The Greek capital of Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world. Travelers flock here for prominent views of ancient ruins (they’re everywhere) but particularly of the iconic Acropolis.
What To Do
As we only had a day and a half in Athens, we booked a city sightseeing tour for our first day with Viator which consists of 2 different bus tours. The Athens line runs through some of the city’s most famous landmarks such as The Acropolis and Parthenon, the Temple of Zeus, the Panathenaic Stadium, the National Archaeological Museum and Syntagma Square. It gave us an overall introduction into this historical city and gave us a chance to pick and choose which sites we wanted to go and see for ourselves.
There is also the Beach Riviera Line for those who plan on soaking up the panoramic sea views through the beaches of Ag Kosmas Beach, Asteria Glyfada Beach, Kavouri / Oceanis Beach and Vouliagmeni Lake Beach.
If you plan on exploring the ancient sites and have a full day to spend in Athens, I recommend buying the special ticket package for €30 which is a great deal given that it covers the entrance not only to the Acropolis of Athens (which by itself is €20) but also access to the Ancient Agora of Athens, Hadrian’s Library, Museum of the Ancient Agora, North and South slope of the Acropolis, Olympieio and the Roman Agora of Athens among others. Tickets can be bought at the ticket office on one of these sites and is valid for 5 days. The Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports website has a lot of important information such as free admission days as well as holidays so I do recommend checking it before you go!
Where to stay
I absolutely recommend staying at Central Hotel Athens as it was (as the name suggests) in the heart of the Old City of Plaka and the Acropolis and has a rooftop with magnificent views of the Acropolis and the city center. I just couldn’t get enough of the views this hotel had to offer. The hotel staff were all very warm and accommodating as well.
Where to Hang Out
Head to one of the rooftop bars (there’s plenty of them) for timeless unobstructed nighttime views of the Acropolis and this beautiful city.
Where to Shop Local
Take a stroll through Monastiraki Flea Market Square to find artisan stalls and souvenirs as well as antiques and trinkets. Probably one of my favorite shops and one I would highly recommend for everyone to check out is the Melissinos sandal shop to get a pair of custom fit classic leather sandals made by Pantelis Melissinos himself.
Gone Traveling 