Acropolis and Agora (Athens)
Kids will be impressed when they see the Acropolis, with its ancient ruins and dramatic hilltop location. There's much more to see than just the Parthenon. Don't try to cram everything into one day - try to spread things out and come back on different days. Get to the Acropolis early in the morning to avoid the crowds. Then again, in ancient Athens, it was also a busy place. In summer, bring water bottles, wear sun screen and hats. There are lots of slippery surfaces - wear sturdy shoes or sandals with straps.

Athens’ Streets
Walk down pedestrians-only Ermou St, all the way to Syntagma square. The street is lined with street musicians - it's fun to stop and listen (you can buy their CD's too). The Plaka is a fun place to shop. Pandrossou is a pedestrian street, lined with shops, with plenty of fun stuff for kids - dolls in costume, polished stone eggs, embroidered slippers, miniature Greek statues, bronze helmets, ceramic horses, Athena's owl, etc. Monastiraki (right at the metro stop) is a permanent flea market that's fun to wander through. You'll see all kinds of things, and it feels like an oriental bazaar.

Lykavitos (Athens)
Ride a cable car (funicular) to the top of Lykavitos Hill for fun and a fabulous view of Athens. Stop at the café for a snack. The kids can walk (or run) down the zig-zag path to the bottom of the hill. There's a nice, small playground under the orange trees at Plateia Dexameni.

Metro (Athens)
The metro is a fun activity in itself. At the stations, there are excavation exhibits of all sorts of items that were found when they were digging the subway. The metro is cheap, fast and absolutely your best way to get around Athens. Buy a day pass and hop on and off.

Museum Benaki (Athens)
The Benaki Museum houses an incredible costume collection from all over Greece with colourful, gorgeously embroidered fabrics, and sparkling pointy-toed slippers. On the top floor, you'll find swords, rifles and silver-crusted pistols and a lovely café that's perfect for a lunch break. This museum isn't far from the Museum of War, so if you have one kid who wants to looks at war stuff, and another who wants to see costumes, there is something for both.

Museum of Cycladic Art (Athens)
A small museum with a great collection of the most ancient Greek art, figurines with arms folded across their tummies. In the basement is a touch table with replicas of the Cycladic figurines. The Cycladic figures are shrouded in mystery – they might be fertility goddesses, or even toys.

Museum of Greek Children's Art (Athens)
See Greece through children's eyes. This charming little museum has a wonderful exhibition of bright paintings and multimedia artwork by Greek children. Each year, kids up to 14 years old have a chance to participate, and winning entries are exhibited in the museum. Located at 9 Kodrou Street

Museum of Greek Folk Art (Athens)
Before you shop for costume dolls, see the real thing - a fabulous collection of costumes from all over Greece, plus an exhibit of Greek shadow theatre, called Karaghiozes.

Museum of War (Athens)
Nice collection of Turkish scimitars, Arabian daggers, European hunting rifles, Cossack pistols, French nobleman swords, plus World War II stuff. Outside the museums are cannons, field guns, a "mobile armoured carriage" and old airplanes. This museum isn't far from the Benaki Museum, so if you have one kid who wants to looks at war stuff, and another who wants to see costumes, there is something for both.

National Gardens (Athens)
The National Gardens is a big green garden with paths, snack bars, picnic benches, a duck pond, and a big playground. Run down the length of the National Gardens, past the Zappio, and you'll find the ancient ruins of the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

Syntagma Square (Athens)
Children will enjoy the changing of the guard at Syntagma Square. On the hour, soldiers wearing traditional Greek costume step into position in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Solider at the Parliament Building.

Olympia
Olympia is the birthplace of the first Olympic Games. From all over the Greek world, athletes came to Olympia to compete in chariot and horse races, wrestling, boxing and foot races, and to celebrate the winners, crowned with wild olive wreaths. Children can close their eyes and imagine the excitement. Before going out to the ruins, first stop into the archaeological museum. The model of the complex gives a good idea of what the buildings of Olympia looked like in all their glory.

Delphi
Delphi, a spiritual centre dedicated to Apollo, is a spectacular site for kids to visit. Located on Mt. Parnassus, Delphi was the legendary home of Python, serpent son of Mother Earth and Poseidon. Apollo arrived as a dolphin, and killed the serpent, which was buried in the omphalos, the belly button of the world. Kids can rub their hands on the “belly button of the world”. The main entrance to the ruins leads straight into the Sanctuary of Apollo. But before you do that, start with the museum or the Castilian Spring and the Gymnasium ruins. In summer, bring lots of water with you.

Crete
The island of Crete has enough Greek mythology to occupy children’s imagination for days. In Greek mythology, Zeus was born on the island of Crete, Theseus killed the Minotaur in the labyrinth, Daedalus, builder of the labyrinth, escaped from Crete with feathered wings, but his son Icarus fell into the sea. Kids can explore the ancient ruins of the great Palace of Knossos, the centre of myth and history.

Crete Beaches
In eastern Crete, you'll find plenty of good family beaches with sparkling blue waters. At Agios Nikolaos, there are resorts and public access to the beach. Vai is a famous beach with palm trees. It is crowded but the beach is beautiful. Xerokambos is a great uncrowded beach, with clear water, rocks and sand. Matala has a nice beach and the added attraction of artificial caves.

Dikteon Cave (Crete)
In myth, the Dikteon Cave is where Rhea, goddess of the earth, hid Zeus after his birth, to protect him from Cronus. The largest chamber of the cave has spectacular stalactites and stalagmites, in the smallest room there's a little pool and the "cloak of Zeus" rock formation – you can just imagine the baby Zeus splashing away.

Gorge of Samaria (Crete)
For older kids and teens, the Gorge of Samaria is well worth the trip. The hike is about 13km from the entrance of the national park to the beach, but it's all downhill and the scenery is spectacular. The trail drops down into the gorge, flanked with dramatic cliffs, winds along a river, ending up at the beach. Rather than hike back up, take a boat to the new Agia Roumeli, or other towns on the coast.

The Gorge of Samaria is open for hiking from May to October, and is crowded in summer. Get an early start (the trail opens at 6:00am), or leave later in the day, and plan to spend the night at the new Agia Roumeli. The trails are good, but wear sturdy shoes. Along the way are springs, but you should also bring bottled water and snacks.

If you have little kids who may not want to hike the whole length of the gorge, take a boat to Agia Roumeli, and hike from Agia Roumeli up the gorge to the sheer-walled cliffs, called the "Gates".

Neapoli (Crete)
Stop into the Folklore Museum of Neapoli to see what a traditional schoolroom, grocery, family kitchen, cafe looked like, plus lots of farm tools. This is a cute little town, a nice place to walk around, have a bite to eat, and escape the crowds.

Palace of Knossos (Crete)
The Minoans built the first palace in 1900 BC. Today, the palace ruins are a fascinating labyrinth of passageways, rooms, and courtyards to explore. Be sure to visit the Throne Room, with a kid's size throne and "griffin" frescoes on the wall. In the Queen's Megaron, the dolphin murals are exquisite. And check out the rows of huge storage jars – how many bottles of olive oil from the supermarket it would take to fill just one of these storage jars?

Archaeological Exploration
Sites of archaeological interest abound, and you can often stumble across ancient ruins and traces of lost civilisations. It is recommended to use a guide when exploring the more remote regions. There are over 7000 karstic cave formations in the country, the majority are in Crete. Further information on these caves is available from the Hellenic Speleological Society, 32 Sina Street, 106 72 Athens. Phone: (210) 361 7824; fax: (210) 364 3476

Fishing
Greek waters offer good fishing, particularly during the summer and autumn. Boats and equipment can be found in most villages.

Golf
There are year-round golf courses in Athens, Crete, Corfu and Rhodes. The most convenient course is in Athens in the suburb of Glyfada. The Glyfada Golf Club is Greece's original 18-hole golf course. The Club hosts a number of international golfing events each year (Phone: +30 01 894 6875).

Hiking
There are well-maintained trails in the most popular areas, supplemented by donkey and goat tracks connecting villages and leading over mountain passes. The best areas for walking include the Peloponnese, the Pindos Mountains and the south and west of Crete, such as Samaria Gorge.

Kayaking
With so many islands and crystal clear water, Greece is a paradise for kayaking. Explore caves, cliffs and dramatic coasts. Kayaking tours are found throughout the islands.

Mountain Biking
Greece is four-fifths mountains, blessed with trails thousands of years old, making for some spectacular trail rides. Notable areas are the Peloponnesian Mountains, Mount Olympus, Pindus Mountains, and Crete’s Rodopou & Gramvousa Peninsulas and Ori Lefka Mountains. You can join an organised tour or explore on your own.

Water Sports
Scuba-diving is offered by numerous dive schools. Independent scuba-diving is strictly forbidden in order to guard against the pilfering of underwater antiquities. Divers may only venture out under the auspices of a recognized diving school.

Snorkelling on your own is permitted, however, and can be enjoyed practically anywhere. For further information, contact the Hellenic Federation of Underwater Activities, West Terminal Post Office, Agios Cosmos, 166 04 Hellenikon, Athens. (Phone: +30 210 981 9961; Fax: +30 210 981 7558)

Water-skiing and windsurfing are especially popular and there are many schools with restaurants and child-care facilities throughout the country. Speed boats are also available for hire.

Restaurant and tavern food tends to be very simple, rarely involving sauces but with full use of local olive oil and charcoal grills. Dishes like dolmades (stuffed vine leaves), moussaka (aubergine casserole with minced lamb, cinnamon, red wine and olive oil), kebabs and avgolemono (chicken broth with rice, eggs, salt and lemon juice) can be found everywhere.

Taramasalata (a dip made from fish eggs, bread, onions, olive oil and lemon juice) and a variety of seafood dishes, especially squid (kalamari) or octopus, are excellent. Greek menus typically include a selection of meze (appetisers), such as keftedes (hot spicy meatballs) or tzatziki (a dip made from yogurt, olive oil, garlic, shredded cucumber and dill). Salads are excellent and often made with the local feta cheese, tomato, cucumber and fresh olive oil. Other vegetarian specialties include gigantes (large white beans) and kolokithakia (small boiled courgette with oil and lemon). Olives are cheap and plentiful. Deserts, such as baklava (filo pastry filled with almonds and topped with honey, vanilla and sugar) or loukoumade (honey-drenched pastry puffs) are sweet and filling. All restaurants have a standard menu which includes the availability and price of each dish. A good portion of the restaurants will serve international dishes too.

Wednesdays and Fridays are traditional Christian Orthodox fasting days. Therefore many vegetarian and vegan meals are served at Greek restaurants on those days.

One of the best-known Greek drinks is retsina wine, made with pine-needle resin. Local spirits include ouzo, an aniseed-based clear spirit to which water is added and very similar to the French pastis. Local brandy is sharp and fiery. Greek coffee is served thick and strong, and sugared according to taste. Greek beer is a light Pilsner type.

Nightlife is centred in main towns and resorts with concerts and discos. Athens offers many local taverns, particularly in the Plaka area, and ouzeris (typical Greek bars). Regular concerts and evening shows are also held at the Odeion of Herodes in Attica. Nightclubs featuring Greek bouzouki music are extremely popular.

Special purchases include lace, jewellery, metalwork, pottery, garments and knitwear, flokati rugs, leather goods, local wines and spirits. Athens is the centre for luxury and designer goods and local handicrafts.

Regional specialties include silver from Ioannina, ceramics from Sifnos and Skopelos, embroidery and lace from Crete, the Ionian Islands, Rhodes and Skiros, alabaster from Crete and flokati rugs from the Epirus region.

The Plaka in Athens is a popular market-place spread around the Acropolis. Pandrossou is a pedestrian street lined with shops selling items such as embroidered slippers, ceramic and onyx boxes, bronze helmets, dolls in costume (some are museum reproductions), polished stone eggs, ceramic horses, painted wooden donkeys, and Athena's owl. Andrianou is another good shopping street.

Monastiraki (right at the metro stop) is a permanent flea market that's fun to wander through, as it feels more like an oriental bazaar.