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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 implausible metropolis and actually loved our three days there. In truth, we may have spent for much longer within the metropolis.
I do know many individuals rush by means of Athens on their strategy to the Greek islands of Mykonos or Santorini, however I believe that could be a huge mistake. Our journey to Greece was motivated by Ella’s intense curiosity in Greek mythology, fueled by the Percy Jackson guide collection. She had a protracted listing of Greek sights on her listing that she wished to go to and plenty of of them have been in Athens. Learn my full submit about our Percy Jackson impressed journey to Greece, with itinerary info.
We stayed within the Koukaki space, close to the Acropolis Museum, which was actually handy for attending to the foremost vacationer sights, but additionally was stuffed 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 by means of 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.
Whilst 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 in regards to the Acropolis and the mythology behind historic Greece. Each of those excursions have 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 here are our high picks for one of the best issues to do in Athens with youngsters. Earlier than you go, try these Europe journey ideas.
The Greatest 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 a substitute its low rise buildings are unfold out over the dry hills, making a sea of white. For one of the 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 lovely 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 slender 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 slender streets is so classically Greek.
We have been launched to the Anafiotika neighborhood on our meals tour and it’s positively an space of the 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 development 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 a terrific melting pot of locals and vacationers. The realm exhibits off the town’s Ottoman and Byzantine historical past and buzzes with exercise. The Monastiraki flea market provides up numerous procuring alternatives and you’re by no means removed from a souvlaki joint.
Additionally remember to try Lukumades (EOLOU 21 & AG. EIRINIS) for fancy loukoumades (Greek donuts). You is perhaps tempted by the flowery taste mixtures, however follow the normal, honey and nuts.
Athens Meals Tour
Greek meals is implausible, however so usually vacationers simply follow 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 numerous 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 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. Value 64/euros adults, 29-52/euros youngsters (relying on age).
Acropolis and Historical Agora
The Acropolis is crucial 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 means of the Acropolis and the Historical Agora and having our personal non-public information was unimaginable. It was a sweltering 38 levels in August once we have been there, however our information, Aris, defined what we have been seeing and wove in attention-grabbing 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 completely different Greek Gods that we discovered essentially the most attention-grabbing. Value: for a non-public tour 220-260 euros/household. 4 hour excursions.
Acropolis Museum
Typically we’re scared to go to museums with our youngsters, 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 youngsters have been instantly impressed. Once you arrive, be sure you choose up the youngsters backpack with a map to search 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 vital sq. and the middle of business exercise and Greek politics.
Many nations on the planet 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 good 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 certainly 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 inbuilt the identical 12 months because the Parthenon. You possibly can go to as a part of a tour, rent a taxi, or we visited on the day we had a rental automobile. 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 except you’re a actual mythology buff. Value was 10 euros/grownup, free for youngsters.
Getting Round Athens
We had hassle 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 the town. He was tremendous pleasant the entire drive chat away to us. Sadly once 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 a terrific introduction to the town. One other time the youngsters have been actually scorching and drained and we received in a taxi with no meter and we paid 20E for a brief journey (he did inform us prematurely the value). 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 affordable at 1.40E, youngsters 60 cents, however the station we have been in had no individual working and the machines wouldn’t enable us to purchase a decreased (youngsters) ticket. There are good worth multi-day tickets for vacationers if you’ll be utilizing the metro every day and are taking it from the airport.
Attending to and from the Athens Airport
Bus – 6E/individual
Metro – 10E /grownup, 5E/little one, also can buy return tickets.
Taxi 38E set fare, payable to the motive force on the taxi stand. Drivers are hesitant to take households of 5.
The place to Keep in Athens
For bigger households, Airbnbs are a terrific possibility in Athens. We stayed in a splendidly retro 3-bedroom house close to the Acropolis station. The situation was extremely comfort for attending to the preferred areas, but it surely was populated with largely locals. We have been welcomed by our host’s dad and mom with kisses, fruit and sweets and great Greek hospitality.
In case you are in search of one of the best costs of motels in Athens, try Reserving.com.
The place to Eat in Athens with Youngsters
- Souvlaki – full service eating places usually 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 – superb vary of lovely contemporary produce at grime 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 usually be charged for the bread in your desk – this irritated us at first, however the bread is nice and it’s impolite to ship it away. You get rather a lot for the value you pay and we by no means had a foul meals whereas in Athens.
Our Verdict
We thought Athens was a terrific metropolis to go to with youngsters. 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 costlier than different components 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 dashing 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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