Learn how to make the most of your day if visiting Athens as a cruise port destination with these important tips!
Athens, the capital city of Greece, is massive and can be pretty overwhelming! Exploring the archaeological sites of the ancient Greeks, admiring the Acropolis views, and eating the traditional Greek cuisine make Athens a bucket list vacation spot!
The city is so rich in history that it is impossible to see it all in one day, especially when traveling with a baby and toddler.
Truthfully, spending at least three days in Athens would allow you to see most, if not all, of the Greek ruins, museums, and beautiful neighborhoods.
Unlike Rhodes, Mykonos, or Santorini, Athens is an extensive city. Which may or may not be ideal for taking little kids. Ultimately, it’s personal preference. Although we ran into some bumps here and there, we had a great time visiting Athens with our baby and toddler.
If you’re visiting Athens by cruise, this one-day itinerary is an excellent guide! Not only have I included helpful cruise port information, but I have also included extra tips if you’re traveling to Athens with a toddler and baby.
We did not see as much as we could for our one-day itinerary in Athens. Primarily because we didn’t make plans or purchase tickets ahead of time, we were accommodating little kids and giving us ample time to get back to the cruise ship.
In this blog post, I have included where we went wrong and what we should have done differently to allow us to maximize our one day in Athens with kids. These tips are essential if you’re traveling with young children.
The Best things to do in Athens with kids
The Acropolis
If you only have one day in Athens, I encourage you to prioritize the Acropolis. The Athens Acropolis, the city on the hill or high city, dates back to the Neolithic Period (5000-4000BC) and is extraordinarily impressive.
It truly is one of the most significant historical sights in Athens. Next to the Colosseum in Rome, it is one of the most beautiful places with awe-inspiring monuments I have seen. The view of the acropolis surrounded by ancient ruins is the best view!
We visited the Acropolis in Rhodes, which was much smaller but absolutely worth the visit!
You will want to spend at least two hours exploring this ancient city; there is so much to see! Walking through the main entrance, you will immediately pass iconic monuments.
This is an excellent complete guide! The map is easy to read and gives you a reconstructed site plan of the monuments on Acropolis Hill. Print it out before your trip.
The famous Parthenon and the Theatre of Dionysus are so impressive that they are difficult to put into words! A few of the monuments found on the Acropolis are:
- The Temple of Athena Nike
- The Ancient Temple of Athena
- The Monument of Agrippa
Essential Tips for Visiting the Acropolis with Kids
Ticket purchases
Purchase tickets ahead of time! You can easily do so on the official website of the Acropolis of Athens. You can even purchase a combo ticket for the Acropolis and other ancient sites.
I can’t emphasize this enough. Entrance is only possible during your hourly time slot, and the ticket receipt advised us to be at the entrance 30 minutes before the reserved time slot selected on the ticket.
They give you a 15-minute grace period before and a 15-minute grace period after your reserved hour.
There are two entrances. We arrived by tour bus and used the main entrance.
Our Experience
The line was horrendous. If you cannot purchase tickets beforehand, I suggest buying them from the Acropolis ticket machine instead of the kiosk. It looks like an ATM, and there was no line for this option. It was a relatively straightforward process.
The door was down, but there was a QR code with step by step instructions.
Once we bought the tickets, we got in the huge cue for the entrance. We were unsure how this ticket situation would work out regarding our reserved time and how long it would take us to move through this line.
We were concerned about not meeting the 30-minute window due to standing in a long line.
Once we moved up to the entrance, we had to wait for 15 minutes till our reserved hour before they would let us in.
The line was so long and hot, and there was no escape from the sun. This was not ideal for wearing and carrying a baby and toddler.
At the main entrance, the ticket scanners would shout out the reserved time for those allowed to enter, with the 15-minute grace period. We watched people bypass that long line and walk right into the entrance of the Acropolis.
Once we walked through the gates, the crowd was not nearly as bad as I anticipated. The point of their admission process is to decrease the total number of people on the Acropolis at a given time.
What we should have done in this situation
I can’t guarantee this is the best option; however, if we had the opportunity to visit again, we would probably sit in the shade, around the entrance, and forgo standing in that horrible long line. We probably spent nearly an hour in that line, and the worst part was that it was unnecessary!
For example, if it was 11:00-11:15, anyone with a 10:00 ticket could walk right in, bypassing the entire line as long as they were in that 15-minute grace period.
We would also purchase tickets ahead of time and for an early morning entrance.
Seeing this line made us select a reserved hour that would give us time to stand in line. We could have opted in for the previous timed slot, bypassed the line, and saved an hour-plus. I don’t think it is a very organized situation.
Purchasing tickets with a guided tour could likely alleviate this issue altogether.
We saw people from our MSC cruise ship finishing their tour as we stood in line. This was another indicator that we didn’t do this right.
Tip: There is an entrance with an elevator. The staff informed us that you miss out on some ancient ruins when taking the path with the elevator. It is located near the North West portion of the Acropolis.
There is a lot of walking, and baby strollers are prohibited. There is a baggage and stroller check-in available. We carried the kids in carriers, which I would absolutely recommend.
Check out my recommended baby and toddler carriers!
Dress appropriately for visiting Athens in the spring and summer
We visited Athens the first week of April, and it was pretty warm. Walking around the Acropolis, the sun was relentless, and there were no shady spots. The temperature was manageable, but I can’t imagine what August would be like at the top of the hill.
This would be another reason to prioritize seeing the Acropolis during the morning.
We visited the Acropolis in Rhodes during August (I was around 33 weeks pregnant) and it was so hot!
I suggest wearing comfortable walking shoes; the ground is very uneven. Be sure to include sunscreen, hats, and a protective cover for the baby carrier.
Traveling with a baby and toddler, we always carry snacks as essentials in our diaper bag. It’s important to note that food is prohibited when walking around the Acropolis. We gave our toddler some ice cream while we were waiting in line.
The Acropolis and the Parthenon were the only main historical sights we fully experienced. I didn’t plan appropriately, we started our day late, and not understanding the ticket situation at the Acropolis contributed to our rough start.
Going back, this would be my Ideal Athens One-Day Itinerary
- Head to the Acropolis first thing in the morning.
- Visit the Acropolis Museum
- The Ancient Roman Agora of Athens – This is a short walk from the Acropolis
- Panathenaic Stadium. This Olympic stadium is about 2 km from the Acropolis and is an easy bus ride.
- The Temple of Olympian Zeus – Which is less than half a mile from the Acropolis
- Visit the ancient neighborhood, the Plaka District
- Finally, book a food tour! I love food tours! They are an excellent way of experiencing the local culture while enjoying Greek food!
The activities are all located in the same vicinity! This one-day Athens itinerary would be a full day and doable with young children.
I would recommend purchasing a combo ticket through their website.
Take the Hop- On Hop-Off Bus Tour
I love taking these hop-on, hop-off buses! They are such a good option for traveling when you have little kids. No hassling with car seats, and my son loves sitting at the top. Not to mention, they are typically a great way to see the main sites!
We have used them on our two-week trip to Northern Italy, Lisbon, London, and more!
You can purchase tickets ahead of time here.
Walk through a Greek Orthodox Church
There is something so unique and beautiful about the Orthodox Churches! If you haven’t seen one, they are worth visiting!
The Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is outside the cruise port, so you can walk through it on your way back!
Check out these Great Greece Island Itineraries!
Frequently Asked Questions if Visiting Athens with a Toddler and Baby
Is it a good idea to visit Athens during the Summer months
The summer months are the peak of the high season in Greece and many other European countries. If you’re traveling to Greece during August, you must be prepared for the crowds and, more importantly, the heat.
It was pretty warm when we visited the first week of April. The previous year, we traveled to Rhodes, Greece, in August, which was very hot.
The average temperature in Athens is 28.2C/ 82.8 F with a high of 32 C/ 89.6 According to greeka. Walking around the ancient buildings with little to no shade, the heat can feel intense.
Is Athens a walkable city
When looking at the city center of Athens, it does seem like a very walkable city. My husband is excellent at making his walking tours of cities simply using Google Maps; we have seen so much in cities such as Rome and London this way!
I suggest mapping the city center out; you will see so much more if you avoid the metro.
Is Athens stroller-friendly
I did see many people using strollers in the city center. However, if the ancient monuments have the same policy as the Acropolis, you cannot take the stroller. The Acropolis did have a stroller check-in.
Bringing the carriers makes traveling much more convenient; check out my recommended travel strollers and carriers!
Commonly Asked Cruise Ship Questions
Important Cruise Port Information
The Cruise port in Athens is the Piraeus port, and there are three cruise terminals, A, B & C.
How far is the Cruise terminal from Athens City Center
The cruise terminal is around 10 km from the city center. I say around because the distance varies between the three terminals.
It took us over 30 minutes to get to the City Center, where we got off on the Acropolis Exit.
How to get to the Athens City center from the Piraeus cruise port
Hop-on Hop-off Bus
I realize this is not the most recommended route; however, this is what we favor. It gives us an opportunity to learn and see more of the city, as well as opportunities to visit historical sites. There were a couple of different options right outside the terminal. It was an easy option for us; we got right on the bus.
You can read more about the lines and schedules here and book early tickets.
Public Commuter Bus
According to the Piraeus Port of Athens official site, the X80 and the 040 are the best options to arrive at the city center. The tickets would be less expensive than the tour bus option and maybe another great option. Check out the Piraeus website for the bus information, prices, and schedule.
Piraeus Metro Station
There is a metro station; however, depending on the cruise terminal, it could be, on average, a 30-minute walk. The downside to taking the metro is that you miss out on some of the historical sites.
Restaurants outside the Piraeus Port
There are numerous restaurants outside the port. However, we wanted one last Greek meal or a place that served chicken fingers (our MSC cruise line did not serve chicken nuggets… and if you have a picky toddler, you know how detrimental this is)
Sadly, we could not find a Greek restaurant or one serving chicken fingers outside the port.
And no trip to Greece would be complete without enjoying some typical Greek desserts, such as Baklava.
Check out these other cruise port destinations
My final thoughts on our Ancient Athens one-day itinerary
Looking back on our trip to Athens with a toddler, I realize there are so many things I would have done differently. First and foremost, I would have had our family ready to disembark from the boat as soon as allowed. This would have started our day much sooner.
But through these hiccups, I picked up on some great tips. And ultimately, we made the most of it and had the best time!
Visiting the city of Athens with kids should be on your bucket list! Its extensive history makes it one of the best places to visit. Traveling with younger children has many challenges, but don’t let that stop you from seeing ancient Greece!
Walking around the ancient city allows you to step back in time, and Athens is the perfect place to visit if you and your older kids love ancient Greek mythology!
I would love to hear from you in the comments! What was your experience traveling to Athens? Would you make any other suggestions?
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