Day 1
Climb up the Sacred Rock
Start your time in Athens at its most famous historical monument– the Acropolis. A hub of ancient temples and theaters, the sacred rock of Athens has been the epicenter of the city from ancient times to today. The heart of the Acropolis is the impressive Parthenon temple dedicated to the city’s patron goddess Athena, but there are also remains of many other structures that served religious and ceremonial functions from the ancient times through the Ottoman period.
We recommend hitting the Acropolis early in the morning, and allow plenty of time to explore each monument at this spectacular site.
See how history is preserved
Right at the base of the Acropolis is the new Acropolis Museum. Opened in 2009, this museum hosts the ancient wonders of the Acropolis in state-of-the-art exhibitions that explain the historical providence and significance of each piece, along with insight into the history of excavations and preservation of the artifacts.
The museum’s bottom floors lead you through the artifacts arranged in chronological order. The top floor is a to-scale recreation of the Parthenon itself, which allows you to walk amongst the friezes much as the ancients would have.
Insider’s Tip: Make sure you don’t miss the exhibition on the Caryatid sculptures – these unique columns are marvels of architecture and art, and the exhibition has videos showing exactly how conservationists have kept them looking their best.
Wander Athens’ historical center
The neighborhood of Plaka is a great area for shopping, eating, and strolling around. One of the most historical neighborhoods of Athens, Plaka is made up of tiny winding streets lined with shops, ancient ruins, and neoclassical houses from the 1800s.
As you walk around you may stumble upon the Roman Monument of Lysicrates, the Venizelou Mansion, the Museum of Greek Folk Art, and the Kanellopoulos Museum. Plaka is also a perfect place to pick up souvenirs like hand-made leather bags and some Greek evil eyes to ward away bad luck.
Try traditional taverna fare
Stop for lunch at Platanos Taverna ( Diogenous 4), for a traditional Greek meal. Platanos means Sycamore tree in Greek, and this restaurant is surrounded by the stately spottled trees. This taverna has been operating since 1932, serving up savory stuffed peppers and hand-made tzatziki to generations of Athenians. They are especially known for their house retsina wine, a Greek white wine made with small amounts of Aleppo pine resin.
Check out monumental ruins
After lunch make sure you check out the arch of Hadrian and the temple of Zeus. These two monuments are some of the great accomplishments of the Roman empire’s time in Athens. The temple of Zeus particularly took decades to complete construction, and you can see some of the colossal columns still towering in situ.
Finish with a local night-cap
After a long day we suggest grabbing a drink at Brettos bar, a long-time favorite of in-the-know Athenians. People come here at least partially for the ambiance– the tables are wooden distilling barrels and the bar has an iconic back-splash shelf lined with jewel-toned liquor bottles. But Brettos also has the goods to back up their renown– they boast an extensive list of excellent home-made ouzo, liqueurs, brandy, tsipouro, and rakomelo– a stiff Greek drink made with honey and raki.
Day 2
See how the ancients lived
Start your second day in Athens in the area of Monastiraki and make sure you hit two sites that will give you a look into the more day-to-day life of the ancient Athenians: Hadrian’s Library and the Athenian Agora.
We recommend you start at Hadrian’s library, right next to the metro stop. Today only the facade of the building remains, but during the time of the Romans this library hosted lectures and seminars, eminent researchers, and a massive collection of scrolls.
Next hit the Athenian Agora, a sprawling archaeological site with a museum inside. In ancient times the Agora was a shopping center, as well as a series of courthouses and legislative buildings. Inside the museum are an impressive collection of pot shards that were used in ancient voting processes, with the names of the voters scratched onto them still visible today!
Enjoy lunch with a view
For lunch, or a late brunch, one of our favorites is A for Athens. This hotel has a rooftop bar with a jaw-dropping view of Monastiraki, the Acropolis, and in fact most of the center of Athens! On the brunch menu we can’t get enough of the kayiana eggs– a traditional dish with eggs scrambled in freshly sliced tomatoes and topped with feta cheese.
Find hand-made gifts galore
After lunch take a bit of a walk towards the Thissio flea-market. Here individual vendors set up stalls with all sorts of handcrafts and vintage finds– you can pick up hand-hammered jewelry, vintage books, knitted scarves, olive-wood furniture, and handmade leather purses. Set right under the rock of the Acropolis, with tons of options for one-of-a-kind souvenirs, Thissio flea market is that classic Athens combo of old and new all mixed together.
Catch the sunset over the sea
Right beside the Thisseo flea market is Filopappos Hill. The hill and the surrounding valley have been fenced off into a large city park. As you wander the pathways you will come across churches hosting evening services, ancient marble ruins, and normal Athenians enjoying a walk amongst the trees. We like to time the walk so that we reach the top of the hill right as the sun is setting, casting bright pinks and yellows over the city and the sea. On a clear day you can even see some of the nearby islands on the horizon!
Spend an evening at the cinema
To close your second day in Athens there’s nothing better than catching a flick at the Thissio Outdoor Cinema. Though the cinema is only open in the warmer months, if you catch it at the right time, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience. Built in 1935, the Thissio Cinema is the oldest in all of Athens. They play old classic movies as well as new releases; serve beer, cheese pies, and popcorn; all with a nighttime view of the Acropolis nearby. Tickets are only sold at the box office, so we recommend grabbing them earlier in the day (maybe right before you hit Filopappos) to make sure you have a seat.