Experience Park Ellinikon in Athens: The Ultimate Winter & Christmas Travel Guide
Winter in Athens now offers far more than walks among ancient ruins. For travelers planning a trip between late December 2025 and early January 2026, a new point of reference is increasingly shaping winter itineraries: Ellinikon, the former international airport site that is being transformed into one of the most ambitious urban redevelopment projects in Europe.
Operating within this larger project, Experience Park Ellinikon is neither a classic theme park nor a temporary seasonal attraction. It is a modern public space designed for both residents and visitors, combining greenery, technology, and cultural programming. In winter and especially during the holiday season - the park takes on a completely different atmosphere.
Christmas Edition 2025 is aimed at visitors who, after several days exploring central Athens, want to see the city from a different perspective. Instead of another visit to the Acropolis, the experience here is an evening walk through a contemporary, holiday-themed landscape filled with light installations, outdoor events, and an ambiance that feels closer to Northern European Christmas markets than to southern Greece.
From a Historic Airport to the Green Heart of the Metropolis: What the Ellinikon Project Represents
To truly understand Experience Park, it is worth stepping back and looking at the site’s past. Not long ago, this area was home to Athens’ international airport and served for decades as the base of the legendary Olympic Airways. Today, that aviation heritage has not been erased but rather thoughtfully integrated into the new urban fabric. Three historic aircraft hangars still dominate the area and remain one of the park’s most distinctive features, forming a clear reference to the site’s aviation history.
Experience Park Ellinikon covers approximately 7.5 hectares and represents only the first stage of a much larger undertaking - the Ellinikon Metropolitan Park. Once completed, it is expected to become one of the largest coastal parks in the world. The landscape design was created by the renowned firm Doxiadis+, with a strong emphasis on sustainability. Materials recovered from former runways were reused throughout the park, complemented by more than 500 trees and tens of thousands of plants typical of the Mediterranean climate.
As a result, even in December the park remains green, calm, and pleasant for walking. This creates a completely different experience from winter parks in Northern Europe no gray scenery or bare trees, but instead the scent of plants and the soft light of the south. Experience Park also serves as a showcase for the entire Ellinikon project, whose masterplan was prepared by Foster + Partners. The ambition is clear: to create a modern, intelligent city where public space is a standard rather than a luxury. It is no coincidence that admission to the park is free year-round, including during the holiday season.
During Christmas, the park’s transformation is subtle. Instead of loud or flashy decorations, visitors encounter modern light installations that highlight the landscape, green corridors, and the raw architecture of the former hangars. The result is elegant and rooted more in contemporary design than in the aesthetics of a traditional Christmas market.
Christmas Edition 2025: Event Program and Winter Attractions
Christmas at Experience Park Ellinikon in 2025 is the moment when this modern urban space takes on a distinctly festive character. Under the shared banner of Christmas Edition, the park emphasizes variety allowing families with children as well as adults seeking a relaxed way to unwind to find something for themselves.
The heart of the holiday setup is North Pole Express, a themed zone styled as a polar village. Nearby operates the Snow Garden, designed to provide a sense of winter atmosphere even when Athens’ December weather remains mild, with temperatures typically ranging from 46°F to 59°F (8 -15°C).
Families with children naturally gravitate toward Arctic Circle, where figures of polar animals are installed, as well as the Polar Express Ride, a calm and atmospheric journey through the park. Everything has been designed to avoid sensory overload, focusing instead on creating the feeling of a holiday stroll rather than a classic amusement park.
One of the most visually impressive attractions remains the Water Maze, a year-round installation that receives a special sound design during the holidays. This interactive water labyrinth, made up of hundreds of nozzles, becomes the stage for shows synchronized with classic Christmas melodies. Children play among the water streams, while adults observe a spectacle that feels closer to a contemporary art installation than a traditional attraction.
For those who prefer quiet and distance from holiday crowds, the Zen Garden offers a space designed for relaxation. Surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation and the gentle sound of water, it is easy to forget that intense city life continues just a few steps away. Complementing this is the Outdoor Fitness area, an open-air training zone that continues to attract visitors even in winter who want to combine walking with light physical activity.
Chocolate & Ice Cream Experience 2025: The Largest Ticketed Attraction of the Season
The true magnet for tourists in 2025 is the DEI Chocolate & Ice Cream Experience, which turns Experience Park into the sweetest spot on Athens’ map. This multisensory exhibition is not a traditional museum but an interactive journey that engages sight, sound, and most importantly- taste.
Visitors begin at a reception area where they are welcomed by the characters Choco and Late, then move through a recreated Amazon rainforest. Thanks to modern technologies such as holograms and 3D projections, guests can see how cacao fruit travels from exotic plantations onto a massive wooden ship. This ship becomes the setting for the next stage of the exhibition, simulating a sea voyage to Europe amid the sounds of storms and the ocean.
The exhibition is open during special holiday hours, with the last entry taking place one hour before closing. The experience typically lasts about one hour. Due to its immense popularity, advance online booking through Ticketmaster is almost essential, especially on weekends and public holidays.
Experience Centre: An Interactive Look at the Future of Athens
At the very heart of the park is the Experience Centre, housed inside one of the restored aircraft hangars. It is the largest information and exhibition center of its kind in Europe and offers visitors a free look at what Ellinikon will become in the coming years. Admission is free, but advance online reservation of a specific time slot is mandatory.
The exhibition is divided into five thematic zones - Living a New Era, Living in Nature, Living the Future, Living Smart, and Living by the Sea. Through more than 20 interactive installations, visitors can virtually fly over the redeveloped coastline, explore a large-scale model of the entire project, and step inside the interior of a smart home of the future.
The Experience Centre is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., but it is closed on major holidays: December 25, December 26, and January 1. This is crucial information for international visitors, as entry without a prior online reservation may be impossible due to capacity limits.
Workshops, Shows, and Family-Friendly Events in the 2025 Season
December 2025 at Ellinikon is not limited to permanent installations, it also features a rich calendar of one-time events. On December 13, children aged 6 - 12 can participate in the “Dressing Our Christmas Tree” workshop, where they paint plaster holiday ornaments to take home as souvenirs from Athens. On the same day, there are postcard-making workshops inspired by Maria Callas, combining the history of opera with the industrial aesthetics of the hangar setting.
The highlight for younger visitors comes on Sunday, December 21, at 12:00 p.m., when the park hosts “Stitch’s Christmas” -an energetic show featuring mythical elves, the Snow Queen, stilt walkers, and giant cartoon characters.
For families looking for more hands-on creative activities, the Athens Children’s Museum will host free workshops on December 27 focused on making decorations from salt dough. On January 4, 2026, the Kotzia Square Kids Corner will offer an activity where children can build their own paper Christmas village. Most of these events operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so arriving at least 30 minutes early is strongly recommended. Activities are led by experienced educators, and language barriers are rarely an issue, as most animators speak fluent English and rely on the universal language of play.
Practical Guide to Holiday Opening Hours
Planning a visit to Ellinikon requires attention to detail, as opening hours vary between attractions and may change during the holidays. Experience Park itself remains open daily and offers the longest operating hours of all attractions on the site. However, entry after closing hours is strictly prohibited, and the area is monitored by a modern CCTV system to ensure visitor safety.
On Christmas Eve (December 24) and New Year’s Eve (December 31), many services, including internal park transportation end earlier, usually around 9:00 p.m. On Christmas Day (December 25), the DEI Chocolate Experience remains open until 7:00 p.m., making it one of the few tourist attractions available in Athens on that day.
Transportation and Logistics: How to Get to Ellinikon From Central Athens
Getting to Ellinikon is remarkably easy, making it an ideal destination for a half-day trip. The most recommended option for travelers is the Red Line (M2) of the Athens metro, which passes through major central locations such as Syntagma, Acropoli, and Omonia. Visitors should exit at the terminal station Elliniko. From there, a clearly marked seven-minute walk leads to the park’s main entrance.
For those who prefer surface transportation, several bus routes serve the area, including A3 (from Akademia Square to Glyfada) and the night line 790 connecting Glyfada with Peristeri. Visitors coming from southern neighborhoods such as Faliro or Nea Smyrni can use tram line 7 toward Asklepieio Voulas and get off at Ellinon Olimpionikon, followed by a short walk along the coast.
Drivers will appreciate one of the park’s biggest advantages: 600 free parking spaces. During the holiday period (December 24 - January 6), a free shuttle bus operates on regular routes between the main entrance, the central parking area, and key recreational zones. On December 26 and January 2, when peak attendance is expected, two buses run simultaneously to reduce waiting times.
Dining and Coffee Breaks: Holiday Flavors of Greece in the Park
Walking across 7.5 hectares of parkland inevitably builds an appetite, and the on-site dining options are designed to satisfy both quick-lunch seekers and fans of traditional sweets. Inside the Experience Centre, the main café is Flocafe, open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Visitors can enjoy classic Greek coffee drinks such as freddo espresso (€2.20) and freddo cappuccino (€2.60), along with freshly baked pastries. Il Barretto is a particularly popular choice among families.
During the holiday season, traditional Greek Christmas pastries appear throughout the park, especially at Coffee Point stands. Absolute must-tries include melomakarona - soft cookies soaked in honey and topped with walnuts and kourabiedes, buttery almond cookies generously dusted with powdered sugar. Children can enjoy ice cream and sorbets starting at €1.40, while adults can choose from local beers such as Mamos (€3.30) or Heineken (€3.90). Food and drinks may only be consumed in designated café areas and outdoor seating zones, and bringing food into the Experience Centre exhibition spaces is strictly prohibited.
What to Know Before You Go: Rules, Safety, and Amenities
When visiting Experience Park, it is worth keeping a few key rules in mind, rules that help maintain the park’s cleanliness and safety. The park is a smoke-free zone, including fitness areas and playgrounds. Dogs are welcome in green spaces but must be kept on a leash, and owners are required to clean up after them. Dogs are not allowed in the Forest Playground. Bathing in fountains and damaging or removing plants is strictly prohibited, as the park is treated as a shared ecological asset of high value.
A December visit to Experience Park Ellinikon is more than just checking off another attraction in Athens. It is an opportunity to see the direction in which the city is heading, how it aims to catch up with Europe’s most modern metropolises without losing its southern character and relaxed atmosphere that has drawn travelers for decades.
To avoid logistical stress, it is best to book tickets for the Experience Centre and the DEI Chocolate exhibition several days in advance, especially if traveling during the holidays. Whenever possible, plan your visit on a weekday, as weekends attract both tourists and local residents.
