Five educational and fun activities for kids in the southern suburbs of Athens
Discover five exciting activities for family outings in the southern suburbs of Athens that will thrill all kids.
- 08/05/2024
Toys Museum
It is perhaps one of the first things that come to mind when we think of museums for children – if not the first. Located in Palaio Faliro, on Poseidonos Avenue, with its imposing tower that seems to have sprung from a fairy tale. It is the mansion of the benefactor and captain Athanasios Koulouras, which his wife Vera Kouloura donated to the Benaki Museum after his death, according to his wishes. Thus, the Toy Museum was created, which opened its doors in 2017. At its core is the collection of toys of the researcher, collector, and toy conservator Maria Argyriadi, which includes dolls, board games, old makeshift ships, puppets, theatrical dolls, even the wooden horse that Eleftherios Venizelos donated to his beloved grandson, Lefterakis. It is enough to say that the collection exceeds 20,000 items, and it is considered one of the top 10 toy collections in Europe.
Benaki Toy Museum: Poseidonos Avenue 14 & Tritonis 1, Palaio Faliro, tel. 2126875280, www.benaki.org
Eugenides Planetarium
At the Planetarium, unique educational shows about Planets, Galaxies, Space, and more await both young and old. For children aged 5-9, the Planetarium presents 3 children’s performances: The Enchanted Dolphin, The Legend of the Enchanted Dolphin, and the Magic Planet. Children aged 10+ and adults have the opportunity to travel through time and discover the evolution of the Earth with the show “The History of the Earth,” while watching the show “The Center of the World,” they will explore our Solar system and learn about planets, the Galaxy, and the Universe. In the show “Space Storms and Northern Lights,” they will learn about the most impressive and violent weather phenomena. Finally, for ages 15+, the show “We Are Stardust” continues, with a script, direction, and narration by Dionysis Simopoulos, with unpublished music by Vangelis Papathanassiou.
Eugenides Planetarium: 387 Syngrou Avenue, Palio Faliro, 175 64
Maritime Heritage Park
Another family outing in the south can be at the Maritime Heritage Park in Flisvos (Palaio Faliro), the creation of which may still be in progress, but during this time, one can see iconic ships, some of which are even visitable. You will first encounter the Battleship Averof with its significant history, which is visitable and operates as a museum, as well as the cable-laying ship “Thalis the Milesian,” hosted at the Hellenic Navy in Flisvos (here you will be limited to an external observation, as it is not yet visitable inside).
Floisvos Marina, Palaio Faliro, Athens
Tactual Museum
The Tactual Museum of the Lighthouse for the Blind in Greece (based in Kallithea, Athens) is on the list of the top five museums of its kind worldwide, which is impressive on its own. This particular museum, however, is an exceptionally original experiential activity, where children wear masks to cover their eyes and feel exhibits that are replicas of other great museums in the country. At the same time, they understand how a person with visual impairments lives and moves in their daily life. And so, the journey of discovery begins!
Tactual Museum: Doiranis Street 198, Kallithea
Donkeysland
A stone’s throw away from the south, specifically on a large area overlooking the mountains in Koropi, Donkeysland could not be missing from the list. Young and old come into contact with the little donkeys, which live in a protected natural landscape, having created their own society. With experiential programs, which include participation in the daily care and education of the donkeys, games with them, walks on the area’s paths (next to them), and searching for relevant references in mythology, folklore, religion, and literature, Donkeysland inspires respect and love for the donkeys, as well as helps them regain their rightful place next to modern humans.
Donkeysland: Bourboutsana (between Ag. Georgiou & Makedonias streets), Koropi, Tel. 6944616160
