Top 12 Things to Do in Athens with Kids
Athens with Kids – This walkable capital city has many attractions and epic history for little ones, plus they love the food! Take a look.
1 The Olympic Experience & Olympic Stadium
The original Olympic stadium from 1896, created from marble no less, is vastly impressive in its own right. It’s called the Panathenaic Stadium. You can run on the track (locals train here regularly), sit in the marble thrones and visit the small Olympic museum that holds all the torches and posters from past Olympics (we liked finding the London 2012 one).
What made this experience the kids’ BEST day out in Athens was booking an Olympic Experience, with guides and activities that bring the history and sport to life. We met at the first Olympic Village, the Zappeion Hall, where my family wrestled each other (which wasn’t on my Athens Bingocard) like the original male Olympians once did. The kids found it hilarious the original Olympians competed in the nude! We didn’t…
Then we walked a few minutes to the popular Fokianos training ground where the Greek soldiers play footie before they attend the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Despite these distractions we tried the javelin, discus, long jump and shot put, learning about each sport, and how most sports derive from hunting or the battlefield.
Our final stop was the actual Panathenaic Stadium, where we ran a lap, got great photos taken on the medals plinth and even got told the best spot for views over to the Acropolis (insider knowledge is valuable). This experience isn’t cheap, but our boys would NEVER have had this much fun with just mum and dad. Read about the Alternative Athens Olympic experience here.
2 Rootop Restaurant/Bar – Athens with Kids
This is a treat. There are lots of rooftop bars in Athens, and having a meal/drink with views to the Acropolis is one way to intrigue the kids about visiting it. We ate at the stylish Stork Restaurant, there’s no kids menu, and it isn’t particularly kid friendly, but we were made welcome, shared three meals (tapas style) and loved the views.
3 Changing of the Guards – Athens with Kids
FREE. The pom-pommed guards lifting their legs aloft are quite a peculiar sight, but something I wanted to see. It’s said that you can view this free spectacle every Sunday at 3pm, but turns out the guards change every hour, on the hour. So we randomly attended a 2pm session on a Monday.
4 Acropolis & Museum – Athens with Kids
Visiting the Acropolis is on most people’s list but I found it complicated to book from the UK. You’re warned NOT to attempt to buy tickets on the day, but, while EU children receive half price tickets online in advance, British kids do not. BUT British kids can receive discounts on the door. This significant price difference meant that we opted to chance buying tickets on the day, a Sunday in mid October. At 1130 (a dreadful time to go I assumed) we queued at the quieter South Door (rather than the main entrance) for fifteen minutes and were sold a ticket for 1245, with the kids’ discount. We chanced it and were v lucky. Brilliant.
Visiting the Acropolis at 1245 was hot, but we spent two hours on site. We saw everything we needed to see, and we didn’t feel rushed. It is an uphill meander on grit so wear decent footwear.
There are SO many Acropolis websites to choose between and different tour options too, but this is the official one. I’ve heard very good things about the Acropolis Museum but we didn’t visit. You can also pick up good bundles for tickets to half a dozen sites, see below.
5 Lycebettus Funicular & Hilltop Bar
[FREE on FOOT] I love a city view. The Lycebettus hillside can be tackled on foot, but we opted to buy a one-way ticket up on the funicular because it was so hot (return tickets are also an option) and return on foot. At the top discover a cute church, fantastic cityscapes, plus a hilltop bar. It was so chilled sitting with the kids enjoying a cheeky vino/soft drink and chatting as Athens carried on its day below.
6 The Agora – Athens with Kids
This site is the foundation of democracy, where Greeks debated and expounded old and new ideas. Both Pericles and Socrates walked here. Wander the streets and former buildings of the centre of Athenian democracy. Explore the well-preserved temple of Hephaistos and the restored Stoa of Attalos, and admire the ancients busts and sculptures. Our kids found this WAY more engaging than I expected. We bought individual tickets on the door on the day (receiving a discount for the kids) but bundle tickets are available below.
Buy entry to 6 archaeological sites, including the Acropolis and Agora.
7 Athens National Garden
FREE The Athens National Garden dates back to 1839. It can seem a little dry and dusty next to UK offerings, but it still feels like an oasis of greenery and calm in this busy capital city. Worth a stroll on a dry day.
8 Fokianos Sports Ground
We visited the Fokianos Training Ground as part of the Alternative Athens Olympic tour. We returned twice on our own to rent a football pitch and ball. The boys played as we sipped a beer at the cafe. The staff are a bit cool here, but it’s a great facility in the heart of town.
9 Find Tortoises – Athens with Kids
FREE An unexpected highlight is to see how many random tortoises you spot around Athens. This hadn’t been on our To Do list, but we saw three! I still don’t know why they have so many wild tortoises roaming around.
10 Food & Drink
Our boys LOVED the food and treats in Athens. From flavoursome meats to mind-blowing ice creams, koftas, kebabs, souvlakis and gyros – we ate so much meat, in cafes, on the go, in restaurants. So many great options. One recommendation is the simple but authentic O Thanasis at 69 Mitropoleos.
Hans & Gretel/Mona Lisa
Hans & Gretel is a dream ice cream escape for little children. The venue interiors are as tempting as the fairytale suggests, and the ice cream options blew my son’s tiny mind. Next door is a far more sophisticated and grown-up Mona Lisa, known for it vegan popsicles.
Athens Central Market
FREE Whether you buy anything or not, wandering around the VAST amounts of fresh fruit, veg, meat and veg is staggering. Where do we go so wrong in the UK? The ideal place to choose between a HUGE variety of olives too.
Little Kook
Some people see Little Kook as a tourist trap, others love it as a foodie flight of the imagination. Whatever you think, at least stop and admire its cool decor from the outside. Seasonal and OTT.
Lukumades
These doughballs traditionally served with honey and cinnamon were a hit with my sons. Except they swapped out the trad filling for good old melted chocolate. We visited twice!
11 Shopping – Athens with Kids
The shopping in Athens is notably good. I enjoyed strolling round the boutiques in the Plaka district. But the Souk style street of Pandrosouis ideal for leather goods, don’t miss George Keramidas leather store. I adore my burgundy leather handbag I purchased here. The choice of design and colours is fab.
12 Island Day Trip – Aegina
We went on to spend 5 nights on the island just off Athens called Aegina, which I’d thoroughly recommend. But if you fancy a day trip that’s possible too. Either do it under your own steam (the ferry only takes 40mins to 1.5 hours depending on how much you pay) or book a day tour here. Highlights include visiting the Acropolis of Aegina called the Temple of Aphaia, visiting a beach or several, touring the abandoned village of Paleochora, and eating the local pistachios.
Enjoy Athens!
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