I absolutely loved my short 3-day trip to Athens with K, my older daughter! When our kids turn 12, they get to take a weekend/long weekend domestic trip with one parent. Since we live in London now, the 3.5 hour cheap, nonstop flight to Athens made this a possibility. 🙂
I hope this 3 day Athens itinerary is helpful and brings you lots of wonderful Athens experiences and memories!
Tips for Visiting Athens With Kids
What to Pack for a European Vacation: Minimal Packing Essentials for Families
We definitely wanted to pack minimally – both because I hate carrying extra stuff and because we were flying on a budget airline with only a personal item. So we wanted to pack for a weekend trip in a backpack!
Here’s everything I took along – I had everything I needed and didn’t miss a thing. I hope it helps you pack minimally for a weekend trip, as well!
For more packing ideas here’s what I packed for:
Where to Stay in Athens With Kids
We originally booked an Airbnb right near the Acropolis for our stay. Unfortunately, we found out after our flight landed that there was no electricity in the apartment and our host couldn’t have us stay. They booked us a different place for our first night (we landed at around midnight and had no other options!) – we stayed at this hotel and it was nice and pretty convenient.
For our next two nights, the first hotel wasn’t available, so our host booked an apartment about a half hour drive from the center and we were NOT okay with that. So we decided to book our own hotel and got a refund from Airbnb for our stay. We ended up booking the Intercontinental Athanaeum and it was totally lovely. I was hesitant at first since it’s not within walking distance of the major sites, but that weekend, even though it was the end of September, was totally booked and there was nothing even remotely affordable available right in the center. So we booked the Intercontinental, and it turned out to be absolutely lovely! Super comfortable and spacious rooms, an incredible breakfast, and fast (and cheap) to get everywhere by Uber. (There’s also a bus close by but Athens isn’t as well connected by public transit as some other places, so a taxi ended up being more convenient since we only had a couple trips from there, and they’re very affordable – it was around 6-8 Euros for a ride to most sites.
Here are a few family-friendly options for accommodations in Athens:
- Wyndham Athens Residence
- Ederlezi Boutique Hotel
- Central Athens 2BR Condo
- Adrianou Apartments
- Plaka Hotel
- 2BR Downtown Flat
- Hotel Achilles
- Acropolis Home Sleeps 6
MAP: Best Itinerary for 3 Days in Athens With Kids
See THIS MAP to view all the best sites for an Athens family vacation!
Get Professional Family Photos for Your Trip
We absolutely love using Flytographer to get beautiful family photos; despite having a camera and tripod, there’s something so special about having someone else capture your family in a way that you can’t. It’s a terrific option for getting photos together while traveling (they have photographers all over the world), and we’ve even used them in our home city. We chose to save this for when we come back with the whole family, but it’s a really wonderful thing to do if you are able.
There are a number of photographers in Athens – click below to book!
Athens Greece Itinerary: 3 Days in Athens
Athens Itinerary – Day 1
Here’s what we did the first day – we saw a ton but it didn’t feel rushed. We had lots of time to wander & eat; perfect combo! K chose what to do and I put them together in a good walking order.
Acropolis With Kids
We pre-purchased Acropolis tickets for the earliest time slot and arrived about 10 minutes before 8am. The line was already long but it spread out once inside and we jetted straight up to the Parthenon, which was a great choice since the crowds tripled by half an hour later! We included the audio tour on my phone, which was great and took us to all the spots. We booked tickets for the Acropolis and other ancient sites with an optional audio tour, which I highly recommend!
Absolutely make sure to book your tickets for the Acropolis in advance – you do not want to waste time waiting in a queue and for the inside to start to fill up. This is also another great option with a guided tour.
Acropolis Museum
After the Acropolis we took a quick snack and rehydration break before heading to the Acropolis Museum. The museum is super modern and full of amazing sculptures, statues, and artifacts that bring Athens’ ancient past to life. The way everything is displayed makes it easy to explore without feeling overwhelmed, and the huge glass windows give you awesome glimpses of the Acropolis. We especially loved walking underneath the museum to the ancient city area below, which is included with your Acropolis Museum ticket. I recommend booking this in advance, especially during busy seasons – the lines can get very long!
Hadrian’s Arch
We, of course, had to stop at a yogurt bar after the museum and on our way to Hadrian’s Arch. This huge stone gateway was built in 131 AD to honor the Roman Emperor Hadrian and marks the divide between old Athens and the newer parts of the city that Hadrian helped develop.
It’s a quick stop but definitely worth it, especially since it’s close to other big sites like the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. The inscriptions on the arch tell you which side is the city of Theseus (the founder of Athens) and which is Hadrian’s Athens—pretty cool to think about how old those messages are! Plus, it’s an awesome spot to grab some photos with both ancient and modern Athens in the background.
Temple of Olympian Zeus
Next up was the Temple of Olympian Zeus, which was also included in our multi-pass with the Acropolis, so it was easy to scan in. This massive temple, once dedicated to Zeus, the king of the gods, is one of the largest ever built in the ancient world. While only a handful of the original columns are still standing, you can still feel how impressive it must have been when it was fully intact.
It’s just a short walk from the Acropolis and Hadrian’s Arch, so it’s easy to fit into your day. Plus, kids will love running around the open area and seeing just how tall those columns are up close.
Lunch + Roman Agora
We stopped for lunch at Yiasemi, which was delicious. Though it was a bit slow, it was nice to have a leisurely break during a really hot time of day.
The Roman Agora in Athens offers an interesting way to explore what used to be the city’s marketplace during Roman times. It’s a quieter spot compared to the Acropolis, but still full of cool ruins like the Tower of the Winds, which is an ancient clock tower. It’s a great place to wander around and get a sense of how daily life in Athens worked back then—plus, it’s right in the middle of the city, so you can easily pop over to grab lunch or explore other nearby sites.
Hadrian’s Library + Market Wander
Hadrian’s Library is a slightly off-the-beaten-path stop that gives you a glimpse of what used to be an ancient library and cultural complex. Built by Emperor Hadrian in 132 AD, it was once a grand space filled with books, lecture halls, and places for study. Now, you can explore the ruins, which include some large columns and walls, and imagine what this huge library would have looked like in its prime.
We then headed just a few steps over to Monastiraki Square. This area is a bustling market, and it was fun to wander and take in the atmosphere.
Ancient Agora With Kids
Ancient Agora is a great place to explore what used to be the heart of ancient Athenian life. This massive site was once the main gathering place for social, political, and commercial activities. As you walk through the ruins, you’ll see the Temple of Hephaestus, one of the best-preserved ancient temples. It was also our favorite stop, and we enjoyed the audio tour.
Ancient Agora is super family-friendly, with plenty of open space for kids to roam around and imagine what life was like in ancient Greece. It’s also a bit more relaxed and spacious than some of the other sites, so you can take your time exploring. If you didn’t purchase a combo ticket for this with your Acropolis tickets (which I highly recommend doing so you can easily pop into the various sites without worrying about individual tickets – this option is linked above), you can book your tickets just for the Ancient Agora below.
Kerameikos + Dinner
Kerameikos is a bit of a hidden gem. This ancient cemetery and pottery district dates back to around the 12th century BC. It’s one of the oldest parts of the city, and it’s where some of the most important Athenians were buried. It’s a peaceful place to explore, with lots of greenery and open space, making it a relaxing break from the hustle of the city.
If you’re into archaeology, the Kerameikos Museum on-site has some beautifully preserved artifacts, including pottery and burial offerings. It’s a great spot for history lovers, and kids will enjoy wandering through the ruins and learning about Athens’ ancient past in a more laid-back setting. We also loved seeing the cute turtles wandering around the grounds!
We ended the day with dinner in the hotel room in jammies. We loved staying at the Intercontinental Athanaeum these next 2 nights!
Athens With Kids – Day 2
We kicked off our second day in Athens with breakfast at the hotel, which was fantastic. Then we headed a bit out of town to spend the day at the beach.
Kavouri Beach
Located in the Vouliagmeni area, this beach is known for its calm, clear waters and beautiful surroundings, making it a great spot for swimming, sunbathing, or enjoying a picnic. The beach has both sandy and rocky areas, so there’s plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the sun.
Kavouri Beach is great for families because the shallow waters are kid-friendly, Nearby cafes and tavernas offer plenty of options for grabbing a bite to eat. It’s also not too far from the city, and is easy to get there by car; our Uber from the Intercontinental Athanaeum cost about 23 Euros, so not too bad. It’s also possible to get there via public transit, but takes about twice as long. Our Uber driver kept asking how we found out about this beach (thanks, Google!) because it’s a local favorite and the one she personally loves going to multiple times a week to swim. It was lovely!
Varavaikos Market Walk + Greek Cooking Class
We returned to our hotel to shower and change, then headed back into town in the afternoon for a wonderful experience with The Greek Kitchen. We started at Varvakios Agora, the central produce market in Athens. We walked with The Greek Kitchen chef to pick up ingredients for our dinner and meet some of the local traders. We then headed to The Greek Kitchen for a cooking class where we prepared dinner using the ingredients got at the market. We especially loved making the spanakopita the traditional, twirly way (so crisp!), and our teacher was amazing at letting K be super involved, especially with the dessert. She made her feel so special and competent. It was such a wonderful experience that K and I both recommend!
3 Days in Athens – Day 3
We had breakfast at the hotel again on our final day in Athens and then headed to the National Archaeological Museum.
Athens National Archaeological Museum
The Athens National Archaeological Museum is the largest museum in Greece and home to one of the most impressive collections of ancient artifacts in the world. Here you’ll see everything from stunning sculptures, intricate pottery, and beautiful gold jewelry to the famous Mask of Agamemnon.
The museum is well-organized, making it easy to navigate through the different eras of Greek history. There’s so much to see, including the massive statues of gods and heroes, intricate bronze pieces, and even ancient Egyptian relics. It’s a great place to dive deep into Greece’s rich cultural heritage. It’s definitely not as modern or well-organized as the Acropolis Museum, but it’s an absolute staple in Athens and one with so many incredible artifacts that are so fascinating.
This is another spot that I was surprised was so busy, especially outside of the main peak season. We had to wait in a line for a while – long enough that we ended up taking an Uber to the airport so we could have some more time in the museum instead of having to leave 20 minutes after entering (the bus from there only comes about once every 30 minutes on Sundays). I’d definitely recommend buying tickets in advance.
Airport
The Archaeological Museum was the perfect way to top off our trip before heading back to the airport for our short flight home to London. We had the best time and loved this 3 day Athens itinerary!
