Things to do with kids in Athens

Athens has a lot to offer children. From a learning perspective, parents can bless kids with rich, authentic history lessons in a city that's been around for thousands of years and, regarding active types of fun, Athens won't disappoint. With warm summers and mild winters, Athens boasts the perfect climate for outdoor activities. Visitors can picnic with locals in the city's many parks and gardens, some of which have children's playgrounds; families can also take the cable car up Mount Lykavittos and let kids enjoy the view over Athens. Children tend to enjoy the city's theme parks and local go-kart track as well. Children's museums make for great outings when Athens does see some rain. Otherwise, the city has a world-class planetarium and many indoor playgrounds.

Attica Zoological Gardens photo

Attica Zoological Gardens

Attica Zoo features exotic animals such as lynxes, Angolan lions and Persian leopards, plus more than 30 bird species, and is a must for animal lovers of all ages. Striving to comb…

Attica Zoological Gardens

Attica Zoo features exotic animals such as lynxes, Angolan lions and Persian leopards, plus more than 30 bird species, and is a must for animal lovers of all ages. Striving to combine education with entertainment, the zoo takes visitors on a journey through a number of themed sections, showcasing more than 2 000 animals from 350 species. Visitors can explore a reptile house, a children's farm, a monkey jungle and other walk-through enclosures.

Website www.atticapark.com

National Gardens photo

National Gardens

Picnicking with the children at the National Gardens on a Saturday has become a common pastime for local Athenian families and is a great way to spend a sunny summer's day when the…

National Gardens

Picnicking with the children at the National Gardens on a Saturday has become a common pastime for local Athenian families and is a great way to spend a sunny summer's day when the days are long. The gardens used to be called the Royal Gardens because they were the gardens of the king and the locals are very proud of this lovely green space in a city that doesn't actually have many parks.

The gardens have a collection of plants and trees from all over the world and plenty of water features that add coolness in the heat. The Gardens feature a small zoo, duck ponds, resident cats, a Botanical Museum, a playground and lots of wide-open space for children to play in. For children who love books, the gardens are also home to a Children's Library.

There are many beautiful areas to relax in the shade and get some respite from the busy city of Athens, and the gardens are also wonderful for walking or running. Locals enjoy playing games together at makeshift tables and often they don't mind if tourists want to join them. The gardens are located just behind the Greek parliament building, next to Syntagma Square, and are easy to locate.

Website www.greece-athens.com/place.php?place_id=109