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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.

Amusing Children at the Hellenic Children's Museum in AthensAt the Hellenic Children's Museum in Athens

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

The Goulandris Natural History Museum in AthensThe Goulandris Natural History Museum Has More Than Just Natural History

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.

The Goulandris Natural History Museum in AthensThe Goulandris Natural History Museum

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

Mount Lykabettos in Athens as seen from the AcropolisMount Lykabettos as seen from the Acropolis

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

Museum of Greek Children's Art in AthensMuseum 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

A display of musical instruments at the Greek Folk Musical Instruments Museum in AthensThe Greek Folk Musical Instruments Museum

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

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 1896 Olympic Stadium in AthensLet Your Kids Race Each Other Around This!

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

Poros in the Saronic Gulf Islands near Athens in GreecePoros

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

Soldiers changing the guard in Athens in front of the Greek Parliament Building on Syntagma SquareThe Changing of the Guard

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!

Where to Stay in Athens

Some other Athens pages

  • 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.

    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.

  • Athens culinary tours are among the food walking tours offered by an unusual company, Culinary Backstreets.

    Athens Culinary Tours

    Athens culinary tours are among the food walking tours offered by an unusual company, Culinary Backstreets.

  • The beach resorts of Athens are easily reached from the city and also close are Cape Sounion with the Temple of Poseidon, ancient Marathon and Rafina's port.

    Cape Sounion and the East Coast

    The beach resorts of Athens are easily reached from the city and also close are Cape Sounion with the Temple of Poseidon, ancient Marathon and Rafina's port.

  • This extract of Artistic Athens in the Lonely Planet book Culture Trails takes visitors on a journey through the artistic side of Athens..

    Artistic Athens

    This extract of Artistic Athens in the Lonely Planet book Culture Trails takes visitors on a journey through the artistic side of Athens..

  • Athens walking tours and other experiences like cookery lessons, ceramics workshops, dining with a family, and street art are available from Alternative Athens

    Athens Walking Tours and Other Experiences

    Athens walking tours and other experiences like cookery lessons, ceramics workshops, dining with a family, and street art are available from Alternative Athens

  • 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.

    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' 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’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.

  • Easter in Athens is, like everywhere in Greece, the biggest religious celebration of the year and this page tells you what to expect over the Easter weekend.

    Easter in Athens

    Easter in Athens is, like everywhere in Greece, the biggest religious celebration of the year and this page tells you what to expect over the Easter weekend.

  • Greece Travel Secrets visits the Monastiraki Flea Market, followed by Sunday lunch at Sigalas on Monastiraki Square

    Monastiraki Flea Market

    Greece Travel Secrets visits the Monastiraki Flea Market, followed by Sunday lunch at Sigalas on Monastiraki Square

  • The Athens War Museum is a fascinating look at Greek history through the lens of warfare from ancient battles to the Greek War of Independence and World War II.

    Athens War Museum

    The Athens War Museum is a fascinating look at Greek history through the lens of warfare from ancient battles to the Greek War of Independence and World War II.

  • 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 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.

  • There's all kinds of entertainment in Athens whether you're interested in theatre, dance, classical music, jazz, Greek music, rock music, disco, opera or movies.

    Entertainment in Athens

    There's all kinds of entertainment in Athens whether you're interested in theatre, dance, classical music, jazz, Greek music, rock music, disco, opera or movies.

  • 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.

    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.

  • 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.

    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.

  • The best things to do in Athens, Greece, include top archaeological sites like the Acropolis and must-see attractions such as the National Archaeological Museum

    The Best Things to Do in Athens

    The best things to do in Athens, Greece, include top archaeological sites like the Acropolis and must-see attractions such as the National Archaeological Museum

  • 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.

    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.

  • Athens Airport car rentals include Alamo/National Car Rental, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt, all with offices at the airport.

    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.

  • Ten Fun Things to Do in Athens include eating in the Central Market, watching the sun set over the Acropolis and seeing one of the world's oldest theatres.

    Ten Fun Things to Do in Athens

    Ten Fun Things to Do in Athens include eating in the Central Market, watching the sun set over the Acropolis and seeing one of the world's oldest theatres.

  • Pictures of Athens from the Greece Travel Secrets website

    Pictures of Athens

    Pictures of Athens from the Greece Travel Secrets website

  • 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.

    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 Athens Byzantine and Christian Museum is housed in a beautiful villa with an underground wing and lovely gardens too.

    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.

  • Greece Travel Secrets lists the ten best museums in Athens, with the top two being the National Archaeological Museum and the Acropolis Museum.

    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.

  • Two of the best cocktail bars in Athens, MoMix Kerameikos and The Clumsies, are making creative cocktails using that most Greek of Greek spirits, Metaxa.

    Best Cocktail Bars in Athens

    Two of the best cocktail bars in Athens, MoMix Kerameikos and The Clumsies, are making creative cocktails using that most Greek of Greek spirits, Metaxa.

  • Athens car rental options include almost all of the major international car hire firms such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, and Europcar.

    Athens Car Rental

    Athens car rental options include almost all of the major international car hire firms such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, and Europcar.

  • This Athens dining guide doesn't list restaurants but gives practical advice on types of eating places, tipping, hotel breakfasts and picnics.

    Athens Dining Guide

    This Athens dining guide doesn't list restaurants but gives practical advice on types of eating places, tipping, hotel breakfasts and picnics.

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