The Best Archaeological Sites in Greece for Families

The city of Athens is one large historical and archaeological site. The current capital of Greece is built upon the ruins of ancient Athens and reminders of this can be found everywhere. It’s hard not to notice the many ancient monuments, old city walls, and fortifications. Have a look at the metro stations of Athens, where you can see ongoing archaeological activity. Not only in the city center but also around the Attica Peninsula are many important ruins from ancient Greece. Think of the Temple of Poseidon in Sounio and Marathon to the East.

The Acropolis

The Acropolis of Athens is one of the most famous archaeological sites in Greece and Europe. The Acropolis is the name of the hill on which an ancient citadel was built high above the modern city of Athens. Inside and around this ancient city are the remains of several important buildings, all with great historical and architectural significance. The most important of all is the Parthenon, an ancient temple dedicated to goddess Athena.

The Parthenon

The Parthenon is the one of the most significant structures in the world. It was built in 440 BC by the Athenian ruler Pericles as a place of worship. The Parthenon has important architectural features defining building and architecture for centuries after. The Parthenon is an absolute must-see for anyone visiting Athens. Kids will be very impressed by its size and magnitude and parents will be astonished by the optical illusions that make the Parthenon perfect.

For the ultimate experience at this world-famous landmark, opt for our private family guided tour to the Acropolis . A kid-friendly expert guide will take your family back in time to Athens ancients via storytelling and Greek mythology

Temple of Poseidon in Cape Sounio

Just a short drive away from Athens city center, another significant temple is waiting for you. Located at the Southernmost tip of the Attica Peninsula, Cape Sounio is the place where the ancient Greeks build a large temple and worshipped sea god Poseidon. This beautiful spot is a favorite for both locals and tourists. Not only is the Temple of Poseidon of archeological and historical importance, but it is also one of the most beautiful areas in Attica and amazing during sunset. A trip to Cape Sounio is a must-do for families visiting Athens!

If you want to make the most out of your visit to Cape Sounio, we recommend you to visit the Temple of Poseidon with a guided family tour or through our Family Postcards Tour.

If you do not have many days in Athens and you still want to visit the most important archaeological monuments in the larger Athens area, you can consider an organized kid-friendly one day tour such as our Percy Jackson Tour Athens Acropolis Museum Temple Poseidon.

Delphi

A beautiful temple constructed around 2,800 years ago, Delphi was considered to be the “center of the world”. Delphi is located in the pine tree-covered foothills of Mount Parnassos. It was the city that hosted the famous oracle of the ancient Greek world and the ancient Greeks considered it to be the navel of the earth. 

Join our Family-friendly Tour to Delphi Archaeological Site and be introduced to the history of one of the most significant archaeological sites of all antiquity.

Mycenae

A family visit to Greece would be incomplete without a visit to Mycenae, especially for those children who adore Greek mythology. Mycenae was home to Mycenaean civilization and it the place where Agamemnon gave the command to launch 1000 ships thus beginning the Trojan War. The Lion’s Gate entrance to the palace and the Tomb of Agamemnon (where he was claimed to be buried along with his mythical treasure of gold) are simply breathtaking. A visit to Mycenae is a fantastic day trip from Athens (120 kilometers) especially if it is combined by a short visit to Nafplio (only 25 kilometers from Mycenae).

If you don’t want to venture out by ourselves but comfortably visit both places in one relaxed day, we recommend you to book an organized family guided tour to Mycenae and Nafplio.

Olympia

The Temple of Zeus is the largest and most important building at the archaeological site of Olympia. It is one of the largest Doric temples in Greece. Olympia is a top visit location in Greece because it is the birthplace of the Olympic Games. At this very site, the Olympic torch is being lightened each year and here, the first, ancient Olympic Games took place!

Feel like an ancient Olympian athlete and visit ancient Olympia with your family as part of a family guided tour.

Epidaurus

Did you know that the ancient Greeks invented theatre?! Epidaurus is one of the first theatres in Greece! It is famous for its architectural role and is still being used today for theatre plays and musical performances. Epidaurus was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1988 as it is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. Epidauros is located near another important archaeological site; the Sanctuary of Asklepios. This sanctuary was one of the first hospitals in ancient Greece. Both are located in the Argolis prefecture of the Peloponnese.

Make the most out of your visit to Greece and book an Epidaurus private family guided tour!

THE GREEK ISLANDS

If you decide to plan your vacation away from mainland Greece to enjoy the beaches of the Greek islands make sure you visit these two beautiful destinations. Not only do they offer some of the best beaches in Greece, but they are also known for their famous archaeological findings.

Palace of Knossos, Crete

The Palace of Knossos in Crete with its 4,000 years of history is located near the island capital of Heraklion. The Palace of Knossos is the second most visited archaeological site in Greece after the monuments in Athens. It marks the cradle of the first European civilization, the ancient civilization of the Minoans. The Palace of Knossos is partly reconstructed making it a very imaginative site for children to visit.

To fully experience and enjoy the Palace of Knossos, Kids Love Greece recommends a private guided tour to the Palace of Knossos with your family.

Delos, near Mykonos

Delos is a small inhabited island and archaeological site situated in the Aegean Sea next to the island of Mykonos. It is the mythological birthplace of Apollo and sanctuary of Artemis and it was an important religious center during the 1st millennium B.C. Located just 6 miles from Mykonos, Delos is easily accessible by boat in about 30 minutes. On Delos, the whole family will have the possibility to discover one of the most extensive excavations in the Mediterranean and see the world-famous Avenue of the Lions.

With our Delos private guided family tour, you and your kids will find out everything there is not know about Apollo, Artemis, and those very special lions!

Akrotiri, Santorini

In the southwestern part of Santorini, near its capital Thira, lies the village of Akrotiri and its remarkable archaeological site. The first ancient building dates back to 4000 BC when Akrotiri became an important community due to its geographical location. It was buried in ash around 1627 BC when the Santorini volcano erupted. The remains of paved streets, dwellings, walls, and high-quality pottery are still present today. It is also believed that Akrotiri was the inspiration for Plato’s story of Atlantis.

Our family guide is amazing with the kids so book a Private Family Tour to explore the site in the best way.