17 Things To Do in Athens Greece with Kids Or Without
Last Updated on Nov 19, 2024
Whether you’re visiting Athens for the culture or as a trip through history, you can’t fly across the world only to be left empty-handed in things to do. With so many things to do here, it can be overwhelming to plan a trip to Greece.
Athens has many different outdoor movie nights and great concerts at the Lycabettus throughout the summer. You can climb Mount Olympus or walk around the Plaka, explore local markets, take a food tour, or even learn to cook Greek food during a class.
Whether you’re visiting Athens with kids or without them, every single one of these activities can be inclusive and welcoming to little ones. I visited Greece many times on my own, and we also took our toddler to Greece and not once we felt unwelcomed anywhere in Athens because of a child.
Where to Stay in Athens with Kids
If you’re traveling with a toddler or small kids you want to base yourself semi-central, to access restaurants and attractions easily. We stayed at two hotels, as we were starting and finishing the trip in Athens. We were able to walk everywhere from both of the hotels we stayed at and find places to eat easily.
Acropolis View Hotel was perfect with a rooftop bar/restaurant and they were very accommodating with a crib and other amenities.
We also stayed at Coco-Mat and the rooftop pool was a big hit, but definitely more crowded than we expected it to be.
1. See The Acropolis
You can’t visit the oldest capital in Europe without visiting the Acropolis! Even with 2,500 years of history, the Parthenon which is built on the Acropolis is possibly the most famous icon of the city.
I recommend visiting early morning or late afternoon because you’ll do a lot of walking here and the sun can be brutal in the middle of the day.
Inside the Acropolis site, you will find some different archeological wonders including the famous Parthenon and many more. Each building has signs in both English and Greek explaining the significance of the structure, giving you a snippet of an insight into what life was like in ancient times.
If you want a deeper understanding of what you have seen here, I highly recommend you visit the Acropolis Museum which I will talk about next!
In summer the price to enter the Acropolis costs €20, but if you want to visit at least one more historical site in Athens, I recommend you buy a combo ticket for €30 which gives you entry to the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian’s Library, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Kerameikos, and Aristotle’s School.
If you’re coming with kids you’re in luck, because families skip the line! If your toddler is running I recommend a harness (we brought one just in case), because they might fall. Remember that there’s only one place to leave the stroller, but the main entrance (looking directly from the museum side it’s to the left).
Recommended Tours:
Acropolis and Parthenon Guided Walking Tour
Skip the Line Acropolis of Athens and Acropolis Museum Tour
2. Learn something new at the Acropolis Museum
Do not skip the Acropolis Museum which has been accessible to the general public since 2009 and is rated as one of the greatest in the world.
This museum is built on the site of the Acropolis but requires a separate ticket to the Acropolis itself. But it’s worth a visit as you will get a much better understanding of all the artifacts and buildings on the site.
Not only is it full of interesting finds, but sections of the museum floors are translucent, so visitors can see the excavations underneath as it is built over a sizable archaeological site.
The café of the Museum also has a stunning view of the Acropolis from its top floor!
Recommended Tours:
Skip the Line Acropolis of Athens and Acropolis Museum Tour
Acropolis Museum Entry Ticket with a Booking Fee
3. Watch A Movie Outdoors
A significant sign of summer in Athens, Greece, is the outdoor movies!
These are very popular all around the country. You get a big screen and the sound over loudspeakers while you hang out in the grass on your blanket or lawn chair. Some people even bring their blow-up mattresses and it can be a fun family evening if you’re traveling to Greece with your kids.
Make sure you bring bug spray, though, as there will be many mosquitos. There may be times when you can’t hear the movie because of the nearby traffic. However, keep in mind that outdoor cinemas are more about the experience.
Get there early, talk with the locals, make new friends, and join an after-party somewhere! (Be safe, and never go with strangers alone.)
While naturally, they won’t be showing a kids movie, there’s plenty of space for the smallest visitors to run around, watch other people, and buy some snacks.
4. Explore the Plaka Neighborhood
Plaka is located at the base of the Acropolis and is Athens’s oldest and most beautiful neighborhood.
It is like something straight out of a movie with its breathtaking views, winding roads, small churches, neoclassical buildings, and old Ottoman dwellings, all surrounded by flowers.
This neighborhood is also home to the world’s oldest weather station, the Tower of Winds. It’s the perfect area to explore on foot as most streets have no room for cars and are always bustling with life.
As you walk around you will notice you can’t turn around without spotting another ancient archeological site!
5. See a Guard Change at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Right in Syntagma Square, in front of the Greek Parliament, is a monument called the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It is dedicated to the Greek soldiers who died fighting for the country.
In the Greek Army, there is a unit called the Evzones. This unit appoints two soldiers to stand guard at the monument at all times. They wear a fustanella and must be mute and still during their entire shift.
Every hour, the Evzones change the guards in a ritualistic way. You can watch these changes take place and witness the ceremony involved every day, but if you happen to be here on a Sunday, go at 11 am, where you can watch the parade in front of the memorial.
6. Find Antiques At The Market In Monastiraki
If you love a good market, Monastiraki is the place to be! Get lost in the winding alleys full of bright stalls and colorful characters. Make sure to remember your bargaining skills!
Here there are sellers selling everything from vintage books and music to paintings, antiques, and traditional brick (Greek coffee pots) at this market rigged up outside of Ifestou Street.
It’s a great place to find interesting souvenirs and on weekends, more goods are offered on stalls and even on plain blankets on the ground as the antique market extends into Avissinias Square.
7. Sign Up For A Greek Cooking Class
Everyone loves Greek food, and what better souvenir can you take home than a new skill?
During this 4-hour cooking class, you will visit a market to collect your fresh ingredients before traveling to a traditional Greek kitchen to learn how to prepare foods like spanakopita, dolmades, and tzatziki.
Afterward, you will get to enjoy the fruits of your labor accompanied by some delicious wine and some new friends!
Recommended Tours:
Food Market Visit and Cooking Class with Wine
Greek Small-Group Athens Cooking Class & Dinner
8. See The Ancient Agora
Nestled beneath the Acropolis and next to the Plaka neighborhood you will find the Ancient Agora.
The Agora was once the political center of Athens, where many important people met to make democratic decisions for the city. Today the archeological site still has lots to explore including meeting places, temples, courts monuments, churches, and more.
The Stoa of Attalos and Hephaisteion are two other buildings on the Agora site that have been recreated to give you a realistic impression of the grandeur of this site. Definitely don’t miss out on those!
9. Eat All the Best Greek Food
You’ll undoubtedly feel hungry when you travel to Greece. This is the ideal moment to participate in one of Athens’s most enjoyable activities: enjoying Greek cuisine!
Tzatziki, pita, fried fish, fresh salad, gyros, and moussaka are just some foods found in Athens and you can go as extravagant as a 5-star restaurant or simply grab some street food from the many vendors.
Even the pita (which is dirt cheap) is delicious, It is cooked with potatoes, tomatoes, Tzatziki, chicken, or pork which is then stuffed into the bread and drizzled with oil!
Recommended Tours:
Gourmet Food Walking Tour in Athens
Athens: Street Food Tasting Tour
Dine at Little Kook Cafe
If you want to combine amazing food with a fun experience and interesting decor, you can’t miss a meal at the Little Kook Cafe!
This quirky cafe is a magical place that is decorated both inside and out with bright lights, colorful cutouts, and costumed staff. The theme changes depending on the season but the cafe goes full out, no matter what the occasion. They even decorate the street (Karaiskaki).
10. See The Temple Of Olympian Zeus
Another striking archaeological landmark is the Temple of Olympian Zeus, which has columns that tower over the surrounding terrain.
Once one of the largest ancient temples in Greece, the Olympieion began being built in 174 BCE and the columns are over 17m high. This is much larger than the norm for the time!
Today there are only 15 of the original 104 columns surviving at the site but you can still easily see this building’s importance and grandeur. There’s nothing like standing there to see the size comparison!
11. Enjoy the Sunset From a Panoramic Lookout
There are several places in the city where you can get up high enough to enjoy panoramic views of Athens, all the way out to Mount Olympus.
Mount Lycabettus and Aeropagus Hill are two of the city’s most romantic locations where you will have the most incredible views of the entire city.
I recommend you go in the evening to catch a spectacular sunset, then stay a little while to see Athens light up at night, the city’s brilliant lights will leave you in absolute awe.
Recommended Tours:
Timeless Hills Walking Tour & Mount Lycabettus
Mount Lycabettus Walking Tour in Athens
12. Visit the Panathenaic Stadium
Home to the first ever modern Olympic games, the Panathenaic stadium is a must for any sports lover visiting Athens. This is also where the Olympic flame starts on its journey around the world to ignite the games.
You can visit the stadium any day of the week and the entrance costs just €3 which includes a brochure and audio guide which will explain all the details about the stadium and its significance.
Make sure to head through the athlete’s tunnel where you will also find a small museum!
If you’re coming with kids they’d love to race on the actual stadium. My toddler was running like crazy and we had fun watching it.
13. Go Cat Spotting
There are countless stray cats in Athens but thankfully, many locals and shop owners put out food and water to help them thrive whilst still being free.
If you love cats or visit Athens with kids who love cats, you will have fun wandering the streets and snapping pictures of all the cute cats you will encounter during your trip (and the odd tortoise or two).
You won’t have any trouble finding these adorable animals but if you are looking for somewhere specific to go, try checking out the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates where many of them hang out.
14. Explore Hadrian’s Arch & Hadrian’s Library
Wandering around the streets of Athens you will practically stumble into countless ancient ruins around every corner, but there are a few that you should take the time to understand.
Hadrian’s Gate (also known as Hadrian’s Arch) stands tall at 18m in height and once straddled an ancient roadway that led from the center of ancient Athens to Hadrian’s new city.
On the north side of the Acropolis, you will find Hadrian’s Library. This was the largest library in the city at the time it was built and became an important place of education, respite, and philosophical debate.
While visiting the city, you should also take some time to explore historical wonders like the Athena Nike, and Erechthion, where you may see more than 2000-year-old archeological discoveries and gorgeous, lifelike statues!
15. See a Show at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Located on the southern slopes of the Acropolis, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a spectacular Roman theatre from 161 AD.
Over the years this impressive theatre has held many notable musical and theatrical performances but of course, the structure itself has also seen some action. Despite being reduced to ruins around 100 years after it was built, Herodes was rebuilt between 1898 – 1922.
While you can peep at the Herodes through the fence all year round, the theater is only open to the public when it holds events. Throughout the summer you have the unique chance to attend a performance at the theatre which is an amazing event not to be missed.
Tickets to these events always sell out very quickly, so make sure you book far in advance! Check out all the details here.
16. Catch a Seasonal Event in Athens
16.1 Check Out The Fireworks Over The Acropolis On New Year’s Eve
The New Year’s Eve fireworks displays in most significant cities are unique, and Athens is no exception.
The evening will be magical, with spectacular light shows conducted over the Acropolis and the old center of Athens.
Seeing the Parthenon and other monuments atop Acropolis Hil lit up in gold as the clock strikes twelve, and brilliant explosions fill the sky as the New Year begins is such a unique experience that you aren’t going to want to miss!
16.2 See The Syntagma Square Christmas Tree
Athens is decorated with glistening Christmas lights and ornaments throughout December, and a giant Christmas tree is set up in the center of Syntagma Square.
Enjoying a hot beverage while you view the tree and doing some Christmas shopping on the main road is a great way to get into the holiday spirit.
17. Take a Day Trip from Athens with Kids
17.1 Visit Lake Vouliagmeni
Truly a hidden gem, this lake is said to be healing as many people make their way into it and come out pain-free and healed of their diseases; no one knows how.
What’s more, this lake is relatively quiet. You would think it would be packed with tourists, but it’s not. So it’s a great place to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of Athens.
The lake is fed by both ocean water and an underwater spring, making it a unique spa-like experience. Plus, there is also a restaurant where you can grab a bite to eat and a drink after taking a dip in the therapeutic waters of Lake Vouliagmeni!
Recommended Tours:
Lake Vouliagmeni Thermal Spa And Temple Of Poseidon Private Full Day Tour
Athens Riviera Trikke Bike Tour & Vouliagmeni Lake
17.2 Visit Varkiza Beach
If you are looking for more adventure in your vacation, check out Varkiza Beach and sign up for one of their windsurfing or paddleboarding classes.
No need to go all the way to the Greek Islands for a beach vacation, Varkiza Beach is located around 25km outside of Athens and is a popular day trip for locals and visitors alike.
Part of this sandy beach is private and you must buy a ticket to enter, but this is great if you are looking for sunbeds, playgrounds, snacks, and a restaurant to be at your fingertips while you relax. Alternatively, the remainder of the beach is free for anyone to enjoy!
They also have the option for a photography class, belly dancing, Greek dance, and many more activities to choose from that take place on the beach so the opportunities are really endless here!
17.3 Go Hiking at Mount Olympus
Mount Olympus should be included in your schedule if you are an admirer of Greek mythology, and it is likely among the most iconic mountains in the world.
To climb the mountain you must go to Litochoro, from which there are several different hiking trails, waterfalls, and lakes where you can swim. Depending on your fitness level and skill, you can choose to hike a portion of the route or make it an overnight trip to tackle the whole thing!
As you ascend, you might picture the legends associated with Mount Olympus, recognized in Greek mythology as the location where Hades controlled the Underworld and where Zeus sat on his throne!
Recommended Tours:
Mount Olympus: Mytikas Summit Climbing Experience
Train Trip with Guided Tour to Mount Olympus
