That is your final information to probably the most iconic and distinctive methods to expertise Athens! There are such a lot of issues to do in Athens that planning a visit could be overwhelming. Between the quite a few archeological websites and seemingly countless museums, you’ve acquired to be questioning the place to begin. Past the essential vacationer points of interest, this information will aid you plan partaking experiences that you simply’ll keep in mind ceaselessly!
Greece is a European vacation spot on everybody’s bucket checklist! Everybody’s speaking concerning the islands, from Mykonos to Santorini, Naxos, and past. Athens is broadly underrated, and it’s completely price a go to!
Athens is price a go to as a result of it’s a budget-friendly European metropolis with a lot to supply! The price of meals and lodging in Athens is far decrease than in lots of different European capital cities like Paris or Amsterdam. In comparison with the Greek islands, like Santorini, your euro will stretch lots additional in Athens.
Athens boasts a snug Mediterranean local weather with sizzling summers, pleasantly heat spring and autumn climate, and delicate winters. The busiest months for tourism are June by means of August, so you could avoid wasting cash and keep away from the crowds should you go to in Might or September.
A lover of historical past or artwork won’t ever get bored in Athens. The town is a treasure trove of historic wonders. There are such a lot of attention-grabbing archeological websites, museums, and monuments. Athens is a foodie’s dream with many healthful and wholesome conventional choices, in addition to regionally 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 the town heart. When you get into city, you received’t want a automotive. The town is walkable should you like exploring on foot! On this case, it’s best to keep close to the town heart. Though, you could contemplate renting a automotive for a day or two, so you may go to a number of distinctive websites simply outdoors the town (extra on this). For simple navigation to all the highest points of interest, save this Athens Vacationer Map to make use of offline.
9 Should-Have Experiences in Athens
These are the experiences you will need to have whereas in Athens! Together with some instructional, culinary, and lively adventures. You’ll study, you’ll eat, you’ll drink, and also you’ll have probably the most enjoyable!
1. Greek Cooking Class
Greek delicacies options merely ready seasonal meals with flavorings and types impressed by their Arabic, Persian, and Turkish neighbors. Olives and olive oils are dietary staples and necessary exports for Greece.
Greek dishes characteristic 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 common.
In Athens, it’s very straightforward to seek out vegetarian choices.
You’ll get an opportunity to strive Greek meals throughout your go to to Athens. Nevertheless, 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 glorious kitchens in Athens providing cooking lessons for vacationers in English. Many lessons characteristic a go to and tour of the native contemporary meals market. One choice is the Greek Kitchen. Through the class, you’ll have a hands-on alternative to make Greek meals, one of many most acclaimed cuisines on the earth.
2. Climb to the highest of Mt Lycabettus
Mount Lycabettus affords a enjoyable climbing alternative. Lycabettus hill is the best level in Athens. It is among the most gorgeous locations within the metropolis, identified for one of the 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 supposed 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’re feeling adventurous, you may climb to the highest of Mt Lycabettus. It’s a steep climb, however the views are price it! It takes most individuals 30-90 minutes to climb to the highest. Nevertheless, you may as well get to the highest by taxi or areal tram.
On the prime 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 website that previously housed a temple devoted to Apollo. Stumble inside and uncover attractive artwork and non secular iconography.
On the prime 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 traditional Greek staples. For those who aren’t a vegetarian, you will need to strive it! A gyros dish usually consists of meat with pita and tzatziki. It’s usually garnished with tomato and onion. Tzatziki is a ramification made with yogurt, cucumber, lemon, dill, and mint.
Gyros meat is cooked by way of a rotisserie, and you may select between pork or rooster. Generally, it may be made with lamb or beef. The follow of grilling stacked meat and slicing it off was launched in Athens by Center Jap immigrants within the nineteenth Century. The hallmark of the Greek variation of this meat preparation was using pork and the mix with tzatziki.
You’ll discover gyros on the menu at many native eating places. Nice informal locations to strive a gyros wrap embody Tylixto Greek Wrap and O Thanasis. Different really helpful eating places that serve gyros embody Arcadia Restaurant and Efcharis restaurant.
4. Take a Day Journey to Delphi
Anybody that simply tires from the depth of metropolis life ought to contemplate 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 among the hottest websites in Greece, many alternative firms 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 website and inform you concerning the myths and historical past of this unimaginable place.
Extra unbiased vacationers could contemplate renting a automotive whereas in Athens. Have a bit highway journey to Delphi. It’s a 2.5-hour drive a method. Delphi is a quaint mountain city the place you’ll discover one of the spectacular archeological websites on the earth.
Delphi is a UNESCO World Heritage website. Throughout classical instances, it was the middle of the world. It was most famously identified for the Oracle of Delphi. Guidelines, 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, celeb, and one of the highly effective people that ever lived.
Different highlights of the Delphi archeological website embody the Serpent Column and the Athenian Treasury. The Serpent Column was inbuilt honor of the Greeks who fought to defend towards the Persian Empire in 479 BC. This is a vital 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 solely of Parian Marble within the Doric type. Different glorious monuments to go to at Delphi embody the Amphiteatre and the Stadium. Keep in mind, Delphi was a metropolis catering to non secular, political, cultural, and spare time activities.
Don’t miss the Archaeological Museum of Delphi. Wander by means of the displays and study concerning the late Helladic and early Mycenaean intervals. You’ll uncover attention-grabbing artwork and objects recovered from the Delphi website.
5. Climb to the highest of Areopagus Hill
One other spectacular sundown location is the highest of Areopagus Hill. The hill is known as for the Athenian Council of Nobles that met on this website throughout classical instances. They might meet to deliberate homicides and different critical offenses.
It wasn’t simply the traditional Greeks that held judicial council right here, legend has it that the Greek gods did too! In keeping with Greek mythology, Ares met his judgment right here after murdering Posiden’s son. For that reason, the hill can be known as the ‘Hill of Ares.’
Throughout Roman instances, the Apostle Paul delivered sermons towards paganism on Areopagus Hill. He’s a major determine that was instrumental in changing Athenians to Christianity. You’ll even discover a plaque with an engraving of one in all his sermons.
From the highest of Areopagus Hill, you may recognize sweeping views over Athens, particularly the traditional Agora. The Agora was the financial, political, and cultural hub of historic Athens.
Watch out climbing on the rocks, as they’re fairly slippery.
Learn subsequent: How a leap of religion shortly landed me a job in Athens
6. Watch the sundown on the Temple of Poseidon
The Temple of Poseidon is one other website outdoors the town that’s price a go to. You may get there in 90 minutes by automotive. There are additionally many excursions departing from Athens that can take you to the Temple should you’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 necessary supply of their energy each financial and army. The Athenians turned to Poseidon to maintain them protected from shipwrecks and storms.
Whereas this can be a exceptional place of historic significance, it’s additionally one of the lovely locations in Greece. Perched on a cliff, overlooking the ocean, the views are breathtaking. It’s additionally identified for having a number of the most spectacular sunsets! This place is so lovely that it’s impressed artists and poets all through the years.
7. Store on the Monastiraki Flea Market
No go to to Athens is full with no buying expertise on the Monastiraki Flea Market. It’s one of the best place within the metropolis to purchase souvenirs. The market contains of quite a few distributors promoting mass-produced Mediterannean vacationer trinkets, all the pieces from clothes to jewellery, sculptures, and equipment.
On Sundays, the Monastiraki Flea Market turns into an actual “flea market.” You’ll discover previous electronics, antiques, books, and way more.
The market is centrally positioned close to Athens’ predominant buying road and the Tzisdarakis Mosque and Hadrian’s Library.
8. Watch the Altering of the Guard
Seeing the altering of the guard in Athens is an immersive expertise you received’t neglect. The ritual takes place each hour on the Monument to the Unown Soldier. You’ll be able to catch the official ceremony on Sundays at 11 AM, it’s probably the most theatrical efficiency.
The appointed troopers undergo intensive coaching. Recognize the intricately choreographed actions. Every soldier stands for 1 hour for 3 hours throughout two days.
9. Style 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 traditional Greeks had a God devoted to winemaking, Bacchus. Wine was supplied to the Gods in celebration.
There are over 200 varietals that develop comfortably in Greece’s Mediterranean local weather. If you find yourself eating out in Greece, remember to drink native wines. You may additionally contemplate a wine tour or a go to to a close-by vineyard. Try the award-winning Samartzis Property Wines en path to Delphi.
Maintain 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 probably the most out of their travels. Valentina’s Locations permits her to assist different busy professionals maximize their experiences. Valentina is initially from Serbia, however she grew up in Chicago. She loves searching down native eating places, distinctive experiences, and hidden gems.
