With so much going on in Greece right now, I can’t help but have Athens on my mind. Athens is the first European city my husband and I ever visited together at the start of our incredible honeymoon trip. It will always have a special place in my heart, and it’s the reason my husband fell in love with Europe (lucky for me). Through the years I have heard some negative comments about Athens but I have to say that my hubby and I really love it there and I can’t wait to go back for a visit. A visit to Greece is magical, and perfect for a summer vacation. It’s warm, cheap(er), the people are friendly, the food is yummy (click here for my Greek food post), plenty of history and monuments for all tastes and the islands are stunning. Here are my top 5 things to see and experience when visiting this beautiful, historical city:
Stay at Plaka Hotel in Plaka (Kapnikareas 7, Athens)
If you’re familiar with some of my other travel posts, you will remember that I always like to choose hotels that and comfortable and very conveniently located. The Plaka Hotel is situated steps from Plaka, centrally located near Syntagma Square and a short walk from the Monastiraki metro station. However, if you’re looking for luxury, this is not the place for you. It’s a 3-star, no frills, clean and comfortable hotel…and quite affordable by European standards. If you’re only passing through Athens for a few days on your way to the islands, it’s perfect. There are plenty of nice hotels throughout the city, on our honeymoon we stayed at the Hilton, which was beautiful, but far from the city center. Everytime we’ve been back, we have stayed at the Plaka. Take a look at the panoramic views of the city from its top-floor rooms and rooftop terrace:
Strolling through Plaka
Plaka, the oldest neighborhood (and in my opinion) the most charming and beautiful, in central Athens. I love to wander and get lost through its labyrinth of streets (mostly closed to traffic) and whitewashed Neoclassical architecture. We spent hours on each trip strolling along the narrow, cobbled streets visiting sidewalk cafes, souvenir shops and the random historical monument crammed in between, as is the case in many older European cities. And of course, enjoying the stunning views of the Acropolis perched high above the city, through every side street. You will find some very interesting shops selling beautiful 18 karat gold Byzantine designed jewelry as well as Greek designed pottery throughout Plaka. One shop I think is worth a visit is Golden Studio (142 Adrianou Street, http://www.jewelrygreek.com) selling some very nice jewelry. I also loved various pottery shops such as Fotini (41 Nikodimou Street), and if time permits, stop by Forget Me Not (100 Adrianou Street), where you will find some amazing items for sale, most made in Greece by local artists.
Monastiraki Flea Market
Shopping in Athens is a favorite pastime for tourists and Athenians and one of the best places to buy just about anything is the Monastiraki flea market. Literally meaning “little monastery” Monastiraki is named for the Pantánassa church monastery located in the center of the neighborhood’s square. I should clarify, it’s only a flea market on Sundays when some of the stores close and people sell old toys, antique furniture pieces, records, all types of items…reminding me very much of El Rastro flea market in Madrid, where one can find just about anything, if you’re willing to rummage through the stalls. Most of the shops are pretty similar to the souvenir ships you will find in the islands, with items made in Greece, as well as China.
Also not to be missed in Monastiraki, is the beautiful Mitrópoli (Metropolitan Cathedral), an important Greek Orthodox cathedral and the largest church in Athens. The Mitrópoli is the seat of the Bishop of Athens and an important spiritual center of Greek Orthodoxy. It remains a major city landmark and the site of official ceremonies like coronations and important weddings and funerals. Look at this gorgeous church:
Lykavittos Hill
For a stunning 360 degree panoramic view of Athens, hike to the top of Lykavittos Hill behind the posh Kolanaki neighborhood. It’s a great spot for taking pictures, but can be a hot, sweaty climb during the day, so if you’re not up to the hike in the summer heat, the easiest way to reach the top of the Lykavittos is by funicular, which departs approximately every thirty minutes at Aristippou and Ploutarchou streets. The observation platform offers some of the most amazing views of Athens. The view reaches as far as Piraeus and the Saronic Gulf, provided the sky is clear. Some of the landmarks that are clearly visible from here include the Acropolis, the Temple of Zeus, the Panathenaic Stadium and the Parliament Building. There is aslo a café at the top, so you can enjoy the view while taking a break. The view is also quite spectacular at night, when the Acropolis and many other major sights in Athens are illuminated.
Visit the Acropolis
Athens is of course home to the epic World Heritage Site of the Acropolis and its monuments, the most important ancient site in the Western world and must-see in Athens. This magnificent temple is a great place to learn about the history of Athens, while also getting a magnificent view of the city and the nearby ruins. The Parthenon is a monumental beauty built in homage to Athena, the goddess of wisdom (whom the people of Athens consider their patron). During the summer, the place is swarming with tourists and sadly, the Parthenon is always under construction, but the views are breathtaking.
The Erechtheion is a beautiful temple built on the most sacred part of the Acropolis, where Poseidon is said to have struck the ground with his trident and where Athena produced the olive tree, a gift to the city of Athens. The Erechtheion’s signature feature are the Caryatids, six maiden columns that support the weight of the south porch’s roof on their heads. I love this structure, it’s my favorite on the Acropolis.
Feel free to ask any Athenian for recommendations, Athenians love to help tourists and share their city. When we were much younger my husband and I wanted to experience a real Athenian club where the locals went (we had heard they were some of the best in Europe). We decided to ask a very friendly shopkeeper, whom we had just bought some jewelry from, and she told us exactly where to go. Needless to say, it was one of the best nights of our lives (and not a tourist in sight).
Here are a few more photos of beautiful Athens!
Have you been to Athens? I’d love to know what you enjoyed most.
I have always wanted to go visit Athens. I think the culture is amazing and I would love to experience it for myself someday.
LikeLike
Athens is definitely on my bucket list, mostly for the Parthenon and Acropolis. The scenery is just stunning! You must have had a wonderful time!
LikeLike
Oooh Carmen, I am jealousss. Greece ( Athens & Santorini too ) is in my bucket list. It’s in my Top 3 actually. Greece has so much history and all the travel photos I’ve seen from different bloggers and from friends who have been to Greece are all beautiful. I promised myself that I’d see Athens before I get married. Hope it happens soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really hope you can go too. Greece is gorgeous! I have other posts on Mykonos and Santorini as well, feel free to check them out. Still need t get my blog post up on Rhodes…
LikeLike
How beautiful Athens is! I’ve always thought Greece is stunning and it’s on my list of places I would like to visit! You look like you had an amazing time and saw some really stunning places!
LikeLike
This is one of my dream destinations. It looks beautiful!
LikeLike
I’ve always wanted to visit Greece, especially Athens. I love Greek mythology, and the architecture and culture of Greece is so interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is definitely a dream of mine to visit Greece! Athens would be so amazing because of all of the history and myth that surrounds it! I love all of the pictures!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mine, too. Greece has a very rich history and I would love to explore this beautiful place one day.
LikeLike
Athens is in my bucket list. Your pictures are amazing and the place is really so beautiful.
LikeLike
wow! that view from your hotel rooftop is just mesmerizing! Athens is beautiful, wish to visit someday!
do drop by… GreenStory
Join me on Facebook
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing, your pictures are beautiful! I have never been out of the Eastern and central United States so this was a treat for me. I live vicariously through other peoples travels. I love the fact of Athens age and buildings still there to see, here they are up one year an down the next. I imagine with Greece’s economy right now I vacation there (without the travel) would be reasonable. I really adore the pottery in your picture also.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, how beautiful! I love your photos!
LikeLike
When thing ssettle down, I’d love to go to Greece. So far, I’ve missed it on my many travels.
LikeLike
So beautiful. I’d love to visit and maybe never go home!
LikeLike
My JHS BFF was Greek and at the beginning of the school year we would find a lunch table and she would spread out her pictures of her summer and we would go through them all one by one. It was fun to see Greece from a local’s perspective and see things that were off the beaten path. I would love to visit there, thanks for sharing your photos from Athens!
Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly
LikeLiked by 1 person
Checking out all the stalls would be a highlight for me. I’ve never been to Athens but gosh would I love to.
LikeLike
Wow those are incredible photo’s! I would love to visit the Colosseum, I can see why they are your favorite!
LikeLike
I love all the pictures! This just makes me want to visit Greece even more. It’s such a rich and historical culture. I’ve always wanted to visit Athens, Delphi, and Sparta. I’m particularly interested in visiting the Parthenon and the Delphi Theater.
I’ve been to France, Spain, and Italy. Would like to take the wife on a cruise sometime in the Mediterranean.
LikeLike
You will love it!
LikeLike
Oh wow, so beautiful! You can tell just from pictures that Athens wasn’t designed for cars, it was designed for walking. So much healthier than the way our cities are made. I need to add Greece to my list of places to visit!
LikeLike
Wow, looks amazing there. It’s definitely on my list of vacation spots.
LikeLike
This is a great article! I’m really challenged by it. I typically am the dad always wanting to take pictures and forget to just enjoy the moment. Something I intend to work on for sure!
I like the idea of a buffer day. We went to Sea World recently with the kids and tried to plan everything out. The first day was pretty long and miserable. The second day was our buffer day and really helped improve the trip. So I can attest to that!
I really do think it’s important to balance scheduled and unscheduled activities. I’m the planner and my wife is the free spirit. Finding that balance is really important. Choosing a destination everyone will enjoy is good too. With young kids our first part of the trip was not that enjoyable. Probably going to rethink our next trip based on what we learned.
Will favorite this and come back to it when we go on our next trip at the end of the summer!
LikeLike
I have never been to Athens, or even Greece for that matter, but have always wanted to go. Maybe one day. It looks like a gorgeous city!
LikeLike
My Hubs and I are talking about visiting some other countries. For years I thought I just wanted to travel the US, but now that I am older… I want to see the world.
LikeLike
Would love to visit Greece. Looks like a beautiful place.
LikeLike
I have always wanted to visit Greece. It’s so beautiful and so historical.
LikeLike
Athens is so beautiful! My husband and son went last summer and they had amazing pictures.
LikeLike
Athens is on my list of places to go. I figure when we finally make it to Italy we’ll make our way to Athens. It looks amazing.
LikeLike
You totally took me back in time and to my favorite gyro joint!!! Greece is so amazing, colorful and historic, a place to get lost in all good things
LikeLike
What gorgeous pictures. This is one place I would love to visit. What an amazing vacation spot.
LikeLike
I love all of your pics!! Athens is on my Bucket List of places to go one day!!
LikeLike
I would love to visit Athens, it is such a beautiful place with so much history. It looks like you had a great trip and thank you for sharing your amazing photos.
LikeLike
I love your photos! They bring back so many great memories of our own trip to Greece.
LikeLike
I hope to see this place in person one day. It is truly a beautiful destination. What a treasure!
LikeLike
Athens is stunningly beautiful! Would love to visit someday. Just to think that I would be walking on the same ground that great philosophers walked on would just be so awesome.
LikeLike
My husband and I would love to visit Greece and especially Athens. Such rich history and I’m smitten with all the white washed houses and those views!
LikeLike
Wow, these photos are just stunning! I have always been intrigued by Athens and wanted to visit, but these photos just really sealed why! I can’t believe just how beautiful it is!
LikeLike
WOW is all I can say. I love seeing any pictures of Greece, but Athens is always my fave.
LikeLike
That view from the hill is gorgeous! Greece is really a beautiful place. It is on my list of dream destinations.
LikeLike
I’ve never been to Athens before but it really looks like a spectacular place to visit! Athens is definitely on my bucket list for travel!
LikeLike
My boyfriend went to Greece a few months ago as well and loved it. He said the place was magical. Between his and your words and pics, I’m convinced. I need to visit there, too.
LikeLike
Omg I might temporarily hate you right now 😉 I was a history major in college so Athens is a travel
Must for me one day! Love all of your photos and mad jealous it’s not me in those pics lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
What lovely photo’s ! You are truly making me want to pack my bags and get on a plane now! I love the little cafe’s and the buildings !
LikeLike
How beautiful! I’ve always wanted to visit Athens and this definitely makes me want to go even more.
LikeLike
I have always dreamed of going to Greece. Athens looks so amazing. I would love to go shopping at the markets.
LikeLike
I have always wanted to travel someday. I love seeing all of these beautiful places in the world.
LikeLike
I love the pottery! I would love to visit this beautiful place
LikeLike
Greece is such a beautiful place with such amazing scenery! I would especially like to visit the famous flea market.
LikeLike
Athens looks amazing. All that history and culture.
LikeLike
I haven’t been overseas yet and I’m working on a bucket list so that if I ever win the lottery, I can travel the world. The photos that you shared look amazing. It would be fun to roam the streets.
LikeLike
Athens is definitely a place that is on my bucket list! Thank you so much for sharing your photos and experience with us!
LikeLike
I really love to visit Athens, but I never been there before. Pictures you have shared here are so beautiful and it inspires me to visit it sometime. Would love to plan a trip so soon!
LikeLike