If your Teen Needs to Burn off Steam
Olympic Games Workout
How to make your teen zone out? Take them on a traditional sight-seeing tour where they get talked at for hours on end. Rather see them engaged and enjoying themselves? Sign up for this well-balanced, two-hour experience that combines history with just the right amount of physical challenges to teach you about the Olympic Games, both ancient and modern. You’ll be put through your paces by a former athlete at sites connected with the Games and learn hands-on techniques for classic Olympian events (like the javelin and discus) at a 19th century gymnasium. The kids will love the end game: running on the epic Panathenaic track at the world’s only all-marble stadium, the birthplace of the modern Olympics.
Alternative Athens runs Olympic Games Workout tours all year round.
Photo: Thomas Gravanis
Malakasa Adventure Park
It’s hard to be all moany and shruggy when you’re flying from tree to tree fifteen metres above the ground. If city fatigue has set in, this adventure park is one of the most enjoyable family days out in Athens. Laid out over 50 acres of forest, about 40 minutes north of the city-centre, Malakasa is an addictive network of Tarzan swings and zip slides, divided into age-appropriate skill levels (Wolves caters for 11-14 years; Eagles for 14+). There are park monitors and harnesses to ensure their safety. The climbing challenges are the main event but there’s also archery, bungee trampolines and Operation Tarantula, a commando-style game with net and rope obstacles. In summer, it’s lovely and cool; in winter, you’ll appreciate the alpine atmosphere. You can buy coffees and drinks but there are no food facilities, so bring your own supplies. Picnic among the pines on wooden benches, or stop off at one of the traditional tavernas in Malakasa town, a few minutes away.
Courtesy: Adventure Park
Water Sports on the Athens Riviera
Does your teen believe they can walk on water? From May to early October, put them to the test with a stand-up paddle board session at Yasurfaki water sports club. A huge hit with local families, It’s located in Varkiza resort, one of the biggest—and cleanest—organised sandy beaches on the Athens Riviera. Yasurfaki offers all kinds of watersports including windsurfing, wakeboarding and banana boats. Out of the water, there’s plenty to amuse your brood while you get your vitamin sea: beach volleyball, outdoor gyms, teen-cuisine like pizzas, burgers and souvlaki, and beach bars with summery DJ sets. You’ll pay an entrance fee of about €5-7 to access Varkiza Resort; extra for the watersports.
Courtesy: Yasurfaki
Aquapolis
Aquapolis (try saying it 3 times) was the talk of summer when it opened next to the Athens Zoo this year. Why? Its headline thrill, the King Cobra. This wild slide straddles both halves of the waterpark and ends with a stomach dropping swoop down into the belly of the beast; then high up between its fangs (then up, and down, and up and down … until you run out of gas). Think of it as a skate ramp on steroids—except on an inflatable. Teens can’t get enough. They happily dart up and down the stairs all day, perfecting their technique for the ultimate Tik Tok or Boomerang flex. Your job will be to wait down the bottom and record the Drop. Or bond by taking the plunge together in one of the double inflatables. Well-organized Aquapolis is split into 3 areas: the Adrenaline Speed Zone; a merry Family Adventure Zone for the smaller ones; and a pool area that makes a great base camp for parents to chill and kids to get their breath back. My teens’ other faves? The Rafting Ride (fast and smooth and the queues tend to be quicker) and the Magic Cone, where you circle the drain to enter a dark tunnel lit by neon lights. Open from May until the end of September-early October.
Courtesy: Aquapolis
If your Teen is into Mind Games
Museum of Illusions
Disappear down the rabbit hole at this small but engrossing novelty museum where nothing is what it seems. Perfectly-pitched for the Insta-generation, your teens will love putting their own filters and spin on some of the most popular illusions, such as the Upside Down Room and the Head on a Plate. They’ll also pick up a lesson or two on vision, perception and the science of the human brain. There’s probably only enough here to spend an hour or so, but the museum is located in a lively part of Athens that’s well worth exploring afterwards. A little shop on the way out sells brain teasers and puzzles.
The Mind Trap
Tick tock, you’re on the clock. You have just 60 minutes to puzzle it out and escape from whatever deadly mission you’ve signed up for. Teens love the adrenaline rush of escape rooms, where they must work in small teams to crack clues and riddles during a dramatic scenario inspired by anything from Breaking Bad to Game of Thrones. Downtown Athens has several venues hosting daily escape room sessions in English. At The Mind Trap, which has branches in Monastiraki and Kolonaki, rebellious teens will get a kick out of playing “anti-hero” in the Ebola room: the goal is to release the killer virus before getting arrested.
Turn their world on its head at the Museum of Illusions.
Photo: Amalia Kovaiou
Hybrid Scavenger Hunt with Narratologies
Trick them into sight-seeing with this cleverly conceived treasure hunt that lets you explore the city’s Ottoman and Roman past, as well as hidden hangouts in Monastiraki and Plaka, while you solve riddles, hear stories and track clues. New Greek start-up, Narratologies, has created a novel hybrid experience that blends gamification elements and technology, while also supporting local businesses post-Covid. Using the “Narratologies” mobile app, your mission is to help Flame, a young oriental dancer, rescue her imprisoned lover, Magas, a Greek musician with a nose for trouble. Alongside the app, you’ll be personally handed game cards with clues at various points, and winners get gift cards to redeem at some of the city’s finest local arts and crafts shops and museums.
Save Magas Scavenger Hunt with Narratologies takes around two-hours and can be scheduled daily.
Courtesy: Narratologies
If your Teen is into Street Culture
Latraac Skate Park
Impress your kids with your local street cred by taking them to this happening skate park in the Keramikos neighbourhood. Latraac—an experimental social space built by Greek skater and architect Zachos Varfis—has become ground zero for the Athens skate scene. Hidden from the street behind metal gates, it has the thrill of an insider secret. Even if you don’t have access to a skateboard, Latraac makes for brilliant street theatre: watch bowl contests or hard-core skaters perfect their moves on the laser-cut plywood bowl. Or soak up the creative buzz of the many artists and musicians who hang out here. Setting Latraac apart from other skate parks in the city is a hip bar and café where you can settle in and enjoy the show. They do a great weekend brunch, including pancakes, toasties and scrambled eggs.
Photo: Thomas Gravanis
Athens Street Art Tour
Teens are naturally drawn to the subversive energy of graffiti and Athens has one of the hottest street art scenes in Europe. Find out the difference between “tagging” and “bombing” while you encounter some of the capital’s coolest neighbourhoods. Your guide Nikos is the real deal: a local painter, graphic designer and street artist himself. On this excellent 3-hour tour, he’ll reveal the political and social meanings and hidden messages behind Athens street art—including ‘All Dogs go to Heaven’, a mural tribute to Loukaniko, the stray dog who loved to tag along on political demonstrations.
Athens Street Art tours are hosted daily by Alternative Athens.
Photo: Thomas Gravanis
Food Segway Tour
A city tour that combines two of teenagers’ favourite things—cool gadgets and street food. Genius. This guided tour combines all the fun of an eco-savvy segway ride through the historic streets of Thissio, Monastiraki and Plaka with a culinary adventure. Over two-and-a-half hours, you’ll make five taste stops to sample Greek staples like gyros, kebab or souvlaki, mezedes (the Greek version of tapas), Greek yoghurt and loukoumades (our answer to doughnuts). Athens Segway Tours are run by a team of young, enthusiastic Athenians who enjoy sharing insider tips about local life.
Athens Food Segway tours are available in several languages.
Photo: Amalia Kovaiou
If your Teen Hates Being Outside
Limba Rage Room
The perfect rainy day activity for hormonal teens. At this downtown rage room they can vent to their heart’s content—with no consequences (limba in Greek means “total destruction”). First step: choose from a menu of smashables—anything from old mobile phones, computer monitors, plates or TV sets. Next, pick an inspiring soundtrack, put on protective overalls, visor and gloves, and let rip for as long as you like with your weapon of choice (most go for baseball bats). There’s no need for guilt: everything comes from a local recycling centre and the debris is returned afterwards. An incredibly cathartic and liberating experience, especially for teens raging against the machine.
Courtesy: Limba Rage Room