Visiting Attica with children – Endless holiday fun!
“Greeks love children and the country is especially child-friendly – making Greece the ideal location for an interesting and exciting family holiday.” The Telegraph.
Children like myths and super-heroes and they will definitely be fascinated walking in their footsteps. In any case, they will better enjoy their trip, if they are familiar with Greek Mythology and History, in advance. Guided tours for children, available all around Attica, will fill in the necessary details, ensuring that your visit to the Acropolis, and other archeological or historical sites will be an unforgettable experience.
First stop is the Acropolis Museum! It regularly organizes events for families and there are guided tours especially for children. Visitors are always fascinated by the archeological dig that is being done below the museum (you can look it through the glass floor). At the museum gift shop, choose the perfect gift for the young ones among a variety of translated mythology books or replicas based on ancient Greek games!
Stroll around the streets of Plaka, full of shops and tavernas, to find a pioneering museum, the Museum of Greek Children’s Art, which exhibits exclusively drawings and three dimensional artworks created by children 5 to 14 years old.
At Syntagma square, the focal point for natives and visitors alike, is to watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Step away from the crowds into the adjacent National Garden for a relaxing stroll in a lush environment. The garden is comprised of more than 500 species of plants and trees and a small zoo. Perfect picnic spot, the garden also hosts summer camps and music events each year.
At the Foundation of the Hellenic World, digital reproductions and virtual reality systems bring Greek history and civilization back to life. Children can experience a walk through the ancient Agora in Athens, among other shows. Check availability as English narration can be arranged by appointment.
In the north of the city
In the leafy and elegant suburb of Kifissia, a visit to Goulandris Natural History Museum and the Gaia Center offers children the opportunity understand the interaction of various ecosystems. There is a rich collection of life-sized animal replicas and a very child-friendly garden. The Gaia Center features three floors of interactive video, computer and tactile displays of our planet, our systems, and ecology. Check opening times beforehand.
From the historical center to Faliron (seafront)
Embark on an amazing journey of discovery and entertainment in the Athens New Digital Planetarium (Syngrou avenue), “The biggest and the best equipped digital planetarium in the world”! Thanks to real-time images, the public can actually play an active role and even determine how the realistic presentation will proceed. This new system projects films over an area ten times larger than in an ordinary cinema. Through the use of specially designed earphones, which can be found at the Foundation’s gift shop, the show can be simultaneously translated in English.
Head for Stavros Niarchos Foundation Park for guided tours, family games or other sports activities for children. “This modern Landscape Architecture project has been designed in accordance with the principles of sustainability, ecosystems and the alternations of a place that is in constant evolution. It is a welcoming and open space, with plantings and a character that reflects the Mediterranean landscape”.
Near Athens Airport
Have a “Fantastic day!” in the Attica Zoological Park, one of the Balkans’ biggest zoos. It is a great day-out destination; THE TELEGRAPH
“We had a fantastic day in the Attica Zoo with our two small kids! We saw an extensive range of animals, clean and well maintained. There’s a nice playground and cheap food and drinks in the café. We actually spent a whole day here! We would absolutely recommend it for people of all ages visiting Athens and the surrounding areas. Free parking and location close to a huge shopping/outlet mall is also a plus.” Visitor, May 2017.
By the sea
Attica’s Riviera and the Saronic islands have numerous Blue Flag beaches offering clean and safe swimming. A variety of water sports and activities for children are also available. Visit Flisvos Marina, one of the best playgrounds in Athens. Spetses and Hydra, the car free islands, are ideal for bicycle and donkey rides.
Holidays in Attica! A memorable family experience, with countless opportunities for fun and games!
