Beautiful Andros is the second biggest northernmost island (374 km2) in the Cyclades island group. Andros is very different from the other Cycladic islands. The locals often call Andros “Rock”, both due to its rocky coastline and the islets surrounding it. Andros is unique because of its rich nature, its particular soil morphology, its unexpected green areas with springs and waterfalls, its medieval castles, and ancient monuments.
Adros island with Kids
Andros Island is a great family destination. The island has the advantage of being touristy enough to have organized infrastructure and facilities but without being commercial or loud. There are many beautiful green beaches and villages in a quiet and relaxed ambient.
The three towns on Andros are different and unique too: the port is located in the friendly town of Gavrio (from Athens you can take the ferry boat to Andros leaving from the ports of Piraeus, Rafina, and Lavrio), Batsi is very cosmopolitan and Ándros’ capital, also called Chora, is classy and sophisticated. In the Chora you will find high end boutiques, art galleries and excellent restaurants.
Andros has a vibrant cultural life and organizes cultural evenings and events throughout the year. The stately capital and its amount of cultural offerings truly set Andros apart from other islands. Andros Island with kids has been one of my favorite holidays in Greece.
Family Friendly Beaches on Andros
A hot summer in Andros island with the kids is mostly spent on the beach. In Andros are beaches for every taste. Some are organized and crowded, some are rocky and isolated. Our favourite beaches in Andros are:
- St. Peter’s beach club and surf school On Board at St. Peters beach: This big organized blue flag beach is sandy with shallow crystal clear turquoise waters. It reminds me of a tropical beach in the Caribbean. St. Peter’s Beach Club is very well organized with comfortable beach chairs, good service, a pleasant bar with music, a baby changing area, a lifeguard, and water sports. The distance between the chairs and umbrellas is comfortable and the children had much space to play and swim. Even on windy days, this beach is still safe.
- Kolona beach club in Batsi: It is located on the side of the Batsi, away from the crowds and noise. A charming little bay, a small blue flag beach with little wooden beach houses to relax in. Me and the kids loved these. The beach club serves drinks and snacks.
- Fellos or the ‘Beach of the Cork’: This big beach combines fine sand with pebbles. It is not organized but there are taverns and trees for shade (and for climbing!)
Other nice beaches on Andros island kids are Ag. Marina, Ag. Kyprianos, Chyrsi Akti, and Ateni beach. On Ateni beach you will find a beautiful traditional chapel. Ahla is nice too because it is at a nature reserve. But this beach is not organized. With young children, it is best to visit it by boat from the Chora. Chrysi Akti.
Tips for eating on Andros
- To Steki tou Andrea: This tavern is located right on Fellows Beach and is great for a seafood lunch or dinner after a long day at the beach.
- Balkoni tou Aigaiou: After a day visiting the mountains there is no better place to celebrate the summer than the ‘Balcony of the Aegean’ (Mpalkoni tou Aigaiou) in the mountain village of Ano Aprovato. No better place to watch the sunset than from this location. The family that owns the restaurant also has a farm and many of the vegetables and meat are their own grown.
- Thiriotrofeio: This restaurant at the port town serves Greek food with a twist and delicious homemade desserts and pies. The kids loved their version of French fries. I much liked the lentil salad. The design of the restaurant is also worth mentioning with a mix of hip art and vintage decoration. We loved the children’s table outside on the square with toys for even the smallest kids. They also have a large selection of games for bigger children. Thiriofrofeio is nice for coffee in the morning, or ouzo with meze in the afternoon.
- Ta Skalakia: The name of this restaurant in the Chora means ‘steps’ or ‘stairs’. The outside tables are located on narrow white stairs. The gardens, church, and colorful lights next door created a fairytale-like atmosphere. Inside, the tavern looks like a museum, with a rich collection of bottles, pots, and pans in all shapes and colors. My kids could not get enough of the colorful collection of soap bars in the restrooms. The menu has a few choices, but the food was amazing with child-friendly meze like meatballs and Greek sausage. I had pasta with a sauce of ouzo and it was delicious! Ta Skalakia is a popular place and needs a reservation.
- Oti Kalo: The best restaurant in Batsi overlooking the bay. Traditional Greek food with a bit more finesse. Needs a reservation in the summer weekends!
Things to see & do in Andros with kids
Springs in Menites and Mesaria
When you are on Andros island with kids, visit the villages of Menites and Mesaria to see the spring. Kids will love the water fountains in the shape of lion heads. The ‘Pythara’ in the village of Apoikia with the famous spring water of Sariza is also worth a visit. The water of this famous thermal spring has been compared with the worldwide famous Evian water!
Visit Gavrio and playground
The port of Gavrio is the first place you will visit when you arrive in Andros and your starting point in the birthplace of great captains and shipowners. Gavrio is a typical Cycladic village with whitewashed houses, with blue doors and little alleys.
You can walk at the seafront and find taverns, nicely decorated bars, taverns, and restaurants as well as beautiful toy and candy stores. What we loved the most was the square behind the town hall, at a 2-minutes walk from the waterfront. This cute square, covered with trees hosts a very nice playground with sand and trees for shade and a lovely trendy cafe/restaurant called Thiriotrofeio. What better family activity than to sit back and enjoy a glass of ouzo or wine whilst the kids can run around safely!
Hiking trails
Andros has great trails and it is worth discovering the island all year round. If your family likes hiking, you should know that there is a well-organized network of paths on Andros. Most trails are medium difficulty and some are easy. In fact, Andros is the only island in Greece with the European quality certification for the trails!
Visit Chora, the capital town of Andros
The sophisticated capital of Andros also called Chora has so much to offer. You can spend a whole day there with your children. Well-preserved public buildings, squares and open spaces, neoclassical houses, and spectacular views.
Chora is like an outdoor car-free museum. Its past of ship owners and other prestigious personalities from Andros is obvious in its public buildings and rich cultural organizations. Our children loved running through the car-free alleys in the evening. We also enjoyed ice cream at the vibrant Kairi square, in the center of the town.
Museums in Andros
Andros Island with kids also offers opportunities for education and culture. We also enjoyed the Goulandris Museum. The museum organizes a variety of children’s programs. Other museums that can be interesting for your children are the Andros Archeological Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Folklore, and the Maritime Museum.
The Museum of the Olive is at Pitrofos village and it is as small as an olive extraction facility used to be. Owner Dimitris Chelmis bought it in a wrecked state and renovated it. He built his house on top of it but kept the ground floor as it used to be. Dimitris is an amazing storyteller, educated, kind, and welcoming!
Discover the bronze statue of the Unknown Sailor & Kato Castro
An excursion to Chora must include a visit to Riva square with its enormous bronze statue of the unknown sailor. This statue pays tribute to sailors that were lost at sea. Across from the Unknown Soldier at the edge of the Chora is another one of my kids’ favourites the so-called Kato Castro.
At the end of Riva square, at the end of Chora, there is a large vault, a stone bridge connecting the peninsula of the Chora with an island and a Medieval Castle or Kato Castro. It offers an exciting and spectacular view. Don’t forget to look down and find a huge white fish drawn on the stones!
Close to the Kato Castro at the Nimporio bay, you will find another landmark of Andros island: the Tourlitis lighthouse. The current one is a copy of the original that was severely damaged in the war. It is unique in Greece due to its location on a little rock in the sea.
Watch a movie at the open-air cinema in Chora
What better way to enjoy the summer with your children by watching their favorite movie under the stars?!
Ice cream and an afternoon stroll in Batsi
In the sixties, Batsi was a picturesque fishing village, an ideal film setting for many Greek movies. Today, Batsi is a cosmopolitan harbor and the most tourist part of Andros Island.
The whitewashed village houses are built as an amphitheater over the bay (it reminds me a lot of Hydra). Batsi has it all: hotels, restaurants, shops, bars, and cafes. There is also a large organized Blue Flag beach in Batsi.
Although Batsi was not very exciting during the daytime, at nighttime, it offers much entertainment and becomes a very charming place. We loved strolling around the marina enjoying beautiful yachts and it was great taking the kids for ice cream and watch the little shops. You can also have a drink or something to eat while your children play at the beach.
Family-Friendly organized Tours on Andros
It might be tempting to spend as much time on the beaches of Andros as you can, there is so much to see on the island. One of the best ways to visit the island’s highlights is during a sightseeing tour. Not only do you have the company of an expert local guide to drive and show you around the island, but you will also see all the important places in one day.
If you want to get the most out of your visit to Andros and familiarise yourself with the area, I recommend a Half-day sightseeing private tour. This tour includes exploring the capital town Chora, visiting the Pythara waterfalls and the Menites Springs, a walk into the Apoikia village, the Sariza spring, and visiting the Olive Oil museum.
Where to stay on Andros Island with kids
We stayed at a private mansion in Batsi. We loved this location overlooking the bay and near taverns and shops. There are also several nice beaches at walking and driving distance from Batsi. The port was not far away either.
From Batsi to the capital town Chora it is a half-hour car ride, circling through the mountains. I recommend you pick a location to stay depending on your interest (beach with young kids or culture and activities with older children).
We went swimming at Hotel Aneroussa Beach. The beachfront Aneroussa Hotel looks over to 2 sandy beaches, just 801m from Batsi in an area of exceptional natural beauty. We loved the sandy private beach of this hotel with crystal clear blue water and impressive rocks. Click here for more information and prices
Parents have also recommended Perrakis Hotel (picture above). Boasting an outdoor pool, Hotel Perrakis is located in Kypri village. It offers tastefully decorated rooms opening to a balcony or patio with sea views. Scuba diving lessons are also provided by the hotel. Click here for more information and to book your stay.
Read also: Click here for a list of our 10 best family hotels in Andros
How to get to Andros island
Andros is easily accessible by ferry from the port of Rafina, on the northeastern side of Attica. There is no airport in Andros but the closest is the International Airport of Athens which receives many internal and external flights.
Ferries to Andros
There are no ferries from Piraeus to Andros. All ferries to Andros depart from the port of Rafina, the closest port to the airport of Athens. There are frequent buses from Athens airport to Rafina and the bus trip takes 30-40 min. Ferries to Andros depart 3 or 4 times per day and they also connect Andros with other islands of the Cyclades, such as Tinos and Mykonos. We took the ferry boat to Andros. For tips on ferry boat travel with kids in Greece, have a look at Ferry boat Travel with Kids in Greece.
Here you can find more information about ferry boat schedules to Andros:
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I hope I have inspired you to visit Andros island with kids. Have you been to Andros and what did your family like most?
For more information about activities in Andros, have a look here:
