Athens is a prominent city in Greece that’s filled with deep history, culture, and adorable neighborhoods. It’s an incredible city to explore with plenty of things to do with teenagers and young adults. From its monumental historic sites, Greek mythology, Greek Charm, and its incredible food and culture. You will not regret spending time exploring Athens with teenagers and young adults.
We arrived in Athens, Greece, on a ferry after exploring Mykonos and Santorini. For our first time visiting Greece, we had to include its country’s capital in our family itinerary.
Although Athens is an old city, it’s become more modern, and it is kinda similar to the big cities in the United States, except for one fact. They have ancient landmarks on top of hills dating back to 3,000 or so years! This is what makes the city of Athens so special, like no other place in Europe or the world.
Here in this post, we will cover how we spent 3 glorious days in Athens with teenagers and young adults. I will talk about the best things to do in Athens, plus give a few bonus activities your teens and young adults will love.
But don’t get it twisted; it’s not just for teens. This Athens itinerary can also be enjoyed by the entire family, young and old. It encompasses a mix of discovering historical sights with fun things to do, and beautiful places in Athens to admire.
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Is Athens good for teenagers?
Athens, Greece, is a good city for families to visit with teenagers. Athens is also a good city for young adults too. Teenagers will love the historic sites, eating scrumptious food, and seeing the quirky-themed cafes. Plus, they can learn about Greek history and visit ancient landmarks. Additionally, Athens is modern enough with fun activities, like riding bikes and segways, solving puzzles, and shopping sprees.
The Best and Fun Things to do in Athens with Teenagers and Young Adults
The Museum of Illusions Athens
For a unique experience in Athens with teenagers and young adults, go to the Museum of Illusions. This activity is a fun thing to do for the entire family. The Museum of Illusions takes you into a world of optical illusions.
Get their imagination going, get a kick out of your mind being tricked, and enjoy all of the illusions and exhibits.
The first time we visited the Museum of Illusion was in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was so much fun that we jumped at the chance to visit this one in Athens.
It’s a fun way to spend time with the family here after a long day of sightseeing. Plus, it’s a chance to cool off from the heat outside.
Although this is a small museum, the exhibits were still fun to interact with. We particularly love the chair optical illusion and the rotated (upside-down) room exhibits.
You’ll only need to spend about 50 minutes here, which is enough time to cover the entire area. Besides that, we didn’t book our tickets in advance; luckily, they had an open slot for us. It was easy to purchase the tickets at the counter. The Museum of Illusions is one of the cheap things to do in Athens, with ticket prices only $10.
However, if you prefer to secure your spot, you can purchase your tickets online here.
Watch the Changing of the Guard at Syntagma Square
Syntagma, also known as Constitution Square, is a popular tourist area to watch the changing of the guard.
The Presidential Guardsmen called Evzones watch over the Tomb of the Unknown soldier 24/7 inside the square.
Much like English guardsmen in England, these Greek soldiers wear a traditional uniform. Which includes wearing a pleated skirt and intriguing wooden shoes (Tsarouchi) with a pom pom on top of it.
Furthermore, the changing of the guard takes place every hour after they stand entirely still. Then they change out for someone else to take their place.
However, on Sundays at 11 is when they do the official changing of the guard ceremony. During this time, you’ll see the marching bands walk from their barracks to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Have you ever seen the changing of the guard in London and how they put on a big show? Well, it’s similar to that. It’s a unique experience seeing the differences between the Greek military vs the English or American military.
Take a Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour in Athens with Teenagers
Taking a Hop-on Hop-off bus tour is a fantastic way to see the city. When taking a sightseeing tour bus, you can sit back, relax, and see all the major sites. I like to take a bus tour to get an overall gist of a new city. It’s good to take a bus tour to get your grip on where everything is located.
This Athens Sightseeing Bus Tour takes you to some of the best attractions such as the Acropolis, Parthenon, Temple of Olympic Zeus, and much more. Not only do you get to see these incredible sights from your comfortable seat, but you can also learn about the history through audio commentary. Just make sure you sit at the top of the double-decker bus to get the most awesome view of the city.
Now, here’s what you can do. Ride the bus for one full circle without getting off. Then once you’ve seen the full route, hop off the bus at any of the sights you are interested in exploring further.
After you’re done with that site, you can just hop back on the bus at the nearest stop. The bus usually runs every 30 minutes.
For Price and details for this Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour click here.
Take a Food Tour in Athens with Teenagers
When traveling to a new country, we love to book a food tour when possible. Going on a food tour is the most fun thing to do in Athens with teenagers and family. They will enjoy sampling the best local foods, and going to the restaurants, shops, and cafe’s that you would not have seen otherwise.
Not to mention, the guide will give you some history about the culture, the food, how they make it, and why they eat it. Besides, it’s fun to connect with other travelers and socialize as well.
On this highly recommended Gourmet Food Tour, the guide will show you around the top places to eat, you’ll sample some of the local greek cuisines while walking around Monastiraki Square, Central Market and Psirri neighborhood, eating traditional foods, pastries, wine, and cheese.
To check out details and availability for this Gourmet Food Tour click here.
Limba Rage Room
Another fun attraction to do indoors is going to the Limba Rage Room. The rage room is an exciting thing to do in Athens with teenagers and young adults. Your family will love letting out some frustration and steam by smashing up some thangs.
They will get a thrill out of using a crowbar or a bat by smashing up plates, bottles, TV, keyboards, and everything in between! Your teens and young adults in the family will have a ball destroying stuff! A thrilling style of entertainment that is quite a unique yet fun activity to do in Greece!
Segway Tour in Athens with Teenagers and Young Adults
One of the most fun things to do in Athens with teenagers and young adults is taking a Segway Tour. Zoom through the streets of Athens and see the amazing sites while the wind blows through your hair.
If your teen is anything like mine, they love driving a motorized vehicle and exploring a new city. Plus, it’ll give those feet a little relief from walking everywhere.
With this Segway tour, it will allow you to get a glimpse of several sites within a short amount of time. The stops include Keramikos, Mars hill, Acropolis, Olympic village,” and much more.
Additionally, the guide will teach your family how to use the Segway before hitting the streets. You must be over 10 years old to drive a Segway and be accompanied by an adult. So yes, mom, that means you too.
Don’t worry, though. It’ll be a fun adventure for everyone.
For Price and details for this Segway Tour click here.
Historic Things to do in Athens with Teenagers and young adults
Climb the Acropolis
You must visit some historical sites if this is your first time visiting Athens.
Amongst those historical sites is the Acropolis. The Acropolis is an iconic landmark that most travelers come to Athens to see. The Acropolis is a beacon of true ancient Greek culture and essence. It’s an Archaeological site that screams this is ancient Greece and is a Symbol of democracy.
Now, when you enter the city center, you will see this massive monument hovering over the city sitting 150 meters high on top of a rocky hill.
Then, once you get up the hill, you will encounter several monuments, such as the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Temple of the Athena Nike, Erechtheion, and the theater of Dionysus. But the most iconic site to see is the Parthenon. The Parthenon was built between 447 and 438 BC. 5th century, initiated by Pericles. This stunning temple is dedicated to Athena, the Greek goddess of Athens. You will get breathtaking views of the city on top of the hill at the Acropolis.
A tip: Instead of going to the main entrance like everyone else, go to the South entrance (Dionysus Theater entrance). That way, you can enter the Acropolis without the massive crowds.
I recommend taking an Acropolis guided walking tour to get the most out of your visit. Taking a guided tour with an expert will help your family learn about the interesting history behind the monuments of the Acropolis, Ancient Greece, and the stories of the mythology of the Greek gods.
Additionally, I recommend getting to the Acropolis early to avoid the heavy crowds and the hot beating sun, especially if you’re going in the summertime. Trust me, we were there mid-day, and the sun had us on FIRE!
See the Recommended Tours for the Acropolis:
Athens: Acropolis, Parthenon, & Acropolis Museum Guided Tour
Acropolis: Guided Walking Tour with Entrance Ticket
On the other hand, if you plan on visiting more than one archeological site, I highly recommend purchasing a combination ticket.
A combination ticket will allow you to enter 7 archaeological sites! This includes the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Temple of Zeus, Aristotle’s School, Kerameikos Ancient Cemetery, and Hadrian’s library.
Plus, the good thing about getting a combination ticket is you’ll get skip-the-line access to all of these sites. Be aware that the tickets are valid for 5 days, once activated, with entry to each site only once.
Another tip: Instead of hitting the Acropolis first, visit one of the smaller sites so you can activate your tickets. That way, you won’t have to stand in the super long ticket line to activate your tickets. Don’t worry; you only have to activate it once.
For price and details for this Acropolis and 6 Archaeological Sites Combo Tickets click here
Visit the Roman Agora
Next up is the Roman Agora. The Roman Agora is a site built between 19 – 11 BC. The site is located on the North Side of the Acropolis. It was once a bustling open market, surrounded by colonnades, shops, and offices. Julius Caesar and Augustus donated money to have this built and known as the Gate of Athena.
Here you can marvel at the ancient ruins in the open courtyard. Upon the entrance, you will see the huge pillars standing ambitiously tall. There isn’t much left of this site, but it is intriguing to see the pillars and the beautiful marble it is made of.
However, the Tower of the Winds (Water clock and sundial) on the West side of the courtyard is still intact.
Lastly, you can walk through this site within 30 minutes to get a good idea of how it used to be.
Visit the Ancient Agora in Athens with teenagers and Young Adults
Ancient Agora is a remarkable site near the Acropolis on the Northwest side. In its heyday, this public Square was bustling with people, holding political meetings, elections, and celebrations.
This archaeological site is huge in comparison to the Roman Agora. The biggest monuments that are here are the Temple of Hephaestus (the best preserved Greek Temple) and the Stoa of Attalos. Everything else is pretty much in ruins.
However, there is so much history here, and one can imagine how it used to be in the classical era.
Take a Stroll through Hadrian’s Library
The Roman Emperor Adrian, established Hadrian’s library in AD 132. Hadrian’s Library is also known as the “One Hundred Column Library.” Much of the site isn’t well preserved, but we enjoyed walking around and seeing the remains of what is left of it.
Nevertheless, visiting this ancient site is a historical thing to do in Athens with teenagers. They can walk around, admire the exquisite pillars and imagine what this area looked like in its prime.
Home of the Olympics Baby
Another notable site of Ancient Athens to see if your family loves sports is the Panathenaic Stadium. The stadium is where the first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896.
Then if you have time, stop by and marvel at the Temple of Zeus, a huge temple that was built in dedication to the Olympian god Zeus during the Olympic era in 470 BC.
Learn some History at the Acropolis Museum
If your teens want to learn more about Greece’s ancient history and mythology, then make sure to visit the Acropolis Museum. It’s said to be one of the most renowned museums in Greece. This modern museum houses some of the most important ancient artefacts of the Acropolis and its surrounding area. The museum is located near the Acropolis, so you could go to the muesem after your Acropolis Hill visit.
I recommend this tour that combines touring the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum.
Photoshoot time in Athens with Teenagers and Young Adults
Now, to put more excitement into touring these ancient sites in Athens with teenagers, we did our own photoshoots and took videos for Instagram to capture the moment and just have fun. If you’re intrigued about the videos we made, you can see some of those here.
Eat Deliciously Greek Food in Athens with Teens
Eating Greek food is the perfect activity to do with teenagers in Athens. I mean, we gotta eat, right? And let me tell you…the food in Greece is scrumptious, flavorful, and maybe even exotic. The most popular foods are Gyros, Slovakia, Kebabs, and much more.
Ultimately, I thought the best food in Greece would be in Santorini, but Athens has some delicious, authentic Greek food. Plus, there are so many restaurants, cafes, and taverns to try Greek food. The vibes were great, and the restaurants were plentiful.
Walk through Charming Greek Neighborhoods
Walking through the Plaka neighborhood is an Instagram lover’s dream. This was one of our favorite things to do. Plaka is amongst the oldest neighborhoods in Athens. The neighborhood is on the southern part of the Acropolis. It’s become a popular area for tourists to visit for its picturesque architecture and pretty aesthetics, old town charm, and colorful alleys.
First, you can walk through this neighborhood after touring the Acropolis, take in the scenery, stop for a bite to eat at one of the small taverns, relax, and have a drink at one of the bars or cafes.
While walking and admiring, you should seek out the Anafiotika village, a charming village underneath the Acropolis. While here, look around and marvel at its beautiful trees and blossoms.
Then take a stroll through the Psyrri neighborhood for street art. One of the coolest things to do in Athens with teenagers is discovering street art. The Psyrri neighborhood is known for its unique street art and murals painted all around the area.
If you would like to discover the best artists’ work, I recommend taking a Street Art Tour where an expert guide takes you off the beaten path to the wonderful murals and neighborhoods of Athens.
After that, go chill at Monastiraki Square. A historical square built in 1759 was used as a marketplace and a meeting point. It’s a lively neighborhood bustling with people from locals trying to sell produce and crafts from their homemade products and tourists. The square is in the center of the city. You’ll be entertained by the street entertainers and people-watching. Ensure you visit one of the local vendors, and enjoy music and street artists.
Go Shopping for Souvenirs and Quirky Gifts
Since you are already in Monastiraki Square, it’s time to go shopping. Shopping with teenagers and young adults in Athens is one of the best things to do. Monastiraki is the perfect place to go shopping for gifts and unique souvenirs.
First, walk over to the Monastiraki Flea Market. When shopping in the flea market, you will find any and everything from olive oil soaps, embroidered hats, shirts, greek snacks, and authentic leather greek sandals everywhere.
For the adults, don’t forget to pick up a bottle or two of Greece’s most famous alcohol, Ouzo. Also, I love shopping for Greek body care products, anything from lotions, and soaps made with olive oil, to face creams made with donkey milk.
Then walk down Ermou Street to shop at top brands stores such as Nyx, H&M, Adidas, Zara, Sephora, Nike, and more.
*Bonus*…Things to do in Athens with Teenagers and Young Adults
Bike Tour with Teens
Take your teenagers on a sightseeing bike tour of Athens. They will love this opportunity to be outdoors and have fun while riding bikes. Taking a bike tour keeps them from being bored. And break up the monotony of walking around and touring. On this tour, you’ll pass by some of the top archaeological sites, gardens, and historic neighborhoods.
For price and details for this bike tour click here.
Aquapolis Water Park
If your teens want some fun adventure, away from sightseeing then going to Aquapolis water park is a wonderful idea. Cool down at this fun-filled water park. Get an adrenaline rush at the King Cobra slides, Tunnel Freefall, and Aquatower. The water park is open Tuesday-Sunday 10 AM – 7 PM.
The Mind Trap
Make your way over to an awesome escape room at the Mind Trap. It is a unique thing to do in Athens with teenagers and young adults. Challenge your family with mind-boggling puzzles, and riddles to solve to conquer the escape room. There are many quirky-themed rooms, such as Anubis, Silent Hills, The Lost Kingdom, and the Morgue.
Take a Cooking Class in Athens with Teens
Get your hands dirty in some Greek food by preparing some dishes with your teens. A cooking class is a marvelous activity in Athens for a family of foodies. Learn how to cook Greek cuisines and specialties,from Spinach pie, Moussaka to Greek Salad. A trained chef will teach you how to cook some traditional Greek cuisines and specialties. Then after you finish cooking, you can enjoy the meal you so carefully prepared with the chef. Eat dinner while overlooking breathtaking rooftop views of the Acropolis.
For price and details about this cooking class click here.
Where to eat in Athens with Teenagers and Young Adults
Besides historical monuments, Athens is an amazing city with mouth-watering cuisines. Athens has an abundance of places to eat in from cheap eats to fine dining. Here are a few places we ate during our stay.
Misafir
Misafir is a beautiful rooftop restaurant with tasty food, good vibes, and outstanding cocktails. The Greek Salad here was incredible, and the appetizers are to die for. This restaurant is clean with a beautiful ambiance. For the adults in the room, they do specialize in Shisha (flavor tobacco smoked through a water pipe), and it’s good too. We went here for dinner to watch the sunset, and it was pretty busy. We were here with our daughters, 17 and 20. I don’t recall seeing any young children there.
Lunch at Smak Restaurant in Plaka
We enjoyed eating at this pizzeria in Athens with our family at Smak. Here they serve traditional Greek Pizza. It was fun getting the peinirli, this sailboat shaped-like pizza dough. It was a cheap yet scrumptious lunch. The pizza was flavorful, ooey gooey cheese, toppings, with a crispy crust. It’s a small restaurant with a few tables where you can eat inside or on the sidewalk to watch people pass by.
O Thanasis
Athens O’Thanasis is a very famous restaurant located in the center of Monastiraki. They serve high-quality traditional Greek food, with their specialties being the Thanasis Kebab, Yogourtlou Beef Kebab, and Beef or Chicken Souvlaki. You must try the Yogourtlou Beef Kebab at least once. The gravy, beef, veggies, and yogurt on top of pita bread is on point.
Did I already say the food here is delicious? Well not only is the food yummy, but your meal won’t break the bank either. When you are going to O Thanasis, don’t be alarmed to see that the restaurant stretches along the street with tons of tables outside. I though it was 3 different restaurants, but nope it was all them. Anywho, we ate here two times, and each time it was packed with people.
Where to stay in Athens with Teenagers and Young Adults
Electra Palace Athens
Electra Palace is a gorgeous 5-Star hotel within walking distance of most tourist sites and in the center of Plaka neighborhoods. This luxury hotel has rooms available with views of the Acropolis. When you enter the hotel lobby, you’re met with elegance, stunning decor, and friendly staff.
When I was planning our trip to Athens, I decided to book the suite with an Acropolis View. The room is elegant, and the bed was very cozy, with a large sitting area and two full bathrooms. We had complimentary wine, which we drank on the huge double balcony while watching the sunset over the Acropolis.
Not to mention, one of the best things about this hotel is eating breakfast on the terrace. You get panoramic views of the Acropolis through its clear glass windows.
They serve a continental breakfast buffet with traditional Greek dishes. The food is good, fresh, with many selections. You can sit and enjoy your breakfast inside the restaurant with a view or step outside to the open air while overlooking the Acropolis.
For more details and availability for Electra Palace click here
Electra Metropolis Athens
Electra Metropolis is another stunning luxurious 5-star hotel in the sought-after location of Athens. It’s actually around the corner from the Electra Palace. It’s located in the center of Athens near most of the tourist sites and 650 feet away from Syntagma Square.
Here you can also get spectacular panoramic views of the Acropolis from the terrace. They serve complimentary buffet-style breakfast with a clear view of the Acropolis.
The rooms are modern, beautifully decorated, and comfortable. They also offer suites with Acropolis views, Superior rooms (what we had), and standard rooms as well.
I didn’t have any issues staying at either one of these hotels. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at both hotels. Just make sure you book early because they book up fast!
For more details and availability for Electra Metropolis, click here
How to get around Athens with Teenagers and Young Adults
Since we were staying in the heart of Athens, we were able to get around mostly by walking. We were near most of the top tourist attractions and famous neighborhoods.
However, there were Taxis available all around the city, which we had to take from the Athens Port to our hotel. Then you have the metro that’s available in Athens, but we did not catch the train at all.
Another option is taking a bike, segway, and walking tours to help you navigate through the city.
I hope you enjoyed reading my post on the Best things to do in Athens with teenagers and young adults. Did I forget anything? Let me know in the comments below.
