With perfect weather, good family hotels and many activities for children, Greece and its capital are a great destination for family holidays. In summer, a city visit to Athens can be combined with the beaches along the Athenian Riviera or the islands nearby.

Athens in August is almost empty as most Greeks go to the islands for their holidays. In winter time, Athens is an ideal destination for a weekend escape or city break. So take the kids, put on some comfortable shoes and explore one of the oldest cities in the world.

Things to do in Athens Greece with Kids

Looking for some family fun? Here are the 10 things to do in Athens, Greece with kids:

Climb up the Acropolis

On top of the list and a definite must see when visiting Athens with your family is the Acropolis. Travel back to ancient Athens and show your kids the birthplace of democracy. If you enter the Acropolis archaeological site from the main entrance, you will see not only the world-famous Parthenon but also the Theatre of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes. The Acropolis is suitable for children starting from 3-4 years old; it is not easy to use strollers inside the site. 

Visit the New Acropolis Museum

Combine your visit to the Acropolis rock with the exhibits in its nearby museum. The impressive New Acropolis Museum offers family back packs with educational games and organises family tours. A family-friendly restaurant, a kids’ reading corner and a Lego model of the Acropolis guarantee a fun family day visit.

Take a Mythology Tour

Do your kids love mythology? Then a specialised interactive family tour around the ancient monuments of Athens is a great way to explore the city and its history. Under the guidance of a dedicated educator, your kids can become actors in the ancient Theatre of Dionysus, picnic in between the olive trees, search for goddess Athena inside the museums or draw like an ancient architect at the Parthenon. These tours are suitable for children from 5 years old.  

Ride the Athens Happy Train

Are the kids tired of walking around or do they just love Thomas the Train? The little red or green toy-like street Athens Happy Train makes a 40 – minute tour in the historical centre of Athens and the most famous ancient sites and monuments. You can hop-on-hop-off from different points in the city and see Athens as you please at your own pace.

Coffee and snack at the Little KooK cafe

No other place in Athens appeals more to kids than this fairy tale themed cafe in Psiri neighbourhood. Little KooK transfers your family to fantasyland and is amazingly styled around Halloween and Christmas. Enjoy delicious cakes and (savoury) crepes in a fairytale setting and don’t forget to wander around the beautifully decorated streets in hip Psiri.

Admire amazing views from Mount Lycabettus

A unique experience for all kids and adults is the cable car that goes up Mount Lycabettus. There are also telescopes guaranteeing views as far the island of Aegina. Buy an ice cream at the cafe on top and enjoy a panorama over the city.

Syntagma Square and the Parliament

All children will love feeding the pigeons and watch the impressive changing of the guards at the central square of Athens. These ‘Evzones’ are members of the Presidential Guards wearing traditional Greek outfits. They stay completely still next to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Parliament building until the moment that they can move for the change of the guards.

Get lost in the National Gardens of Athens

For a picnic or an escape from the summer heat, go to the National Gardens or Royal Gardens right next to the Parliament Building. A very stroller friendly place that is also suitable for kids of all ages. Inside the National Gardens, you will find a small zoo with farm animals, a turtle pond, a large shaded playground, lots of grass areas for babies to play on and a section with botanical gardens.

Discover Street Art

Travelling with teenagers and tired of ancient monuments? Athens has a blossoming street art scene. Many hip neighbourhoods have transformed into an open art gallery with stunning graffiti that places the city into the top places to see street art around the world. Several tour companies offer guided Street Art Tours.

Taste a traditional Greek sweet

Buy a ‘koulouri’ from one of the street vendors on Syntagma square. Young kids will love nibbling on this healthy large bread-ring with sesame seeds. And don’t miss a chance to try ‘loukoumades’, a small Greek doughnut covered with honey. You can find them in any bakery or ‘loukoumades’ shop.

Athens for the family

Athens is a fabulous place for a family vacation or a weekend trip with kids. It is a safe city to visit with an excellent public metro system, many hotel options, lots of sun and warm winters. Your family will enjoy being outdoors surrounded by historical monuments, good family food choices and easy to visit activities.

What to do if your flight is delayed

It’s always annoying when travel time is eaten up by unexpected flight delays. Luckily, there’s legislation in the EU that can help make the financial hit a little bit easier. Specifically, European legislation EC 261 may let you claim EU flight delay compensation of up to $700 per passenger.

Chrysoula Manika bio:

Chrysoula Manika is a travel blogger and tourism professional based in Athens, Greece. She writes in both English and French for Travel Passionate, her blog focusing on luxury travel around Europe. She’s traveled extensively throughout Europe for the past 25 years and has no intention of slowing down. She loves to explore the local culture and gastronomy of the places she visits.

Greece is home to several of the most famous islands in the world: Santorini, Corfu, Mykonos and Crete. All are divinely beautiful and all are geared up for hundreds of thousands of tourists that stream in every year.

But what if I told you there were four alternative islands that offered an even more authentic Greek experience? And even better, far less tourists to compete with? Wouldn’t that tickle your fancy?

Relatively little is known about the other 18 Cycladic islands, except they are still the islands made of dreams. Sandy beaches, rich hospitality and ancient history collide in our favorite Greek islands found off the beaten track.

Ios

This island has a reputation for parties and young drunk tourists. But there’s so much more than meets the eye.  Apart from being full of expats and Australian backpackers, there’s also a host of authentic isolated towns for a really relaxing break. Compared to the other smaller islands, Ios is not completely off the grid, but it’s still far less busy than destinations like Mykonos.

Ios is best explored by a scooter which is relatively cheap and easy to hire, just show a drivers licence. The most popular chill-out zone is at Mylopotas beach, lined with restaurants, hotel pools and beach volleyball nets. In the heart of the capital, Chora, you’ll find authentic Greek restaurants that can only be accessed on foot.

Milos

I’m guessing you’ve seen pictures of arguably the most famous ancient sculpture in the world – Venus of Milos? This is where it comes from! This island has a rich history dating back thousands of years, from ancient (and modern) mining, to secret religious burial grounds and mysterious caves. Some visitors also believe it contains several of the best beaches in Greece.

Around half of the island is preserved as a nature reserve and can only be accessed via a boat or off-road vehicle. But there’s still plenty to do and see, with over 70 beaches, including our favourite, Sarakiniko – it can only be described as a merger between the blue Mediterranean Sea and a colorless lunar landscape.

Sifnos

This magical island is where the sea meets the mountains and the mountains meet the sky. Home to the tomb of Homer, ancient archaeological ruins, breathtaking panoramas and gorgeous, secluded beaches – this island has everything for a perfect holiday. I highly recommend having lunch on the beach in the town of Vathi, on the southwest coast. And then drive (or hike) up to one of the many mountaintop monasteries for a surreal view from above. This is one of our favorite islands.

Kythnos

This is about as off the beaten track as it gets. Kythnos is home to 1500 people, 3 police officers, 1 doctor and over 400 churches. Being a highly seasonal destination, the summer months cause the numbers to swell. In one particular town 3 or 4 families can grow to over 150 individuals.  The entire island feels so safe and connected – everyone knows everyone. Cars are left unlocked with keys in the ignition. Locks on houses are rarely used.

It’s easy to see how we fell in love with this secluded island. It is still very much under the tourist radar, as the majority of visitors are fellow Greeks from Athens or Russian sailboats touring around the Greek islands. There are almost no expats living here, but you’ll find most people speak some English and Greek hospitality abounds around every corner.

If you’re looking for a real, authentic Greek island experience, then Kythnos is it.

With many beautiful beaches, natural hot springs, and picturesque green valleys, the atmosphere instantly de-stresses you. Any tension and anxiety cannot help but dissipate as soon as you step onto this island.

Oh, and if you love food, then the restaurants here are as fresh and local as it gets. Best of all the prices are very reasonable. What isn’t there to love about Kythnos?

If you’ve never been to the Greek islands, then there is one important tip to learn. Even though they maybe geographically close to each other, each island is unique. The atmosphere, food specialties, scenery and landscapes vary so much. But that means whatever you’re looking for, you can find it – nightlife, restaurants, beaches, hiking or just relaxing in the sun. And best of all, there’s no need to limit yourself to just 1 island. Ferries regularly operate between each island, so go island hopping this summer and find out which Greek island is your favorite.

Author Bio:

Erin has been travelling with her husband and two children since May 2012. It’s an open-ended, unplanned, round-the-world trip discovering amazing places for families. They have stayed in hostels and 5 star luxury resorts, traveled on scooters and cruise liners, danced with leprechauns and cuddled tigers. Nothing is out of bounds or out of reach for this remarkable Australian family. You can find unique family travel insights at her award-winning travel blog, follow her on Facebook, or catch her tweeting on Twitter.

I didn’t expect the ancient ruins in Kos, Greece to be so… well … in ruins.

Coming from Spain and Portugal, we were used to castles and monuments with manned entrance booths, charging plenty of Euros to let us in. Ropes and barriers to keep us off the attractions were everywhere, and guards often stood by just in case.

This wasn’t the case in Kos.

Only the Kos Castle charged admission (a very reasonable 3 Euro for adults), though once past the gates we were allowed to roam everywhere at will, and tall grass had claimed many of the statues.

Elsewhere, in the ancient Agora, and in the temples scattered around the island, the ruins are left largely unattended.

The Agora, smack in the middle of Kos town, and next to a thriving square, was completely unattended. We wandered up to the western entrance, and were met with nothing but some fairly unhealthy looking stray cats and long, wild grass that hid most of the ruins.

Kos’ Agora was once one of the largest in the ancient world. Here, traders met beside the Shrine of Aphrodite, the Temple of Hercules and a basilica.

The ancient Agora was flattened by an earthquake in 469 AD, and painstakingly rebuilt, only to be destroyed by an earthquake again in 1933.

Cole and Jordan climbed over ancient columns left lying on the ground in shambles by the earthquake.

Elsewhere, a couple of lone columns stood high, balancing precariously. We stopped for just a second underneath, a bit nervous that just leaning against the columns might send them tumbling down.

The Western Excavations, a 15 minute walk across Kos town, were just as unattended. Wildflowers sprouted everywhere and tall grass grew unchecked.

Here, plaques explaining the excavations were few and far between.

Wandering around, we discovered what have been the ancient baths mentioned by our Lonely Planet Greece guide.

The ruins of Kos were unattended or closed almost everywhere we wandered in Kos.

At Casa Romana, a restored Roman mansion, the gates were locked for further excavations, but the grass grew tall here, and we didn’t see any evidence of recent work.

So why were the ruins largely abandoned?

Our best guess is that time, earthquakes and the economic crisis haven’t been kind to the ruins on the ancient Greek island of Kos.

Have you visited the ruins on Kos? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

What You Need To Know

About Kos:  Kos is a Greek island on the far Eastern shore of Greece. It’s a stone’s throw from Bodrum, Turkey. The ruins mentioned in this post were all located in the island’s main town, Kos town.

How to Get There:  Kos is served by many international airlines, including direct flights from Spain and the United Kingdom. Check airfares on Expedia.

You can also reach Kos via a ferry ride from Bodrum Turkey. The fare is about 20 Euros, and takes 20 minutes on a fast hydrofoil or 45 minutes on a slower ferry.

Finding your Way Around:  Pick up a guide for Kos, or the Lonely Planet Greece, before you arrive. During the week we were there, the tourist office was closed every day.

To heck with that. I’m in it for the food. In the spirit of foodies everywhere, I present my five step plan to eating your way through a holiday in Crete.

Step 1. Tsikoudia

The Minoans made wine in Crete before 1600 BC. In well over 3,000 years, it seems the people of Crete have learned a lot.

Fragrant Cretan tsikoudia (which is also known locally as raki) is the national drink and made from the left-overs of wine production. It’s cheap, at about 50 cents a glass, and packs a punch, ranging from 30 to 90% alcohol. Tsikoudia is often made in small batches by one or two licensed brewers in each village, creating a great variety between villages. Sounds like the perfect excuse for a village tour.

Step 2. Appetizers (Mezes)

Greek appetizers are often served in tavernas. They range from simple dishes like local olives, fried eggplant, and fresh artichokes swimming in olive oil to more elaborate fare.

The most famous of Crete’s appetizers is likely dakos, made of chopped fresh tomatoes, sprinkled with mizithra cheese and oregano, and served on top of crispy paximadia bread.

Step 3. Cheese

Crete, like the rest of Greece, offers a dizzying variety for cheese lovers like me. Made of sheep’s milk, Gravieria resembles gruyère, and has a slightly sweet caramel flavor. To be truly authentic, graviera should be aged in the White Mountains for at least six months. Staka, a rich cheese made from sheep or goats cream and simmered with flour, is often used as a dip or poured over pilaf.

Step 4. Vegetarian Offerings

Crete’s restaurants often offer ofanas (orphans), meatless variations of many of the meat-based dishes so famous in Greece. Strict fasting rules from the Orthodox church meant that many Greeks used to go without dairy, fish, meat and poultry for long periods before Christmas and the Assumption of the Virgin in July.

Crete’s ofanas dolmades are stuffed with rice, mint, eggplant, zucchini, carrots and onions.

Step 5. Dessert

Crete’s desserts definitely tempt. Crete’s desserts range from patouda (a shortbread enclosing walnuts and almonds) to stafidota (almond-raisin cookies) or zournadakia (phyllo filled with nuts and honey). Lychnarakia (also called sweet kaltsounia) are deep fried pastries of lemon rind, honey, cinnamon and vanilla that are said to resemble tiny oil lamps. Christmas is celebrated with many special desserts, including the tempting melomakarona, spice cookies dipped in honey.

Even simple desserts like loukoumades, which resemble donut holes fried with olive oil and topped with nuts, cinnamon and honey, look decadent.

What’s next?

To work off all of that amazing food, I’ve heard there are at least a few (dozen) interesting things to do in Crete.

Viator has some great tours of Crete to get you started.

Crete’s a perfect place to explore ancient ruins.

Watch the fishing boats bobbing in the blue sea.

Check out the local wildlife.

Take a walk around the historic town of Heraklion and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.

When I’m done all that, it may just be time to visit one of Crete’s lovely tavernas again.

As a kid, I would flip through glossy vacation brochures filled with scenes of sun-drenched beaches and smiling families until the pages went limp with use. Travel agents must have hated me. I was constantly nicking their magazines.

Today, not much has changed, except I’m checking out pretty pictures online, instead of committing petty larceny against unsuspecting travel agents. I’m on a bit of a Southern Europe kick, looking at how to find Corfu holidays for our beach loving family.

Why Corfu? Cofu’s a Greek island on the Ionian sea, dotted with pretty beaches and historic ruins. The old city has made the UNESCO World Heritage List. Many think Cofu was mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey, and homeowners on the island’s exclusive northeast side include members of the Rothschild family. It sounds like a wonderful place to soak up culture and history, wander the cobbled streets of the old city and take a dip in the clear water of the Ionian sea.

If Corfu doesn’t work out, it’s not like there’s a lack of fascinating and beautiful places to hang out in Southern Europe. Maybe I should start checking out bargain Spain holidays as well? Costa Blanca’s looking pretty good, with its beautiful views and crimson sunsets.

 

If beaches and sunsets aren’t working, word is that there’s some stunning Gaudi architecture to see.

But most importantly… given our well documented love of ice cream, it’s nice to know that something like this would be waiting for us.

Do you have any dream destinations?