ParnassosOn the slopes with kids
The ski trip two hours from Athens nobody told us about
We drove up to Parnassos for a long weekend and it completely changed how we think about winter travel with kids. The mountain was closer than we expected, the slopes suited everyone in the family, and the kids discovered a whole new kind of adventure.
Snow, hot chocolate, rosy cheeks — and a stop at Delphi on the way back that genuinely amazed the 8-year-old. Two nights in Arachova turned into a family favourite.
What We Loved
— five thingsSlopes for every level
From gentle runs for kids finding their feet to intermediate slopes for the adults. The ski school at Parnassos took the kids for a morning session and they were genuinely skiing by lunch.
Closer than you think
Two hours from Athens on the E65. We charged the EV at Charge&Drive in Livadia — 30 minutes, enough to get up the mountain and back. No flights, no stress, just a long weekend.
Snow play between runs
Even between ski sessions the kids had a blast — building snowmen, throwing snowballs, running through powder. For children who'd never seen proper snow, it was pure magic.
Arachova village evenings
Colorful mountain village, hot chocolate stops, fireplace tavernas. After a day on the slopes, Arachova in the evening felt like a reward. The kids were asleep by 9 PM. We stayed up later.
Delphi on the way home
We stopped at the archaeological site on the return. An unexpected highlight — the ruins, the valley below, the Oracle's history. The 8-year-old asked questions for the entire drive back.
From the mountain
— real moments
Tips we'd give ourselves
— before we drove up to ParnassosWe went in knowing very little about ski trips with kids. Here's what we learned — the hard way and the easy way.
Rent equipment in Arachova, not at the resort
The rental shops in Arachova village are cheaper, less crowded, and the staff have more time to properly fit kids' boots. At the resort base, the queues on busy mornings are long and the prices higher. Book ahead if you can.
Book ski school before you leave Athens
The Parnassos ski school is genuinely good — the kids were skiing within a morning. But spots fill up on weekends and school holidays. Call or book online the week before. Walk-in on a busy Saturday is a gamble.
Carry snow chains — always
In February and March, chains can be mandatory above a certain elevation. The police will turn you around if you don't have them. We bought a set before leaving Athens. We didn't need them — but we were glad they were in the boot.
EV: charge at Livadia, not Arachova
The Charge&Drive station in Livadia is on the way up and reliable. Charging options in Arachova itself are limited. We did 30 minutes in Livadia, had a coffee, and arrived at the mountain with a full battery. Easy.
Stay in Arachova — it's part of the trip
The village is beautiful, warm, and full of life in the evenings. Fireplace tavernas, local cheese, hot wine. Don't try to do this as a day trip from Athens — two nights changes everything. The kids loved waking up in the snow.
Stop at Delphi on the way home
It adds 45 minutes but it's worth every minute. The ruins, the view over the valley, the sense of scale — the kids were genuinely captivated. Go in the afternoon when the morning tour buses have left. Quiet, and stunning.
How we planned a ski trip with zero experience
Neither of us had skied with kids before. We told Famila.Travel we wanted a mountain weekend from Athens, kids ages 5 and 8, and an EV to charge. It planned the whole thing — driving route with the EV charging stop in Livadia, ski school for both kids, hotels in Arachova, and a Delphi stop on the way back.
The weather forecast flagged possible snow chains needed above Arachova in February — a tip that would have caught us completely off guard otherwise.
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