The capital is packed with bars, cafés and centuries old ruins, not forgetting the Parthenon brooding above it all. According to the locals, Athens‘s welcoming atmosphere makes the capital feel more like the country’s largest village. Make sure you’ve got a good pair of walking shoes packed as you tour one of the world’s oldest cities; here are eight ideas for yout to try on your next trip to Athens.
8 best things to do on your holiday to Athens, Greece
1. Race to the top of the Acropolis
Ok, so there’s no denying it, the Acropolis is one of Europe’s most crowded tourist sites. Arrive as soon as it opens at 8am, sprint (carefully) up the smooth marble paths to the Parthenon, and you might just get it almost to yourself. Crane your neck to take in Pericles’ colossal building, a temple to Athena that dates from the 5th century BC and whose columns tower overhead, before looking down on the Theatre of Dionysus, a vast 17,000-seater venue whose stage has seen masterpieces by Sophocles performed here.
2. Debate the Elgin marbles
In 2009 the long-awaited Acropolis Museum finally opened – and was immediately heralded as one of Europe’s best museums. Stroll through its light-filled interior, pausing at marble statues and sculptures by a hitlist of Greece’s greatest artists, before emerging onto the top floor to be wowed by a mock-up of the friezes that would have been arranged on the Parthenon itself. Many of the marbles are missing: Some because they have never been found. Others because the originals are in the British Museum in London (the controversial “Elgin marbles”). But it’s still an awe-inspiring sight and every bit as impressive as the structure that remains, visible from here through the glass walls.
3. Discover a Mediterranean village
Still sceptical about that ‘largest village’ claim? Head into the narrow white-washed alleyways of Anafiotika, and you won’t be for long. It’s not difficult to get lost here in the maze of cobbled streets, but that’s half the fun! Delve between the sugarcube-like houses that inspire the Mediterranean dream of a place in the sun, past flowerboxes bursting with bright bougainvillea…and all on a whim because you followed a cat.
4. Feel the caffeine hit
Coffee, coffee, coffee. This is what Athens runs on. Or rather, it’s what it sits down to. Soak up some of Europe’s best café culture in Plaka, the maze of narrow streets weaving around the lower slopes of the Acropolis. Stroll from Medieval street to Byzantine courtyard, stopping at any café table that takes your fancy. We recommend Yiasemi, where strong Greek coffee is served at tables perched on steps.
5. Get tipsy on Greek grapes
Like Greek wine? We bet you have no idea, since very little of the country’s wine makes it onto international dinner tables. But that’s not to say it shouldn’t. This significantly underrated wine culture is well worth exploring, and you can do so at By the Glass, one of the city’s hippest bars – and one that specialises on Greek wines. Try an aromatic white malagousia or a fruity red mavrotragano. And don’t worry if you’d rather return to the merlot, introductory glasses (25ml) start at less than a euro.
6. Feel dwarfed by history
For some 1200 years Athens centred around the Agora, a marketplace that was far more than simply a place to shop for your daily loaf. All public life took place here – you might hear Socrates holding forth for example – and some of its imposing architecture remains. Presiding over it all is the temple to Hephaestus, the country’s best-preserved Classical temple. Hide from the sun between the pillars here and contemplate history – 2,500 years of it, no less.
7. Marvel at the Romans
Athens has layers of history, literally. It is at the Roman Forum that these are most obvious, with Roman ruins sitting atop Greek ones. The Romans shifted the city’s marketplace from the Agora to this site during Julius Caesar’s reign, surrounding the pre-existing Tower of the Winds, an impressive eight-sided tower that has served as sundial, weathervane and water clock, not to mention ceremonial hall for dervishes.
8. Feast on sublime seafood
Fine dining doesn’t have to be stuffy, and in Athens it very rarely is. The city has a quintet of one and two Michelin-starred restaurants but pick of the bunch is Varoulko Seaside. This long-standing favourite has recently relocated to the seafront at Piraeus. You’ll find no-nonsense fish dishes such as steamed mussels, fried squid and grilled red mullet served up taverna-style. That means unhurried, with a smile, and at simple wooden tables overlooking the harbour.
Top 8 things to do in Athens, Greece
| 1. Race to the top of the Acropolis |
| 2. Debate the Elgin marbles |
| 3. Discover a Mediterranean village |
| 4. Feel the caffeine hit |
| 5. Get tipsy on Greek grapes |
| 6. Feel dwarfed by history |
| 7. Marvel at the Romans |
| 8. Feast on sublime seafood |
Discover more of Greece:
A guide to 20 beautiful Greek islands
The best secret beaches of the Med – and how to reach them
Deals to Mediterranean Destinations
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