This is your final information to essentially the most iconic and distinctive methods to expertise Athens! There are so many issues to do in Athens that planning a visit may be overwhelming. Between the quite a few archeological websites and seemingly infinite museums, you’ve received to be questioning the place to begin. Beyond the fundamental vacationer sights, this information will provide help to plan participating experiences that you just’ll keep in mind without end!
Greece is a European vacation spot on everybody’s bucket record! Everyone’s speaking in regards to the islands, from Mykonos to Santorini, Naxos, and past. Athens is extensively underrated, and it’s completely value a go to!
Athens is value a go to as a result of it’s a budget-friendly European metropolis with a lot to supply! The value of meals and lodging in Athens is way decrease than in lots of different European capital cities like Paris or Amsterdam. Compared to the Greek islands, like Santorini, your euro will stretch quite a bit additional in Athens.
Athens boasts a snug Mediterranean local weather with sizzling summers, pleasantly heat spring and autumn climate, and gentle winters. The busiest months for tourism are June by August, so you might avoid wasting cash and keep away from the crowds if you happen to go to in May or September.
A lover of historical past or artwork won’t ever get bored in Athens. The metropolis is a treasure trove of historical wonders. There are so many fascinating archeological websites, museums, and monuments. Athens is a foodie’s dream with many healthful and wholesome conventional choices, in addition to domestically sourced wines to get pleasure from.
Most vacationers get to Athens by air. The Athens worldwide airport is lower than a 30-minute drive from town heart. Once you get into city, you received’t want a automotive. The metropolis is walkable if you happen to like exploring on foot! In this case, it’s best to keep close to town heart. Although, you might take into account renting a automotive for a day or two, so you’ll be able to go to a number of distinctive websites simply exterior town (extra on this). For straightforward navigation to all the highest sights, save this Athens Tourist Map to make use of offline.
9 Must-Have Experiences in Athens
These are the experiences it’s essential to have whereas in Athens! Including some instructional, culinary, and energetic adventures. You’ll study, you’ll eat, you’ll drink, and also you’ll have essentially the most enjoyable!
1. Greek Cooking Class
Greek delicacies options merely ready seasonal meals with flavorings and kinds impressed by their Arabic, Persian, and Turkish neighbors. Olives and olive oils are dietary staples and essential exports for Greece.
Greek dishes function seafood, greens, beans, grains, and meat (famously, lamb). Meals are sometimes served with salads, dips, and pita bread. Predominant greens embody eggplant, tomatoes, lemons, and okra. Sheep milk cheeses, like feta, are fashionable.
In Athens, it’s very straightforward to seek out vegetarian choices.
You’ll get an opportunity to attempt Greek meals throughout your go to to Athens. However, one of the best ways to expertise Greek meals and study extra about Greek delicacies is to take part in a cooking class.
There are a number of wonderful kitchens in Athens providing cooking lessons for vacationers in English. Many lessons function a go to and tour of the native contemporary meals market. One possibility is the Greek Kitchen. During the category, you’ll have a hands-on alternative to make Greek meals, one of many most acclaimed cuisines on this planet.
2. Climb to the highest of Mt Lycabettus
Mount Lycabettus provides a enjoyable climbing alternative. Lycabettus hill is the very best level in Athens. It is without doubt one of the most beautiful locations within the metropolis, identified for the very best panoramic views round. In Greek Mythology, the hill was created by Athena, the goddess of knowledge. Legend has it that Athena was carrying limestone meant for the Acropolis when she was began by unhealthy information delivered by a raven. The identify comes from the Greek phrase, ‘lycos’ that means wolf.
If you feel adventurous, you’ll be able to climb to the highest of Mt Lycabettus. It’s a steep climb, however the views are value it! It takes most individuals 30-90 minutes to climb to the highest. However, you may also get to the highest by taxi or areal tram.
At the highest of Mt Lycabettus, you’ll discover the nineteenth Century Church of St. George. The facade of the church options the traditional whitewashed cubic design. The church was constructed on prime of a web site that previously housed a temple devoted to Apollo. Stumble inside and uncover attractive artwork and non secular iconography.
At the highest of Mt Lycabettus, you’ll additionally discover a romantic restaurant with awe-inspiring 360° views. There’s additionally a extra relaxed cafe, Cafe Lycabettus, and a rooftop bar, Skybar. Have a espresso or cocktail at Mt Lycabettus to finish your unforgettable expertise.
3. Eat Gyros
Gyros are one of the vital traditional Greek staples. If you aren’t a vegetarian, it’s essential to attempt it! A gyros dish sometimes consists of meat with pita and tzatziki. It is commonly garnished with tomato and onion. Tzatziki is a selection made with yogurt, cucumber, lemon, dill, and mint.
Gyros meat is cooked by way of a rotisserie, and you’ll select between pork or rooster. Sometimes, it may be made with lamb or beef. The observe of grilling stacked meat and slicing it off was launched in Athens by Middle Eastern immigrants within the nineteenth Century. The hallmark of the Greek variation of this meat preparation was the usage of pork and the mixture with tzatziki.
You’ll discover gyros on the menu at many native eating places. Great informal locations to attempt a gyros wrap embody Tylixto Greek Wrap and O Thanasis. Other beneficial eating places that serve gyros embody Arcadia Restaurant and Efcharis restaurant.
4. Take a Day Trip to Delphi
Anyone that simply tires from the depth of metropolis life ought to take into account a day journey to Delphi whereas in Athens. There are a number of methods to go to Delphi. The best and most handy approach to get there’s by organized tour. Since Delphi is without doubt one of the hottest websites in Greece, many alternative corporations provide full-day journeys to the positioning. Visiting Delphi with a tour is very good as a result of you’ll have a passionate information to indicate you across the web site and inform you in regards to the myths and historical past of this unimaginable place.
More impartial vacationers might take into account renting a automotive whereas in Athens. Have slightly street journey to Delphi. It is a 2.5-hour drive a method. Delphi is a quaint mountain city the place you’ll discover one of the vital spectacular archeological websites on this planet.
Delphi is a UNESCO World Heritage web site. During classical instances, it was the middle of the world. It was most famously identified for the Oracle of Delphi. Rules, philosophers, and nobles from across the globe would journey to Delphi for an opportunity to fulfill with the excessive priestess on the Temple of Apollo. The Oracle was a prophet, movie star, and one of the vital highly effective people that ever lived.
Other highlights of the Delphi archeological web site embody the Serpent Column and the Athenian Treasury. The Serpent Column was in-built honor of the Greeks who fought to defend in opposition to the Persian Empire in 479 BC. This is a crucial object as a result of it has one of many longest and best-recorded histories of any merchandise from Greek antiquity.
The Athenian Treasury was constructed to carry the choices introduced for the Delphi Oracle. It was constructed totally of Parian Marble within the Doric type. Other wonderful monuments to go to at Delphi embody the Amphiteatre and the Stadium. Remember, Delphi was a metropolis catering to non secular, political, cultural, and spare time activities.
Don’t miss the Archaeological Museum of Delphi. Wander by the reveals and study in regards to the late Helladic and early Mycenaean intervals. You’ll uncover fascinating artwork and objects recovered from the Delphi web site.
5. Climb to the highest of Areopagus Hill
Another spectacular sundown location is the highest of Areopagus Hill. The hill is known as for the Athenian Council of Nobles that met on this web site throughout classical instances. They would meet to deliberate homicides and different severe offenses.
It wasn’t simply the traditional Greeks that held judicial council right here, legend has it that the Greek gods did too! According to Greek mythology, Ares met his judgment right here after murdering Posiden’s son. For this motive, the hill can be known as the ‘Hill of Ares.’
During Roman instances, the Apostle Paul delivered sermons in opposition to paganism on Areopagus Hill. He is a major determine that was instrumental in changing Athenians to Christianity. You’ll even discover a plaque with an engraving of certainly one of his sermons.
From the highest of Areopagus Hill, you’ll be able to recognize sweeping views over Athens, particularly the traditional Agora. The Agora was the financial, political, and cultural hub of historical Athens.
Be cautious climbing on the rocks, as they’re fairly slippery.
Read subsequent: How a leap of religion rapidly landed me a job in Athens
6. Watch the sundown on the Temple of Poseidon
The Temple of Poseidon is one other web site exterior town that’s value a go to. You can get there in 90 minutes by automotive. There are additionally many excursions departing from Athens that may take you to the Temple if you happen to’d wish to keep away from renting a automotive.
The Temple of Poseidon is positioned on the southern tip of the Sounio Peninsula. It’s a spectacular monument that was constructed within the fifth Century BC from white marble. Poseidon was the god of the ocean. His energy was second solely to Zeus. He was revered by the Athenians, as the ocean was an essential supply of their energy each financial and army. The Athenians turned to Poseidon to maintain them secure from shipwrecks and storms.
While this can be a outstanding place of historic significance, it’s additionally one of the vital stunning locations in Greece. Perched on a cliff, overlooking the ocean, the views are breathtaking. It’s additionally identified for having a few of the most spectacular sunsets! This place is so stunning that it’s impressed artists and poets all through the years.
7. Shop on the Monastiraki Flea Market
No go to to Athens is full with out a purchasing expertise on the Monastiraki Flea Market. It’s the very best place within the metropolis to purchase souvenirs. The market contains of quite a few distributors promoting mass-produced Mediterannean vacationer trinkets, the whole lot from clothes to jewellery, sculptures, and equipment.
On Sundays, the Monastiraki Flea Market turns into an actual “flea market.” You’ll discover outdated electronics, antiques, books, and way more.
The market is centrally positioned close to Athens’ most important purchasing road and the Tzisdarakis Mosque and Hadrian’s Library.
8. Watch the Changing of the Guard
Seeing the altering of the guard in Athens is an immersive expertise you received’t overlook. The ritual takes place each hour on the Monument to the Unown Soldier. You can catch the official ceremony on Sundays at 11 AM, it’s essentially the most theatrical efficiency.
The appointed troopers undergo in depth coaching. Appreciate the intricately choreographed actions. Each soldier stands for 1 hour for 3 hours throughout two days.
9. Taste Greek Wine
Greece has a longstanding historical past of wine manufacturing, it has been recorded within the nation’s historical past way back to 6,000 years in the past. The historical Greeks had a God devoted to winemaking, Bacchus. Wine was provided to the Gods in celebration.
There are over 200 varietals that develop comfortably in Greece’s Mediterranean local weather. When you’re eating out in Greece, remember to drink native wines. You may additionally take into account a wine tour or a go to to a close-by vineyard. Check out the award-winning Samartzis Estate Wines en path to Delphi.
Keep planning your journey with our Athens metropolis information subsequent.
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Valentina has all the time been obsessive about researching, organizing, and planning her holidays. She is aware of that many individuals don’t have the time and vitality to do that, however they nonetheless wish to get essentially the most out of their travels. Valentina’s Destinations permits her to assist different busy professionals maximize their experiences. Valentina is initially from Serbia, however she grew up in Chicago. She loves looking down native eating places, distinctive experiences, and hidden gems.