A myth-filled 15-day family road trip in Greece

Explore the treasures of the Acropolis Museum

No stay in Athens is complete without visiting the Acropolis Museum. You’ll learn all the secrets of the Sacred Rock (as the Acropolis is known to Greeks) and get up close to many original and replica artefacts. Again, a guide will reveal the full story, introducing you to the 12 gods and ancient treasures such as the elegant Caryatids. There are even tours for kids with role-playing with Athena and Poseidon as they fight over the naming rights of the city. 

Take a tour of the Acropolis Museum 

Enjoy the sunset on Pnyx Hill

Either before or after visiting the Acropolis Museum, explore the surrounding area. You’ll adore the island-like district of Anafiotika, and the areas of Plaka and Monastiraki are must-sees (the kids will love the flea market). By climbing Pnyx Hill, just next to the Acropolis, you’ll discover the centre of Athenian Democracy. You can still see the speaker’s platform and seating terrace of the Democratic Assembly. It’s also an oasis of green, the perfect place sit and admire the Parthenon opposite… and even paint or sketch it! Some kid-friendly tours involve drama games, riddle-solving and creative arts & crafts activities on the hill.

Stop for a picnic at the Botanical Gardens

On your way to Elefsina, the Diomedes Botanical Gardens is a great spot for a picnic and stroll. There are around 4,000 plant species, many with roots (pun intended) in Greek mythology. Learn about what connects the pine trees with Pitys, the nymph that the God Pan fell in love with. And about the relationship between the first feminist, Rodanthe of Corinth, and the roses. Ancient Greeks had a close relationship with nature – the sea, sky, streams, lakes, trees and springs being associated with or even becoming gods. With Aphrodite’s myrtle, Apollo’s laurel and Zeus’ oak tree, you’ll find out why.

Photo by: Diomedes Botanical Garden

Unearth the mysteries of the Underworld

The day’s highlight is another little-known but fascinating archaeological site. The Eleusinian Mysteries that took place in Eleusis involved a secretive 9-day ceremony to the cult of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture. It involved the myth of Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, who was abducted by Hades, the god of the Underworld. Inconsolable, Demeter stopped the earth bearing fruit until Zeus negotiated that Persephone split her year between her mother and the Underworld (nature froze in autumn and winter and was reborn in spring and summer as a result). You can see the spot where Persephone entered the Underworld. After visiting the sanctuary, stroll along the waterfront and enjoy a meal in a traditional taverna.

Save a turtle in the Archelon Animal Rescue Centre

Another coastal stop the kids will love is the Archelon Sea Turtle Rescue Centre, in Glyfada, where you can meet the endangered Loggerhead sea turtles that are being rehabilitated following injury or illness and learn about the program to protect them. You can even get an adoption certificate for supporting the recovery of one of the sea turtles. If you haven’t been tempted by one of the tavernas on the way down the coast, there are plenty of eating spots for all tastes in Glyfada.

Photo by: David Leveque (unsplash)

Enjoy the grounds of a modern architectural gem

Back down the coast, towards the port of Piraeus, you reach the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center, which contains the National Opera House and National Library. It’s one of Athens’ modern architectural gems. There are guided tours which explain the sustainability-focused concept of renowned architect Renzo Piano. The kids will also love the grounds, which include a huge grass area and a sensory garden. 

Picnic in an ancient olive grove

There are plenty of magical places to walk in Aegina but a favourite is amongst the olive groves of the Eleonas Valley, with trees that are believed to be 1,500 to 2,000 years old. The mountain valley can be reached from a path that starts opposite Marathonas Beach (around 10mins drive for the port). After about 50 minutes, you reach a great picnic spot in the olive trees. And when you’re done, you can head straight for a swim in Marathonas Bay, on one of Aegina’s sandiest beaches. 

Photo by: Lucio Patone (unsplash)

Sample the pistachios and other treasures of Aegina

Strolling along the waterfront, it won’t take long before you’re tempted by one of the pistachio sellers or the fishing boats that are actually floating markets, filled with locally grown fruit & veg. You’ll also enjoy wandering the narrow streets of Aegina town and sitting down for seafood in a taverna by the sea while the kids play in the sand. 

Enjoy a wine tour and farm-to-table lunch

Where there’s culture, there should also be food & wine. So the second part of your day is dedicated to visiting one of the Attica wineries. The Kokotos Estate, in the village of Stamata, has the added attraction of an animal farm. There are tours that allow the children to feed the animals (including ponies, rabbits, chickens and ducks) and pick vegetables from the organic garden. Meanwhile, the adults get to tour the vineyard and cellar and go wine-tasting before the whole family gathers for a farm-to-table lunch.

Swim in Schinias National Park

What better end to the day than an afternoon swim at the sandy and family-friendly beach of Schinias. You can snorkel, build a sandcastle or go for a sunset walk in the pine forest around the beach, which is part of the Schinias National Park, before heading back to Athens for the night. 

Take a boat trip into the Corinthian Gulf

A boat trip crossing the canal and heading into the Corinthian Gulf will be an unexpected highlight of your family road trip in Greece. Look out for the submersible bridges of Posidonia and Isthmia in the canal, before entering the gulf and heading to the tiny islands of Diporta and Alkyonides, which have small fishing settlements (with tavernas serving fresh fish) and untouched beaches. You pass by Melangavi Lighthouse (safeguarding passing ships since the 19th century) and the archaeological site of Heraion (dedicated to the goddess Hera, with a charming little beach just below it), as well as Lake Vouliagmeni (connected with the sea by a narrow channel).

Enjoy a sunset stroll in Nafplio

Completing your day, you get to stroll around the first official capital of Greece and a favourite weekend getaway of Athenians. You’ll be returning to Nafplio over the next few days and each time you’ll see something different, especially at sunset. High above you, you’ll see the Venetian’s imposing Palamidi Castle (where some of Greece’s revolutionary heroes were briefly imprisoned in the 19th century) and in the bay is the island fortress of Bourzi. The local ice cream is fantastic but leave room for dinner. The restaurants in Nafplio are fantastic.

Take a tour of Nafplio’s Old Town 

Hunt for gold in Ancient Mycenae

Moving on to Ancient Mycenae, you visit one of the most important palatial centres of ancient Greece – ‘gold-rich Mycenae’, as Homer described it. A guided tour will introduce you to Perseus, the hero who killed the gorgon Medusa, as well as the stories of the Cyclops, the one-eyed giants who are said to have built the archaeological site’s massive walls. You’ll also learn about the mythical King Eurystheus, who ordered Hercules to complete his twelve labours and the era when Mycenae became the legendary kingdom of Agamemnon, where the Trojan War began. 

Mycenae - Self-guided Audio Tour on your Phone 🏛️

Check out the birdlife of Lake Stymphalia

Lake Stymphalia is where Hercules defeated the man-eating Stymphalian birds but it’s also an important ecosystem and part of Europe’s protected Natura 2000 habitats. There’s a museum you can visit to learn more about the flora and fauna of the lake – although thankfully the deadly birds with beaks made of bronze and sharp metallic feathers aren’t among them today.

Hire hydrobikes on Lake Doxa

Equally beautiful is nearby Lake Doxa, in the Feneos plateau. You can enjoy a walk in nature but you’ll have most fun if you book a hydrobike tour on the lake. Your guide will point out the sinkholes said to have been opened up by Hercules to drain a swamp and provide fertile land to a nearby village. Another legend says they were the entrances to the Underworld used by Demeter to find her daughter. 

Photo by: Dimitris Pallas (unsplash)

Go river-rafting on the Lousios River

Another highlight in Arcadia will be rafting and swimming in Lousios River, where Zeus (the father of the Olympian gods) was bathed after his birth, or in Ladon River, associated with river-god Ladon, who transformed his daughter, the naiad Daphne, into a laurel tree. There’s no end to the myths associated with this region, including those involving Artemis (the goddess of forests and hunting) and Pan falling in love with the nymph Syrinx.

Arcadia: Rafting Lousios river 🛶

Visit an authentic Arcadian Village

The evening is dedicated to enjoying village life and learning more about Arcadia’s authentic mountain settlements. If you choose Vytina, the stone-built bridges and watermills on the Mylaon River are unforgettable. Also breathtaking are the views from Dimitsana, where you can visit an open-air waterpower museum. And there are other Arcadian villages seemingly untouched by time, most of which played an important role in the Greek War of Independence. 

Full day hiking - Peloponnese 🥾

Discover paradise in Voidokilia Lagoon

Moving on to the Messinia Gulf, you reach one of the most beautiful bays in Greece. Crescent-shaped Voidokilia is one of Europe’s pin-up beaches, with turquoise water and sand made white by crushed shells. On a hill above the beach sits the medieval castle of Paleokastro and you can climb as far as the so-called Cave of Nestor, the mythical king of Pylos. If you feel like exploring more, the Gialova Lagoon just behind the beach is Natura 2000-protected and home to up to 250 species of birds.

Discover the Instagrammable beauty of Voidokilia beach 

Feel the spirit of Kalamata

Finally, you drive back inland to Kalamata. The capital of Messinia is a fantastic base for so many activities in the region, combining seaside fun, fantastic food, culture and mountain activities. The city has a lively folk dance named after it and, just walking the streets, you’ll feel the love of life. Go for a sunset walk along the waterfront, with the mighty Mt Taygettus in distance, before discovering for yourself why Kalamata is famed for its food.

Take a walking tour of Kalamata

Hear the tales of legendary Navarino Bay

Eventually, you reach the opening to Voidokilia Lagoon and, just beyond that, the Navarino Bay, protected by the long-and-thin-shaped Sfaktiria island. As you sail past, imagine Navarino Bay as it would have looked in October 1827 during successful battle between an armada of British, French and Russian fleets against the Ottomans. It was the last naval battle fought with sailing ships and many of the wrecks are still on the seabed. Your trip might include stops in Gialova, Pylos, Methoni and the island of Sapientza at the southwestern tip of the Peloponnese. You return to beautiful Pylos for the night. 

Sea Kayaking Navarino Bay 🛶

Swim at one of the Olympian Riviera beaches

After all that archaeology, treat yourself to a swim in one of the beaches along the nearby coastline. What is known as the Olympian Riviera has some of the longest sandy and kid-friendly beaches in Greece, such as Loutra Killinis and Kourouta, where you will also find many dining options. 

Photo by: Nelly Antoniadou (unsplash)

Swim in the Nemouta waterfalls

The highlight of your day is swimming in the Nemouta Waterfalls. After an easy hike that keeps the whole family’s interest from beginning to the end, you head to the three waterfalls. You can swim in all three, with the most impressive called “Gate to Paradise”.  You return to Olympia for the night or, if you prefer, Katakolo on the coast. 

Photo by: mamakita.gr

Stroll around battle-famous Nafpaktos

Ending the day in Nafpaktos (formerly Lepanto), explore one of the most beautiful and best-preserved castle-towns in Greece. The views of the bay from the top of the hill are amazing. End the day in the Venetian harbour, by the statue of Cervantes, the great Spanish writer commemorated for his participation in the 1571 Battle of Lepanto that put an end to Turkish Naval Supremacy. If you fancy a swim, there are sandy beaches along the northern coast of the Corinthian Gulf.

Discover the castle town of Nafpaktos 

Photo by: George Mitropoulos (unsplash)

Be introduced to the adventures of Mt Parnassos

The second half of your day is spent in the Mt Parnassos National Park, very close to Delphi. A guide will show you the trails leading from the ancient site (part of the E4 European long-distance hiking trail) to the Corycian Cave (also known as Pan’s Cave). An ancient myth says that the cave is visited by divine spirits. There are easier routes if you’re travelling with smaller children, including to the entrance of the underground Eptastomos cave (yet another entrance to the Underworld). 

Hiking Tour on the Ancient Delphi Footpath 🥾

A final night in coastal Galaxidi

You could return to Athens now, spending a last night in the city or going straight to the airport. Another option is to spend your last night in the beautiful coastal town of Galaxidi, where you can walk along the promenade lined with colourful houses and have a final taste of fantastic seafood while watching fishermen clean their nets. (Note that the 230km to Athens International airport from Galaxidi are not included in the distance.)