The Christmas season offers us all the opportunity to enjoy doing things we struggle to find time for during everyday life such as visiting museums and following up with a hot cup of tea or coffee at their lovely cafes, engaging in creative activities with the children, attending concerts and plays, and meeting up with friends.
Athens is now fully decorated for Christmas. Roads and city squares have been adorned, offering a festive-season atmosphere for strolls around Athens, a safe and appealing destination promising unforgettable experiences throughout the year, especially during Christmas, a period when the city has been extensively decorated.
Taking a relaxed walk around festive-season Athens to enjoy viewing the Christmas light decorations all over the city, Christmas trees, as well as decorated shop windows has become a tradition.
Start from Syntagma square, featuring a towering Christmas tree in front of the water fountain and small lantern balloons. Head down Ermou st, whose shops have been decorated, enjoy shopping, and settle at one of the city cafes to further enjoy Athens’ festive-season side. Walk through the Spyros Milios arcade, fully decorated, then head up to the Kolonaki district for a drink or meal and, of course, check out Vasilissis Sofias Ave with the superb decorative braids with lit-up stars.
Visiting the Christmas Factory at the Athens municipality’s Technopoli venue in the Gazi district is a perfect Christmas outing for the children. There, the happy elves will show visitors the way to the factory’s flea market where decorations, toys, candy, good-luck charms and games may be found, including the fairytale-like merry-go-round, dodgem cars, and the Ferris wheel, offering a marvellous view of this Christmas village and beyond from above. The Christmas Factory also offers a rich programme of concerts and plays for audiences of all ages, as well as many activities, free of charge. At the Santa Claus workshop, children can write their letters and hand them over to Santa, himself. At the Toy factory, visitors may make their own toys, with help from the elves, and, at the school of magic, learn a host of spells and tricks. (100 Pireos, Mon-Fri, 16:00-22:00, until 23/12. Sat-Sun, 10:00-22:00. Weekday hours 24/12/21-6/1/22, 10:00-22:00. Entrance €6. For further details, visit thechristmasfactory.gr)
The Stavros Niarchos Park, decorated in spectacular fashion, is another ideal spot for a Christmas outing in Athens. Water fountain shows, dancing to Christmas tunes, have already begun and are scheduled to take place every day between 19:00 and 20:00 through January 6. The park’s Great Lawn and other areas feature light installations and interactive platforms are sure to generate a carefree mood for fun and games with light, colours and motion. The Ice Rink at the SNFCC Canal, back for a third year, offers fun for families and friends. (Through January 6, 17:00-24:00, free entrance, snfcc.org).
Consider combining your visit to the Stavros Niarchos Park with a performance at the Greek National Opera, hosted at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. “The Magic Pillows”, a children’s opera, based on Eugene Trivizas’ award-winning book, is set for its final performances December 18 and 19. The performance is being held as part of the tribute to the 2021 bicentennial of the Greek Revolution. Audiences of all ages can attend a ballet production of the classic Christmas story “The Nutcracker”. For further information on all Greek National Opera performances, dates, ticket availability and prices, visit the opera’s website, nationalopera.gr.
The Athens Concert Hall, or Megaro Mousikis, has also made the effort to brighten up our festive season with a series of plays and concerts such as “Karagiozis’ Christmas at Milan’s La Scala”, in which a series of imaginative and comic situations involving Greek pupped shadow hero Karagiozis weave a beautiful story, as well as the “Christmas Gala”, featuring favourite melodies from the world of opera and operetta, performed by the Athens State Orchestra. The Christmas Concert, a performance of Beethoven’s “Ninth Symphony”, featuring “Ode to Joy”, directed by Estonian conductor Mikhel Kütson, is another interesting proposal. For further information, performances, dates, ticket availability and prices, visit the concert hall’s website, megaron.gr.
The Christmas Theatre is also offering a broad range of events covering all tastes, from a concert featuring work by Greek composer Thanos Mikroutsikos, a performance by the Vienna Mozart Orchestra, children’s fairytales in a production directed by Karmen Rouggeri, and a screening of the Disney animated film “Fantasia” with live music by the Athens State Orchestra. For further information, performances, dates, ticket availability and prices, visit the Christmas Theatre website, ct.gr.
