Our Information to Athens with Youngsters
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I had heard loads of combined opinions about Athens earlier than our journey and so I did not actually know what to anticipate. Some had cherished it and others had commented that it was soiled, unsafe and solely worthy of a few days. What did we predict? We thought it was a improbable metropolis and actually loved our three days there. In truth, we might have spent for much longer within the metropolis.
I do know many individuals rush via Athens on their strategy to the Greek islands of Mykonos or Santorini, however I believe that may be a massive mistake. Our journey to Greece was motivated by Ella’s intense curiosity in Greek mythology, fueled by the Percy Jackson ebook sequence. She had a protracted checklist of Greek sights on her checklist that she needed to go to and plenty of of them had been in Athens. Learn my full submit about our Percy Jackson impressed journey to Greece, with itinerary data.
We stayed within the Koukaki space, close to the Acropolis Museum, which was actually handy for attending to the main vacationer sights, but additionally was filled with actual Athenians. Athens is a really walkable metropolis and we spent most of our time in Plaka, and Monastiraki. You do not have to work arduous to sight see in Athens; simply strolling via the streets, you’re confronted by historical past with ruins littered all through the town. Obtain the Rick Steves audiotour and discover the town with Rick’s attention-grabbing commentary.
When you can wander the town simply by yourself, we took two excursions whereas in Athens, which actually elevated our go to. We did a meals tour with Athens Meals on Foot, the place we tried so many meals, some acquainted, however many new to us. The second tour we did was a Mythology tour of the Acropolis with Greeking.Me the place realized so many attention-grabbing issues concerning the Acropolis and the mythology behind historic Greece. Each of those excursions had been actually kid-friendly and allowed us to get a lot extra out of our go to to Athens.
If you’re visiting Athens, listed below are our high picks for the very best issues to do in Athens with children. Earlier than you go, take a look at these Europe journey ideas.
The Finest Issues to do in Athens with Youngsters
Mount Lycabettus
Like many European cities, Athens doesn’t have a core metropolis middle with excessive rises. As an alternative its low rise buildings are unfold out over the dry hills, making a sea of white. For the very best views within the metropolis, head to Mount Lycabettus the place you possibly can look out over the town, spot the Acropolis and even the Aegean Sea.
Youngsters will love taking the funicular up the hill, even if you cannot see something on the way in which up. As soon as on the high, take within the stunning views or have a drink or meal on the hilltop restaurant. Tickets price 7.50 euros/return, half-price for youngsters.
Wander the Plaka
Plaka is the neighborhood proper beside Acropolis Hill and with its picturesque slim lanes constructed on the hills and eating places that spill out into the squares, it’s simple to see why it’s a vacationer favorite. It’s a beautiful space of the town to stroll round and whereas lots of the eating places cater nearly fully to overseas vacationers, consuming al fresco within the slim streets is so classically Greek.
We had been launched to the Anafiotika neighborhood on our meals tour and it’s undoubtedly an space of the town that you do not need to miss. The world was settled when folks from the island of Anafi got here to Athens to work on the King’s building initiatives. The properties are constructed within the Cycladic fashion with white walled properties and brightly flowering gardens.
Monastiraki Sq.
We cherished Monastiraki as a result of it was an incredible melting pot of locals and vacationers. The world exhibits off the town’s Ottoman and Byzantine historical past and buzzes with exercise. The Monastiraki flea market presents up plenty of purchasing alternatives and you’re by no means removed from a souvlaki joint.
Additionally make sure you take a look at Lukumades (EOLOU 21 & AG. EIRINIS) for fancy loukoumades (Greek donuts). You is perhaps tempted by the frilly taste combos, however stick to the normal, honey and nuts.
Athens Meals Tour
Greek meals is improbable, however so typically vacationers simply stick to what they know – souvlaki and moussaka. Each of these dishes are divine, however our meals tour with Athens Meals on Foot allowed us to expertise so many new meals, whereas studying a ton concerning the metropolis and tradition. They provide a household tour with plenty of stops that the youngsters and adults will each love. We visited the central market, tasted staples like olives and Greek pies (spanakopita), but additionally a bread snack known as kalouri, Greek yogurt with honey and nuts, sardines, cheese and deli meats and extra. She was additionally in a position to customise the tour for us vegetarians with some meat choices for our carnivore youngsters. We did our meals tour on our first day in Athens and it was the right introduction to Athens, Greek meals and Greek hospitality. Value 64/euros adults, 29-52/euros youngsters (relying on age).
Acropolis and Historic Agora
The Acropolis is an important historic sight in Athens and isn’t to be missed. The Parthenon is the crown jewel of the Acropolis – an unimaginable constructing constructed by the world’s most superior civilization. That is the spotlight of visiting Athens with children for many households.
Our Mythology tour with Greeking.Me took us via the Acropolis and the Historic Agora and having our personal personal information was unimaginable. It was a sweltering 38 levels in August after we had been there, however our information, Aris, defined what we had been seeing and wove in attention-grabbing tales and mythology that was excellent for our mythology obsessed daughter. We received a lot extra out of our go to as a result of we had a information and we got here away with a significantly better appreciation and understanding of the Acropolis. The Parthenon was the visible spotlight, but it surely was the tales concerning the completely different Greek Gods that we discovered probably the most attention-grabbing. Value: for a personal tour 220-260 euros/household. 4 hour excursions.
Acropolis Museum
Generally we’re scared to go to museums with our youngsters, however the brand new Acropolis Museum is an excellent place to go to with children. Beginning with the lego and miniature mannequin of the Acropolis, the youngsters had been instantly impressed. While you arrive, ensure you choose up the youngsters backpack with a map to seek out the entire statutes of Athens all through the museum and historic-themed video games. Value: 10 euros/grownup, 5 euros/youngsters (5 euros/3 euros in winter).
Syntagma Sq. and Altering of the Guard
Syntagma Sq. is Athens’s most essential sq. and the middle of business exercise and Greek politics.
Many nations on the earth have elaborate altering of the guard routines and on the Hellenic Parliament constructing throughout from Syntagma Sq. you possibly can see the Greek model, each hour on the hour. The official ceremony occurs each Sunday at 11 am, however we totally loved the as soon as hourly ceremony on a weekday. The ornately dressed troopers with elaborate and exact footwork is a superb free factor to do in Athens with children.
Day Journey to the Temple of Poseidon
The Temple of Poseidon at Sounio is 1.5 hours outdoors of Athens and options prominently within the Percy Jackson books. It was considered one of Ella’s requested stops and is a well-liked half day journey from Athens. The Temple of Poseidon’s gleaming white columns overlooking the ocean was in-built the identical yr because the Parthenon. You’ll be able to go to as a part of a tour, rent a taxi, or we visited on the day we had a rental automotive. Whereas the Temple does have a spectacular location overlooking the ocean, there is not that a lot to see or do there. I would not exit of your strategy to go to until you’re a actual mythology buff. Value was 10 euros/grownup, free for youngsters.
Getting Round Athens
We had bother with taxis scamming us that left a bitter style in our mouths in Athens. As a household of 5, most wouldn’t take us in a single taxi. One did comply with take us from the airport, the place it’s a fastened worth 38E into the town. He was tremendous pleasant the entire drive chat away to us. Sadly after we received there we did not have change and he would not give us change from a 50E be aware since he stated we should always have taken 2 taxis. Not an incredible introduction to the town. One other time the youngsters had been actually scorching and drained and we received in a taxi and not using a meter and we paid 20E for a brief trip (he did inform us upfront the value). All taxis are required to have meters, so ensure you use taxis with a meter and ensure they really use it.
We did attempt to use the metro as soon as and located it fairly complicated. 90-minute metro tickets are very affordable at 1.40E, children 60 cents, however the station we had been in had no individual working and the machines wouldn’t enable us to purchase a decreased (children) ticket. There are good worth multi-day tickets for vacationers if you can be utilizing the metro day by day and are taking it from the airport.
Attending to and from the Athens Airport
Bus – 6E/individual
Metro – 10E /grownup, 5E/baby, can even buy return tickets.
Taxi 38E set fare, payable to the driving force on the taxi stand. Drivers are hesitant to take households of 5.
The place to Keep in Athens
For bigger households, Airbnbs are an incredible possibility in Athens. We stayed in a splendidly retro 3-bedroom residence close to the Acropolis station. The placement was extremely comfort for attending to the most well-liked areas, but it surely was populated with largely locals. We had been welcomed by our host’s mother and father with kisses, fruit and sweets and fantastic Greek hospitality.
If you’re in search of the very best costs of accommodations in Athens, take a look at Reserving.com.
The place to Eat in Athens with Youngsters
- Souvlaki – full service eating places typically supply souvlaki to remove for the budget-friendly worth of two.50 euros
- Greek Yogurt – Freshko Yogurt Bar, proper close to the Acropolis Museum
- Greek donuts – Lukumades, Monastiraki
- Eating places with Out of doors Eating – Plaka is picturesque, however we discovered higher meals and costs close to our Airbnb in Koukaki
- Central Market – wonderful vary of gorgeous contemporary produce at filth low cost costs
tipping – spherical up, no have to tip 10-15%. Order meals to share – the servings are enormous and it’s extra enjoyable to share. You’ll typically be charged for the bread in your desk – this aggravated us at first, however the bread is sweet and it’s impolite to ship it away. You get so much for the value you pay and we by no means had a nasty meals whereas in Athens.
Our Verdict
We thought Athens was an incredible metropolis to go to with children. The Greek ruins are the principle draw, with meals being a really shut runner up. We cherished simply wandering the neighborhoods within the metropolis centre. Though Athens is barely dearer than different elements of Greece, we discovered that it represented actually good worth. We spent 3 days in Athens, which gave us time to see the principle sights with out speeding round an excessive amount of. It was the start of our love affair with Greece that continued as we headed off into the Peloponnese on our self-guided Percy Jackson tour (extra to come back on that).
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