National Gardens

If the intense hustle and bustle of Athens gets too much, then a visit to the National Garden is a must. A peaceful, green refuge in the midst of central Athens, this public park was once the palace garden of the royal family. It contains garden, a zoo and small lakes and ponds complete with ducks, swans and a few peacocks. There are also several cafés hidden away!
The National Gardens, open from dawn to dusk, is an oasis in the city, with rare flowers, plants and rich greenery from all over the world. It is behind the Parliament and opposite the residence of the President of Greece. On the other side of the park, is the Zappeion Megaron. Designed to be the gardens of the Royal Palace of King Otto and Queen Amalia, it was planted between 1838 and 1860.
You can enter the gardens from one of four gates: the central one, on Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, another on Herodou Atticou Street and the third on Amalias Avenue. The fourth gate connects the National Garden with the Zappeion park area. In the National Garden you will find: a duck pond, a small zoo, a Botanical Museum, a small cafe, and a Children’s Library and playground. The National Gardens is a big park in the middle of Athens where you can go if the city drives you crazy. There is a park for kids with swings and stuff like that.
The National Gardens were formerly for the exclusive use of the Palace but now they are open to everyone. Antiquities have been found there which have been fenced in and are available for viewing. There are flowerbeds, little paths, lofty trees, ponds, playgrounds, little bridges, stone and metal kiosks, statues, and many benches to rest on. On the eastern side of the National Gardens, along the street Herodou Attikou is the New Palace, now the Presidential Mansion and residence of the President of the Republic of Greece.