Traveling to Greece with kids? If the answer is yes, then maybe Athens is one of the stops during this adventure. If that’s your case, then it’s a good idea to start planning for a relaxing, educational, and entertaining time. In this article, you will be able to discover the best things to do in Athens with kids!

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Top Things to Do in Athens with Kids

Athens for Kids

Athens is an amazing city that dazzles children and adults alike. The capital of Greece offers so many opportunities to have fun that time won’t seem to ever be enough for you and your kids.

It’s an ancient city filled with mysteries, myths, and legends that children adore. But Athens is also modern, vibrant, and full of magic, constantly offering things to do for the whole family.

…These are some of my favorite things to do in Athens with my own kids whenever we visit, take a look:

Visit the Acropolis with Children

Kids love the Acropolis! It’s an unforgettable adventure and a perfect idea to kickstart your Athens trip with the family. A visit to the Acropolis is one of the most entertaining things to do in Athens with kids.

It will make the whole family travel back to Classical times, discover the origins of democracy, and teach a lot about one of the subjects kids love the most: Greek mythology!

Climbing up the Acropolis, discovering the Parthenon and the several other temples and monuments on the hill, and looking out to marvel at the breathtaking view of the city is something that nobody in the family will ever forget.

For everybody to have a better insight and understand more of the surroundings, booking a tour that also caters to children can be just the right thing to do.

My kids (and me too!) loved the Mythological Tour of Athens, we spent about 4 fascinating hours listening to captivating stories of adventures and courage, with Gods, mighty heroes, and fantastic creatures, all of them related to every monument that we were looking at.

It was unbelievable! And the kids adored it!

Now that you know why you should really visit the Acropolis with your kids, let’s check some important things to remember:

Tips to Visit the Acropolis with Kids

• Athens enjoys quite mild weather during long months, as from late April until October, you should expect to enjoy pleasant temperatures, peaking from June to September. This means that every open space (including archaeological sites, open ruins, and even parks) can get extremely hot. As a consequence, remember to:

• Kids will need to walk a lot, sometimes even hike and climb, so being comfortable is important. Make your kids wear comfy walking shoes, well-ventilated if in summer. Remember that the Acropolis has very slippery grounds in some areas, so make sure their shoes help prevent falls and accidents.
• Since the Acropolis slopes can be slippery, rocky, and hard to walk around, strollers are not permitted on the site. Carrying a baby with a sling can be a good solution. Do not worry about visiting the Acropolis Museum afterward, they do have baby strollers available and free of charge.
• While the Acropolis offers toilet facilities, baby changing rooms are only available at the Acropolis Museum.
• Operating hours tend to change from summer to winter, but also during holidays… and (unfortunately) pandemics. On some days, the entrance ticket can even be free of charge. Keep this in mind when booking your tour. Check the Acropolis official site for more information.
• You can also get your e-tickets from the official e-ticketing service of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports here.
• Don’t overpack. Remember that there’s a baggage control system right at the entrance and that a cloakroom is also available to deposit your bags.
• Do not wear heels (it would not be reasonable, plus they are not allowed in archaeological sites either). Small to medium backpacks are ok.
• Pack your camera to capture all those amazing family moments in the Acropolis. If you want to access the site with a tripod, it will be necessary to ask for an official permit in advance.

Best Kid-Friendly Tours of the Acropolis

# Acropolis Mythological Tour: We enjoyed our Mythological Tour so much that we took it on two different occasions… and we would do it again. It was really amazing.
Book this tour here.

Highlights: This tour allows you to skip the lines and see Athens’ most important landmarks while learning all about the myths behind them.

You will visit the majestic Acropolis, the Temple of Zeus, and the Ancient Agora and find out their connection to the Greek gods and goddesses!

There are many more mythological tours available, some of them made to keep kids and parents entertained for hours:

# The History of Greek Mythology Private Tour takes you and your kids to visit iconic sites and hear stories and tales of Greek mythology from your local tour guide. Click here to book this tour.

# Mythology Tour for Families is an engaging family adventure that explores the true roots of Greek mythology in the stunning sights of the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora. Click here to book this tour.

Discover the Acropolis Museum with Kids

Just steps from the magnificent Acropolis, there is another place that you should definitely have to visit during your Greece family vacation. And that is the Acropolis Museum.

And, of course, visiting the museum once you have also seen the Acropolis will add a whole new perspective to the things that your kids will have learned and discovered by the end of the day.

Among the most important museums in the world, the Acropolis Museum features over 3.000 artifacts retrieved from the excavations in the Acropolis, and a visit to it is like putting the missing pieces in the puzzle of the Acropolis back together.

Useful tip: Check out the Lego Acropolis model and the book corner, kids really enjoy both no matter their age!

One thing that you should remember is that the museum is really interested in making the past accessible and comprehensible for children.

So I suggest looking at the Acropolis Museum’s special page for kids. It offers practical information for parents and it also features interactive activities and games for the little ones, as well as a list of all the activities geared to kids in the program.

The museum also features family tours, an educational lab, kid-friendly guides, and many other special family events.

And for shoppers… check the museum shop. Here, kids will find anything from toys, games, and educational material in many different languages! Is there a better souvenir from this experience?

Tips to Visit the Acropolis Museum with Babies and Toddlers

• There are strollers free of charge at the museum’s cloakroom.
• There is a room for parents on the 1st floor where you can change and feed your baby
• Hungry kids? The museum restaurant, on the 2nd floor, features a tasty menu for children.

Marvel at the Museum of Illusions (One of the most fascinating Things to Do in Athens with Kids!)

There are currently two Museums of Illusions in Greece, one of them in Athens, and the other one in Thessaloniki. Relatively new and quite alternative, this small but interesting museum is another visit you should not skip when in Greece with kids.

Witness the Imposing Change of the Presidential Guard: Kids Love It!

There’s nothing more mesmerizing than witnessing the change of the presidential guard at the Greek Parliament, right opposite Syntagma Square.

The ceremony takes place right at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier every hour. The soldiers, also known as Tsoliades or Evzones are expected to stand guard in total silence and expressionless for 60 minutes at a time.

The ceremony of the change of the guard is unique to the capital and it’s such a popular attraction that it’s not odd to find the area crowded upon arrival.

These soldiers belong to the elite unit of the Greek army, which dates back to 1868. The ceremony is unique to the capital city and very special – get there early as you will not be the only one with this idea!

If you’re up to a more special ceremony, then don’t miss the change of the guard that takes place every Sunday at 11 am.

Take a Break at the National Garden

Traveling to Greece with kids in spring? Then how about taking a break with a picnic at the National Garden?

This public park in the center of Athens is an amazing place to spend some time with children. You can find the National Garden right behind the Greek Parliament building and it is easy to spot due to the incredibly tall palm trees that welcome you at the main entrance.

This huge green oasis is the ideal spot for a picnic, with its tranquil paths to walk, bike, and enjoy a pause from the chaos of the capital.

Inside the park, there’s a small farm with animals, a pond, and an interesting botanical museum. For small kids, there’s a large sandbox to play in and have fun. You can also find a library dedicated to kids and a cafeteria.

Have Afternoon Tea at The Little KooK

Arguably one of the places that my kids enjoy the most in Athens, this unique cafeteria invites you to an incredible, enchanting world in the heart of the hip Psyrri neighborhood, just meters from Monastiraki Square.

This unique, themed café is a wonderful place for a family afternoon in Athens. It is located at the end of a gorgeous little alley which has been renovated by the locals as part of a requalification program of the area.

The easiest way to spot the café is to look for the fantastic dragon sitting on top of its roof. On the outside, there’s a carriage inviting you for an unforgettable ride into the parallel realm of magical fairytales.

Once inside, the kid staff, all dressed up in the theme of the season — which can be anything from Halloween, Christmas, or even a special fairy tale — will welcome young and adult guests to the café with dimmed lights and a mysterious atmosphere.

In the venue, there are several floors with decorated walls, fantastic staircases, as well as unique hidden and mysterious corners. Kids will marvel at spooky witches cooking spiders in their cauldrons.

The menu features delicacies for all tastes, and although it might be considered a bit on the pricey side, the experience is worth the extra Euro.

Coffee, teas, hot chocolate, juices, but also cupcakes, sweet and savory crepes, unique desserts, and more are served with taste and according to the seasonal decor.

The Little KooK is popular both among locals and tourists and it also caters to an adult public, with a good variety of wine, beer, and other alcoholic drinks… and of course, is one of the most magical places to visit in Athens with children. 

Check Athens’ Street Art Scenario: Teens Are All Up For This!

Street art is a thing in Athens… and not a thing to overlook. Kids love to discover these unique urban spaces that have been filled with stunning colors and shapes of graffiti.

The best areas to explore include Exarchia, Gazi, Psyrri, Thisseio, and Kerameikos, probably the areas in Athens that boast more painted walls and street art.

But you will also find fun, colorful graffiti in other areas, like the central Plaka.

Most of these unique murals have a unique story behind them, often related to the city’s lifestyle, history, and current events.

Are your Kids into Sports? Pay a Visit to the Panathenaic Stadium

Fans of the Olympic Games in the family? Then take your kids on a visit to the Panathenaic Stadium.

Another significant monument that you should not miss during your family trip to Athens is this stadium, an important place for Greece’s history as it held the first Modern Olympic Games.

Since the site is in an open space, follow the same rules you would when visiting the Acropolis, that is: carry water, a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. 

The entrance fee includes an automatic audio-guide tour of the site and gives you the right to run on the track! I bet your kids will adore this experience!

Location: Vasileos Konstantinou Ave.

Opening hours: From 8 am to 7 pm in summer, from 8 pm to 5 pm in winter.

Morning Jogging: From 07:30 until 09:00.

Tickets: They can be purchased outside the stadium, the cost is €10 (reduced ticket is €5). Kids under 6 enjoy free entrance.

Visit the website of the stadium or join a tour like this one that includes the stadium in the list of programmed visits.

Explore the Museum of Greek Children’s Art

Considered one of the very few worldwide that exhibits drawings and three-dimensional artworks created by children from 5 to 14 years old.

Here, kids can also participate in specially designed educational programs that seek to get the children acquainted with the artwork. Activities are bilingual for visitors of all ages.

Location: 9 Kodrou Street.

Opening hours: From Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 2 pm.

Visit the site of the Museum of Greek Children’s Art – Look for more information here.

Admire the Stars at the Planetarium

Considered among the biggest and best-equipped digital planetariums in the world, Athens Planetarium boasts a 25-meter central dome (diameter) and 280 seats equipped with an interactive unit that enables the user to control the display to ensure the greatest possible degree of comfort!

935 square meters of space plus a 3-D 360-degree view are part of this magical experience with a cinema projection system that broadcasts films over an area ten times larger than in an ordinary cinema. After the show, you can enjoy a cup of coffee in the in-house cafeteria.

Visit the Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology

Filled with exact replicas of interesting mechanisms, such as the Philosoper’s Stone of Heron, Parmenion’s portable clock notebook, Plato’s hydraulic alarm clock, the planetary system of Ptolemy or the remarkable Antikythera Mechanism, considered the oldest analog computer in history.

The exhibition is enriched with incredible objects such as ancient ships, musical instruments, and fancy toys from antiquity.

Your kids are able to enjoy entertaining experiences, tours, and interactive activities and games organized by the knowledgeable staff offered both in Greek and in English. Trust me when I say that this is among the best places to visit in Athens with kids!

>> It’s also a great idea to visit the museum’s page to be informed about periodic exhibitions, and current opening hours, as well as to book tickets online.

Location: 6, Pindarous Street.

Tickets: The general admission is €5, organized interactive tours that host at least 4 participants and last one hour have an entrance fee of €10 per person. Tickets for kids from 6 to 17 are €3.5, while kids under 5 enter for free. Tickets are also available online.

Best for: Kids and adults of all ages.

Cold and Rainy? Jump on a Hop-on-Hop-off Bus

Athens can be fun even in the rain… or in winter too! You just need a comfy and cozy way to see the city, and for this, nothing beats the comfort of an Athens hop-on hop-off tour.

In Athens, you can make your kids choose between one of the three different featured routes that will show you around different sites and attractions.

With the ticket, you will get an audio guide that will describe exactly what you’re seeing, so you won’t miss a thing. The open-top, double-decker buses are also great to discover the city in summer when the heat is too much to bear walking in the center of town.

The route starts in Syntagma Square and all buses are accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.
Find tickets and more info here.

Duration: About 90 minutes.

Frequency: Every 15 minutes.

Explore the Hellenic Children’s Museum

Well… in case you didn’t know, Athens is filled with kid-friendly museums, and the Hellenic Children’s Museum is probably one of them.

This interactive museum, quite small and easy to visit with kids, is there to help children learn things about the world through direct experiences, games, and more.

It shows children complex concepts that rule in our society in a more didactic and practical way. The museum helps kids to develop a social conscience while understanding and enjoying the world in which they live. 

Among the things that kids can do, they will be able to experiment with building materials, get creative with food in the kitchen space and the supermarket, make discoveries through role-play, exercise in making decisions and solving problems, and interact with other pairs and parents alike.

More Athens Museums with Activities for Kids

Goulandris Modern Art Museum: Let the kids marvel at the world of remarkable modern artists, such as Cézanne, Degas, Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh, and Rodin, or important Greek artists.
Families can take advantage of educational programs and art workshops for kids and teens too, It opens daily from 10 am to 6 pm. More info at the museum’s site.

Goulandris Natural History Museum: Children just love museums of natural history. At least mine do, and that’s because they always shelter unique surprises that pick their brain, makes them think, learn, and have tons of fun. The museum is in Kifissia, not far from the center of Athens. Check their website here.

National Gallery: Check with your kids more than 20,000 works of painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, new media, and decorative arts at the National Gallery. Entrance is free for kids up to 12, and there are weekly children’s workshops (Saturdays from 11 am to 2 pm). More details here.

Museum of Cycladic Art: Perfect for kids who will visit or have visited the islands, the museum features permanent audio-visual installations exhibiting all kinds of objects and interesting information about the ancient civilizations of the Cycladic Islands. It also offers family programs in English. You can get more details here or you can also buy the tickets online.

National Archaeological Museum: Check the remarkable collection of excavations coming from all over Greece in this imposing museum. You and your children can visit with a super cheap and convenient self-guided audio tour that allows kids to visit at their own pace.

Athens War Museum: Want to check airplanes, weapons, and military uniforms in a fun and interactive way? The Athens War Museum offers apps, games, and tours especially thought for kids. More details here.

Hellenic Motor Museum: For kids into speed and engines, this museum is perfect if they love old and classic cars. Located in a unique building, the museum explores the evolution of cars, displaying over a hundred vehicles from the past two centuries. Entry tickets can be purchased online here.

More Captivating Things to Do in Athens with Children

Kid-Friendly Tours in Athens

This selection includes unconventional tours of Athens that are especially attractive for children!

Ancient Greek Theater Performance: See heroes you have only heard of, come to life in front of you during the funniest 60 minutes in Athens, watching a performance in English, right next to the Museum of Acropolis. Book this tour here.

Athens Instagram Tour – The Most Scenic Spots: Check the most Instagram-worthy sights around Athens downtown, where you’ll snap photos and experience the urban environment of Athens. Teens love this tour. Book this tour here.

3-Hour Unconventional Instant Photo Walking Tour: At the beginning of the experience you’ll get an instant camera to transform the vibrant center of Athens into a creative photography workshop, discover the best of the city, try delicious street food, sip a traditional Greek coffee, and capturing the essence of Greece. Book this tour here.

Private Walking Tour for Families: Short and sweet, this is a fun-filled day catered to families with small children where you’ll play fun games designed to show the importance of teamwork while learning about Greek history. A perfect activity for small kids. Book this tour here.
Are you visiting Athens with your kids soon?

As you can see, there’s plenty to do and see in Athens with children… now, why don’t you check out the best Athens hotels to stay with the family?

Where to stay in Athens with kids

Check the following Athens family hotels to check photos, compare prices, and read other guests’ reviews before making a reservation.

Read more about Greece with Kids

• Kid-Friendly Greek Food: Best Things to Eat in Greece for Picky Eaters
• Crete or Santorini? Which Island is the One You Should Visit?
• Discover the Most Beautiful Places in Greece for Families
• Family Holidays in Greece: The Best Places to Visit with Kids

Pin this Guide to the Best Things to Do in Athens with Kids for Your Upcoming Family Adventures!