A retreat from the concrete sprawl of Athens and a perfect base for long family holidays in Greece, leafy green Kifissia breathes serenity, sophistication, and old world charm.
Last updated 2 Feb 2026
Our home when we lived in Athens, Kifissia is a suburban oasis for young families. While the southern coastal stretch of Glyfada, Vogliameni and Voula gets all the recent attention with the rise of Ellinikon Metropolitan Park, for me, Kifissia has greater appeal. Set in lush greenery, it’s also about five degrees cooler than the city centre and south in the sweltering summer. And for long-term residents, this is where most of Greece’s best international schools congregate.
If you’re considering holidaying or working in Greece for a length of time, here are six reasons why there’s no place else like Kifisia:
1. The Village Vibe
An intimate suburb with a quietly refined vibe, Kifisia is complete. Heritage stone houses, once the summer homes of the city’s elite, stand alongside new world fashion titans from Bottega Venetta to Zara. Weaved in-between are chic cafés (atmospheric Natu next to the Goulandris Natural History Museum deserves a mention), curated kids boutiques (Kitabu spills over with a choice selection of books and toys), endless sweet shops (Da Vinci presents an eye-catching showcase of gelato), two of the city’s oldest open-air cinemas, boutique hotels (book into The Y Hotel if you’re checking the neighbourhood out – connecting rooms are available), and an eclectic restaurant selection. The convenient and covetable sit along plane tree-lined streets made for sun-dappled strolls. At its center, by a square large enough for scooting in circles, horse-drawn carriages offer rides, while a balloon man roams with a colourful cloud of mylar cartoon characters in hand.
2. Forest Fun
Kids love the forest. And Kifisia has two. One is at its doorstep by the train station, but is actually more of a park with a café nestled within, while the larger Syngrou estate is for serious explorers. A 97-hectare wonderland of virgin forest, a network of pathways make way for cyclists, scooters, strollers and joggers. Wander off, and you might spot a huddle of turtles hiding out in the woods. Families have picnics on lawns, and hang bunting from trees to celebrate birthdays. There are also some buildings of interest to explore – a beekeeping museum by the main entrance where the parking lot is, a gothic-styled Christian Orthodox chapel (Agios Andreas) designed by Ernst Ziller, and a greenhouse of cacti and succulents.
3. Playground in a park
Public playgrounds have a sketchy reputation in Athens, but Mavromichali park is one of a kind. Nestled within an upscale residential neighbourhood, there’s a section for big kids, and another for little. All surrounded by beautiful garden grounds with benches for sipping on takeout coffees under a canopy of leafy green trees.
4. Location
Kifisia may not be near Pireaus, but miles more pleasant for catching a boat is the quieter port of Rafina a 35-minute drive away. Also in the area are two of Athens’ better malls – The Mall and Golden Hall (with Xplore – an impressive kids entertainment center), and Ktima Aristi, a nature-based oasis of play for children and parents alike. Attica Zoological Park is another 25-minute drive out in Spata, next to American-run MacArthurGlen outlet mall (with a sheltered outdoor playground). And an 8-minute drive from here is the Wall – a sports complex and entertainment center and home to Greece’s largest climbing wall, beach volleyball courts, go-karting, a rope course and trampolines.
5. International Schools
A host of international schools cluster around the north. British-blended options include Byron, Campion and the esteemed Saint Catherine’s educating children of the Greek elite. With a fancy compound and reputation to match, trendy American College is US-based, along with American Community Schools and Anatolia College. Non-country specific international schools include International School of Athens, Costeas-Geitonas School, Doukas, and I.M Panagiotopoulos. And where an alternate language of instruction is offered, there’s French-speaking Lycée Franco-Hellénique Eugène Delacroix and German-speaking distribution Deutsche Schule.
Outside of the north, St. Lawrence College is located south in Koropi and the International School of Pireaus in Pireaus. Both are British-based.
6. The Organic Farmers Market
Finally, there’s the weekly farmers market (“laiki”) we love. On Kokkinara Street, the one in Kifisia is organic. Offering seasonal fruits and vegetables, dry grains, eggs, and even yoghurt and cheese, it pops up every Monday from 4 a.m. to 7:30 p.m..
