Author: Celeste

I am a huge Harry Potter fan and have read the books many years ago. My 10-year-old daughter is also an enthusiast and together with her little sister, she has also been watching most of the Harry Potter movies. We especially like that many characters, beasts and other elements of the Harry Potter books are inspired by Ancient Greece. So when we were invited to join a Harry Potter Experience in Athens, we were very excited! Athens is a beautiful ancient city and I always love exploring her with my kids. To do this during a Harry Potter Experience was…

To encourage every child to discover, to understand, to learn, to enjoy and to shape the world in which (s)he lives with a respect for individuality and an emphasis on teamwork. This mission statement is what the Hellenic Children’s Museum stands for. It is a non-profit organization of public welfare, legally established in Athens, Greece in 1987 by a group of young professionals. The Hellenic Children’s Museum Its purpose is to help children develop all aspects of their personality in order to become citizens who respect their own individuality and to obtain a social conscience.  The purpose addresses all children,…

The holidays are over and a brand New Year lies ahead of us. Many of us made New Year Resolutions and these often include to spend more time with the people that we love. While weekdays are usually busy with work and school, weekends are ideal for reconnecting and spending quality time. If you are like me and love to enjoy a meal together but do not want the hassle of cooking and cleaning, consider a family meal outside. Here is where to go for the perfect family brunch in Athens! Family Brunch in Athens We love the Family Brunch…

Christmas holidays in Greece are wonderful. The magic holiday spirit can be felt on the city streets through sparkling street decorations or at local churches in the neighborhoods and islands. Christmas holidays in Greece with Kids Greece features some Christmas traditions that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. And although I have always loved Christmas in Greece, the holidays became extra special for me after my children were born. With the magic of the Greek Santa – called Agios Vassilis -, the joy of singing Greek Christmas carols, and the baking of traditional Greek Christmas sweets, Christmas holidays…

Are you in Athens this Christmas and do you need inspiration for your family outings? Here are some of my favorite activities, all tried and tested by me and my kids. Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year, and it’s magic in Athens too. In Athens, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get into the Christmas mood. In this list, I have included free and low-budget options too. Christmas in Athens with Kids 2024 Put on your nicest outfit, eat some melomakarona, and go out with the family because there is lots to…

With kids in Greece during Christmas this year? Take a look at the festive program of St. George Lycabettus Hotel, one of our favorites in the city. We often stayed at this hotel, and we also spent several Christmas brunches at the iconic Le Grand Balcon. Tried, tested and recommended! Christmas Dinner at St. George Lycabettus Hotel 🎄 Christmas Eve – December 24, 2024Celebrate Christmas Eve with a refined dinner at La Suite Lounge and Le Grand Balcon. Enjoy a gourmet menu paired with live music, a DJ set, and festive dancing. Surprises and gifts throughout the evening will make this…

Celebrating Thanksgiving in Athens, Greece? American Thanksgiving is typically held on the fourth Thursday of November, which is this year on 28 November. So if you don’t feel like cooking, there are dinners being organized by American-affiliated groups, schools and some major hotels in the cities of Thessaloniki and Athens. Each year, I gather the menus of my favorite places in Athens. From all-day lunch/dinner at the elegant GB Roof Garden Bar and the mouthwatering buffet at the Byzantino Restaurant complete with a turkey carving station to mind-blowing Acropolis views at the St. George Lycabettus Hotel (featured photo) and comforting pumpkin…

Athens Marathon In 2014, I participated for the first time in the Athens Marathon, also called “the Authentic”. Together with my coach and a training buddy, I ran the 10K race through the beautiful heart of Athens, my adopted home city for 20 plus years. It was an unforgettable experience. I will never forget the feeling when we arrived at the finish line in the historic Panathenaic Stadium. And I still get goosebumps thinking of receiving my medal there while looking at the Acropolis nearby. Have you ever visited the town of Marathon, the birthplace of the famous race? In…

October 28th is a national holiday in Greece. It is the day that commemorates the rejection by Greek Ioannis Metaxas of the ultimatum made by Italian Benito Mussolini on October 28, 1940. This day is known by Greeks around the world as ‘Oxi Day’ (No Day). The day is celebrated not only in Greece but also in Cyprus and in Greek communities around the world. Oxi Day 2021 On 28 October, festivities and parades will take place around the country. Greek Orthodox churches hold special services. Most public buildings and residences are decorated with Greek flags. It is a national holiday, which means that shops are closed, except for cafés and food venues. Public transportation…

In October 2019, Greek Travel Magazine ΤΑΞΙΔΙΑ, the Greek language Sunday magazine of leading national Greek newspaper ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ, made a tribute to family travel. For this occasion, I spoke about Family Travel in Greece. If you read Greek, this is an extract of the interview with tips for travel in Greece with kids, family friendly destinations and useful information for getting prepared. Family Travel in Greece interview Μισή Ολλανδή και μισή Ιταλίδα, η Celeste Tat ήρθε στην Ελλάδα πριν από δύο δεκαετίες. Την αγάπησε και έμεινε. Στην πορεία παντρεύτηκε, απέκτησε δύο κόρες και έκτοτε ταξιδεύουν όλοι μαζί ως οικογένεια. Όταν,…

Even the most adventurous family travelers have their favorite repeat destinations. Some destinations, though, are just so special that families want to return again and again. One of ours is near Athens in Eretria and called Negroponte Resort! Update: In 2021 Negroponte Resort expanded its private beach offering a secluded calm bay of golden sand with several rows of sun loungers and umbrellas. Favorite places Qualities that make a place worth revisiting are often an emotional attachment to the place through amazing experiences of the past – often with family and friends. People will also go back to the same…

When you book your family vacations, do you intentionally create moments of play? After 3 months full of travel, new destinations and writing reviews, it was great to end the summer vacation relaxing together in a place where everything was taken care off. As a family travel writer, I am often working at the resorts that we visit and the majority of the time taking photographs or making notes. When we received the invite from Miramare Hotel Eretria, I knew I would find the perfect balance of family fun and relaxation. All we needed were some good pools, water slides,…