Greece by its very nature offers a huge range of leisure activities. Commonly perceived as a summer - sun - sea, country, many people do not realize that Greece is actually one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. Along with all its water sports, Greece also offers leisure activities such as snow skiing, white-water rafting, mountain biking and walking. Below is an extensive list of sports available in the Athens area both for adults and children. The most popular ones are:

Basketball

Probably the most popular sport in Greece. Most children play this in the school playgrounds and parks. More formal teaching is available in all the DHMOS`s [see below for details]

Extreme sports

Extreme sports are becoming more popular in Greece. The sea and extensive mountainous terrain, rivers and waterfalls lend themselves to most of the extreme sports such as canoeing, white water rafting, mountain biking, abseiling, para gliding and parascending, all of which are now available.

Go-Carting

There are several go-cart tracks in Athens but it is not cheap, thirty minutes can cost up to € 33. If you own your own go-cart, most tracks will house it for you.

Golf

There is only one golf course in Athens, situated in Glyfada. It is a pleasant 18-hole Championship course, which is now part of the Senior PGA Tour, an event that takes place in October each year. There are regular competitions for members. The club offers Saturday and Sunday group lessons for children. There is an attractive Club House with extensive grounds which double as a venue for receptions such as Christenings and weddings.

Horse Riding

There are several riding stables in the Athens area, particularly in Koropi and Baribombi. Many offer lessons, hacks and livery facilities. Riding for children is not yet fully developed, there are very few ponies available for smaller children, children tend to have lessons on horses. You can expect to pay around € 150 for 10 lessons.

Ice-skating

Only one rink is now open in the Athens area. It is situated in the Northern suburbs. The rink can get very crowded at weekends. Private lessons can be arranged.

Sailing and water sports

Greece is a fantastic place to participate in these sports. The Mediterranean offers great conditions. There are numerous places around Athens to enjoy sea sports especially as many beaches now fly the European Blue Flag. In the Athens costal areas you can swim, sail, windsurf, water ski, scuba dive and jet ski to name but a few of the water sports available. Snorkeling is also a great pastime. You will see many Greeks in the summer in wet suits searching for sea urchins (which they eat) and octopus. The clarity of the water and the fantastic colours make for some wonderful under-water views.

If you enjoy sailing, many private companies offer sailing holidays. You can choose to charter a yacht with or without a skipper depending on your sailing skills. Companies also offer holidays during which you will be taught to sail.

Skiing

The ski resorts are not too far from Athens, which make the sport accessible for the day or weekend. The closest and most popular resorts are, Arachova (north of the Gulf of Corinth) and Kalavrita (to the south in the Peleponnese). The resorts are small with limited skiing for advanced skiers but for beginners, they are a great place to learn. The season is short, usually December to late March, although, of course, this varies. The weekends can be very busy; it is much quieter to visit in the week. Check the weather forecast before departing, as high winds will force the resorts to close.

Soccer

Athens has 3 well-known professional teams:
Olympiakos
Panathinaikos
AEK

These teams seem to be the inspiration for the multitude of soccer pitches that are springing up all over Athens. Mini soccer (5 a side) is becoming extremely popular.

Tennis

There are numerous tennis clubs in the Athens area. This sport is not overly popular with Greek people so queuing for a court is rare. There are several open tournaments throughout the summer. Tennis for children is encouraged. All the clubs offer lessons and many clubs and schools operate summer camps. There are a few annual competitions for those who do not hold a Greek passport.