When traveling the world with children, families often place zoos high on their must-visit list. So, if you are planning a trip to Greece with kids, Athens zoo is one of those places worth including in your itinerary. It is one of the largest zoos in Greece. We have visited it twice, and now we can happily share our experience.
We explored Athens zoo on two separate occasions. During our first visit, we did not manage to see everything, even though we thought we had planned enough time. Therefore, the next time, we brought other family members along. We really wanted to show them what had impressed us so much. That is exactly what we will talk about here.
How much time should you plan?
As we mentioned earlier, one visit simply was not enough for us. When visiting zoos, you naturally want to make the most of your time, especially when traveling with children. After all, seeing the animals without rushing and taking time to observe them properly requires patience. At the same time, you want to give your little travelers space for curiosity instead of constantly hurrying them.
We were among the last visitors to leave the zoo. Altogether, we spent more than three hours there. For that reason, we recommend planning around four to five hours for Athens zoo. The time truly passes quickly. You will have enough opportunity to walk around calmly, and if needed, you can rest or enjoy a meal at the on-site restaurant. In addition, families with children will find a playground, where kids can take a short break from walking and recharge before continuing the day.
Athens zoo
Athens zoo covers more than 20 hectares and houses over 2,000 animals. Here, you will encounter approximately 290 different species, including reptiles, African savannah cats, desert animals, and many others.
Some residents may even come over to greet you. Occasionally, that greeting might happen in a rather unexpected way, such as climbing onto your head.
The animals have plenty of space, which made observing their behavior especially interesting. For instance, we spent quite some time near the elephants. We patiently waited for them to walk closer. One particularly beautiful moment stood out. One elephant gently grabbed another’s tail with its trunk, and together they walked across their enclosure.
We also received a warm welcome from the colorful-beaked toucans. Instead of hiding far away, these birds flew closer. They clearly enjoyed attention and interaction.
After visiting the lions’ territory, our little traveler could feel like being on a safari by sitting inside an exhibition jeep. If your child loves cars, getting them to leave this area may require some negotiation.
Another very child-friendly space featured Cameroon sheep, African pygmy goats, and rabbits. Inside these enclosures, visitors can walk freely among the animals, pet them, and even feed them. However, one small piece of advice may save you from surprises. If you carry snacks in your stroller basket, make sure to hide them well. Otherwise, the sheep and goats may quickly claim them for themselves.
Along the way, we encountered various birds, penguins, and turtles, both small and large. We also saw bats, a sleeping sloth, and many more animals.
Experience with lemurs
One of the most memorable highlights awaited us in the lemur area. In fact, we returned there several times on the same day. The space allows lemurs to roam freely, which creates a truly unique experience. Still, the same rule applies here as well. Anything tasty should remain carefully hidden. Otherwise, you may suddenly find yourself surrounded by more lemurs than you expected.
That is exactly what happened to us. Without thinking, we had left snacks in the stroller basket. The result brought us plenty of laughter. Trying to quickly move the food into a backpack became quite challenging, especially while several lemurs comfortably settled on heads, arms, shoulders, and even legs.
Once we managed to recover from the excitement, we continued enjoying the space. According to the rules, visitors should not touch or pick up the lemurs. Naturally, no one attempted to do so. Nevertheless, the lemurs themselves eagerly approached guests. They climbed onto laps and shoulders with surprising confidence.
During our second visit, the situation looked slightly different. This time, a staff member closely supervised the area. As a result, the lemurs behaved far more calmly. Yet the moment the staff member stepped away, the playful energy immediately returned.
After all, every living creature shows curiosity toward new visitors. The most important thing is to behave respectfully and follow the established rules.
Guided visit
Typically, zoo visits take place independently. However, those who wish to learn more about Athens zoo and its residents can also choose a guided tour.
Interestingly, after visiting Zoopark in Vilnius with our little traveler, he felt genuinely confused. He could not understand why the lemurs there did not come over to greet him?
