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I had heard a number of combined critiques about Athens earlier than our journey and so I did not actually know what to anticipate. Some had liked it and others had commented that it was soiled, unsafe and solely worthy of a few days. What did we expect? We thought it was a incredible metropolis and actually loved our three days there. In reality, we may have spent for much longer within the metropolis.
I do know many individuals rush by way of Athens on their technique to the Greek islands of Mykonos or Santorini, however I feel 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 e book collection. She had an extended record of Greek sights on her record that she wished to go to and lots of of them had been in Athens. Learn my full publish 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 most important vacationer sights, but in addition 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 exhausting to sight see in Athens; simply strolling by way of the streets, you might be confronted by historical past with ruins littered all through town. Obtain the Rick Steves audiotour and discover town with Rick’s fascinating commentary.
Whilst you can wander 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 fascinating issues in regards to the Acropolis and the mythology behind historical 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.
In case you are visiting Athens, listed below are our high picks for the perfect issues to do in Athens with youngsters. Earlier than you go, try these Europe journey suggestions.
The Greatest Issues to do in Athens with Children
Mount Lycabettus
Like many European cities, Athens doesn’t have a core metropolis heart with excessive rises. As an alternative its low rise buildings are unfold out over the dry hills, making a sea of white. For the perfect views within the metropolis, head to Mount Lycabettus the place you’ll be able to look out over town, spot the Acropolis and even the Aegean Sea.
Children will love taking the funicular up the hill, even if you cannot see something on the best way 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 kids.
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 straightforward to see why it’s a vacationer favorite. It’s a beautiful space of town to stroll round and whereas lots of the eating places cater virtually completely to international 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 positively an space of town that you do not wish to miss. The realm was settled when individuals from the island of Anafi got here to Athens to work on the King’s building tasks. The houses are constructed within the Cycladic type with white walled houses and brightly flowering gardens.
Monastiraki Sq.
We liked Monastiraki as a result of it was an important melting pot of locals and vacationers. The realm exhibits off town’s Ottoman and Byzantine historical past and buzzes with exercise. The Monastiraki flea market affords up a lot of purchasing alternatives and you might be by no means removed from a souvlaki joint.
Additionally you should definitely try Lukumades (EOLOU 21 & AG. EIRINIS) for fancy loukoumades (Greek donuts). You could be tempted by the flowery taste mixtures, however keep on with the normal, honey and nuts.
Athens Meals Tour
Greek meals is incredible, however so typically vacationers simply keep on with 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 in regards to the metropolis and tradition. They provide a household tour with a lot of stops that the children and adults will each love. We visited the central market, tasted staples like olives and Greek pies (spanakopita), but in addition a bread snack known as kalouri, Greek yogurt with honey and nuts, sardines, cheese and deli meats and extra. She was additionally capable of 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. Price 64/euros adults, 29-52/euros youngsters (relying on age).
Acropolis and Historical Agora
The Acropolis is a very powerful 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 youngsters for many households.
Our Mythology tour with Greeking.Me took us by way of the Acropolis and the Historical 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 fascinating tales and mythology that was good 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 a lot better appreciation and understanding of the Acropolis. The Parthenon was the visible spotlight, but it surely was the tales in regards to the totally different Greek Gods that we discovered essentially the most fascinating. Price: for a personal tour 220-260 euros/household. 4 hour excursions.
Acropolis Museum
Generally we’re scared to go to museums with our children, however the brand new Acropolis Museum is a superb place to go to with youngsters. Beginning with the lego and miniature mannequin of the Acropolis, the children had been instantly impressed. Once you arrive, be sure you choose up the children backpack with a map to search out all the statutes of Athens all through the museum and historic-themed video games. Price: 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 necessary sq. and the middle of economic exercise and Greek politics.
Many nations on this planet have elaborate altering of the guard routines and on the Hellenic Parliament constructing throughout from Syntagma Sq. you’ll be able to see the Greek model, each hour on the hour. The official ceremony occurs each Sunday at 11 am, however we completely 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 youngsters.
Day Journey to the Temple of Poseidon
The Temple of Poseidon at Sounio is 1.5 hours exterior of Athens and options prominently within the Percy Jackson books. It was one in every 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 inbuilt 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 technique to go to except you’re a actual mythology buff. Price was 10 euros/grownup, free for kids.
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 conform to take us from the airport, the place it’s a fastened worth 38E into 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 word since he mentioned we must always have taken 2 taxis. Not an important introduction to town. One other time the children had been actually scorching and drained and we received in a taxi and not using a meter and we paid 20E for a brief experience (he did inform us prematurely the worth). All taxis are required to have meters, so be sure 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 cheap at 1.40E, youngsters 60 cents, however the station we had been in had no particular person working and the machines wouldn’t enable us to purchase a diminished (youngsters) ticket. There are good worth multi-day tickets for vacationers if you can be utilizing the metro every day and are taking it from the airport.
Attending to and from the Athens Airport
Bus – 6E/particular person
Metro – 10E /grownup, 5E/baby, also can 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 important possibility in Athens. We stayed in a splendidly retro 3-bedroom condo close to the Acropolis station. The placement was extremely comfort for attending to the preferred areas, but it surely was populated with principally locals. We had been welcomed by our host’s mother and father with kisses, fruit and sweets and fantastic Greek hospitality.
In case you are on the lookout for the perfect costs of lodges in Athens, try Reserving.com.
The place to Eat in Athens with Children
- Souvlaki – full service eating places typically provide 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 lovely recent produce at dust low-cost costs
tipping – spherical up, no have to tip 10-15%. Order meals to share – the servings are big and it’s extra enjoyable to share. You’ll typically be charged for the bread in your desk – this irritated us to start with, however the bread is sweet and it’s impolite to ship it away. You get so much for the worth you pay and we by no means had a foul meals whereas in Athens.
Our Verdict
We thought Athens was an important metropolis to go to with youngsters. The Greek ruins are the principle draw, with meals being a really shut runner up. We liked simply wandering the neighborhoods within the metropolis centre. Though Athens is barely dearer than different elements of Greece, we discovered that it’s 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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