15 THINGS TO DO IN ATHENS

“Athens, the eye of Greece, the mother of arts and eloquence”.

This phrase can describe perfectly Athens, my Athens, the capital of Greece and my birthplace.

I believe that this vibrant city has something for all and if you are planning to visit Greece and the Greek islands (of course) it’s totally worth making a stop to the country’s capital, for a few days.

Explore the city’s rich history, buzzing nightlife and delightful cuisine! Below you can find 15 things you can do in Athens, but trust me, there are many more. Keep notes and enjoy!

1. Visit Acropolis and Parthenon, the major archaeological sites of Athens. You can also arrange a tour guide for a few hours and combine visits to other sites as well, i.e. the Ancient Agora of Athens or the Hadrian’s Library.

2. Visit the Acropolis Museum. It’s one of the most significant museums of the city, hosting various important artefacts. Definitely a must visit.

3. Walk around Dionisiou Areopagitou Street and see the Odeon of Herodus Atticus, one major theatre that hosts various cultural performances. The vibes there are really unique.

4. Syntagma square is the heart of Athens. The Greek Parliament is situated there and in front of it lays the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, dedicated to the fallen soldiers at war. It’s worth seeing the change of the Evzones, the Greek honorary guard.

5. Go to Ermou street, the most commercial street of the city, with plenty shops that cover all tastes. Around Ermou and in the alleys you can discover various cute coffee places and restaurants.

6. On the Acropolis northern slopes, lies Plaka, one truly beautiful neighborhood of Athens. The romantic old era vibes can be felt strongly. You will keep discovering hidden picturesque corners and I am sure that you are going to fall in love with this place, especially with Anafiotika, a little ‘island’ in the heart of Athens.

7. Climb Lycabettus Hill and enjoy one of the most magnificent views of the city!

8. Visit the National Archaeological Museum, one leading museum and also, don’t miss the Museums of Folk Art and Frysira Gallery, especially if you are an art lover.

9. Visit the district of Monastiraki, wander around and discover the paradise of leather goods and souvenirs!

10. Taste street food, namely presenting the famous Greek souvlaki.

11. Watch a movie in an open-air cinema. Athens has a variety of beautiful open-air cinemas. Many of them are surrounded by wonderful sceneries, so trust me, it’s worth it! You can check out the movies on Cine Paris in Plaka, Vox and Riviera in Exarcheia and Floisvos cinema in Marina Floisvou.

12. Visit the coastline of Athens or the Athens Riviera. Within approximately 30-45 minutes from the city center you can find yourself in Glyfada, Vouliagmeni or Varkiza, in south Athens. You will not believe that these areas are actually in Athens!

13. Visit a wine bar and taste the Greek varieties, enjoy some delicacies and relax after a long day! One of my favorites (and since you are in the south suburbs) is Cava Vegera in Voula district. It offers a variety of wines and you can ask the owner to select a nice range of cheese to accompany your wine with. Nevertheless, there are many wine bars in the city centre that can keep you happy.

14. Visit Sounio. This is a must visit. Sounio is approximately an hour far from Athens center and is famous for the Temple of Poseidon, the God of the sea. Be there during sunset, you will be amazed, I can guarantee this!

15. If you have free time in Athens or if you have some time before your departure, you can either visit the Attica Zoological Park (you will love it) or you can go for shopping at the McArthurGlen, the outlet shopping Mall in Spata.

There are definitely more things to do in Athens. But I believe that the above list can give you an idea, right? Enjoy your stay!