Say what you want about Greeks, but they sure know how to keep busy.
Even with all the scheduled beach days and long taverna lunches (attendance to which is always mandatory) Greeks somehow always manage to squeeze in plenty of hands-on activity.
Between chiseling out some of history’s most impressive monuments, crafting more amphoras than you could ever fill with olive oil, and maintaining a steady supply of wine and cheese, you can bet that there are no idle hands around this destination. Especially once the meze arrives.
Which is precisely what makes it so perfect for spending some quality time as a family. For getting a bit messy, a bit curious, and a whole lot Greek. And today, Greece by Travelive takes a look at some of the best ways to do that.
Get Your Hands on Greece
“Please Do Not Touch”
Sound familiar?
Of course. For this is a sign that makes every parent sweat profusely.
But not only because they know their kids might happily disregard it. It’s because, secretly, they want to do it too.
For what fun is it to visit one of the most historic destinations in the world without experiencing it in the most tangible of ways?
Fortunately, Greece has plenty of opportunities to do exactly that. Here, history isn’t always something to admire from afar. Sometimes, it’s something to make, mold, taste, or even wear.
So, with that in mind, let’s explore a few family experiences that will let travelers of all ages get a little more hands-on with Greece.
Walking in Greece’s Shoes — Athens
What better way to walk through Greece than in a pair of sandals you made yourself?
Step (here come the puns) into the private Athens atelier of master shoemaker Constantinos Joras for a hands-on workshop introducing the whole family to the traditional art of Greek sandal making.
Discover the secrets behind the craft, explore the tools and different types of leather used, and then try your hand (feet might also be involved) at creating a pair of your own. Choose your favorite color, dye the leather straps, and watch your sandals take shape under the guidance of an expert artisan.
Not a bad way to put your best foot forward in Greece.
Young Archaeologist for a Day — Athens
Museum warnings be gone, as this is an encounter with history that goes far beyond the velvet rope.
Hosted at the archaeological park of the University of Athens, this playful foray into antiquity invites young explorers to brush up on their archaeological knowledge (at times literally) in the most interactive of ways.
With real tools in hand, they head to a mock excavation site to uncover hidden artifacts before cleaning, restoring, and classifying their discoveries just like the professionals. Designed by Professor Platon Petridis, this immersive program turns archaeology into an exciting hands-on adventure, encouraging young minds to explore, question, and use their imagination.
Short of introducing your kids to Indiana Jones, this is as cool as archaeology gets.
Enter the Bronze Age — Peloponnese
Remember the Bronze Age? Well, Mycenae should definitely jolt your memory.
Accompanied by a licensed guide, explore this remarkable archaeological site and uncover the history, culture, and legends of one of ancient Greece’s most significant centers. Pass through the iconic Lion Gate, wander among its monumental remains, and hear the stories surrounding legendary figures such as King Agamemnon.
And as if Greece didn’t have enough vases, the experience culminates at a traditional ceramic workshop that reveals how all those amphoras you’ve seen throughout Greece’s iconic museums have been crafted over generations.
Then, put those lessons into practice and create your own ceramic piece, which may just happen to one day end up in a museum of its own.
Treasures of Nafplio — Peloponnese
Who says uncovering Greece’s ancient treasures should only involve digging?
In Nafplio, Greece’s former capital, the entire old town can become the playing field for a classic treasure hunt that turns discovering the city into a family adventure.
Begin with a guided tour of Nafplio’s historic heart, getting acquainted with its Venetian charm and neoclassical architecture before setting off on a self-guided challenge through its atmospheric streets.
Armed with a creative questionnaire and a few clues to solve along the way, families can explore at their own pace while putting their observation skills and teamwork to the test. Warm-up activities and team-building games add another layer of fun, making this an especially engaging experience for families with children over 8.
A Shepherd’s Life — Crete
For travelers who’ve ever dreamt of a simpler life in the mountains, or how to always have some cheese on hand, this experience has the potential to make both of those things come true.
And it does so within the island’s lush interior, where the Apithano Honey Factory offers a golden opportunity to discover the secrets of local honey production and enjoy a few sweet tastings along the way.
Beyond, an off-road adventure leads to an encounter with a traditional mitato, or shepherd’s hut, where travelers can discover the time-honored rhythms of shepherd life and learn how to make their own Cretan cheese. A priceless skill if there ever was one.
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The Cretan Mitato
Scattered across Crete’s mountainous interior, traditional stone huts known as mitata have long served as shelters for shepherds and their flocks. These humble structures remain closely tied to the island’s pastoral traditions, particularly the production of celebrated local cheeses, and offer a rare glimpse into a way of life shaped by the mountains and passed down through generations.
In the Footsteps of Percy Jackson — Crete
What is a Greek journey without a mythical encounter or two?
For younger travelers already familiar with the world of Percy Jackson, Crete offers the chance to step into the stories they’ve read about and see some of the hero’s mythological escapades come to life.
At the legendary Palace of Knossos, a mythology-focused exploration leads them through the iconic Labyrinth, with 3D tablets helping bring the ancient palace to life, turning one of Crete’s most important archaeological sites into an adventure worthy of a demigod.
Then, things have an opportunity to get positively messy at a private Minoan-style pottery workshop, where they’ll learn techniques used thousands of years ago to create a pot of their own, which can be shipped home and maybe used to store exclusively Greek snacks.
A little mythology, a little pottery, and plenty of hands-on fun.
Etched in Marble — Naxos
Never mind mythology. Where would Greece be without a bit of marble?
And Naxos just happens to be where you will find the cream of the chiseled crop.
With an exclusive visit to a working marble quarry, travelers can discover the origins of this remarkable stone and learn about the traditions and techniques behind the material that helped shape (or maybe the other way around) countless Greek masterpieces.
Then, after a visit to the famed “Marble Village” in Apiranthos, they’ll learn how to transform raw marble into a creation of their own under the guidance of a professional sculptor, etching their time in Greece, for lack of a better word, into stone.
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Naxian Marble’s Greatest Hits
From monumental gateways to ancient rooftops, Naxian marble has been shaping some of Greece’s most remarkable landmarks for thousands of years.
The monumental Portara, the marble gateway to the unfinished Temple of Apollo at Naxos’ harbor, is perhaps the island’s most famous example. Beyond Naxos, Naxian marble traveled far and wide, including to Delos, where it was used for the celebrated Terrace of the Lions, and to Delphi, for its famous Sphinx of Naxos.
Yet perhaps most surprisingly, Naxian marble was also used for ancient roof tiles at both the Athenian Acropolis and Olympia.
Santorini Like a Local — Santorini
Visitors who truly want to put their hands on Greece’s pulse may just have to become a little Greek themselves. And where better to do than on its most iconic island?
Discover Santorini from a local perspective by wandering through a traditional village and stopping for handmade Greek pie and a coffee at a local kafeneio. Then, contribute to the island’s renowned wine traditions by stepping into the vats of a traditional winery for a grape-stomping session that you may just end up sipping one day.
Because when it comes to getting hands-on with Greece, sometimes you have to get your feet involved as well. Just make sure to take off your newly made sandals.
Greece, Made Together
Greece sure has plenty to do, doesn’t it?
Whether it’s uncovering ancient artifacts, shaping marble, making sandals, or stomping grapes, Greece gives families countless ways to turn a vacation into something they can truly experience together. Something tangible.
So, when the “Please Do Not Touch” signs just won’t do, contact Greece by Travelive at [email protected] and let us create a family journey where everyone gets to have a hand in shaping the story.
