Tips for traveling to Athens as a family

Its past, its gastronomy, its people and its cultural offer make Athens a destination to be taken into account. It is also an economic city for travelers who flood the terraces of the main arteries of the city to enjoy incredible views of the Acropolis or the Athenian atmosphere. Check the holidays

Check the holidays in Greece, find out about the local emergency numbers and take into account the documentation you will need before starting your trip with children to Athens. With these tips your trip will be perfect.

Tips before traveling to Athens

Climate of Greece

The climate of Athens is temperate and mild, which means that the winters are wet and not very cold, while the summers are hot and very dry.

Greece enjoys a temperate Mediterranean climate with long days and high temperatures in summer, which even reach up to 42ºC at times.

On the other hand, the winters are mild in the south and colder in the north. From November to March the rains are abundant.

What to bring in your suitcase to Athens

Athens is a very big city so comfortable shoes are a must for your family getaway.

As for the clothes, it will depend on the time of year in which you travel so that you will only need light clothes in summer and some other warm clothing for the colder months.

The umbrella or raincoat will be necessary between November and March, the rainiest months of the year.

In addition to the clothes, on a trip with children to Athens, you will surely need sunglasses or visor, sunscreen and a small backpack to carry fruit and / or water.

In any case, it never hurts to consult the weather forecast a few days before packing for Athens.

Athens business hours

Business hours in Greece are free and most stores in the tourist areas take advantage of it by opening their shops from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday. Saturdays usually open until 6:00 p.m. while Sundays close, except in the most tourist areas.

The restaurant hours in Athens are from 12.00 to 15.00 for lunch and between 8.00 and 24.00 for dinners.

The currency of Greece

As a member of the European Union, the official currency of Greece is the euro (€), the European currency.

The euro consists of 100 cents and is presented in the form of coins and bills. The coins are 1 and 2 euros as well as 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents and 50 cents.

The tickets are: 5 euros, 10 euros, 20 euros, 50 euros, 100 euros, 200 euros and 500 euros.

If you need a currency exchange you can do it in any of the banks, savings banks and exchange offices.

Most of the establishments in Athens accept almost all European credit and debit cards, as well as MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, Visa and Electron. In the same way, you will be able to take money out of ATMs scattered throughout the city, which will allow you to travel with less money on top.

Language of Greece

The official language of Greece is Greek, however, the level of English is surprisingly high in Greece, compared to other Mediterranean countries, which makes it much easier to travel around the country.

In any case, knowing some words in the local language to greet, thank or ask for directions is more than advisable in any destination.

Plugs and electricity in Greece

Electric current in Greece is the most common in European countries: 220 volts. The type of plugs of the plugs is the same that is used in Spain: two rounded pegs.

Medical Assistance and Police

In Greece, all your family will be entitled to medical care in Athens with European health cards.

If you do not have European health cards, it is recommended that you travel with insurance that covers the medical assistance of your entire family.

If during your stay in Athens you have an emergency, you can call the European 112 telephone or the Greek 116 for medical emergencies, 100 for contacting the Greek police and 199 for calling the fire department.

Documentation and visas to travel to Athens

To go to Greece, travelers residing in the European Union only need a valid DNI.

Citizens residing outside the EU will need a valid passport. In this case we must go to the Greek Consulate of our country to inform us about the processing of a visa.

Holidays in Greece

• New Year: January 1.
• Epiphany: January 6
• Independence Day: March 25
• Orthodox Lent Monday: (variable date).
• Orthodox Holy Friday: (variable date).
• Orthodox Easter Monday: (variable date).
• Labor Day: May 1st.
• Feast of the Holy Spirit: May 31.
• Feast of the Assumption: August 15.
• Ochi Day Party: October 28th.
• Christmas: December 25th.
• Christmas after Christmas: December 26th.