Highlights
- Discover how Athena became the city's protector as you explore the Acropolis
- Become an Olympian for the day as you try out the javelin and discus
- Pedal past Venetian fortresses and island castles on a bike tour of Nafplio
- Learn to milk goats and pick herbs with a visit to a countryside farm
- Experience Greek drama in its birthplace at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus
Brief Itinerary
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive in Athens, Explore the Greek Capital | Athens |
Day 2 | Interactive Acropolis Mythology Walk | Athens |
Day 3 | Ancient Olympic Games Adventure | Athens |
Day 4 | Guided Day Trip to Delphi | Athens |
Day 5 | Transfer to Nafplio, Family Cycling Tour | Nafplio |
Day 6 | Countryside Shepherd-for-a-Day Experience | Nafplio |
Day 7 | Free Morning in Nafplio, Epidaurus Theater Experience | Nafplio |
Day 8 | Transfer to Athens, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Athens, Explore the Greek Capital

Welcome to Greece! Your family adventure begins in Athens, where a driver will be waiting at the airport to take you to your city hotel. The rest of the day is yours; depending on everyone's energy levels, you could rest and recover or get your bearings with a self-guided stroll. You'll visit the iconic Acropolis tomorrow, so you might want to start at the central Syntagma Square, where, if you time it right, you'll witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Hellenic Parliament.
If the kids need to burn off some energy, explore a smaller archaeological site, such as the Tower of the Winds, located within the ancient Roman Agora. Then, stroll down the adjoining Aiolou Street, a pedestrian avenue lined with shops, cafés, and historic sites. You'll find plenty of family-friendly restaurants and tavernas here to grab a bite before heading back to your hotel for the evening.
Day 2: Interactive Acropolis Mythology Walk

Today, you'll dive into the stories and myths of ancient Greece with an interactive adventure that's fun for all ages. It starts at the hilltop Acropolis, where you'll join expert storyteller guides specializing in children's education. Learn how the Parthenon was built in the fifth century BCE to honor Athena, and imagine the colossal 38-foot (12 m) gold statue of the goddess that once stood in the temple. Hear about the struggle between the Olympian gods and the monstrous Giants, then reenact the battle yourselves on the spot where it's said to have taken place.
Head down to the National Gardens next, a green oasis in the shadow of the Acropolis. Here, professional performers will bring the feats of heroes, goddesses, giants, and more to life through stories and song. Then, the interactive fun continues as the kids try their hands at weaving while learning about Athena's loom, and join a puzzle challenge that represents the contest between Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, and Poseidon, god of the sea. Poseidon offered the citizens the sea, while Athena presented them with an olive tree; the winner became the city's patron god.
After the curtain falls, stroll into nearby Plaka, the oldest neighborhood in Athens, and wind through cobbled streets lined with neoclassical homes and outdoor cafés. Grab a table and feast on traditional Greek favorites like horiatiki salad and souvlaki, or go meze-style to try them all.
Day 3: Ancient Olympic Games Adventure

Channel your inner Olympians today (and let the kids burn off plenty of energy) with a guided journey through Olympic history. Learn about the ancient origins of the games, which occurred every four years starting in 776 BCE, and stand in the very spot where athletes trained and competed as your guide shares fun and fascinating ancient sports trivia.
Perfect your technique at original Olympic events like the discus and the javelin throw, and practice some more modern sports, such as the shot put, long jump, and relay race. You'll put all your training into practice with a family race beneath the sweeping stands of Kallimarmaro, also known as the Panathenaic Stadium. The grand facility was constructed in 1896 to host the first modern Olympics and is made entirely out of marble to honor the ancient stadiums.
After the winner gets their moment on the podium, say goodbye to your guide and pass through the Arch of Hadrian on your way out of the stadium. Once the ancient gateway to Athens, the marble archway has been standing for nearly 2,000 years. The whole family is sure to be hungry after your day of Olympic training, so stroll over to Monastiraki in the evening to sample some of the city's best souvlaki spots. End with a sweet Greek treat like loukoumades (fried honey dough balls) or a classic baklava.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Guided Day Trip to Delphi

Eat a hearty breakfast and pack some activities for the kids—today you're off on a day trip to seek out the oracle at the UNESCO-listed Archaeological Site of Delphi. Located about 2.5 hours north of Athens, these fascinating ruins on the slopes of Mount Parnassos were once home to the priestesses of Apollo and the sacred oracle of the ancient Gods. Your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you on a comfortable transfer, and you can sit back and enjoy the scenic mountain views as you near the famous site.
Upon arrival, an experienced guide will lead you on a tour around the ruins, whose highlights include the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo, and the expansive amphitheater. Let the kids run ahead as you venture up an ancient footpath once used by worshippers of the god Pan, who started from the temples of Delphi and proceeded to Corycean Grotto for their religious rites, and look out over the valley of olive trees and views of the Corinthian Gulf and peaks of the Peloponnese along the way.
Outside the ruins, you'll head into the nearby village and wander through a historic area that once served as the leather tanners' district. One of Greece's last bellmakers keeps his workshop here; if you're lucky, he may be on site for a visit. Break for a traditional home-cooked lunch under the plane trees in the town square, then end the day at the nearby Delphi Archaeological Museum, discovering treasures like the bronze "Charioteer of Delphi," the marble "Sphinx of Naxos," and what's thought to be the first recorded notation of a melody, once inscribed on the Treasury of the Athenians.
Day 5: Transfer to Nafplio, Family Cycling Tour

Wrap up your stay in Athens with breakfast before you pack your bags and meet your driver for the scenic two-hour transfer west to Nafplio, one of the prettiest seaport towns on the Peloponnese peninsula. Once believed to have been founded by the son of Poseidon, the town was the first capital of the new Greek state after the war of independence in the 1800s.
Check into your hotel and freshen up, then join a local guide for a family cycling tour through the Old Town. Pedal past Ottoman fountains, Venetian architecture, and the 15th-century Bourtzi Castle in the middle of the harbor. Accessible only by boat, the castle was built in the 1470s to defend the city, and it still keeps watch at the entrance to Nafplio Bay. You'll ride for roughly 2.5 hours, including some time to stop for a snack while enjoying the views, following a route that's gentle enough for riders of any age.
Day 6: Countryside Shepherd-for-a-Day Experience

Young nature and animal lovers will be delighted with today's trip into the countryside, where they can become a "shepherd for a day" at a local family farm. It starts with a transfer into the picturesque countryside of the Peloponnese, where you'll get a glimpse of authentic rural life among the rolling hills and traditional villages. When you pull up to the farm, you'll be greeted warmly by the owners and led to meet the more diminutive, four-legged residents.
Take a walk around the property to learn about the local herbs and plants grown there, then let the kids experience every aspect of life around the farm as they lend a hand with the daily chores, milk the goats and sheep, and even try out a turn on the shepherd's flute. Afterward, you'll all sit down to a home-cooked lunch around the farmhouse table, and chat with the owners over coffee and dessert while the kids play outside. You'll return to Nafplio in the afternoon; for dinner tonight, try the gkogkes, a traditional regional pasta shaped like a seashell and topped with local cheese and hot oil.
Day 7: Free Morning in Nafplio. Epidaurus Theater Experience

Take the morning to relax and explore peaceful Nafplio at your own pace, perhaps lingering over a coffee and Greek yogurt or pastry. If the kids are feeling active, take a quick boat ride across the bay to Bourtzi Castle, or brave the 1,000-step climb to see the view from Palamidi Fortress. Once you've built up an appetite for lunch, duck down one of the Old Town's narrow, bougainvillea-filled alleys and choose from the various family-run tavernas.
In the afternoon, you'll dive into the world of ancient Greek theater, starting with stops at the real-life locations of epic works by legends like Aristophanes and Sophocles. Learn about the role of the chorus in Greek theater, discover the meaning behind the exaggerated masks performers wore, and hear how the great tragedies and comedies of the age drew their inspiration from history and mythology. You'll end the experience at the fourth-century BCE Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, renowned for its perfect acoustics and design, where you'll get to watch a performance of one of the great ancient plays with English subtitles.
Day 8: Transfer to Athens, Depart

Your family adventure through Greece draws to a close today. Say your goodbyes to Nafplio and meet your driver for the two-hour transfer back to Athens, where you'll catch your departing flight. Safe travels!
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