Attica: The perfect school trip does exist!
Every year, Attica is one of the top destinations for thousands of school-aged children, coming either from Greece or abroad. Through short or longer excursions, young travelers get to admire its historic monuments and contemporary museums while letting themselves become overwhelmed by the city vibes downtown Athens.
Young students visiting landmarks
It goes without saying that the first stop during a school trip in Athens is always the Acropolis. Climbing up the Sacred Rock and looking at the jaw-dropping temple of the Parthenon is an experience not to be forgotten. A guided tour of the Acropolis Museum will help students understand this glorious and imposing monument. Boasting educational programs addressed to children and teenagers, the museum turns a tour into a truly experiential practice.
Within a short-walk, students may wander within the beautiful landscape of the National Garden. Spiral paths, verdant greenery and plentiful sources of water create an urban oasis of refreshing charm and splendor. Time for some fun: the neighborhoods of Plaka, Thiseio and Monastiraki are ready to welcome young visitors for lightsome walks. A skillful guide may unravel the story behind each iconic neighborhood through narrations and urban legends.
While at Stavros Niarchos Park, the greatest public Mediterranean garden in the world, school groups get the chance to walk through a lavish landscape, filled with a galore of plants and herbs, while the park’s meticulously curated workshops are just perfect for raising environmental awareness. The same venue hosts the National Library of Greece where students can step in and delve into the magical world of the printed legacy of Greece.
Educational programs that promote children’s critical thinking are offered by many cultural venues in Attica, such as the National Archeological Museum, actually the biggest museum in Greece, the Museum of Cycladic Art, the Museum of the Ancient Greek Technology – Kostas Kotsanas, the Museum of Greek Children’s Art and the Benaki Toy Museum. Through interactive tours at the Foundation of the Hellenic World and educational films projected at “Tholos”, the Virtual Reality Center of the foundation, children are encouraged to observe and create.
Intriguing the demanding adolescent audience
All the above landmarks of Attica may easily, through tiny adaptations, become points of interest for teenager students. The Hellenic Parliament is included in their must-see list, whereas, a few steps further, the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, dedicated to all the victims of the national battles, will surely catch their attention.
No better way to enhance their art perception than marveling at 1.000 artworks which form the main exhibition of the National Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum. While at the Planetarium of the Eugenides Foundation, students will embrace their inner scientist through the biggest interactive exhibition of Science and Technology in Greece.
A tour along the Attica Riviera may be perfectly combined with a visit to the Sea Turtle Rescue Center in Glyfada. The evolution of the species, their lifecycle and the risks they face are some of the topics to be addressed. A short trip to Attican islands is the perfect occasion for carefree walks through scenic alleys with a pinch of knowledge! The Aphaia Temple in Aegina, for instance, is an illustrative sample of the archaic architecture, the Bouboulina Museum in Spetses vividly narrates the storyline of the Greek Revolution heroine whereas the Lazaros Kountouriotis Mansion in Hydra completes the puzzle of the 1821 Greek War of Independence.
Alternative stops in a school excursion
Archeological sites are spread all over the region of Attica, ready to welcome their young visitors. An alternative choice for a school excursion for students of all ages, would be a visit to Sounio, where the Temple of Poseidon becomes one with the mesmerizing sea view. At the east coast of Attica, the Temple of Artemis, along with the Archaeological Museum of Vravrona, would be a remarkably interesting proposal for youngsters and adults alike.
The list of “worth-visiting museums for students” is quite long, but the Tactual Museum – Lighthouse for the Blind of Greece is the one-of-a-kind museum in Greece for visually impaired visitors, being at the same time a unique occasion for raising children’s awareness through tactile touch with exhibits. The Goulandris Natural History Museum will mold their environmental consciousness by guiding them in geological and zoological facilities, whereas, the Athens Olympic Museum is the place to be for imparting the ideals of the Olympic Games.
Can’t get enough of greenery and water? There are easily accessible natural gems, promising to satisfy all tastes. The Antonis Tritsis Environmental Awareness Park is surely one of them, with six artificial lakes, almost 200 different bird species and vast areas for playing around. The Beletsi Lake and itsriveting wetland is easily accessed through a smooth trail; around the lake, teens may enjoy a picnic and spend some easygoing moments during the tight program of their excursion.
A must-go for students of all ages, Attica, the Greater Athens Region, is ready to welcome them with dozens of choices. Easy to reach through international flights, countless accommodation solutions and a broadly expanded network of public transportation, it is a top-notch destination. Before planning the next school trip in Attica, take a moment and find out its so generously offered wealth!
