5 Family-Friendly Museums In Athens

Athens is one of the world’s great cultural capitals. But even mythology-mad kids can tire of all the marble monuments. When it’s too hot for exploring the antiquities, or your kids are crying out for some 21st-century entertainment, check out these family-friendly museums in Athens. From child-pleasing activities to educational trails, here’s where to keep boredom at bay for kids of all ages and interests.

The brilliantly curated and conceived Acropolis Museum knows that the best way to hold a child’s attention is to make learning fun. Everyday life in ancient Greece is brought alive for children here in exciting ways. The freestanding statues of the Archaic Period are far more gripping for young minds than two-dimensional paintings. They can explore all sides of these marble gods and goddesses, lions and snakes. Grab hold of one of the family backpacks (available at the information desk on a first-come, first-served basis) and follow the educational activities geared at kids aged between six and 12 years old (even younger children will enjoy getting involved, with a little help from you). Families work together to solve challenges, aided by colorful children’s exhibit labels in the museum galleries. The backpacks have games with cards, stickers or magnets, puzzles, memory games, and more. Smaller kids are better suited to do one of the less intensive Family Trails: theme-based activities based on specific exhibits. Hit the museum shop on your way out for a great selection of activity books, games, and children’s titles, many of them inspired by ancient Greek mythology, archaeology, and culture.

Location: 15 Dionysiou Areopagitou, Acropolis

Telephone: 210 900 0900

Turn your world upside down at this quirky museum where nothing is what it seems. Calling it a “museum” might be a bit of a stretch, but your kids will love getting hands-on at this well-located attraction that has a range of optical illusions to make them (and you!) think twice about how they perceive the world around them. They can swap noses, put each other’s heads on a platter, experience the absence of gravity, and reflect on infinity in the hall of mirrors. They can also put themselves against brain teasers designed to stimulate and challenge young minds in the Playroom (many of them are on sale at the museum’s Smart Shop, if you’re looking for educational souvenirs). The Museum of Illusions is just by Monastiraki Flea Market and the Ancient Agora, so you can combine shopping and sightseeing with a little mind-bending fun.

Location: 119 Ermou, Monastiraki

Telephone: 210 323 8065

Are your kids into dinosaurs? Underwater life? Insects? Fossils? You’ll find them all at this peaceful private museum in the suburb of Kifissia. There are lots of life-size animal replicas (including a triceratops and a giraffe), thousands of botanical specimens, and all kinds of shells, rocks, and minerals from all over Greece. The museum provides educational games for children aged between 4 and 8 related to the permanent and temporary exhibitions — from real live reptiles to storytelling events. The Gaia Centre for environmental research and education, housed in the same premises, educates young visitors about humanity’s impact on our planet, using interactive displays such as touchscreens and video walls. After exploring the exhibits, have an ice cream or juice in the garden café, where young kids can usually be found tearing around on their scooters or playing hide and seek among the trees.

Location: 13 Levidou, Kifisia

Telephone: 210 801 5870

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