, for us, a perfect time to visit. We really loved Kefalonia. The only previous trip to Greece I had only been on a package holiday to Crete in 1997 so I had no idea what the Greek islands were really like; now I can’t wait to explore more.
Final Stop: Delphi & Return to Athens
On our way back to Athens, we made one last stop in Delphi. It was more crowded than we expected, but it didn’t really matter. The setting is incredible—steep mountains and sweeping, stunning views. Walking among the ruins, as cheesy as it sounds, you can really feel the history.
For all of the ancient sites, there is a different price for EU and non-EU and the difference s quite significant, especially when paying for five people. Another reason to hate Brexit.
Final thoughts on our Greek road trip
This trip was one of those rare ones that just worked—for all of us. Greece in April was a dream: warm enough for beaches, cool enough for sightseeing, and quiet enough that we never felt rushed or overwhelmed. Travelling with kids can be unpredictable, but Greece made it easy. There was space to slow down, plenty of flexibility, and so many “wow” moments—from ancient ruins to turtle spotting to spontaneous beach stops.
Having a car gave us the freedom to explore at our own pace (and change plans when needed), and the variety—from the culture and history of Athens to the laid-back island vibe of Kefalonia—meant everyone found something they loved. If you’re a family looking for a mix of adventure, education, and relaxation—without the chaos or high prices of peak season—Greece in spring might just be your perfect trip, too
Kitchen Family Travels 