The Athens Coast, also called Athenian Riviera, is a guaranteed to be a fun day out because there are many places of interest. If your kids like mythology and history, don’t miss Cape Sounio with its stunning Poseidon Temple! Fancy nature, then go jump in the therapeutic hot spring in Lake Vouliagmeni, in the mood for sand and water play? The Athens Riviera has an abundance of great beaches. But there are also museums, playgrounds, and fun parks on the Athens Coast!
Things to do on the Athens Coast or Athenian Riviera with Kids
There is no other part of the city offering so many kids’ activities and family things to see and do as the Athens Riviera. Besides the obvious sand and water play along the coast, the Athens Riviera counts many parks, playgrounds, museums, and family restaurants.
If you wanted to see the highlight of the Athens Coast in one day, I would recommend you to rent a car or book an organized tour with a driver. But if you have more time, you can visit each individual activity and create many days out. Below I have listed the activities on the Athens Coast (in random order). What is your favorite?
Take an organized tour along the coast
Although you can visit each Athens Coast activity individually, the best way to discover the breathtaking Athens Riviera is by organized day tour from Athens. This tour includes turtles, natural wonders, and mythology. Sit back and let our guide take you on a fully organized excursion with something to offer to everybody. The tour by private mini-van stops at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Lake Vouliagmeni and the magnificent Temple of Poseidon. There are stops for plenty of photos!
Click here for more information and booking of a tour along the coast
Marina Flisvos
Marina Flisvos (pictured above) is a private marina in Palio Faliro. It is full of beautiful yachts, family restaurants, pizza, cafés and ice cream shops. The port is great for walking or cycling. Kids will like the Volta Fun Town entertainment park with a soft play area (with an entrance fee – suitable for 1-4 years old) Volta Fun Town also offers entertainment for children and teenagers up to 12 years old with all sorts of rides, boats, cart cars, trains and electronic games.
Sailing Cruise along the coast
If you want to admire the beautiful Athens Riviera from the sea, consider a cruise along the coast. Most cruises start from the Marina of Agios Kosmas and take about half a day. You get to enjoy the sea and the sun, snorkel, indulge on a Greek lunch and discover the landmarks of the Athens coast.
For families, I recommend the catamaran cruises as these boats are the most kid-friendly, they include a hotel pick up and provide for snorkelling gear.
For more information about this small group cruise and booking, please click Athens: Catamaran Sailing Cruise with Meal and Drinks
If you prefer to enjoy the sea just with your family, you can opt for the private catamaran cruise. For more information on booking the private cruise, click here.
The Planetarium – Eugenides Foundation
If you want to learn more about the stars and universe, take your kids to the Planetarium or Eugenides Foundation. Located on Sygrou Avenue and easy to reach by car and public transport, the Planetarium uses state of the art 3D movies and other technology to teach us more. There are movies for kids starting from 5-years-old. For more information about opening hours and tickets, have a look on the website.
Allou! Fun Park near the Athenian Riviera
If your family is looking for the adrenaline thrills of an amusement park in Athens, skip the archaeological sites for the day and head over to Allou! Fun park, the largest in Greece. Feel your heart race on a 40-metre drop, enjoy panoramic views of Athens from the “Panorama” Ferris wheel and take a trip to the stars in the “Star Flyer”. It is on the cost but a 10 min ride inland from Paleo Faliro.
Find more information and entrance prices here.
Can’t get enough of the Athens Coast with kids? Make the most of your stay with a unique Athens Pass. Gain free entry to more than 30 attractions and skip the long queues to the most important sights and museums. Choose between different pass options and save up to 50%. Have a look at the AthensiVenture Card for 30+ Attractions.
Vouliagmeni Lake
Lake Vouliagmeni on the Athens Coast is a must-visit for families in Athens. It is very nice to swim in the lake although it is deep and not suitable for very young kids. At the lake are a spa and wellness centre. There are also toys and a playground for young kids and walking paths for hiking. Read everything you need to know about this special place in my blog post: Lake Vouliagmeni.
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center combines a unique city park with a multifunctional event building housing the National Library and the Greek National Opera. Being the largest green space in Athens, the park offers playgrounds, botanical gardens, open grass areas for play, festivals, concerts and open-air movies.
For little ones, the highlight of your visit will be the labyrinth, the wooden climbing toys, experimental outdoor mirrors, the canal with water jets and the bicycle paths. Rent a kid or adult bike or bring your own. My kids love the herb garden and the exciting ‘Lighthouse’, an impressive elevated glass construction overlooking the entire area. They also enjoy the large grass fields in summer. In the summer, children burn off excess energy in the outdoor sports fields. In winter there is a free of charge ice skating rink.
Benaki Toy Museum
This recent addition to the Athens’ cultural scene is housed in an impressive 19th-century villa on the Athens Coast. The building is a fairytale-like castle and houses a remarkable collection of over 20,000 toys, books, clothing and various ephemera associated with childhood from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. The museum is suitable for children starting from 6 years old. Younger children can join but may not be as fascinating. My daughter especially liked the toys from Ancient Greece. We like to combine this museum with a visit to the Flisvos Marina and the Averoff Battleship, all at walking distance.
Averoff Battleship Museum
On the edge of Flisvos Marina, next to the modern luxurious boats and some characteristic old ships, you can visit one of the most glorious ships in modern Greek history, the legendary battleship “Georgios Averoff”. This ship took part in great naval battles during the Balkan Wars and remained active until World War II. Nowadays, it functions as a museum and at its interior are preserved, among other, the cabins of the captain and the officers, the sailors’ quarters, the chapel of Agios Nikolaos and the kitchens. More info about opening times and tickets here.
Visit a beach on the Athenian Riviera
What better place to be on the Athens Coast with kids than on the beach. I recommend Astir Beach. This all-year open private beach club features a long sandy beach, a crystal clear sea, (water) sports facilities and large grass areas. A spa, shop and gym will ensure a good experience for the whole family.
Thanks to the calm sea with minimal waves, parents can feel at ease with little ones playing at the water’s edge. A beach restaurant and snack corner keep hungry kids happy and the changing rooms, showers and bathrooms ensure that everyone’s sand-free for the ride home. Other recommended family beaches in Athens are Grand Beach at Lagonisi Resort and L’Amico in Anavyssos. For a list of family-friendly beaches, have a look at my blog post here.
Oliver Family House
Indoor and outdoor play spaces make this Glyfada-based family concept super kids-friendly all year round. A chalkboard wall is perfect for tiny artists in the making, while colourful art and surroundings serve as inspiration. The carpeted outdoor corner with a garden café is filled with playhouses and toys. Inside, tots can easily pass the time making their own sweets during baking classes, engage in dance and theatre games or let go of their energy during a treasure hunt. Parents can read a magazine, chill out or enjoy from a large variety of coffees, smoothies, cocktails, health food, burgers, and more.
Where to eat on the Athens Coast with Kids?
Balux Cafe – The House Project
April 2022 Update: Hour Project – Balux is closed until further notice.
A unique place builds as a large beach house, the House Project- Balux Cafe embraces fun for all ages. Equipped with outdoor playgrounds, a baby playground, a small luna park and lots of grass, this family concept offers endless hours of free play. Parents can relax at the garden picnic tables or inside at the large sofas and lounge chairs, read a book in the library, watch TV or enjoy some sushi in the restaurant.
For babies and tots, there is also a supervised soft play area inside as well as a playroom with board games and a pool table. Maybe my favourite part of this laid-back house concept is the beautiful beach. Enjoy a cocktail while your kids play at the waterfront! 
Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounio
Cape Sounio is located at the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula overlooking the Aegean Sea. Capes Sounio hosts the world-renowned archaeological site of the ancient temple of Poseidon, the God of the sea. The temple is surrounded on three sides by the sea. History and Mythology are deeply connected at this site and the finds here date from as early as 700 BC.
The Temple of Poseidon is also part of the ‘Sacred Triangle’ together with the Parthenon and the Temple of Aphaia in Aegina. If you decide to visit the archaeological site in the middle of the summer, the best time would be the morning or the afternoon. Bring water, a sunhat and steady walking shoes. Our tried & tested family experience can be found in my blog called: Temple of Poseidon and Cape Sounio with Kids.
If you do not want to venture out alone but make your visit to the Athens Coast with kids via an organized excursion, I recommend The Athens Riviera Activities & Cape Sounion Private Tour. This tour combines a 4-hour private tour with a pick-up from your Athens hotel in a minivan towards the Attica Riviera with wonderful views over the Saronic Gulf and the rugged cliffs, beaches and villages along the way. For information and booking, please click here.
Turtle Rescue Center Archelon
Are you looking for a more meaningful activity at the Athens Coast with kids? Your family can support the rescue of injured Greek Caretta Caretta turtles by visiting the turtle rescue center Archelon. Children learn here how sick and injured turtles are cared for. The turtles are kept in large pools and volunteers are helpful in explaining (in English) about the circumstances of each turtle. There is also an educational corner and souvenirs are sold. Not recommended for very young children.
Perivoli Vari
The serene gardens of the urban farm Perivoli in Vari are Athens best-kept secret. The Perivoli also organizes sensory play, Mommy & Me gardening and olive and honey tastings to help teach about Greek food sources and get hands-on with nature through gardening. Your kids will have a blast exploring the sand and water table, climbing the trees, hiding in the Tikki or getting dirty in the mud.
No need to bring snacks: the farm to fork restaurant serves healthy local produced breakfast, coffee, snacks and lunch. What do my kids love most at this mini-paradise? The many dragonflies! Have a look at our experience in my blog post about this green gem.
Hygge House
For a well-deserved break after a day of shopping or exploring, head over to the latest addition to the Athens Coast family scene. Hygge House (pronounced “Hoo-Guh” and the Danish word for ‘cosiness’!) is a brand new family-friendly daytime restaurant in Glyfada that quickly became popular with the local parenting community. It offers a supervised indoor playroom with lots of daylight and creative toys, a baby room for changing or nursing and children’s toilets. Whilst kids are happily playing parents can chow down on healthy brunch options or enjoy a smoothie or homemade Mango lemonade. Hygge House is here to stay!
The Ellinikon Experience Park
The Ellinikon Experience Park is located in Glyfada and opened its doors in 2022. This new urban park features gardens, open grass spaces, a state-of-the-art playground, and a fitness area. Admission is free and the park is open from 17:00-23:00 every day of the week. It’s easy to park in the large parking area. Kids will love the water show at the fountains and the wide-open spaces. A low-budget day afternoon activity for parents with young kids!
Join a bus tour along the coast
There is a comfortable way to explore the Athens Coast and its highlights. Have a look at the Athens Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Piraeus & Beach Riviera Line. There are two routes. The first one combines Athens city with the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus and the Planetarium. The second goes to the beaches and Faliro/Flisvos, the Vouliagmeni Lake Beach and the Temple of Zeus.
Visit an island near Athens
Athens Coast is a great starting point for visiting some nearby islands as a day trip. The most well-known are Aegina, Poros and Hydra. These islands are less than two hours away from Athens. Just hop on a ferry boat from Piraeus port and sail away!
For families, I would recommend the comfort of an organized day excursion. These often include a pick-up from your hotel and everything has been taken care of.
We recently tried such a cruise. You can read our experience here: a one-day-three-islands day trip from Athens.
For a value-for-money family-friendly trip to the islands in one day, I recommend Hydra, Poros, and Aegina Full-Day Cruise. But there is also a private option of such tour available for families who want to spend time together cruising the islands. For more information and booking, please click: Athens: Private Cruise of Athens Riviera & Saronic Islands
The Athens Coast is beautiful! Do you need more family-friendly ideas for Athens with children? Have a look at my complete list of Top Things to Do in Athens with Children
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2 Comments
Those are interesting activities, I like them.
Thanks so much for your feedback!