ATHENS
Athens is the capital of Greece and the heart of Ancient Greece, a great civilization and a powerful empire. The city is still dominated today by monuments from the 5th century BC, including the Acropolis, a hilltop citadel where ancient buildings such as the columned temple of Parthenon stand. I was lucky enough to visit it for 5 days in October 2022, and the temperature was lovely and still summery. I was there on a business trip and this allowed me to get to know the real Athens, even with its economic crisis, the lack of reliable public transport, the incredible traffic. However, Athens always maintains an indescribable charm and oozes history and civilization from every pore. The Acropolis is a charm at any time of day, even if always full of tourists. I also got to know the locals and they are characterized by a radiance and kindness that immediately makes you feel welcome. Athens can be visited also in 3 days, so it’s ideal for a romantic weekend in one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe, and the weather will not be a problem because it’s sunny and warm most of the year!
10 things to do in ATHENS
1. HAPPY HOUR IN ONE OF THE MANY ROOFTOPS WITH THE VIEW OF THE ACROPOLIS
In Athens with such a pleasant temperature you absolutely mustn’t miss an aperitif in one of the rooftops with a magical view of the Acropolis and the whole city, obviously at sunset when the city is tinged with a sweet pink and orange color. Actually it’s the first thing I have done as soon as I arrived in Athens! I was recommended by local people , and I must say that they gave me fantastic advice. The best rooftops are around Monastiraki Square, and in particular I have tried City Zen and Anglais. From here you have a magnificent 360 degree view of Athens, you can observe the city while sipping a cocktail and admiring the view of the Acropolis or one of the hills around the city. The view is always priceless, and in fact these places are very popular not only with tourists, but also with locals.
2. STROLL AROUND THE SMALL STREETS IN PSIRRI
Psyri or Psyrri it’s the first neighborhood I visited as soon as I arrived in Athens, and I returned the following evenings because it really fascinated me. I found it truly magical with the little restaurants, the plants with colorful flowers that invade the street, its romantic lights and its murals.
As the sun goes down, the volume of the music rises and the evening soon begins: live bands or simply an amplified playlist along the streets, accompanies Athenians and tourists in tasting local specialties, international foods, fresh beers or glasses of wine.
Psirri is also home to the world-famous Little Cook. It is absolutely impossible not to notice it, colorful and flashy with its huge decorations. Here you can enjoy ice creams, cakes, biscuits, various drinks, teas and herbal teas: whatever you choose, the portion is really “giant”!
For dinner you’ll be spoiled for choice for the various places that serve fresh fish and Greek specialties. I went to the very famous Atlantikos for dinner, a very small place, but which serves delicious fish.
3. TASTE THE RAKOMELO
As you know in my blog there is never a shortage of food advice or in this case … alcoholic advice! If you ask anyone in Athens they will tell you that you cannot fail to end your Athenian dinner with Rakomelo. And I actually tried it and it’s really delicious! Rakomelo is a Greek alcoholic drink. It’s great as a digestif, but it’s also traditionally used by many Greeks as a home remedy for sore throats or coughs. It is made by mixing rakija or Tsipouro with honey and different spices, such as cinnamon, cardamom or other regional herbs. It is produced in Crete, the other islands of the Aegean Sea and in parts of mainland Greece.
It is served both hot, in the style of mulled wine, mainly in the winter, and cold as a digestive or aperitif. But be careful because given its sweet taste it is very easy to get carried away and drink several glasses!
4. HAVE DINNER WITH SAGANAKI
I could spend hours talking about how much I love Greek food, the freshest fish and healthy, tasty and light Mediterranean dishes. Greek cuisine mainly uses local and fresh ingredients such as Mediterranean vegetables, extra virgin olive oil, yoghurt, honey, cheese (feta but also many others), various types of fish, meat and dried fruit. The Greek dishes are delicious and rich in a wide variety of aromatic herbs. The typical Greek dishes are not only fish dishes, in fact among the most famous there is the Moussaka, a typical flan of aubergines and minced meat, covered with a generous layer of béchamel or Gyros, with chicken or beef. However, when I visit Greece I can’t avoid to try their very fresh fish, especially my favorite dish is the Shrimp Saganaki with feta cheese. Plump, juicy prawns are grilled in a rich tomato sauce and topped with crumbled feta, fresh parsley and plenty of freshly-squeezed lemon juice. I am addicted to it!
5. JOIN THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT SYNTAGMA SQUARE
The ritual of changing the guard in Syntagma Square in Athens is repeated every 60 minutes exactly while, every 30 minutes, only one movement of the two guards takes place who, momentarily leaving their positions, move towards the center of the square and then return to their basis. If you are lucky enough to visit Athens on a Sunday, remember that, at 11:00 sharp, a great ceremony is staged in which almost one hundred soldiers participate accompanied by the music of the city band. The peculiarity of the Euzones, the soldiers dedicated to the changing of the guard, lies in the traditional costume they wear characterized by the fez, the red cloth headdress; a skirt (at first glance similar to the Scottish kilt) obtained with a single 30-metre-long fabric with about 400 folds in memory of the years of Turkish oppression; a white leotard with black garters; red leather slippers with curved toe and black pom pom. There are 15 minutes of really beautiful show which, due to its singularity and uniqueness, is among those not to be missed, it is certainly a particular moment and part of the Athenian culture. At the end of the changing of the guard, the soldiers stop for an inevitable souvenir photo!
6. GO BACK IN TIME 2 THOUSAND YEARS BY VISITING THE ACROPOLIS
Despite being invaded by tourists at any time of the day and at any time of the year, which can take away the magic of the place, the Acropolis remains one of the symbols of the Greek culture. Acropolis is a rock, flattened at the top, which rises 156 meters above sea level above the city of Athens. The Acropolis was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. At the center of the Acropolis stands the Parthenon. The Parthenon is dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, which was built using stunning white marble. It is 2,406 years old and is a major landmark in Athens. Over the years, it has resisted wars, fires, earthquakes, explosions but part of its structure has survived to the present day. My advice is to visit the Acropolis and Parthenon very early in the morning, buying the ticket online, even if crowding will be inevitable in any case, or towards sunset when the whole city is tinged with the colors of the sunset which are reflected on the white marble, creating a magic effect. I visited the Acropolis in the morning, but then I returned to the site several times to take pictures at different times of the day, as the show is truly fascinating.
7. STARE AT THE COLORFUL FLOWERS IN THE STREETS OF PLAKA
Known as the Neighborhood of the Gods, due to its proximity to the Acropolis, Plaka is one of the oldest areas of Athens, as well as being one of the most attractive and busiest areas of the city. The picturesque neighborhood of Plaka is located on the slopes of the Acropolis, with its ancient temples. It features narrow cobbled streets lined with small shops selling jewels, clothing and local ceramics. Family-run tavernas and outdoor cafés in the area stay open late. It is frequented by locals and tourists who stop in one of the small bars facing the street for a drink or a glass of wine after visiting the Acropolis. It is an extremely colorful and particular district, which has the air of summer with it, and the light-heartedness of summer evenings where one stops after sunset to chat on the steps with friends, without haste or stress. Among its narrow streets and flowery alleys, it almost doesn’t seem to be in Athens, but in a remote village on a fascinating Greek island.
8. ENJOY THE VIEW FROM LYCABETTUS HILL
At 277 meters above sea level, Mount Lycabettus is the highest point in Athens. It dominates the city, wherever you are, and it is also easily visible from the Acropolis. It can be reached by walking up via a circular path, although during the summer it could be quite strenuous, or the funicular can take you to the top of the hill. The downside is that it moves inside a closed tunnel, so there’s no view when going up or down. The view from Lycabettus Hill is best enjoyed at sunset while waiting for the lights of the Acropolis to show. Athens is surrounded by the sea, so you can also enjoy a spectacular view of the Aegean. Once you get to the top, space is not much and you will find a church, the church of Agios Georgios, and the viewing platform in front of the church which offers a 360 degree view of the city, stretching out to the city’s coastline. This place is also ideal for having romantic dinners with the view of the entire city in the background.
9. VISIT ONE OF THE QUIRKIEST STREET MARKETS OF THE WORLD: MONASTIRAKI MARKET
Sunday is special in Athens. That’s when people come from all over to buy and sell at Monastiraki Flea Market. You can literally find anything here, from antiques, old TVs, phone cards, cell phones, books, broken Barbie dolls to working gramophones. On a stall you can really find a hundred different objects, placed completely randomly next to each other. To some it might seem like sheer rubbish but it might be exactly what someone else was looking for on that particular day, and the market is really packed and overrun with people buying, selling or just watching. Although in my case I absolutely did not find anything that met my taste, it is a tradition in Athens and I absolutely could not miss it! In the afternoons and evenings, the street performers come out in full-force. There’s something for the entire family: clowns making balloon animals, jugglers, dancers and mimes. You never know what quality of entertainment will show up. On the weekends, there’s often live music, adding to the festive atmosphere. You can enjoy something different each time you go!
10. SPEND ONE DAY AT THE BEACH
After so many days in the crowds of Athens, immersed in groups of tourists of all nationalities, on the last day of my stay in Athens I decided to relax and get out of the more touristic areas to enjoy the sea and peace. Unfortunately, not having a car I didn’t have much choice, and although the coast south of Athens is full of fabulous beaches, having to take a taxi I had to choose the closest beach, Kalamaki. The beaches south of Athens are beautiful, but you have to go a bit further from the city. In particular, the best are Glyfada and Vouliagmeni but you have to have the whole day, while I only had the afternoon.
Kalamaki is dominated by the impressive rock formations and at the center of the sand beach are some nice tourist facilities. There are beach bars that play dance music and prepare colorful cocktails or sandwiches for lunch, but in general the area is pleasantly undeveloped with a perfect lush green area and charming atmosphere. The crystal clear, shallow waters of Kalamaki Beach offer safe swimming for kids and excellent snorkeling for nature lovers. For me it was a necessary and pleasant moment of relaxation before departure and after days of inevitable visits to the most touristic and crowded places… there is nothing better than an afternoon of relaxation, reading, sun and sea!
When to go?
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autumn
The best times to visit Athens are the middle seasons, especially from mid-April to the end of May, and from mid-September to the beginning of October. From mid-October, the likelihood of rain increases, which can sometimes be violent and concentrated over time. Those who don’t suffer from the heat can also choose summer.
three unmissable stops
Best photos spots
I’m a photographer, so I’m always looking for the best corner in the world to make the perfect picture. Often, with great pleasure of my traveling companions, I also spend hours staring at the landscape, waiting for the perfect moment with perfect light. Therefore, when I decided to create my blog, I could not avoid to include a dedicated section to photography enthusiasts like me, always looking for the landscape that leaves you breathless. Hope you will enjoy these places where, in my opinion, you can enjoy wonderful landscapes and take the best pictures.
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