Ultimate Guide to Visiting Athens with Kids
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Are you planning a trip to Greece and wondering if Athens is worth visiting with kids? We have heard mixed reviews about visiting Athens with kids. Many claimed the city wasn’t safe, it was dirty, not worth visiting. But we are here to tell you, Athens is absolutely worth visiting with kids especially if you have a little history buff on your hands! Visiting Athens with kids can be a fantastic experience, as the city offers a blend of history, culture, and outdoor activities that can engage and entertain children of all ages. If you’re planning a trip to Greece with kids, stop in Athens for a few nights and keep reading for our 2 day Athens with kids itinerary. And don’t forget to read some Greek Mythology books with your kids before heading out on your Athens adventure!
Where to stay in Athens with kids
If you’re looking for a family friendly hotel in Athens, you’re in luck! There are many options to choose from. We went with the Grand Hyatt Athens, since we had Hyatt points to use and it was a great stay. Our room wasn’t anything spectacular, but comfortable enough to sleep in for the short amount of time we were there.
If you’re looking for a family friendly hotel, use this interactive map to see family friendly vacation rentals and hotels in Athens:
Best time to visit Athens
If you’re looking for the best time to visit Athens, I would highly recommend coming in the off season. We came in mid November and it still felt hot (it was only in the low 70s). I cannot imagine climbing the hill to the Acropolis in summer heat! We had a nice cool breeze but even with that, it felt super hot since we were walking around all day.
We also didn’t experience the huge crowds many who visit in the summer months mention. It was actually quite pleasant crowd wise during our visit!
How to get around Athens with kids
The best way to get around Athens with kids with minimal effort is to utilize your Uber app. Having an older child that no longer requires a car seat means we can easily use rideshare service wherever we go. Here in Athens, you will be picked up by a taxi when using the Uber app. We like this better than just hailing a cab since the price was set. So many people said they were ripped off by taxis but with using them via Uber means we never paid more than 9 Euros no matter where in the city we went.
There is also public transportation in Athens, the most common being the metro. But with just a 2 day Athens itinerary, we did not want to waste time trying to figure out the metro system. If you are here for a longer time, this may be the more economical option but Uber worked out best for us.
What to do in Athens with kids
Acropolis, Ancient Agora and the Acropolis Museum
One of the most iconic landmarks in the world, the Acropolis is an impressive ancient citadel that should be at the top of your Athens itinerary. Although the climb to the top may be a bit challenging for very young children, older kids will enjoy exploring the ancient ruins. Milana recently did an entire unit on Ancient Greece so this was a must see for us since as homeschoolers, we combine education and travel whenever possible. Don’t forget to visit the Acropolis Museum, which offers interactive exhibits and an opportunity to see some of the most significant artifacts from Greek history up close.
Explore Plaka
The historic neighborhood of Plaka is a must visit while visiting Athens with kids. Here you’ll find narrow streets that are perfect for family walks, traditional Greek architecture, quaint shops selling all sorts of souvenirs and tons of great local Greek food. Don’t miss this on your family trip to Athens! We loved wandering the streets of Plaka and put it on the top of our list of things to do with kids in Athens.
One thing you’ll notice as you are wondering the streets of Athens is all of the stray cats lounging around. They are very welcomed here and locals leave food and water out for them. We spotted them everywhere we went and they were unbothered by humans.
Visit the Athens Zoo
Do you have animal lovers in your family? Then a trip to the Athens Zoo is a must! The zoo is home to lots of animals from all over the world and provides a fun and educations experience for kids of all ages.
Go on a Greek mythology tour
Introduce your kids to the world of Greek mythology by taking them on a kid friendly Greek mythology tour. My daughter loves learning about the Greek Gods and this is something that was of huge interest to her. If you want to keep your kids engaged on the tour, be sure to book a kid friendly Athens mythology scavenger hunt. Before heading out on a mythology tour, be sure to read a book about Greek mythology with your kids to get them familiar with the topic.
Visit Lycabettus Hill
Another fun thing to do in Athens with kids is visit Lycabettus Hill. The highest point in Athens, you can hike up the hill or take a funicular ride to reach the top, where you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of Athens. If you book a family photographer in Athens, chances are your photos will take place here!
The views here are amazing and you can see the Acropolis from one side off in the distance.
Hellenic Children’s Museum
If you are visiting Athens with toddlers or preschoolers, then be sure to check out the Hellenic Children’s Museum. Located in Plaka, this children’s museum is just like any other you have most likely been to with interactive, hands on exhibits and learning opportunities. This is one of the best things to do indoors while in Athens with kids.
Museum of Greek Children’s Art
One of the best things to do in Athens with kids is to visit the Museum of Greek Children’s Art. Be sure to make a reservation ahead of time as they were not allowing walk ins while we were here. Here, you can see art created by local children. It’s a great place to take art loving kids!
Changing of the Guards at Syntagma Square
Every Sunday at 11 am, you can see the most spectacular changing of the guards ceremony at Syntagma Square. Not going to be in Athens on a Sunday? Not a problem! During the week, a smaller ceremony takes place every hour on the hour. We went on a Friday and enjoyed watching this Athens tradition. If you are near this area, definitely check it out. It’s one of the best things to do in Athens with kids!
Where to eat in Athens with kids
If you’re worried about picky eaters in Athens, you’ll be glad to know that the city offers many family friendly dining options which will appease even the pickiest of eaters. Athens offers a variety of family-friendly restaurants where you can enjoy delicious Greek cuisine while accommodating the needs and preferences of children. Every single restaurant we went to had families with kids, which was nice to see. While there are a ton of restaurants in the city, here are some of our favorite restaurants to visit with kids in Athens.
The Brunchers
If you’re looking for the best breakfast in Athens, look no further than The Brunchers restaurant! Located in the Plaka neighborhood, this restaurant is popular with locals and tourists alike. Here you will find an extensive menu with some Greek dishes as well as your typical breakfast fare. I had the Greek breakfast which was amazing! Dave had poached eggs with avocados which he also loved, and Milana ordered their chipotle chicken tacos which she enjoyed. Highly recommend this place if you are looking for a breakfast spot in Athens. We loved it so much, we came back two days in a row.
Little Kook
Looking for a fun themed cafe in Athens? Then check out Little Kook! This popular fairy tale themed cafe is located in the Plaka neighborhood and offers lots of dessert and drink options, as well as some savory items as well. If you’re visiting around Christmas (we came in mid November), the entire restaurant will be decked out for the holidays with lights and Christmas decor everywhere. Try the hot chocolate, it’s really good here!
Anefani
One of our favorite restaurants in Athens was Anefani. The area is super scenic and you will walk up some stairs to reach the restaurant. Ask to be seated on the rooftop, you’ll have great views from there!
We loved the cheese platter here and their whole fish is really good too. They will fillet it for you at the table so if you aren’t sure you’ll know how to eat it, they do the hard work for you.
Voliotiko Tsipouradiko
Located in one of the oldest buildings in Athens, this scenic restaurant offers lots of traditional Greek dishes. This kid friendly Athens restaurant has a great ambiance and you will see lots of kitties roaming around, hoping for a bite to eat. The area around it is super cute to walk around after dinner.
Local bakeries and yogurt shops
If you are coming to Athens with kids, then you are going to have to try some local baked goods and at least one yogurt shop. We loved the yogurt here! It’s thick and you can select any toppings you want, I always chose honey and strawberries. The Greek donuts are sold everywhere and good as well, very similar to zalabia if you are familiar with Egyptian cuisine.
As you can see, Athens can be a fantastic destination for a family trip, especially if your family has an interest in history and culture. We loved our visit to Athens are think a 2 day Athens itinerary is the perfect amount of time to visit the city and see all it has to offer. We had 2 full days/3 nights in Athens and definitely felt like it was enough time to see what the city has to offer. Want to save this to read later? Pin one of the images below.
