Christmas Activities and Events in Athens to Get Into the Festive Spirit
Are you planning to visit the Greek capital in December and searching for the best Christmas activities and events in Athens? You’re in the right place! In this article, we’re sharing with you the must-do Christmas activities in Athens, along with useful tips on how to enjoy the festive season to the fullest.
So, are you ready to immerse yourself in the magic of Christmas in Athens? Here are the best festive events to attend and activities to enjoy!
Wander around the city center
Every Christmas, the city center boasts festive decorations, and the streets are filled with Christmas lights. Moreover, there are numerous holiday window displays, each more impressive than the last.
So, if you want to immerse yourself in the Christmas spirit, strolling the main streets of Athens and taking in the striking decorations with a cup of hot cocoa in hand is one of the best Christmas activities you can do in Athens. Syntagma, Panepistimiou Street, Stadiou Street, and Vasilissis Sofias Avenue are some of the most impressively decorated spots. Make sure to visit them, especially if you’re staying in a hotel in Kolonaki or another central area!
Attend festive bazaars and Christmas events in Athens
There are many Christmas events taking place in Athens throughout November and December! From festive bazaars and holiday markets to theme parks, there’s always something happening in the city.
Visiting a craft fair or a holiday market in Athens will instantly put you in the festive spirit, giving you a chance to engage with local creators, do some Christmas shopping, enjoy a cup or two of aromatic glühwein, savor local Christmas treats, and soak in the joyous atmosphere. Just don’t forget to bring your reusable tote and a good mood!
Enjoy a Christmas meal
The Christmas meal (or dinner) is one of the most special moments of the festive season, whether you spend the holidays at home or traveling! After all, it’s around the Christmas table that you savor delicious holiday specialties and create unforgettable memories with your loved ones -what’s more precious than that?
Two of the best places in Athens to enjoy your Christmas meal and dinner are the Lobby Bar and the Art Lounge, respectively. From velouté soup with caviar to beef fillet with Vinsanto sauce, the festive menu at New Hotel features the most refined flavors with a Christmas twist!
Test your ice skating skills at an outdoor ice skating rink
Whether you’re an ice skating fan or not, the truth is that ice skating is one of the most popular activities in winter, especially during the Christmas season! Throughout December and January, you will find many outdoor ice skating rinks in Athens, where you can have fun skating, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced ice skater.
So, bundle up, gather your family and friends, and go ice skating in Athens -it will be an experience you’ll remember forever!
Have fun with your family at the Christmas Factory
The Christmas Factory is arguably one of the most popular theme parks in the Greek capital! Every year from November until January, Technopolis in Gazi transforms into a Christmas wonderland brimming with surprises.
From a Christmas treats station and a kids’ toys workshop to festive shows and an elf house, every corner of this fascinating theme park is infused with Christmas spirit. So, if you’re visiting Athens with your family, make sure to visit the Christmas Factory—you’ll enjoy it as much as your kids if not more!
Try all the local Christmas treats
…because you simply cannot enjoy Christmas without satisfying your sweet tooth, right? In Athens, you will find numerous sweet and pastry shops, where you can sample the most mouthwatering treats of the season, including melomakarona, kourambiedes, diples, panettone, cookies, and Christmas chocolates.
To find the most delicious seasonal treats, be sure to visit the excellent sweet shops in Kolonaki, Pangrati, and Psyrri neighborhoods. You will be amazed by the variety of sweets and pastries you will find there!
Extra tip: Don’t forget to buy your favorite Greek Christmas treats to gift to your friends and family back home!
Marvel at the Christmas tree in Syntagma Square
The enormous (approximately 17 meters tall) Christmas tree in Syntagma Square is decorated with hundreds of brightly colored baubles and lit with dazzling lights during an impressive Christmas tree lighting ceremony that takes place every November. If you happen to be in Athens in November, don’t miss the ceremony, but even if you do, the Christmas tree remains in the square throughout the festive season, along with other spectacular decorations.
Moreover, many Christmas events in Athens take place in the square throughout Christmas! So, if you’re staying in a hotel in Athens city center, why not incorporate a daily walk in Syntagma Square into your daily holiday routine?
Go to the opera or a Christmas concert at the Athens Concert Hall
What better way to get into the festive mood than going to a Christmas concert or the opera? Thankfully, there are many such events in Athens throughout the festive season, so it won’t be hard to find the ones you’ll enjoy.
Every year, the Athens Concert Hall, also known as Megaro Mousikis, hosts many Christmas concerts and opera galas with singers and artists from all over the world. If you want to attend them, book your tickets well in advance, as they tend to sell out quickly!
Visit SNFCC and marvel at the Christmas installations
The Stavros Niarchos Cultural Center, also known as SNFCC, is one of the best places to visit in Athens during Christmas! Throughout the festive season, SNFCC turns into a big theme park full of Christmas decorations and impressive installations that captivate both kids and adults.
From Christmas concerts and DJ sets to pop-up bars and dancing fountains, the premises of SNFCC are full of surprises! What’s more, SNFCC hosts some of the best Christmas events in Athens every year, so make sure you check their calendar and attend as many as you can!
These were some of the best Christmas activities and events in Athens to put you in the festive mood! However, don’t forget that the Christmas season is all about spending time with your loved ones and creating memories that will last forever. So, no matter how many activities you end up doing, remember to relax and have fun with your friends and family!
