Year-round there are exciting options for amusing the entire family in Athens’ southern suburbs.
Village Cinema Especially for Kids (Old Poseidonos Avenue 1 & Moraitini 3)
After a successful launch in the northern capital of Thessaloniki, VKids Cinema by Village9 Cinemas has opened in Faliro, designed especially in honour of tiny viewers. With 12 large, colourful, super comfy reclining seats and even a slide in the entrance for pre and post-movie fun, the cinema screens all the latest children’s films throughout the year.
Flisvos Marina & Park (Poseidonos Avenue, Paleo Faliro)
At Flisvos Park you’ll find large playground areas as well as a cafés, a TGI Friday’s and other places to stop for a mid-play bite. The Latsi Foundation’s floating Neraida Museum (open Friday to Sunday), is also worth a visit as it organizes creative and educational programmes for kids aged 6-12 years. Also in the Flisvos Marina is the historic Battleship Averoff, built in 1908, which is the world’s only armoured cruiser and one of the Hellenic Navy’s most treasured gems. Apart from the fun of exploring the boat itself, you can visit the Naval Museum which honours Greek naval history and the ship itself. For an even deeper historical experience, go to admire the ‘Olympias’ Trireme a beautiful reconstruction of an ancient Greek fast attack, light displacement vessel that in ancient times had a crew of 200. At Flisvos Park you can also visit the open air Flisvos Cinema where they screen films suitable both for adults and kids with a side of beautiful sea breeze. (Call: 210 9821256 to find out about screenings.)
Benaki Toy Museum (Poseidonos Ave. 14 & Tritonos St 1, Paleo Faliro)
Fascinating for children and adults alike, this former neoclassical mansion-turned-museum presents a collection of over 20,000 toys and games from ancient times until today. The Benaki Museum created the museum when Maria Argyriadi offered it her collection, which she had put together throughout her life and include toys and games from all over the world. All the toys are made of natural materials and remind today’s parents of the incredible creations toy-makers came up with before the age of cheap plastic. The gift shop has some great reproductions of exhibits as well as novel games and ideas to excite and inspire.
Stavros Niarchos Cultural Centre (Syngrou Ave. 24, Kallithea)
Throughout the year there are endless options for entertainment at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC). From roller-skating and scootering to cycling zones and yoga, children’s theatre workshops and a massive playground-park, this is a great place to spend several hours strolling around. The SNFCC organizes regular educational, creative and sports activities for people of all ages, not to mention the pleasantness of expanse of greenery, lovely visual features like dancing fountains and free pedalo rentals in the lake from 16:00-sundown daily and several food options.
