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Family-Friendly Hikes in Greece

373 routes in Greece qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 3.2 km and 76 m (249 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 6.8 km.

That is 55 percent of the 675 routes we map in Greece. They are shorter than the local average, 3.2 km against 12.4 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 76 m (249 ft) against 342 m (1,122 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Family routes here are short, gently graded and interesting enough to keep younger legs moving. Every one is under seven kilometres with limited climbing. Most of these are on the gentler end, which makes the list a good starting point if you are new to the area.

Trails

Easy

Aradena - Aradena gorge (N)

Samaria National Park · Region of Crete

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Agios Ioannis-Kormokopos Cave

Samaria National Park · Region of Crete

Distance
3.1 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
69 m
Typical duration
45 min
  • Cave
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Ag. Ioannis - Kakos Poros

Samaria National Park · Region of Crete

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
27 m
Typical duration
18 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Agios Ioannis-Koules

Samaria National Park · Region of Crete

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
24 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Agios Ioannis-Papakefala

Samaria National Park · Region of Crete

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
17 m
Typical duration
11 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Kroussia-Zarano

Samaria National Park · Region of Crete

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
73 m
Typical duration
48 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Agios Ioannis-Aradena

Samaria National Park · Region of Crete

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
93 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
Easy

Agios Ioannis-Livaniana

Samaria National Park · Region of Crete

Distance
3.6 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
79 m
Typical duration
52 min
Easy

Andros Routes 8a

Aegean · Greece

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
110 m
Typical duration
40 min
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

M1 Apokalypsis

Aegean · Greece

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
176 m
Typical duration
39 min
  • Lake
  • Forest
  • Cave
Easy

KAS 05

Region of Crete · Greece

Distance
5.1 km
/ 3.1 mi
Elevation gain
111 m
Typical duration
1 hr 13 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Apollo Trail 1A

Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian · Greece

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
194 m
Typical duration
48 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Ithaca Trail 01B

Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian · Greece

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
105 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Lake
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Kassos Trail 4

Aegean · Greece

Distance
4.9 km
/ 3.1 mi
Elevation gain
1 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Kassos Trail 5

Aegean · Greece

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
115 m
Typical duration
50 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Easy

M3 Kastelli

Aegean · Greece

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
114 m
Typical duration
45 min
  • Lake
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Kythnos Trail 02-2

Aegean · Greece

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
1 m
Typical duration
46 min
  • Coastal
  • Cave
  • Waymarked route
Easy

M41 Valley of the Watermills

Attica · Greece

Distance
5.0 km
/ 3.1 mi
Elevation gain
115 m
Typical duration
1 hr 13 min
  • Waterfall
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Path Cave Korikio Andro

Thessaly and Central Greece · Greece

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
73 m
Typical duration
48 min
  • Cave
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Menites Circular Route

Aegean · Greece

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
90 m
Typical duration
44 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Andros Routes 2a

Aegean · Greece

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
115 m
Typical duration
22 min
  • Waterfall
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Andros Routes 11a

Aegean · Greece

Distance
3.4 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
200 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Andros Routes 15

Aegean · Greece

Distance
4.9 km
/ 3.1 mi
Elevation gain
205 m
Typical duration
1 hr 20 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Andros Routes 8

Aegean · Greece

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
20 m
Typical duration
48 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Hydra Trail 1A

Attica · Greece

Distance
5.1 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
180 m
Typical duration
1 hr 20 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Ithaca Trail 12

Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian · Greece

Distance
5.3 km
/ 3.3 mi
Typical duration
1 hr 6 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Kassos Trail 7

Aegean · Greece

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
24 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Kea Trail 01 - Leon

Aegean · Greece

Distance
5.7 km
/ 3.6 mi
Elevation gain
155 m
Typical duration
1 hr 26 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Kea Trail 04 - Drys

Aegean · Greece

Distance
5.6 km
/ 3.5 mi
Elevation gain
60 m
Typical duration
1 hr 15 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Kea Trail 08 - Sirios

Aegean · Greece

Distance
3.4 km
/ 2.1 mi
Typical duration
43 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Kythnos Trail 02-1

Aegean · Greece

Distance
3.6 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
1 m
Typical duration
45 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Kythnos Trail 03

Aegean · Greece

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
20 m
Typical duration
50 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Kythnos Trail 04

Aegean · Greece

Distance
5.0 km
/ 3.1 mi
Elevation gain
185 m
Typical duration
1 hr 19 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Kythnos Trail 05

Aegean · Greece

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
70 m
Typical duration
50 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Kythnos Trail 07

Aegean · Greece

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
1 m
Typical duration
47 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Aradena - Aradena gorge (N)Samaria National Park1.1 km25 m17 minEasyOctober to May
Agios Ioannis-Kormokopos CaveSamaria National Park3.1 km69 m45 minEasyOctober to May
Ag. Ioannis - Kakos PorosSamaria National Park1.2 km27 m18 minEasyOctober to May
Agios Ioannis-KoulesSamaria National Park1.1 km24 m16 minEasyOctober to May
Agios Ioannis-PapakefalaSamaria National Park0.8 km17 m11 minEasyOctober to May
Agios Ioannis-Sellouda-Agios PavlosSamaria National Park4.3 km95 m1 hr 3 minEasyOctober to May
Kroussia-ZaranoSamaria National Park3.3 km73 m48 minEasyOctober to May
Agios Ioannis-AradenaSamaria National Park4.2 km93 m1 hr 1 minEasyOctober to May
Agios Ioannis-LivanianaSamaria National Park3.6 km79 m52 minEasyOctober to May
Agkistri Trail 05 - The LakeAttica4.4 km128 m1 hr 7 minEasyOctober to May

If you only have time for one, start with Aradena - Aradena gorge (N), Agios Ioannis-Kormokopos Cave, Kroussia-Zarano. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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