The fact is that Athens offered us exactly what we wanted from a holiday. It kept us busy enough not to get bored, but it also gave us time to relax and enjoy the Greek atmosphere.
Athens was fantastic!
In today's article, we take you on a virtual journey through the streets of Athens and tell you more about (yes, yes...it will be a long article) what we did, what we visited and what we treated our taste buds to.
If you're curious about how much a city break in Athens costs, check out our detailed breakdown here. And for a quick overview of must-see spots and travel tips, don’t miss our Athens – Short Travel Guide here.
Tourist Attractions in Athens
After more than 50 km of walking, we can say that we managed to see everything on our list and that the four days spent in Athens were enough to fall in love with Greece and daydream about a getaway to Mykonos, Crete or Santorini.
We enjoyed sunny days, during that time we really need a little sun, we visited the Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and many other sites full of history, we got lost in the streets of Plaka and Anafiotika, we let ourselves be carried away by the thread of history at the archaeological museum, we tried to see the changing of the guards in Syntagma Square, and last but not least we ate our fill of gyros, souvlaki, feta cheese and many other delicacies.
Without further ado, let's see which tourist attractions we managed to visit and which should be on your list.
Acropolis
A vacation in Athens is not complete without a visit to the Acropolis, the “upper city” of Athens. This complex is located in the center of Athens, and was built around 3,000 BC.
In addition to the Parthenon, the Acropolis also includes the Erechtheion, the Propylea, the Statue of Athena Promachos, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Altar of Athena, the Temple of Dionysus, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Theater of Dionysus Eleuthereus, the Odeon of Pericles, as well as the Old Temple of Athena.
In its 5,000 years of existence, the Acropolis has gone through many defining stages and events for Greek civilization. If in the Neolithic period, this region was inhabited, in 510 BC things took a different turn, with the Acropolis being declared the abode of the gods by the Oracle of Delphi.
Another important moment in the history of the Acropolis was the Persian War, which almost completely destroyed the area. However, guided by Pericles, the Athenians began to rebuild the temples and transform this rock into something that no one had ever seen before.
To complete this grandiose plan, Pericles was helped by two of the most famous architects of the time, Callicrates and Ictinus, and by the sculptor, Phidias. Although Pericles did not live long enough to see his plan completed, the architects and workers made sure that all his wishes were respected.
Before talking in more detail about each building on the Acropolis, I would like to answer two questions: "How can we get to the Acropolis?" and "How much does it cost to enter?" . The Acropolis can be reached very easily by taxi.
From our Airbnb to the Acropolis, it was 2-3 km, which we covered by taxi. The trip cost us 3 euros. We recommend this option, especially if you are two people.
Entrance to the Acropolis costs 20 euros per person. As I said in a Facebook post, it is better to buy a combo ticket (a kind of tourist pass) that includes entrance to the Acropolis, Ancient Agora and Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library, Olympion and a few other locations. Such a ticket costs 30 euros and is valid for 5 days.
The Parthenon
Of all the monuments on the Acropolis, the Parthenon is by far the most famous among tourists, being an emblematic image for the Hellenic Republic. However, very few people know that before the Parthenon we see today, and in the exact same place, another temple dedicated to the goddess Athena was built, which in 480 BC was almost completely burned by the Persians.
A few years later, on the foundation of the old temple, the Parthenon was built, under the supervision of the two architects, Iktinos and Kallikrates.
The Parthenon was built between 447-432 BC in the Doric style and was dedicated to the goddess Athena Pallas. Moreover, the temple also housed the statue of Athena, made by Phidias from gold and ivory.
Currently, part of the temple is under restoration.
Erechtheion
The Parthenon may be the most famous and appreciated by visitors, but I believe that the Erechtheion wins the battle for the most beautiful and elegant building on the Acropolis. The temple was built between 420-395 BC, right during the Golden Age of Athens, and was considered the most important place of worship of that time, even more important than the Parthenon.
The temple is divided into two large rooms, one dedicated to Athena and the other dedicated to the sea god, Poseidon. The two gods fought for the patronage of Athens, and legend has it that Athena and Poseidon went before Cecrops who asked them to offer the city's population the most precious gift they could offer.
Thus, Poseidon offered the Athenians water, a salty water that turned out to be not very useful, and the Goddess of Wisdom created the olive tree, as a symbol of peace and prosperity. Cecrops was impressed by Athena's gift, and so he declared her the protector of the polis.
However, Poseidon was not very happy with this decision, thus casting a curse on the city, that of never having enough water.
A specific architectural element for the Erechtheion is the caryatid. The caryatid represents a woman who supports the corinth of a roof, having the same purpose as a column.
The name caryatid comes from the ancient city in the Peloponnese, where there is also a famous temple of the goddess Artemis (it is said that the caryatids were the priestesses of the goddess Artemis).
Theatre of Dionysus
The Theatre of Dionysus was built in the 6th century BC and is believed to be the birthplace of Greek tragedy.
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Known locally as the Herodeon, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus was built between 160 and 174 AD at the request of Herodes Atticus for his wife Rigilla. It was the third odeon built in Athens and features a Roman arch as its distinctive feature.
Temple of Zeus and Hadrian's Arch
A few steps from Plaka is Hadrian's Arch, a monument that can be considered the ancestor of the triumphal arch. It was erected in honor of Hadrian, the benefactor of the city, in the years 131-132 AD.
Temple of Zeus on Olympus
The Temple of Zeus on Olympus was the largest temple in Athens, measuring 96 meters in length and 40 meters in width. It was built in the 3rd century AD from marble brought from Mount Pentelus. The temple consists of 104 Corinthian-style columns, of which only 15 remain to this day.
The temple is open to the public, and the entrance fee costs 6 euros. If you have that pass I told you about above, you don't have to pay another fee.
Plaka
After visiting Hadrian's Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, we can head to Plaka, the most beautiful and touristy neighborhood of Athens. The colorful and lively streets of Plaka are full of taverns and souvenir shops, and are almost always full of tourists. Anyway, in Plaka you can walk for hours without having a well-defined goal.
Anafiotika
Anafiotika or “the island of Athens” is famous for its narrow streets and white houses that perfectly resemble what we find in the Cyclades islands. The resemblance is not accidental because this small neighborhood in the famous Plaka was born around the 1800s, thanks to workers who came from the island of Anafi (an island that is part of the Cyclades).
This is where the name comes from, Anafiotika meaning “little Anafi” in free translation.
Although it is part of Plaka, this small island is quite little known among tourists, as it is also very well hidden. The first time we tried to find it without GPS, but we only managed to get lost in all kinds of streets. So, an address to put in Google Maps would be Stratonos Street.
Agora
We continue our journey through the cradle of civilization with a walk through the Agora, the heart of the polis, where most political, commercial, social and cultural activities took place. The Agora of Athens has had various functions since the Neolithic period, from a cemetery and public space to a residential area.
The Ancient Agora stretches between the Acropolis and Monastiraki and is where you will find a nearly intact temple dating back to the time of Pericles. The Temple of Haephestus, as we are talking about, was built around 400 BC and is one of the best preserved temples in Greece.
Haephestus was the god of volcanoes.
The second building that has survived intact to this day is the Church of the Holy Apostles, built in 1000 AD.
Entrance to the Ancient Agora costs 8 euros.
A few steps from the Ancient Agora we find another, somewhat younger agora. The Roman Agora was built in the 1st century BC, during the reigns of Julius Caesar and Caesar Augustus.
The Roman Agora is open to the public, and the entrance fee is 6 euros.
Monastiraki Square
After a morning at the Acropolis and an afternoon wandering the streets of Plaka and Anafiotika, we'll take you with us to Monastiraki Square.
The Tzistarakis Mosque is by far the most iconic monument in Monastriaki Square. During the period 1458-1821, Athens was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, and Tzistarakis Aga (the voivode in charge of Athens) ordered the construction of a mosque in 1759 right in the center of the Bazaar, as Monastiraki Square was called at the time.
There is also a legend/story behind the mosque that says that Tzistarakis ordered the demolition of the Temple of Zeus to take the materials and use them to build the mosque, and this led to the spread of a plague that decimated the population of Athens.
In popular belief, it was believed that every part of a temple was impregnated with spirits and ghosts that should not be disturbed, so Tzistarakis was accused of spreading that plague and was executed.
Over time, the Tzistarakis Mosque served as a weapons depot and prison, and currently houses The Greek Museum of Folk Arts.
After a short walk through the flea market, among the stalls and street artists, it was time to enjoy a sunset from above. In fact, if you arrive in Athens, it is mandatory to drink a lemonade, or whatever else you want, at MS Roof Garden. From there, you will enjoy a dreamy view of the market and you will also be able to admire the "sacred rock".
There are other terraces of this type in the area, but we opted for MS Roof Garden (click on the name for the address), where there is a floor for the bar and another for the restaurant, both offering a panoramic view of the market.
The prices are quite decent. So, a lemonade costs 5 euros, and a juice 3.5 euros.
Syntagma Square
While the Agora and Acropolis bear witness to the Persian invasions and wars fought in Ancient Greece, Syntagma Square has witnessed all the changes of the modern period, from the liberation from Ottoman rule to the battles that involved Nazis, communists and citizens who fought for freedom.
At the end of this square is the Parliament building, built as a royal residence for King Otto, between 1836 and 1840.
In front of Parliament is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It is guarded by the Guards, soldiers who are responsible for protecting the palace. Like the guards at Buckingham Palace, the soldiers wear special clothing, and the Changing of the Guard, which takes place every day at 11:00, is a very famous event among tourists.
We cannot confirm whether the Changing of the Guard is as spectacular as it is said, because on any of the days we were unable to find a place from which to see anything. Added to this is the scorching sun, which gave us a bit of a headache.
Shopping on Ermou Street
From Syntagma Square we head to Ermou Street, a pedestrian street full of shops, which invites you to do a little shopping. Right in the middle of the street you will see a superb example of Byzantine architecture, namely the church of Panagia Kapnikarea.
Evening Walk on Dionysiou Areopagitou
Dionysiou Areopagitou is a pedestrian street located right at the base of the Acropolis and is the perfect place for an evening walk. We discovered it purely by chance while exploring the streets of Anafiotika, and we were really glad that we got lost a bit and found this street.
National Archaeological Museum
If you want to better understand what Greece means historically, then the National Archaeological Museum should be on your list of must-sees. It houses the most important artifacts discovered on Greek soil, from prehistoric times to late antiquity.
The museum's collections: Prehistoric Collection (Neolithic, Cycladic, Mycenaean); Sculpture Collection includes Greek sculptures from the 7th-5th centuries BC; Vases and Small Objects Collection contains representative works from the 11th century BC to the Roman period; Metallurgical Collection includes many fundamental statues, and the Egyptian and Near Eastern Collection includes works from 5,000 BC to the Roman conquests.
Entrance to the museum costs 10 euros.
Where to eat in Athens?
From a culinary point of view, I can say that we have arrived in paradise! Greek food has always been my weakness and I think you can tell that any trip to Greece revolves more or less around Greek culinary specialties.
Thus, on this trip, we looked for restaurants that can offer us good food, exactly as we expected it to be, we looked for taverns with live music, we also ate in super touristy areas like Plaka, but also at restaurants far from the tourist attack range. So, here are the places where we stopped:
The Greco s Project
Go to The Greco s Project for the absolutely delicious gyros they offer. The restaurant is located near Syntagma Square and they have a variety of dishes at really decent prices. We opted for a pork gyro with the house specialty sauce. For a portion we paid 9 euros.
Zorbas Restaurant
We were drawn to Zorbas Restaurant by the great reviews on Tripadvisor and the location (I'll let the pictures speak for themselves as far as the location is concerned). The truth is that I enjoyed sitting on the terrace at Zorbas even more.
As for the food, at Zorbas you have the option of choosing the menu of the day, which offers you a salad, a main course and a drink. There are 4 different options with prices between 16 and 22 euros.
I opted for Greek salad, souvlaki and a carbonated drink (you can also choose a glass of house wine), my husband opted for a menu that includes a portion of tzatziki, a salad, the house specialty (lamb with a good strong sauce and side dish) and a carbonated drink.
The food was delicious, and 16 euros for a menu is a really good price.
Old Tavern of Stamatopoulos
We were really attracted to the Old Tavern of Stamatopoulos because they had live Greek music and a really nice courtyard. Unfortunately, the food wasn't the best, but if we wanted live music... That night I chose feta cheese and grilled vegetables (7 euros).
Anteti
Anteti is located in a quiet neighborhood behind Filapappou Hill (click on the name to view the location). Being located outside the famous Plaka, the restaurant offers tasty dishes at very good prices, like for locals.
If you are staying in the area, I recommend you go to this restaurant and try some of their dishes. The menu is quite limited, consisting of just a few cold and hot appetizers, and a few main courses, but I think whatever you choose will be delicious.
What did we eat well at Anteti? Mpekri Meze (a kind of stew made of pork, peppers, tomatoes and feta cheese) and Yogurtlu Kebab.
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