Athens is a vibrant and very walkable city,
a beautiful mix of both ancient and modern. There are all kinds of ways
to enjoy the city. On our Tours and Things to Do page at SantoriniDave.com, we provide more
suggestions and details about all of the top attractions. Here are some of our favorites.
The Acropolis and Parthenon are one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece and
well worth a visit. This ancient hilltop citadel features prominently in the Athens skyline. Allow
yourself half a day for the experience, and plan on lots of walking. We recommend arriving early to
get a jump on the large crowds and intense heat during the summer. As is true of most of Athens
archaeological sites, hiring a private guide is highly recommended to get the most out of a visit,
and buying tickets in advance online, or using one of the kiosks as you arrive will
save you time in entering. There’s also an advantage to buying the combination ticket
for multiple archaeological sites which we explain in greater depth on our website.
The excellent and relatively new Acropolis Museum is for many people a highlight of their visit to
Athens. It’s located a short walk from the Acropolis main entrance gate. The 2 sites
are easy to visit together and complement each other well. If you have a very short
time in Athens, a visit to the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum are your best choices.
The 2 most popular areas for tourists, the adjacent neighborhoods of Plaka and
Monastiraki are located at the base of the Acropolis. Both are filled with historical
sites and are largely pedestrian only, featuring a fun and lively
atmosphere during both day and night. They’re great for wandering, shopping,
eating, and sightseeing. They’re also two of our favorite areas to stay in Athens,
and are home to many of our favorite restaurants and hotels. These include the excellent rooftop
bars that look out over Monastiraki Square and the rooftop restaurants clustered in Plaka. On
Sundays, The Monastiraki Flea Market has vendors lining the streets selling vintage and used items
and artwork. And Cine Paris, a wonderful outdoor cinema is also located in Plaka.
Snytagma Square is another important part of the city; a great mix of tourism, commerce,
and government. There are frequent concerts and other events here in the park. The tree covered
square is a major transportation hub for buses and trains, fronted by the Hellenic Parliament
with its hourly changing of the guard in front of the tomb of the unknown soldier;
and some of Athens best shopping on the opposite side. Two of the city’s best hotels,
the Grand Bretagne and The King George Hotel also front the square,
and both have rooftop restaurants with stunning views out over the city.
A short walk from Syntagma and adjacent to Parliament, The National Gardens provide a
relaxing break from the heat and chaos of busy Athens. Take a picnic, let the kids run around,
or relax in the shade for a bit. In addition to the greenery, there are also ancient ruins,
Corinthian columns, and mosaics on site, and entrance is free.
Athens Central Market is a wonderful and lively location where you can find all of the
staples of Greek cuisine. The adjacent side streets are lined with shops of all kinds,
and all of the best Athens food tours stop here.
The National Archaeological Museum is the single best museum in Greece,
loaded with archaeological treasures. It’s one of the few top attractions that isn’t a
short walk from the Plaka and Acropolis area so you’ll need to take a short taxi or metro
ride or a longer walk to get there. Again, the experience is dramatically
enhanced if you get a private tour guide to explain all the history and top exhibits.
There are lots of other great museums to visit including The National Historical Museum,
The City of Athens Museum, The Cycladic Art Museum and The Byzantine and Christian Museum.
Agora means marketplace in Greek, and there are two archaeological sites in Athens that
house the remains and artifacts of these communal gathering spaces. The Ancient Agora lies between
Monastiraki and the base of the Acropolis. And the Roman Agora lies on the border
between the Monastiraki and Plaka neighborhoods of central Athens.
Lycabettus Hill is the highest point in Athens with dramatic views out over the entire city.
The 300 meter high hilltop can be reached by foot or via a funicular tram that travels in
a tunnel inside the hill. At the top sits St George’s Chapel, and there’s a cafe as well.
There’s also the Olympic stadium,
which hosted the first modern olympics and is made completely of marble.
A few great day trips from Athens include to the
Temple of Poseidon at Cape Soonio, and to Nafplio on the Peloponese Peninsula.
Check out our Athens Travel Guide for more detailed information including where to stay,
what to do, the best hotels, restaurants,
nightlife, and lots of useful maps. (SantoriniDave.com/mykonos on screen)
We’ve also got other great travel guides and content for popular destinations around
the world at SantoriniDave.com Follow us on social media and thanks for watching.