Athens with a baby: a 2-day Athens family itinerary

Athens, capital of Greece and one of the oldest cities in the world, is a must-visit if you love Greek mythology. But even if you don’t, it’s a wonderful city to spend a couple of days – including if you want to visit Athens with a baby.

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Along the way, eat your weight in feta cheese, marvel at the countless historic buildings, stroll around the lovely Athens National Garden or simply enjoy the views of the imposing Acropolis.

A city I’ve been to more than once, I think it’s easier to visit Athens with a baby than with a toddler, so no need to wait until they’re older before you explore – especially with this two-day itinerary of Athens and tips to start you off.

How to visit Athens with a baby

Athens is a big city and there are so many museums and places to visit, planning a trip can feel overwhelming. Especially if this is a (first) family trip!

But if you’re nervous about visiting with a baby, this article is designed to answer a lot of your questions.

For more tips, check out my beginner’s guide to travelling with a baby

Where to start when planning your Athens family trip?

Every baby is different, so when you’re planning your family holiday in Athens, this post is a starting point.

But if you’re wondering how to decide upon a realistic itinerary, how to access the sites and if they are stroller friendly, there’s plenty included to help. 

The same goes if you’re considering how much distance you will be able to cover with a baby in Athens, what about public transport and if you can breastfeed your baby in public in Greece.

So whether you’re planning a city break in Athens with a baby or planning to head on to explore some of the Greek islands, maybe even take a family cruise from Athens, read on!

Check out this baby packing list to prepare for your first family trip!

48-hour Athens itinerary with a baby: map

The map below highlights some of the key places you can see in this 2 days in Athens itinerary. It also highlights a hotel recommendation as well as some convenient metro stops.

There’s also a hop-on hop-off bus in Athens, with four routes and tickets valid for two days, plus a combined ticket which gives entry to the main attractions of Athens and the bus tour

Best thing to do in Athens with a baby

Needless to say, it’s impossible to explore every sight in Athens during two days – especially when you’re travelling with a baby.

But this itinerary covers off the following key landmarks and some unmissable sights.

• Hellenic Parliament 
• Athens National Gardens
• Temple of Zeus
• Hadrian’s Arch
• The Acropolis
• Roman Agora
• Greek Agora

Athens itinerary day 1

As a traveller it’s always tempting to cram in as many sightseeing activities in one day as possible. However, for a fun and relaxed family trip, try to do the opposite. 

Select a couple of highlights in Athens you most want to visit and leave plenty of ’empty space’ in your itinerary to keep it relaxed and manageable for the whole family – you can always have a back-up wishlist if you find yourself with more time.

You won’t be able to see everything in Athens, but that’s okay. Instead of rushing from place to place you’ll be enjoying the sites you do visit a lot more. 

The Hellenic Parliament

The first stop on the itinerary is the Hellenic Parliament, which houses the Greek parliament and where you can see the Changing of the Guards.

These guards, known as Evzones, watch over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and are renowned for their impressive stillness and eye-catching ceremonial costumes.

The changing of the guard takes place every hour on the hour, but the most elaborate ceremony is on Sundays at 11am when crowds gather to watch the spectacle on Syntagma Square.

Athens National Gardens

This is a lovely park and a great place to escape from busy Athens. If the weather is nice (and it usually is!) you can have a picnic at the National Gardens too, or let your baby play or relax on the grass. 

Within the 16-acre gardens you also find the Zappeion, which was built for the modern Olympic Games and used as the fencing hall during the Olympics of 1896.

The gardens are right next to the parliament, so it’s easy to stroll in via the entrances on Amalias Avenue or Vassilissis Sofias Avenue.

Temple of Olympian Zeus

The most notable building of your first day of sightseeing in Athens is the Temple of Zeus – keep walking to the far end of the gardens to find it.

The temple, also known as the Olympieion, is believed to date from the sixth century BCE and was once the largest temple in Greece, with 104 columns.

Today, even though only 15 columns remain, you still get a sense of the incredible building feat.

From the Temple of Zeus you have a beautiful view of the Acropolis (on the itinerary for day 2).

Budget tip: If you are follow this itinerary and visiting the sights listed, the most economical option is to buy a combination ticket. 

This ticket costs €30 per adult and is valid for the Temple of Zeus, the Acropolis, the Roman Agora, and the Greek Agora. 

The ticket is valid for 5 days and also gives access to several other sites. So if you plan to spend more time in Athens, the combination ticket is an even better deal.

You can also buy the combination ticket from Get Your Guide, including free cancellation, as well as a combination ticket including downloadable audio guides and a combination ticket plus hop-on hop-off bus tour

Hadrian’s Arch

Next to the Temple of Zeus is the Arch of Hadrian, also known as Hadrian’s Gate.

Built in 132CE by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, it’s thought it marked the dividing point between the old Greek city and new Roman city. 

Athens itinerary day 2

Set your alarm (unless you can rely on the baby to wake you!) – you’re off to an early start, as you’ll be visiting the Acropolis and the gates open at 8am. 

It’s well worth arriving as early as you can to have a chance to explore before the crowds arrive and it gets too hot – there isn’t much shade.

The Acropolis

The closest metro station to the East Entrance is Acropoli on the red line (line 2). 

It’s a bit of a hike up to the Acropolis but it’s definitely worthwhile entering via this side as you will come across the Odeon of Herodes Atticus (also called the Herodeon) along the way. 

Check out my review of the Alternative Athens Young Heroes family mythology tour of the Acropolis with kids

Completed in 161CE, it was destroyed around a century later before being restored in the 1950s, with everyone from opera singers to Frank Sinatra and Elton John among the famous names who’ve performed in this impressive stone theatre.

Once you continue to the gates, also called Propylaea in ancient Greek, you’ll see the beautifully restored temple of Athena Nike,finished around 420BCE.

But it’s once you get to the top plateau of the Acropolis that you’ll find the most notable landmarks and important buildings.

The three unmissable sights to look out for include:

• The Parthenon: temple of Athena, the patron of the city of Athens.
• The Erechtheion: temple of Athena and Poseidon.
• The Porch of the Caryatids: female statues supporting one of the porches of the Erechtheion.

Don’t forget to check out the sacred olive tree of Athena, next to the Erectheion too. Legend has it this olive tree is descended from the original olive tree planted by Athena herself… 

Whether the story is true or not, it’s a beautiful old tree!

You can look at a complete map of the Acropolis here.

If you have more time, you can also visit the Acropolis museum which houses many artefacts from the Acropolis archaeological site – you can get combined tickets to the museum and the Acropolis which let you skip the line

Roman Agora

There are more historic sites nearby if you have time – and your family has energy for more sightseeing.

Consider visiting the Roman Agora, especially the Tower of the Winds which has a beautiful interior.

The octagonal tower, which features sundials, a water clock and a wind vane, is considered the world’s first meteorological station.

Greek Agora (Ancient Agora)

Stop for lunch in one of the many restaurants in the Monastiraki neighborhood to refuel and recharge your batteries before you visit the Greek Agora nearby. 

There are a string of sights to see within the Greek Agora – also known as the Ancient Agora – but these are a few you can’t miss:

• The Stoa of Attalos: the worlds first shopping arcade.
• The Church of the Holy Apostles: built in the 10th century beautiful frescoes inside.
• The Temple of Hephaestus: built 449 BC and one of the best preserved temples in Greece.

After wandering around the Greek Agora you’re probably pretty tired and it’s time to head back to your hotel.

If you’re looking for more ideas of unusual things to do in Athens while your baby naps – or if you’re already planning a return trip! – check out these tips, as well as the best things to do in Athens with kids

How to get around in Athens with a baby by public transport

Athens has a good public transport network, and much of it is very family-friendly. It links to the airport, so you may find you need it for at least this journey unless you have a transfer arranged.

A lot of the attractions in the two-day itinerary are walkable, but you’re likely to want to rest your feet a little as you explore too.

Another alternative is the hop-on hop-off bus which covers four different routes, including the key attractions of the centre, as well as the chance to head down to the coast and the beach if you’re spending longer in Athens.

Tickets are valid for two days and children under four go free – there’s also low-floor easy access, designed for wheelchairs, but which makes getting a stroller on board easy too (you may need to fold this on board though).

For more tips on getting around Athens and things to do in Athens with kids, check out this post

Athens Card – Athena Card

In 2018 Athens switched from paper tickets to an electronic system (similar to the London Oyster card). You can read more about the system and different options here. 

If you’re only spending a couple of days in the city, the easiest option is to buy an anonymous Athena Card from a metro station and top it up with some credit.

Around 10 euro per person should be sufficient for this 2 day Athens itinerary, and you don’t need a ticket for children under 6 years.

This is the official Athena Card website.

Metro

It is quite easy to get around by metro, even with a stroller as all metro stations have elevators and the trains are level with the platforms making it easy to enter and exit. 

There are currently only three lines to navigate, connecting to the suburban railway, buses and trams – a map of the Athens metro can be found here.

You can also use the Athens metro if you’re planning to head to Piraeus to catch a ferry on to one of the Greek islands – the Ferryhopper website is a great way to check the best routes, and the easiest islands to reach from Athens with a baby.

Bus

You can take a stroller on the bus but they can be busy. The bus lines are also a lot more difficult to navigate than the metro system but apps like Google Maps will work.

The Moovit app also works in Athens and can be an easy way to find the best route to your destination from your location.

The hop-on hop-off bus is another good option if you want to combine getting around and sightseeing

Tram

There is also a tram in Athens, also operated by Stasy – there are three lines, including a route along the coast.

If you’re planning to stay mostly in the city centre, you’re unlikely to use the tram network much though. Read more here.

Tips for traveling to Athens with a baby

Greece is enormously family-friendly, and you’ll be the centre of attention with a baby, which makes life a lot easier with a little one.

But follow these tips to make your family city break in Athens even easier.

Stay close to a metro station

There’ll be plenty of walking as you explore, so finding a place to stay that’s relatively central and near a Metro station is ideal – if you then need to head back for any reason, you don’t have a long journey ahead too.

If you’re looking for a self-catering apartment for your stay in Athens with a baby, Plum Guide is a great place to start – you can filter properties by those which welcome infants under 1 year old, and the options include several in Monastiraki.

A lovely place to stay is the COCO-MAT hotel in the Kolonaki neighborhoo: 5 minutes from the metro station Evangelismos, it’s only around 15 minutes (1km) from Syntagma Square and easy to get to, even when you’re carrying around a lot of (baby) stuff.

With a homewares store at the entrance, and the reception below, there’s also a rooftop garden with funky murals, a great view over the city and the Acropolis on the top floor.

The spacious suites have a big rain shower and more views from the balcony, plus room service available for a bit of luxury that’s still baby-friendly.

Check prices on Booking.com. or you can also find more Athens hotels here

Forget the stroller

Athens is not a very buggy-friendly city. The pavements are very uneven and sometimes there are no sidewalks at all. 

If they do exist, these tend to be pretty busy, especially near tourist sights, which makes navigating with a stroller a hassle.

The city is also built on hills, and when visiting the Acropolis, a stroller is nothing but an inconvenience as you are not allowed to take it inside. 

The best thing is to bring a baby carrier or sling (such as the Baby Bjorn) instead of a stroller – much easier when you are going sightseeing in Athens with a baby.

Bring your own baby changing mat

There few restaurants and cafes with baby changing, so be prepared and bring your own travel changing mat. 

Look for a hidden corner to change your baby or ask the staff if there is a suitable spot you can use.

For more tips, check out my beginner’s guide to travelling with a baby

Take your time 

When exploring Athens with kids, be sure to take your time and don’t cram too much into your itinerary.

While your perfect itinerary may be to visit the Acropolis, the Acropolis museum and the Greek Agora in one day, your baby/toddler may not agree. 

This Athens itinerary only includes a couple of sightseeing activities each day and some suggestions if you have more time.

This does mean you won’t be able to see everything when you are only spending 48 hours in Athens. But it also means you’ll keep your baby happy and well rested. Which in the end makes you happy as well!

Visit Athens in spring or autumn (not in summer)

Summer can be grueling in Athens, especially with a baby. With temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius climbing the Acropolis with a baby strapped to your chest is not tempting 

April, May and October have much more pleasant temperatures, usually between 20C and 25C.

If you do plan on visiting Athens in July or August, it’s even more important to be the first one at the gate of the Acropolis (that means 8am sharp) to avoid the crowds and the heat.

Find smoke-free cafes and restaurants

While there are many restaurants and cafes that have no-smoking signs, for years few were actually smoke free.

Even if it was officially illegal, it wasn’t a surprise to see people lighting a cigarette despite a no smoking sign. 

However since 2020, the law has been more sternly enforced and smoking in restaurants is far less common – but it’s still best not to assume.

How about breastfeeding in public?

Breastfeeding in public places is generally well accepted in Greece. Most restaurants are also happy to accommodate your request for hot water to warm bottles for your baby too.

A baby proof Athens itinerary

For a perfect baby-friendly Athens itinerary, the key tips are to take it slow and to plan ahead.

But once you’ve found the balance between sightseeing and relaxing that suits your baby’s routine, there’s no reason you can’t have a great city break in Athens with a baby.

Check out my complete guide to Greece with kids here or for more inspiration for family holidays in Greece, check out my posts on Kefalonia, Kos, Skiathos, Corfu, and reasons to go Greek island hopping with kids

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Images courtesy of Depositphotos

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