Athens Christmas with outdoor Christmas shopping and 40 storybook houses

The Metropolitan Park in Goudi will be at the centre of this year's Christmas celebrations in Athens, hosting a number of events, including an innovative idea being implemented for the first time: Christmas Magic World. Christmas Magic World is the largest Christmas park featuring multiple events; it opens 21 November and will remain open until 10 January to welcome thousands of visitors who want to experience the magic of Athens Christmas. It will take place in the open area outside the Badminton Theatre.

Christmas Magic World, being implemented under the auspices of the City of Athens, is a storybook Christmas world. For seven weeks, it will welcome visitors in an area of 6,000 square meters to help them get into the spirit of the holidays, to do some shopping, to have fun and to enjoy Christmas in Athens. There will also be two major performances at the Badminton Theatre: the all-time favorite ballet The Nutcracker, premiering 24 November with the world renowned Universal Ballet of Korea, and the magnificent show by Dimos Avdeliodis, Alexander the Great and the Cursed Dragon, which begins 17 December.

The biggest innovation at Athens Christmas Magic World is that it will feature an outdoor Christmas market for the first time, along the lines of those found in Central Europe. More than 40 storybook Christmas houses will host as many businesses offering the public a great variety of products, including sweets, foods, drinks, treats, toys, Christmas ornaments, books, CDs, accessories, cosmetics, jewellery, gadgets and more.

Among the companies to occupy the Christmas Magic Market houses are: Everest, Papagallino, Coco-Mat, Playmobil, Octoberfest, Pandora Jewellery, "Ola ta Kala" Grocer's, Art and Hobby, Terkenlis, To Gaitanaki, Eros, Hello Kids, Ouaou, Haribo Panini, En Plo, Sweet D.E.I. Zaharaomania, Cactus, Spoilt Boy, Lil' Orbits, Flowerline Ioannidis, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Eat Crete, Germanos and others.

Creative workshops will also be held at Christmas Magic World where children will be able to take part in craft, technology and storytelling activities. There will also be an exciting fun park with a Playmobil knights' castle, a carousel, Santa's train, two climbing walls for adults and children, a bungee trampoline, as well as a large outdoor ice rink covering 470 square metres. The perfect place for children's to enjoy Christmas in Athens.

Whoever is spending Christmas in Athens should visit Christmas Magic World at least once while it is open, as there will also be numerous artistic events throughout the 51 days of its duration, including children's choirs, concerts of Christmas music and modern music, traditional bands, theatrical performances, rock and jazz groups and others. Most importantly, admission is free.

Starting 21 November and for seven weeks, the Christmas star will be shining on Christmas Magic World and thousands of visitors will travel to the land of fairytales with many holiday surprises and prizes. Enjoy this year's Christmas in Athens at Christmas Magic World.

Admission free
Hours: Monday-Friday, 16:00-23:00; weekends and holidays, 11:00-23:00.