Christmas at The Experience Park

Who doesn’t love an unexpected Christmas present? 

Athenians have been playing the waiting game for nearly two decades to see new life breathed into the old Athens airport site at Elliniko (it shut for good in 2001 to make way for the bigger and better Athens International Airport). 

The prime Athens Riviera parcel is to be given a dramatic urban makeover in one of Europe’s largest coastal redevelopments, slated for completion by Lamda Development in 2025-2026. But finally, the first phase of one of its key components, the Metropolitan Park, has been completed, months ahead of schedule, with the opening in mid-December of a 7 hectare, eco-friendly “Experience Park”. 

The centrepiece of the new green retreat is an interactive fountain display that creates aquatic music choreographies with hundreds of jets to excite the senses. Year-round, the “Experience Park” also offers wellness areas equipped with exercise installations and spaces for yoga, running or other outdoor pursuits, a Forest Playground for children, and a Zen Garden with secluded nooks to connect with nature, surrounded by tranquil water features and abundant Mediterranean flora. 

To celebrate this exciting urban milestone, Athenians and visitors to the city have been gifted with a cutting-edge festive parkland experience to get acquainted with the landmark site from December 20 until January 9.

Here’s what’s on offer:
The Christmas Tree
Soak up the seasonal sparkle of the illuminated Christmas Tree, made up of 180 smaller trees to be donated for planting after the Yuletide period.  

Helios
Bedazzle yourself at this large-scale sensory lighting installation by Algorithm. With 7,500 custom LED spheres, meticulously positioned into a circular display of ever-changing colours, shapes and harmonising audio, you’ll feel like you’re standing amid a digital field of light, sound and motion. 

Stalactite
In this monumental inverted pyramid kinetic light installation created by Christopher Bauder and Boris Divider, layers of light rods emit pulsating light animations that generate complex shapes and patterns. Stand beneath this hypnotic floating structure and become a part of it!

The Christmas Taste
Indulge in seasonal bites and other culinary delights at the Christmas Food Court. Choose from the “the ultimate Christmas burger” by “FAT CAT The Burger Syndicate”; festive sweets and Glühwein by celebrity chef Akis Petretzikis; or world flavours from Falafeladiko and the ESTEBAN burrito bar. You can also sample Greece’s delicious answer to the donut at Lukumádes and score premium chocolates with Mediterranean ingredients at ÉSOPHY.

Christmas at The Experience Park is open weekdays, weekends and holidays from 17:00 – 22:00. Masks are mandatory.