Given that it was our first trip to Greece, we knew that we had to visit the Acropolis as part of our Athens itinerary. So as I always do when planning these outings, I turned to google and searched the blogosphere for tips to help our visit go smoothly.
But what I found left me feeling a little anxious and unsure of how it would all turn out. Carrier or stroller? Visit in the morning, mid-day or evening? Buy your tickets in advance or on-site? I felt like we embarked on our journey with more questions than answers. However, despite nearly talking ourselves out of it, we decided to give it a go. I can now safely say that the Acropolis is totally doable with a toddler. I may even go as far as saying it can be quite enjoyable, especially if you follow our 5 survival tips!
1. Buy your tickets ahead of time: Don’t waste your time queuing for your tickets at the Acropolis, especially if you plan on visiting some of the other historical sites around Athens. You can save time and money by purchasing a multi-site ticket at one of the other ancient sites like the Ancient Agora or Temple of Zeus earlier in your stay.
2. Bring your stroller and your baby carrier: Nearly every blog we read before we left on our trip said to only bring your baby carrier to the Acropolis because it is not stroller friendly. Of course, this is absolutely true. But what we could not figure out was how we were going to manage with only a baby carrier transiting from our apartment a few kilometers away and then survive the rest of the day touring around in the sticky Greek heat with only a carrier. Alas, we were delighted to find that there is a free stroller check at the base of the Acropolis where you can leave your stroller and even bags if needed while you tour the site.
3. Protect yourself from the sun: Atop the Acropolis there is not much to protect you from the hot sun so make sure to wear sunscreen and ensure the kiddos have sunglasses and a hat.
4. Bring water and snacks: While we found that Greece was pretty affordable to eat in general, food and drinks at the base of the Acropolis are definitely not. So make sure to bring water to keep everyone hydrated as they embark on this sweaty expedition and enough snacks to bribe your toddler into cooperating while you climb the countless stairs and navigate the hundreds of other tourists enjoying the Acropolis with you.
5. Pack some patience and enjoy the views: The Acropolis, the Parthenon and the 360 degree views are nothing short of amazing. Yes its hot, crowded and likely a bit chaotic with a toddler in tow but you are exploring one of the most well known ancient landmarks in the world and likely a bucket list item so make sure you take a moment to enjoy it.
From YOW with Love 