Table of Contents
Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world and, as such, the epicenter of early civilizations. The Greek capital has been continuously inhabited since 5000 years ago and today, it gathers approximately 5 million inhabitants.
Traveling to Athens as a family is a fabulous experience, since the obligatory journey through its history through its sites, monuments and museums becomes a wonderful opportunity to delve into mythology and the origins of intellectual and scientific thought.
This time, the Kucavana family crosses the seas aboard two ferries to reach Greece and to discover the treasures of this ancient city and we want to summarize our experience with the best tips for your family visit, do you follow us?
If you want to see our complete trip by Greece by motorhome for almost 1 month, we leave you here the link to the full post of our experience.
How to get to Athens
Greece and Athens can be accessed by land, sea and air. In Athens we have direct flights from Spain, for a few days and see only Athens, this would be the option that we recommend and more on a trip to Athens with children.
Now, if what you want is to make a longer trip through Greece with your family or through the islands by car, perhaps what is cheapest for you is to access by ferry like us with your own vehicle. Something very practical when traveling with children. Here we tell you How to access Greece with your vehicle and we compare it with arriving by road.
12 tips for traveling to Athens with children
1. Backpack essentials
If you travel in summer, keep in mind that the heat is stifling and that the distances to be covered are long. We recommend you take note of the following basics:
-Enough water in reusable container.
-Energy bars or nuts.
-Cap.
-Super comfortable shoes.
-Solar protection.
-Some children's reference book or tales of Greek mythological characters or that are related to what you are going to visit that day.
2. Strollers
Do not take strollers not suitable for cobbled or cobbled streets. Instead, take a baby carrier or a stroller with large wheels, as you will find that it is easier for you both to move and to access archaeological sites and tourist sites.
3. Drink clean water
Athens and inland areas of Greece have drinking water, so you can get your reusable container refilled at bars and restaurants. Also, you can fill the bottles with water from the city's fountains. On the other hand, if you visit any of the islands, you will have to buy bottled water, since the water there is not fit for human consumption.
4. Tickets
We recommend buying a combined ticket that will give you access for 5 days (with a single visit to each site) to the Acropolis and 6 other archaeological sites: Kerameikos, Aristotle's Lyceum, Hadrian's Library, Roman Agora, Ancient Greek Agora and temple of Zeus. The combined ticket has a fixed cost of €30 regardless of the time of year and, in addition, Europeans under 18 years of age have free admission.
You can buy them at the ticket offices of any venue mentioned above, with the exception of those of the Acropolis, where we do not recommend it because of the endless queue of people that is generated in that place.
If, on the other hand, you are only going to visit the Acropolis, we advise you to get the tickets here in advance and avoid the eternal queues that form at the ticket offices.
5 Transport
Athens has an extensive public transport network consisting of metro, tram, bus and trolleybus with a common ticket.
Since the distances are medium, if you travel with small children it may be a good idea to get on a tourist bus, very practical with them, and make the journey, comfortably, getting off at the key places. We usually do it one day, and that way the day spreads a lot in visits. you can book it here.
6. Educational trip
We recommend that, days before the trip, you share with your children a YouTube video of ancient Greece or some other resource such as movies and related stories that help them to locate themselves in what they will later visit.
7. Accommodation and where to sleep in Athens with children
During this trip, specifically, we stayed in our motorhome, but, without a doubt, we recommend renting a central apartment that allows your family to have dinner and relax after an intense and, surely, hot day. There are apartments that offer cleaning and breakfast services (as a hotel) that are very comfortable for families, without a doubt our recommendation. You can look at the apartments in the city here.
8. Transfers with children
There are transfer companies dedicated to private transfers between key points such as from the airport to the hotel and vice versa, which are cheap and, above all, fast when you do not have much time. A tip, with children, and for a few days book the private transfer here, it is always the fastest and cheapest option for us in the end.
9. Signs, Greek alphabet
Signs and signs in Greece are in the Greek alphabet, but they are also down in the Latin alphabet and translated into English. This makes it easy for tourists, like us, to get around Athens and Greece in general. So don't worry if you don't know Greek!
10. Languages in Athens
Few people speak more than basic Spanish in Athens. Instead, you will see that everyone speaks English. Whatever age you are. Therefore, one piece of advice speaks a minimum of English or download Google translate on your mobile before going.
11. Traffic rules are broken too often, be careful with your children!
Driving while talking on your mobile, without a motorcycle helmet or 3 on your motorcycle, everything is possible to see on the roads of Athens, so be careful.
12. Excursions near Athens that you should not miss with children
If you are going to spend more than 3 or 4 days in Athens, it is worth discovering one of the great nearby World Heritage Sites that Greece has. For us, Delphi, Meteora or Corinth are 3 of the places that we would recommend for a nearby excursion. And the best thing with children is to do the excursion by bus and without worrying too much about civitatis, which is what we usually hire. You can see the excursions they do from Athens here
12. Documentation to bring, beware of Greek health
Apart from the DNI in Greece, you must not forget the European health card, for what may happen. But, in addition, from our own experience we know that the Greek health network is not the same as the Spanish one. In this aspect, it leaves a lot to be desired, that's why we travel with travel insurance that covers all the health part and any mishap during the trip. Price for benefits is very important, more than having to pay a large bill later or our vacations going to hell due to any mishap. We take out Iati insurance for the family, which comes out very well with this 5% discount that they give us. we leave it to you here, they apply it at the end of putting all the data, you'll see.
The best and the worst of our trip to Athens
The things we liked the most about Athens and Greece
- Without a doubt, in the first place, we put its people. The Greeks are very kind people who take great care of the tourist and above all they treat the Spaniards as Mediterranean brothers. They have a character similar to the Spanish, they are very open, calm, friendly with foreigners, humble and familiar. In no country has it ever happened to us before, inviting us to drink anything, and in Greece it has happened to us several times. The Greeks are amazing, you just have to open up a little to them and magic happens.
- Greek gastronomy and its cozy taverns. Healthy, simple and delicious food. A very Mediterranean gastronomy and similar to the Spanish, but with many typical dishes different from ours, varied and very good.
- The Greek and Greek alphabet are not a problem. Everything is translated into English and in Latin alphabet. And everyone, EVERYONE speaks English. Even the grandmother of a remote village. It may be because many immigrated to the United States or because they don't dub movies or television or because they think about tourists, but they all know English and much better than the Spanish or French.
- The great monuments of the city and the archaeological sites are open until 20 pm in summer. This makes it easy to visit them after a good day at the beach or pool and in the cool of the afternoon.
- Those under 18 years of age have free admission to the main monuments and sites throughout the country.
- You don't get cold if you go in summer hehehe (yes, this is irony, but it's true if you're looking for sun and beach, Greece is your place :P).
The worst of Athens and Greece for us
- The summer heat, for people who don't like the heat. Others that we like, no problem, beach and pool and happy.
- Food prices are a little higher in everything than in Spain and that adds up in the end.
- In the taverns, Greek restaurants, there are no menus and the prices of coffee or beer are much higher than in Spain (4 or 5 € for a coffee or beer). The prices of the dishes are usually less than €10, on this side, if you only eat a dish and dessert, it is not bad to eat out.
- The snakes. Be very careful with them! We had never seen so many snakes in so few days. In the deposits and forest paths, be very careful where you step.
- In general, continental Greece is sparsely inhabited and has little tourism, which means that there is not much on offer for leisure and activities, which in the case of the little ones they asked for, but we had no options, apart from rafting in Papigo, few activities We find more in continental Greece apart from the beach and visits to archaeological sites. Athens, despite having more population, for our taste lacks entertainment for children.
- The continuous reckless overtaking of the Greeks on the road. Be very careful with the streets, cars and children.
Safety in Athens
This is an issue that concerns all visitors and, even more so, anyone who travels with their children to a large tourist city. Athens is not in itself an unsafe city, but it does have its risks if we take into account that it is the third most populous city in the European Union and one of the favorite tourist destinations, worldwide speaking.
- The biggest threat in Athens is pickpockets. You have to be careful on all the metro lines and, especially, the one that goes from the airport to the center, so protect your belongings.
- Also, avoid some places after sunset, due to the atmosphere that is generated, such as Plaza Omonia and surroundings and the alleys of Metaxourgeio.
- Pay attention to taxi scams. Do not take a taxi at the door of a tourist site and make sure you ask beforehand about the rates and that the meter shows. Using the TaxiBeat app is much cheaper and safer.
- Be careful if you go to Athens with a vehicle, there are many thefts of car and motorhome interiors when they see them as tourists or for rent.
In short, nothing different from what can happen to you in your own city, but with the difference that this time the tourist and, therefore, the candy of the scammers are you and your family.
Our map of visits and places of interest in Athens with children
After this summary, let's get to the good stuff! Discover what to see and do in Greece with children. In conclusion, let's go for the fun!
First of all, I leave you a map of the main points of interest in Athens with children that we prepared before going and that will surely be good for you.
2 Proposals for walking routes for 2 days in Athens with children
We leave you here two routes that we did to see the main places of interest in the city on a map that you just have to navigate and walk for a while. They are routes made on foot from 8 in the morning to 18-19 in the afternoon. 10 kilometers is the approximate distance we walk on each of these routes. They are made with our 6 and 9 year olds who are used to walking.
Route Day 1: The mythological, green and high sphere Athens
Route Description
- Acropolis
- Acropolis Museum
- Temple of Olympian Zeus
- national gardens
- Parliament
- Changing of the guard in Syntagma square
- Benaki Museum
Map of the route
Route Day 2: The bustling, Roman and romantic Athens
Route Description
- museum of illusions
- Greek agora
- Monastiraki
- Hadrian's Library
- Roman agora
- Tower of the winds
- Plaka and Anafiotika neighborhood
Map of the route
Athens with children: what to see and do for the 10 essential plans
1. Step on the Acropolis
Athens has an obligatory starting point and it is the Acropolis. This was the place of worship of the gods for centuries and the residence of the ancient Mycenaean kings. And as a place of gods, the Acropolis has also been the scene of many mythological events. There are tour guides specialized in childcare who tell you about the mystery of the Parthenon and the Acropolis Museum.
The Acropolis Museum is very worthwhile; It is a modern, spacious and air-conditioned museum. There are activities aimed at the little ones, such as a treasure hunt while they go through some of the most important sculptures that make it up.
You can enter the Acropolis through the door closest to the Dionisio Theater (the one closest to the metro stop Acropolis and the least traveled) located just in front of the Acropolis Museum.
You can visit the Theater of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus as you ascend to the Temple of Athena Nike, the gateway to the majestic Parthenon. At the top, too, you will discover the Erechtheion along with wonderful views of Athens.
2. Revive the ancient Agora
Another of the emblematic visits is that of the commercial and political nerve center of ancient Greece, the Agora. You can take advantage and visit it the same day as the Acropolis.
Your visit lasts approximately 2 hours and the space has magnificent shade trees, to be taken into account on hot summer days.
3. Get lost in the neighborhoods of Plaka and Anafiotika
Plaka is a rustic neighborhood made up of labyrinthine cobbled streets built in the Ottoman style (respecting relief accidents) that lies in the shadow of the Acropolis temples, at the foot of the hillside. Plaka is the most picturesque neighborhood in Athens and bewitches you with its jewelry and pottery shops, its taverns and a Turkish atmosphere that defines its origins.
Anafiotika is another neighborhood in Athens, located above Plaka. It was built in the middle of the s. XIX by a population of masons from Anafi (in the Cyclades) who moved to Athens to build the palace of King Otto. And in true Cycladic style, it shines high up with its blue and white houses.
4. Dream of being an athlete at the Panathinaiko Stadium
This stadium was rebuilt from the remains of an ancient Greek stadium and is currently one of the oldest in the world and the only one built entirely of marble, hence it is referred to as Kallimármaro, which is Greek for "marble". handsome". It was the stadium that hosted the first edition of the modern Olympic Games in 1896.
Until the 50s, the Llissos river passed in front of the stadium gate, while now it flows underground.
5. Escape into the nature of Athens
Celebrate the gods for a day and enjoy a family walk through the National Garden of Athens, which has more than 500 different species of trees.
On the other hand, the Diomides Botanical Garden also offers you the chance to enjoy a picnic in the middle of nature and invites you to a guided botanical mythological tour.
6. Cultural getaway to the city's museums
The center of Athens is full of museums adapted to the little ones, but we highlight the visit to the National Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Technology of Ancient Greece and, of course, the Museum of Illusions with more than 60 optical illusions to have fun with the family .
7. Soak up the newest in the city: Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
An activity for the whole family that will not leave you indifferent. To show your children that not everything in Athens is old, come to this ultra-modern cultural center with free admission, which houses the National Opera, the National Library and a Mediterranean garden in an open space where you can enjoy a picnic or relax. on the grass.
You can rent a bike to explore the area or work out in the outdoor gym, but don't forget to take in the views from the lighthouse on the top floor of the building, they are unforgettable.
8. A journey through the stars: Visit the digital planetarium of the Eugides Foundation
Book an appointment for an interstellar family trip in the world's largest planetarium and one of the most technologically advanced. In addition, the planetarium also features a cafeteria and a science museum with interactive multimedia exhibits.
9. On top of Athens: Visit the Kessariani Monastery
On Mount Hymettus you can visit the Kessariani Monastery, a Byzantine monastery from the XNUMXth century. XI, surrounded by a lush forest and unbeatable views of the city and the Saronic Gulf.
This monastery was erected on the site where the temple of Apollo once stood, of which some elements have been preserved, such as the columns that support the cruciform plan of the church.
10. Changing of the guard in Syntagma Square
This occurs in Syntagma Square in Athens every day at odd hours when the guards (called evzones after the name given to ancient Greek soldiers) take turns guarding the Greek Parliament two by two. On Sunday, however, the changing of the guard becomes a ceremony where all the evzones participate in a march to the beat of an orchestra. It is usually at 10:45 a.m. and you have to go in advance.
And, finally, to remind you that not everything in Athens is to see and hear, but also to savor and for this, do not forget to enjoy some typical dishes of the city such as Soutzoukakia (the Greek version of meatballs) and the Souvlaki or the Greek kebab that, with all certainty, everyone will love.