Visiting Athens: walking in the city center with children

At first glance, you might think that it’s not always easy to spend a day in Athens with children. It is true that the old stones sometimes leave our children indifferent and that the narrow streets of the capital are not very suitable for games and chases. Yet Athens, with its many green spaces and colorful history, is a great place for a family vacation, including with young children. So, how visit Athens with children ?

A walk with children in the center of Athens

Here, we propose you an easy, central, variable geometry walk for your children but also for you. The itinerary was tested with our young children (<6 years old) and other older children who came to visit.

It’s always a success, and a great time for both adults and children.

This tour combines a clever mix of Greek folklore, walking and games, history and culture. Here are some key points of the course, which you can combine as you wish. The locations, as you will see on the map at the bottom of the article, are very close to each other. Make your own itinerary according to your time and the mood of the day. Also, feel free to click on the links that will give you more practical and detailed information.

Folklore

The changeover of the national guard is always a “best”. The choreography of these guards with pompoms and skirts, the Evzones, is simply fascinating. This ballet takes place every hour, in front of the Parliament, at Syntagma Square, at the right time. Usually, there are few people and children can sneak into the front row to admire the Evzones from closer. What they also like very much is to be photographed next to them.

Take advantage of your presence on Syntagma Square to taste a Koulouri (round sesame buns) or the bags of dried fruits sold by the street vendors, it’s delicious. A perfect snack!

The walk and the games

The National garden located just behind Syntagma Square, offers a welcome break in the middle of a day of sightseeing. You can enjoy a coffee or a picnic. It’s a moment of relaxation for some, of games and discoveries for others. The access is free, you can enter by the avenues Vassilis Amalias and Vassilis Amalias as well as by the street Irodou Attikou.

If you walk through the park, you will quickly find yourself in front of the war museum. You may say that this is a strange game? Certainly, but the museum presents outside life-size planes and helicopters just in front of the entrance. You can even get up to the height of the cockpit to see the interior. Children love to see these machines in more than just miniature. The area is free of access and you can let them roam without fear.

If you are in front of the war museum, you can stop by the Hellenic Children’s Museum. It is not very interesting for parents, but it appeals to young children. In addition, it has the merit of being free.

History and Culture

We prefer, for the moment, to introduce our children to ancient Greece by showing them the greatness of monuments, rather than dragging them to a guided tour of the museums. Pass by the Hadrian’s Gate, have them look at the Parthenon, the rock of the Acropolis from below and tell them the history of these places.

We also recommend a visit to the Panathenaic Stadium (or marble stadium). It has been completely restored and is very meaningful for children. First of all because it evokes themes in which they easily find themselves: sports and Olympic games. Secondly, because its “whole” and not “ruined” aspect helps to project oneself into a distant era. Note that there are audio guides for older children, which they like a lot.