Greek Culture & Adventure for Families: Athens & the Peloponnese - 7 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Athens & Treasure Hunt for Families

Welcome to Greece!
 
Discover Athens in a fun and engaging way, with a family-friendly treasure hunt through the city. As you make your way around Athens, you'll learn all about its history, view significant landmarks and world-renowned sights, enjoy panoramic views, visit local shops, and savor drinks and snacks popular with local Athenians.
 
Become an Athenian for a day and follow the myth of Athena, the goddess of war, wisdom, and crafts, to solve a mystery and receive her reward. In the company of your specialized guide, you'll discover secret corners of the city and engage in various experiential activities and games, such as riddle-solving, clue-hunting, storytelling, and creative arts and crafts. While on the move, dive into the culture of Greece, interact with locals, visit shops, and sample Greek delicacies.

Day 2: Athens Mythology Tour & Comics Workshop for Families 

Explore the Acropolis and Ancient Agora with your family, learning about Greek mythology and history while enjoying views of the city and kid-friendly activities.

After meeting your guide, you'll start your walk up to Acropolis Hill, the "Sacred Rock" that defines Athens. You'll visit all its popular monuments, including the Parthenon, Theater of Dionysus, Temple of Athena Nike, and Temple of Erechtheion. Listen to the legends of the Greek pantheon, such as the mighty Zeus, Athena (goddess of wisdom), Poseidon (god of the sea), Dionysus (god of wine and theater), and more. The stories will keep kids entertained and asking questions.

After enjoying Acropolis Hill and learning the city's secrets, you'll walk down to the ancient marketplace, the Agora. Socrates and Plato hosted many political and philosophical discussions on this plaza. At the end of the tour, enjoy a family activity inside the ancient Agora, using all your newfound knowledge about Greek gods, goddesses, and heroes.

Next up, you'll visit a library dedicated to comics and mythology where you'll listen to a professional storyteller bring Greek myths to life. Listen to several interesting fables, learning about important characters and heroes. Then, discover how an artist creates comic books by watching one work live and transform stories into comics. Explore the ropes, syntax, and grammar behind the skill, acquiring all the tools you need to become a creator yourself.
 
After plenty of demonstration, modeling, and help with drawing and writing, your kids will create their own comic book! They'll brainstorm characters and storylines, designing their own Greek mythology fable. Your expert guides will help them transfer their heroes and adventures from their minds to the pages. By the end, your kids will walk away with a comic book they created, plus an entirely new set of skills.

Day 3: Olympic Games Workout, National Garden & Greek Language Lesson for Kids

Get your blood pumping and try your luck as an Olympian at the very venue where the first modern Olympics took place in 1896. You’ll start your day at the Zappeion, a neoclassical building set just below the National Garden. Here, you’ll meet your trainer and learn how the Ancient Olympics impacted society for over a millennium.

The year 1896 marked the revival of the ancient Olympic Games, which occurred every four years starting in 776 BCE. You’ll stand in the very spot where the athletes stood and learn how they trained, what the games entailed, and how the competition evolved.

After learning about the games, you'll start your workout in a historic gym. Your trainer will teach you some classic techniques from the original Olympic events, including the discus and the javelin throw. You'll also practice more modern sports, such as the shot put, long jump, and relay race. 

All of your training will prepare you for your own competition—a race in the Panathenaic Stadium! This stadium is the only one in the world made entirely of marble. Following the hallowed track, you'll race around the arena before receiving your official certificate of participation.

Afterward, cool down with a walk in the National Garden. The garden was created by the first queen of Greece, Amalia, who loved trees and flowers. Walk amidst palm trees and the sounds of birds—mainly peacocks, as you will soon realize. Many noble citizens built their residences in this area in the early 19th century, and it now houses some of the best museums in Athens: the Byzantine Museum, the Museum of Cycladic Art, the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture, and the Theocharakis Foundation for the Fine Arts and Music. 

End your activities with a Greek language lesson that uses play to practice common words and sayings. From toddlers to children up to 12 years of age, the Hellenic Children’s Museum teaches kids Greek through interactive exhibits designed by experts.
 
By the end of the session, kids will know how to say “good morning” and introduce themselves. They'll work together with a teacher and fun props as they explore the museum's marketplace and practice important words and sayings that they can use in restaurants or at the store during the rest of the trip.

Day 4: Athens to Mani Peninsula via Mystras & Family Mosaic Workshop

Enjoy a scenic drive from Athens to the Mani Peninsula, which takes about three hours. After leaving Athens, you'll hug the Saronic Gulf coastline and pass through the Isthmus of Corinth, enjoying views of the sea.

Just before Corinth, you can stop to take photos of the impressive and narrow Corinth Canal. Built around 1890, the canal created new sea routes between the Saronic Gulf and the Gulf of Corinth. You can also view the ancient Diolkos, a paved road that once transported boats by land, at its western edge.
 
You'll also make a stop at the historic Mystras Castle, an imposing fortress that was once the capital of the Byzantine state. Erected in 1249 CE, the castle is the most important Byzantine monument in Greece, sprawling across a steep mountainside. You'll enjoy walking through this preserved archeological site led by a local expert guide.
 
Mystras is very atmospheric and photogenic, with three distinct zones representing different historical eras. You'll tour the Upper City (Ano Chora) and the Despot's Palaces, the Lower City (Kato Chora) and its Metropolis, and the Outer City (Exo Chora). Your guide will share important historical information and detail what daily life was like in the city.

Cap it off with a mosaic workshop  at the base of Mount Taygetos in the authentic Greek village of Xirokambi. Set in the garden of a traditional home and atelier, your family will explore your artistic side while learning about the region's mosaic history alongside a trained professional.

Day 5: Beaches & Boat Trip in Mani Peninsula

Enjoy a relaxing private boat trip around the stunning Mani Peninsula on a traditional fishing boat. Relax on board while you gaze out into the sea and enjoy a few short stops along the way to swim, snorkel, and listen to stories of historical sites. You'll follow the Maniot coastline, passing rocky cliffs, sandy beaches, forested hills, and turquoise coves. Enjoy a memorable experience in the crystal-clear waters of Mani as you pass the Diros caves and Gerolimenas village. 
 
Spend the rest of the day on the beaches around Gytheio. Vathy is a sandy beach with blue, clean, warm waters, watersports, and a couple of traditional taverns. Selinitsa beach offers more bars and cafes, or head to the Dimitrios shipwreck on Valtaki beach alongside a beach bar and restaurant. 

Day 6: Explore the Villages of Mani & Sunset Bike Tour

Discover the amazing villages and landscapes of the Mani Peninsula, starting with Areopoli, meaning the "City of Ares," named after the ancient Greek god of war. This town is the area's capital and features a large square with the statue of Petrobay’s Mavromichalis. Enjoy wandering through the charming stone alleys with preserved tower houses and churches and stop to visit the shops, taverns, and bars.

Continue to picturesque Oitylo, an ancient Greek city that formed part of Menelaus’ kingdom, according to Homer. Then, head to Limeni. Once a pirate cove and the old harbor of Areopoli, the town now hosts a wonderful seaside resort in its small fishing community. Pop into one of the restaurants or cafés for stunning sea views. Although there isn't a beach, stone steps lead directly into the crystal-clear waters.

If you like caves or need to escape the summer heat, consider a visit to the Caves of Diros and admire the unique and "natural underground cathedral," as it's described. There are three caves, but only one, Vlyhada, is open to the public. You'll take a guided punting boat and admire the impressive stalagmites and stalactites inside.

Next, head to the natural port of Gerolimenas. In ancient times, it was the most important port in the area, transporting goods to Pireaus and the island of Syros. Nowadays, it’s an authentic fishing village with delicious restaurants and a pebbled beach.

Another worthwhile stop is the traditional settlement of Vathia, full of characteristic tower houses. The village sits atop a high hill аbоve thе sea, its rοаds winding around it. From the top, you'll enjoy beautiful pаnοramic scenes οf thе entire villagе.

End your outing in the southernmost point of mainland Greece at Cape Tainaron. The ancient Spartans built several temples in the area, the most important one being the Temple of Poseidon, honoring the god of the sea. Enjoy a stroll to the lighthouse at the end of the cape and savor the incredible sea views.

In the evening, enjoy an easy bike ride around a portion of the Mani Peninsula and watch one of the region's legendary sunsets. This tour is a great and active way for anyone, including families, to experience West Mani's famed natural beauty. 

You'll start from the small town of Stoupa and peddle along a bike path. Make stops at three of the peninsula's traditional fishing villages, including Agios Nikolaos, Agios Dimitrios, and Trahila. As the sun starts to melt into the sea, stop at the sienna rocks of Mani's west coast at Pantazi Beach. Here you can watch the sunset and take a refreshing dip in the golden waves. As the sun turns the entire landscape into a warm glow, you'll head back to Stoupa.

Day 7: Return to Athens & Depart

Head back to Athens to catch your flight home or onto your next adventure.