Pick up a tongue-in-cheek design object from Greece is for Lovers. Purchase some delightfully packaged, high-quality herbs from Daphnis and Chloe. Spend cash. Greeks use cash more than any other country in the eurozone , not just for their daily shopping, but also for rent and bills. Fifty-seven percent of people still get paid in paper notes, and around 40 percent of Greeks pay their taxes that way, too. Fuel with coffee. Coffee in Athens is a treat: the city has no shortage of top-rated cafes and expertly roasted beans.
Taf is one of the first coffee roasters to come out of Athens, and their coffee is now sold all over the world. Another pioneer is Tailor Made , which has a cafe in Monastiraki. If you want something more old-school, stop by any of the neighborhood Cafe Neos, where old men drink syrupy espressos and finger their komboloi worry beads for hours.
Eat well. Like many European capitals, Athens has succumbed to a city-wide wave of overpriced and mediocre food catering to tourists.
For breakfast, head to Philos Athens , a concept store and cafe that serves the Greek version of a power breakfast: thick yogurt, pine-tree honey, and walnuts. If you prefer savory, purchase a pita pie from Ariston — the chicken version is particularly tasty. The tiny Kolonaki Kalamaki serves wonderfully filling salads, expertly grilled pork chops, and fried potatoes dusted with oregano. Go to market. If you have access to a kitchen, pick up some provisions at the best laiki market in Athens — the Saturday market in Exarchia.
The food is seasonal — citrus in the winter, berries in the summer — but there are always Chiquita bananas for sale. The Central Market in Athens is a wonderful place to rub elbows with Orthodox priests doing their weekly shopping, and a good spot to pick up fresh fish and seafood. For those who prefer objects to food, check out the Eleonas Flea Market. Embrace the anarchy… The central Athens neighborhood of Exarchia has a long history as an activist stronghold. The U. This is a neighborhood worthy of a deep dive, full of independent bookstores, cafes, cinemas, community gardens and centers, squats, and impressive graffiti.
It was recently refurbished but retains its original charm, down to the fur-clad old ladies eating chocolate ice-cream out of metal bowls. Get out of the center for park life. There are few truly enjoyable green spaces in Athens , al though Filoupappou Hill makes a nice spot for a picnic. The first is in the city center close to the Acropoolis. The second is near Piraeus Port, for travelers taking a ferry to the Greek islands. Click on the link for an interactive version of the map.
Please note that marked areas are approximations only. This is where we stayed. The area is home to plenty of non-touristy shops and restaurants, and the Akropoli MRT station is just minutes away.
If the Acropolis is a priority, then this is about as great a location as any. Click on the link to book the same AirBnB we did. Here are a few top-rated hotels in Koukaki:. It really is a lovely place to stay and like Koukaki, very central. We probably spent most of our time in Athens here. Check out these top-rated hotels in Plaka:. You can search for more accommodations in Plaka on Booking. Syntagma is the main square in Athens and one of the most important areas in the city.
There are plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars in the area, along with metro and bus stops that take you to key points in the city like Athens Airport and Piraeus Port. Check out these top-rated hotels in Syntagma:. Check out Booking. This was one of my favorite neighborhoods in downtown Athens. There are plenty of cool-looking neighborhood bars and restaurants here.
I found lots of great street art in Psiri so I spent a good amount of time just exploring its streets and photographing the murals. Check out these top-rated hotels in Psiri:. You can search for more listings in Psiri on Booking. Check out these top-rated hotels in Kolonaki:. You can do a search on Booking. Here are a few of the top-rated hotels in the area:. Most travelers taking a ferry to the Greek islands like Santorini will board here.
Check out these top-rated hotels near Piraeus Port:. The Acropolis is an ancient citadel that sits on top of a hill overlooking the city.
We did that in Ephesus and Aphrodisias in Turkey and came away with a much better understanding and appreciation for both places. Again, if you really want to learn about the Acropolis, then I strongly suggest getting a guide.
The Ancient Agora of Athens is one of the most famous examples of an ancient Greek agora, which is an open-air gathering place used for political and artistic events. Get Your Guide offers guided tours that include both. I found the structure pictured below interesting. Entrance to both agoras is included in the special ticket package. As its name suggests, the Temple of Olympian Zeus was an impressive temple dedicated to Zeus. Like the Ancient and Roman Agoras, entrance to this temple is included in a few guided tours and the special ticket package.
The temple was closed when I got there so I took this picture through the perimeter fence. Only a few columns stand today but the Temple of Olympian Zeus was once the largest temple in Greece. The opening and closing ceremonies of the very first modern Olympics were held at this stadium in It was again used as an Olympic venue in and is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble.
In the distance there is Lycabettus Hill, the highest point in central Athens. You can reach the top by car or funicular for spectacular views of the Acropolis and Athens. I took this picture from the Acropolis. Get Your Guide offers many tours that take you up to Lycabettus Hill. As described, we visited Ephesus in Turkey a few years ago but not without going to the Ephesus Museum first. If you have a particular interest in ancient Greek history, then you may want to check out the National Archaeological Museum as well.
The Acropolis Museum houses artifacts only from the Acropolis archaeological site, but on display at the National Archaeological Museum are relics from different excavation sites throughout Greece. There are plenty of guided tours as well that include admission to the museums. I had fun just walking around and enjoying the atmosphere.
You can take the Athens metro to get from one site to the next, but I think going on foot is better. This was taken on Pitakki Street on my way to Psiri.
Psiri was one of my favorite neighborhoods in Athens. There were so many interesting bars and restaurants here. This area felt much more local and authentic compared to the charming but touristy Plaka and Monastiraki. If you happen to be in Athens on a weekend, then you may want to watch the much more elaborate Grand Change that happens at 11AM every Sunday. You can go to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to watch the changing of the guard on your own, or you can witness it as part of a guided tour.
The roots of hospitality live deep in the hearts of the Greek people. For the ancient Greeks, it was an institution and an act of virtue to welcome and care for strangers in their home as they thought they were sent by the gods. Hospitality remains an important value for Greeks. Adapted to the modern way of living, it still exists when they happily open their homes and invite foreigners to a treat.
The famous Greek hospitality will make you feel welcome wherever you go. The Greek cuisine alone is enough for someone to visit Greece. Greek cuisine has a strong base in the Mediterranean diet, which many nutritionists promote as they consider it rich in nutrients. In addition, they believe that the Mediterranean diet is the key to longevity. The most characteristic and integral element of Greek cuisine is olive oil, which is used in most dishes. Greek olive oil and olives are world renowned and there are many varieties to try.
Tavernas and some restaurants are among the main venues serving traditional Greek dishes for locals and visitors.
Some traditional Greek foods, especially souvlaki and pita with gyros are often served in street food style. Eating in Greece is intertwined with good company and discussion, and for this reason it is considered an important part of the everyday life of the Greeks. There are many types of eateries in Greece. Some Greek dishes are very well-known and are served in restaurants throughout the world. Greek wine is so delicious! The country has a lot of good wines, with Assyric , Retsina , Agiorgitiko and Vinsanto varieties that stand out.
The Assyrtiko from Santorini is by far the most popular among Greek whites. The diversity of the Greek landscape explains why Greek wines have extremely distinct characteristics. Greek red wines have been greatly improved while characterizing the volcanic island of Santorini as the most important wine-producing site in Greek territory. Robola is a white grape variety grown mainly in the Ionian islands, although it is strongly associated with the island of Kefalonia where its best expressions can be found.
Greece may produce many drinks, but ouzo is the most famous and worth a try. You also have a gorgeous view of the city from this museum. Besides the Acropolis Museum, there are many other interesting museums in Athens! This is really one of the most important reasons why you should visit Athens! Even though most people may not think about the beach when they think about Athens, you can still have a great beach day there!
Therefore, for those who like history and culture, but still want to relax at the beach, Athens is the place to go! One of the beaches that are very close to the city of Athens is Edem Beach. Since it's not a long ride to get there, it's definitely a great option if you want to have a beach day!
And there are more options! In comparison to the islands of Greece, Athens is a very affordable place! There are many ways to save money in Athens. The food, activities, and hotels in Athens aren't expensive at all. I once stayed in an apartment with an epic view of the Acropolis and a huge rooftop terrace for that price! Furthermore, there are also many fun free things to do in Athens.
From Athens, you can do a day trip to Hydra. Hydra is a very beautiful and cute island, so you will definitely have a lovely day there! Furthermore, Hydra has magnificent beaches and you can see donkeys there! Since you can go there by ferry from the port of Athens Piraeus , even the journey to Hydra is fun!
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