Best Family Beaches in the Ionian Islands
We rank the 12 family-friendly beaches in the Ionian Islands. Gerakas Beach (Greece) comes first with 4.5 / 5, followed by Pefkoulia Beach, Lefkada, Agios Gordios Beach.
The sea reaches about 25 degrees C in season, and most of these beaches are at their best from June to September. 12 of the 12 have easy access, and 2 are hidden gems.
1Gerakas Beach
Zakynthos · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CA sandy bay on the south-east coast of Zakynthos below pale clay cliffs.
2Pefkoulia Beach, Lefkada
Pefkoulia, Agios Nikitas, Lefkada · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °CPefkoulia is a long beach of golden sand and pebbles on the west coast of Lefkada, below steep green hills near Agios Nikitas.
3Agios Gordios Beach
Agios Gordios, Corfu, Ionian Islands · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °CA Blue Flag beach of about 1 km on the west coast of Corfu, backed by steep green cliffs and a rock offshore.
4Dafni Beach, Zakynthos
Dafni, Vasilikos, Zakynthos · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °CDafni is a long sandy beach on the Vasilikos peninsula in the south-east of Zakynthos, close to the Gerakas beach where sea turtles nest.
5Kathisma Beach
Lefkada, Greece · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CA long beach on the west coast of Lefkada with clear blue water, organised sunbeds and beach bars.
6Sidari Beach
Sidari, Corfu · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CSidari on the north coast of Corfu has sandy beaches and a maze of golden sandstone cliffs carved by the sea.
7Xi Beach, Kefalonia
Xi, Paliki, Kefalonia · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °CXi Beach is a long stretch of reddish-gold sand on the Paliki peninsula of Kefalonia, south of Lixouri, backed by low clay cliffs.
8Glyfada Beach
Glyfada, Corfu, Greece · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CA broad golden beach on the west coast of Corfu, backed by wooded hills, with gentle water and a lively summer scene.
9Skala Beach, Kefalonia
Skala, Kefalonia · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °CSkala is a long, gently shelving beach of golden sand and fine pebbles on the south coast of Kefalonia.
10Kalamaki Beach
Laganas Bay, Zakynthos · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °CA long stretch of golden sand on Laganas Bay and part of the protected loggerhead nesting area.
11Laganas Beach, Zakynthos
Laganas, Zakynthos · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °CLaganas is a long beach of fine pale sand at the head of Laganas Bay on Zakynthos, inside a national marine park where loggerhead turtles nest.
12Tsilivi Beach
Zakynthos, Ionian Islands · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CA long sandy beach north of Zakynthos Town with gently shelving, warm water and a lively strip of beach bars and tavernas.
Quick comparison
| # | Beach | Country | Score | Water | Best season | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerakas Beach | Greece | 4.5 | 24 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 2 | Pefkoulia Beach, Lefkada | Greece | 4.5 | 25 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 3 | Agios Gordios Beach | Greece | 4.4 | 25 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 4 | Dafni Beach, Zakynthos | Greece | 4.4 | 25 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 5 | Kathisma Beach | Greece | 4.4 | 24 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 6 | Sidari Beach | Greece | 4.4 | 24 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 7 | Xi Beach, Kefalonia | Greece | 4.4 | 25 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 8 | Glyfada Beach | Greece | 4.3 | 24 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 9 | Skala Beach, Kefalonia | Greece | 4.3 | 25 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 10 | Kalamaki Beach | Greece | 4.2 | 25 °C | May–October | Easy |
| 11 | Laganas Beach, Zakynthos | Greece | 4.2 | 25 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 12 | Tsilivi Beach | Greece | 4.2 | 24 °C | May–October | Easy |
How we picked these beaches
Included when access is rated Easy and the shore is sand or pink sand, which is gentler for children, then ranked by editorial score. See how we rate beaches for the full method.
Frequently asked questions
Which are the top-rated family-friendly beaches in the Ionian Islands?
Our top three are Gerakas Beach (4.5 out of 5), Pefkoulia Beach, Lefkada (4.5 out of 5), Agios Gordios Beach (4.4 out of 5). Scores are editorial ratings from the EuroShores team.
When is the best time to visit these beaches?
Most are at their best from June to September. Water temperatures average about 25 degrees C in season. Each beach page lists its exact season.
Which of these beaches are easiest to reach?
Gerakas Beach, Pefkoulia Beach, Lefkada, Agios Gordios Beach, Dafni Beach, Zakynthos, Kathisma Beach and 7 more have easy access. The others need a walk, stairs or a rougher road, so check the access note on each page.