Amusing Children in
Athens
Amusing children in Athens is easy as there is lots to do including a children’s museum, planetarium, beaches, and easy excursions to the nearest islands.
Here's our A-Z Guide (well, B-S to be accurate) on how to amuse children in Athens.
Amusing Children in Athens
Beaches
While adults are attracted to Athens for its cultural sites, your visit can be turned into a family holiday by choosing a hotel in one of the coastal suburbs. Places like Glyfada provide sea and sand, and it's easy to get to and from the city centre using buses or fairly cheap taxis.
At Astir Beach there are plenty of watersports to amuse all the family, plus good shopping and numerous places to eat. The suburbs of Varkiza, Voula and Vouliagmeni also have good beach facilities, and the area around Cape Sounion is becoming known as the Athens Riviera.
Goulandris Natural
History Museum
A journey to Kifisia should keep children happy for at least half a day, as it not only combines a ride on the metro but can include a visit to this excellent museum. There are good displays on environmental problems, some of which are caused by tourism – a lesson that travellers are never too young to learn.
There are also extensive collections on Greek flora and fauna, including some of the larger birds of prey and mammals such as bears and wolves, which few visitors will ever see in the wild. https://www.gnhm.gr
Hellenic Children's
Museum
Contact the museum for details of current activities. Although some of the staff speak English and welcome children of all ages and nationalities, advance notice for visits by non-Greek speaking children is advisable. https://www.hcm.gr
Lykabettos Hill
Though children are not normally gripped for long by panoramic views over cities, such as you get from the top of Mount Lykabettos, they will probably enjoy the journey up there if you take them on the funicular. The only drawback may be that they will want to come straight back down again, without allowing you time to enjoy the view. Persuade them to stay with a drink in one of the cafés at the top.
Museum of Greek Children's
Art
This small, lively museum has displays of art that includes imaginative sculptures, as well as tables and materials for children to use. http://www.childrensartmuseum.gr
Museum of Greek Folk Musical
Instruments
While it isn't possible to actually play any of the instruments in this valuable collection, you can listen to most of them on headphones provided at each case. Videos are also shown, illustrating how various instruments are made and played. We once saw the lovely sight of a Greek boy with a big smile on his face while dancing to the music only he could hear on his headphones. athensmuseums.net
Our Pick of the Athens Guides
National Gardens
In addition to simply exploring the gardens, perhaps looking for small ponds where fish and terrapins live, there is also a Children's Library in the centre of the gardens: signposted from the main entrance on Amalias. Adults are not admitted, and there are books, toys, tapes, and games in Greek, English and other languages.
Olympic Stadium
The running track of the 1896 Olympic Stadium is open to anyone to use during the day, and children might enjoy races around the track or even up the steep seating and down again. See our full page all about the Olympic Stadium.
Piraeus and the
Islands
A good day out is to make a day trip to one or more of the Saronic Gulf Islands. An early start will mean a ride on the metro to Piraeus, the sight of the huge harbour there, and then the excitement of a journey on one of the ferries to Aegina, Póros, Spétses or Hydra.
The Planetarium
Although it's a little way out of the city centre, the Athens Planetarium has some very enjoyable shows, including programmes about the ancient Greeks which have joint Greek-English voice-overs. https://www.eef.edu.gr/en
Syntagma Square
The Changing of the Guard is a dramatic precision routine that fascinates young and old alike. It takes place hourly on the hour, with a fuller ceremony with a marching band on Sunday mornings, in front of the Parliament Building at the top of Syntagma Square. While waiting, younger children will probably enjoy chasing the pigeons!
Some other Athens pages
Athens International Airport
Athens International Airport is east of Athens city centre with its own Metro train station, buses to Athens and Piraeus, taxis and car rental offices.
Athens Airport Car Rental
Athens Airport car rentals include Alamo/National Car Rental, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt, all with offices at the airport.
Piraeus
Piraeus is the port of Athens from where many ferries to the Greek islands depart, and it also has an Archaeological Museum and the Hellenic Maritime Museum.
Athens Byzantine and Christian Museum
The Athens Byzantine and Christian Museum is housed in a beautiful villa with an underground wing and lovely gardens too.
Changing of the Guard in Athens
The Changing of the Guard in Athens takes place outside the Parliament building at the top of Syntagma Square and is a must-see for visitors.
Greek Architecture
This beginner's guide to Greek architecture explains how to tell your Ionic from your Doric columns, and what to look for in temples and Byzantine churches.
The Best Hotels in Athens
Greece Travel Secrets gives its choice of the best hotels in Athens from budget and moderate options through to 5-star luxury choices.
My Athens: a Portrait by Travel Writer Mike Gerrard
In My Athens on Greece Travel Secrets travel writer Mike Gerrard describes what he loves about Athens including the Acropolis and eating!
Athens Events and Public Holidays
If visiting Athens it helps to know when major events and public holidays take place, as some shops and attractions may be closed, but to be there at times like Easter can make for a magical trip.
Best Views in Athens
The best views in Athens include views from the Acropolis and of the Acropolis from the top of some of the city’s several hills and from hotels and restaurants.
Monastiraki and Around
Around Monastiraki is the flea market, Athens cathedral, Kerameikos Cemetery, the Benaki Museum of Islamic Art and the Psirri and Gazi nightlife districts.
A Drive around Attica
This drive around Attica offers visitors high hills, beach resorts, small villages and classical sites like Marathon and the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion.
Ten Best Museums in Athens
Greece Travel Secrets lists the ten best museums in Athens, with the top two being the National Archaeological Museum and the Acropolis Museum.
The Pnyx
The Pnyx hill near the Acropolis is one of Athens' true hidden gems, a place to wander freely away from the crowds and discover ancient places and mysteries.
Athens Acropolis
The Athens Acropolis has the city's most iconic building, the Parthenon, along with other historic buildings and is where the Elgin Marbles were taken from.
Athens Culinary Tours
Athens culinary tours are among the food walking tours offered by an unusual company, Culinary Backstreets.
Athens Car Rental
Athens car rental options include almost all of the major international car hire firms such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, and Europcar.
Athens Food Tours
Athens Food Tours are being introduced by new company The Greek Fork, and will include tours of the Central Market, and the best street food.
A Walk around Kolonáki
This walk around the Kolonaki neighbourhood of Athens starts and ends in Syntagma Square and takes you to several museums, Kolonaki Square and Mount Lykabettos.
Athens Airport Hotels
Athens Airport hotels include the luxury Sofitel at the terminals, Holiday Inn near the airport, and others close by like the Hotel Pantheon.
Pictures of Athens
Pictures of Athens from the Greece Travel Secrets website
Athens National Historical Museum
The Athens National Historical Museum is in the former Greek Parliament building and houses an archive of historical artefacts and documents.
Athens’Benaki Museum
Athens' Benaki Museum is one of the city’s top museums with an outstanding collection, especially of Greek and Egyptian artefacts, in a beautiful mansion.
Athens: Travel Information and Advice about Athens, Greece
Athens is a top vacation destination. The Greece Travel Secrets Athens guide has information on hotels, museums, Athens airport and all the best things to do.
Athens Weather and the Best Time to Visit
The Greece Travel Secrets website looks at the Athens weather, the chance of rain, the climate in summer and winter and the best time to visit Athens.
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