ATHENS, GREECE

A lot of people say that Athens is a fly-over city on the way to the more exciting Greek islands like Mykonos and Santorini with not much to see, but I disagree. Yes no need to spend a whole week here, but there’s so much history to take in and see, that it’s worth spending at least 2 days here. And that’s exactly what I did, so here’s my short list of things to do in this historic city.

WHERE TO EAT:

LUKUMADES

Loukoumades, a famous Greek dessert, are basically sweet donut balls drizzled in honey. And at Lukumades, they do a delicious spin on this classic Greek dessert… and it’s not for the faint of heart. Coming here will satisfy your sweet tooth craving for a month! Located on a cute street filled with restaurants and bars, this dessert shop is set up like an old school ice-cream parlor. On the menu, there’s a dizzying list of all the combinations you can get with your loukoumades. From different fillings to toppings that include pistachio and black cherries, this is definitely a spot to come to for dessert after a delicious meal. Bonus: They’re open late til 1am.

GB Roof Garden

The Grande Bretagne Hotel’s rooftop restaurant is a great spot for dining with views. Serving up casual Mediterranean fare during lunch and fine dining during dinner, this rooftop restaurant offers gorgeous views of the Athen’s city including the Acropolis which is lit up beautifully at night. With a super open and airy space, it’s worth having a meal here while enjoying some stunning views of this historic city even if you’re not a hotel guest.

fresko yogurt bar

Serving up fresh, authentic Greek yogurt, Fresko prides itself on quality. Simple and delicious, come here to taste the creamiest of yogurts that can be topped with whatever toppings you desire. There’s lot of options including 5 different types of yogurts to choose from including classic Greek to sheep yogurt. Sometimes it’s best not to mess with a classic like a classic Greek yogurt with just delicious sweet honey. The yogurt in Greece is amazing and it’s hard to have a bad yogurt experience while you’re here. My favorite is the yogurt ice cream!

WHERE TO GO:

acropolis

Probably Athen’s most famous site, the stunning Acropolis sits atop the rocky hills of Athens and makes up about 7.4 acres of historic landscape. The Acropolis is made up of several historic structures including the Temple of Athena Nike, Theatre of Dionysus, and the most famous, Parthenon. You could easily spend about 3 hours here just walking around and taking in the sites, so plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes! Some people go closer to the late afternoon to see the Acropolis and catch the gorgeous sunset. Regardless, make sure you skip the insane ticket lines and purchase tickets online in advance. The wait in the lines can easily be up to an hour on some days!

Panathenaic Stadium

Another popular historic attraction in Athens, the Panathenaic Stadium, or the Olympic Stadium as otherwise known, is where the very first modern Olympics were held back in 1896. It is also the only stadium in the world made up entirely of marble. Aside from the stadium, there’s also a museum built into the side of the stadium that showcases all the past Olympics and the torches from each of those ceremony games. It’s pretty cool to see this in person and stand in the middle of the stadium. There’s even a podium stage where you can stand and take pictures like an Olympian. It’s a short visit and you don’t need to spend much time here, but def worth a visit.

temple of zeus

The sheer grandeur and size of what remains of this temple is pretty amazing in person. An entire temple that was built in dedication to Zeus. this historic site was also home to the Statue of Zeus which was one of the Seven Wonders of the World but was later destroyed back during the 5th century AD. The massive column structures that still remain in tact after all these centuries and history is both humbling and impressive. The temple was partially destroyed back in 552 and 551 by earthquakes which is why some of the temple are in ruins.

plaka

This charming neighborhood of Plaka is located right next to the Acropolis and is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Athens. A stark contrast to some of the historic areas in the city, these small streets are lined with restaurants and shops and look more like the streets in Santorini than Athens. Here you’ll find cute pastel colored houses, family-owned tavernas, and floral covered streets. Great to do a stroll after visiting the Acropolis.

presidential palace

Home to the President of the Hellenic Republic, this presidential mansion is located on a street called Irodou Attikou. A street mostly comprised of government houses and buildings, it’s a nice place for a stroll to come see where the government officials live. The Palace is also next to the National Gardens which is in the center of town and a nice walk to do on the way to see the Panathenaic Stadium which is at the end of Attikou. Try to catch the changing of the guards which happens every hour at the front gate of the mansion.

Monastiraki flea market

Open every Sunday, this section of Athens turns into a flea market where you can find everything from cheap Greek souvenirs to interesting vintage finds. Grab a coffee and start off the morning with a stroll through the flea market before heading onto the historic sites.

WHERE TO STAY:

HOTEL GRANDE BRETAGNE

This is really the only place to stay when in Athens. Centrally located, the hotel overlooks the Parliament and is about 20 mins from all the major historical sties. The hotel feels pretty grand and historic which makes sense since heads of state are known to stay here when in town. The best part of the hotel is the rooftop restaurant that has some amazing views of the city as well as the Acropolis on the hill. The food is great too which is always a plus.