5 Experiences in Athens

Known as the ‘City of the Gods’, a visit to Athens highlights a collision of staggering architecture, impressive history and a vogue, inventive spin on traditional Greek food and booze.

Here are 5 experiences you should try in Athens:

1. The Acropolis and The Acropolis Museum

3 words: Take the tour. It goes without saying, but I’m saying it. The Acropolis is far and away the most popular attraction in Athens and you will not fully appreciate it’s wonder without a tour guide providing some color commentary.

Please keep in mind that the Acropolis is more than just the world famous Parthenon. As you ascend to the top, there are several other noteworthy sites along the way that are equally as breath-taking including: Theatre of Dionysus, Temple of Athena, and Odeon of Herodes Atticus. 

Drinking Tourist Tip: The best deal is to buy the 1.5 hour walking tour for approximately 33 Euros per person. It includes admission to the entire UNESCO World Heritage site (20 Euro value), a knowledgeable tour guide, AND you get to skip the line. So worth it!

In virtually every season, the paramount of the Acropolis is jam packed with tourists, so it is best to arrive as early as possible. Summer is the busiest season and it could take 1-2 hours potentially to make it to the top. 

Also, make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes because you are climbing 156 feet above ground level to get to the top. 

The hike up is not very strenuous because you are distracted by the impressive architecture and spectacular panoramic views of Athens.

To learn more about the Acropolis, I also highly recommend touring the Acropolis Museum. It is one of Athen’s most modern museums and it truly brings history to life through interactive exhibits. Plus, it has a great outdoor restaurant with unimpeded views of the Acropolis. The entrance fee to the museum is 10 Euros and you can check hours of availability here. 

2. Changing of the Guard – Syntagma Square

Syntagma Square is the central square of Athens and is located right in front of the Old Royal Palace where the Greek Parliament meets. 

The Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place every hour (on the hour) at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier located in front of the palace. The monument is guarded by the Evzones, a special 360 person unit comprised of Greece’s best and brightest soldiers. They march in lockstep performing acrobatic and symbolic cadences while wearing customary uniforms. Check out the puffs on their shoes!

While this ritual happens hourly, the official (and more robust) Changing of the Guard ceremony with the entire Evzones unit occurs every Sunday at 11am and on National holidays.

3. The Sunset Spots

The sunset in Athens is pure magic as it lights up the Acropolis and sprawling city below. 

The view pictured above was taken from A for Athens roof deck bar. Here are a couple other establishments to check out for a great sunset view: Galaxy Bar,  aforementioned Acropolis Museum, and Cine Paris (famous outdoor movie theatre).

Of course, there are plenty of informal places to watch the sunset as well. Here are my Top 3:

• Lycabettus Hill – It is highest point in Athens. You can hike to the top or take the funicular tramway. Stake out a private spot for the sunset or check out the restaurant at the top called Orizontes.
• Areapagus Hill – Located at the bottom of the Acropolis. It’s a little tough to traverse at the top with some jagged rocks, but the view is splendid and it is a local’s favorite.

• Pnyx Hill – My personal favorite. A quick 5 minute hike to the top and you can watch the sun turn the Parthenon’s marble columns into amazing shades of pinkish orange. 

4. Where to Eat and Drink

Feta cheese, olive oil, grape leaves, and gyros… I wanted it all. The traditional Greek food was incredible! But, after a couple days, I was yearning for a more modern take on the traditional cuisine. Here are some suggestions on where to feast and imbibe in the city.

Traditional Greek Food and Drink

Traditional souvlaki and Greek salad were a staple during our first couple meals in Athens. Souvlaki includes shawarma, kebabs, and gyros which all consist of perfectly marinated meat (lamb, chicken, etc), onions, tomatoes, lettuce, yogurt sauce and sometimes french fries. 

We had a local recommendation that O Thanasis had the best souvlaki in the city and it did not disappoint. Outside seating, quick service and delicious food! As a price guide, you should expect to pay about 2.5 Euros for a kebab.

Greece’s traditional drink is ouzo. Mostly served as an aperitif, ouzo is a liquor that comes with most meals (sometimes even ‘on the house’). Some ouzo experiences were phenomenal and others tasted like rubbing alcohol. It is kind of like gambling, BUT at 45% alcohol content, ouzo will always ensure your meal tastes good. 

Check out Brettos Distillery to get a good feel for ouzo (pictured above). Founded in 1909, Brettos has a cozy, neighborhood bar atmosphere and they can help get the average tourist up to speed on what the locals drink. They also serve house-made liqueurs, brandy, wine, etc.

 Modern Food and Drinks

Athens is all about the history, but there are plenty of unique places in the city for modern food and drinks. I’ll start with what I’m calling The Cocktail Triangle – three bars within 5 minute walk of each other in central Athens. 

1. The Clumsies – Rated a Top 10 bar in the world 3 times recently. There are multiple different atmospheres inside this 3 level bar, but my favorite was the dimly lit cocktail lounge on the first floor where they give you a black light to view the menu. Really cool experience and delicious cocktails (pictured above).
2. 42 Barstronomy – Swanky bar with leather-backed chairs. They put an inventive spin on a traditional cocktail menu, like the Gaelic Warefare – Irish whiskey, orange stood beer syrup, barrel aged bitters, and chocolate candy floss. The presentation for each cocktail is an experience in itself.
3. Noel (pictured below) – My favorite! Christmas-themed bar all year around and the decor inside is incredible – each room has it’s own unique, wacky decorations that somehow go together perfectly. Drinks are tasty and food was outstanding. 

One other place of note is CV Distillery. They boast a collection of over 1000 different whiskey and scotch bottles from all over the world. AWESOME!

The Greeks dine in a classic European style so here are some things to keep in mind when eating/drinking in Athens:

• Waiters won’t serve you unless you flag them down or close your menu. They also won’t rush you. Very relaxed dining culture.
• You can pay with credit cards, but tip 5-10% in cash to ensure waiters actually get it.
• Most locals are still drinking coffee/cappuccino until 7pm. Alcoholic beverages start more around 10pm.
• Instead of bar nuts or popcorn, they serve freshly cut bananas, pears, peppers, etc – which is awesome!
• Everywhere has ‘house wine’. Cost is typically 2-3 euros.

5. Other ‘Cant Miss’ Spots

The best way to see Athens is to take the “Free Walking Tour”. Athens Free Walking Tour does a great job hitting the highlights of the city and making whatever temple or ruin you’re standing in front of come to life. At the end of the tour, you tip the tour guide what you think it was worth.

These kind of tours are invaluable to do in the beginning of your trip so you get a good working knowledge of where you want to spend your time. Typically, these tour guides are knowledgeable about local places to eat/drink and can give you tips & tricks for navigating the city.

Here are a couple other sites that I would highly recommend visiting while in the city:

• Agora and Agora Museum – Ancient marketplace
• Temple of Olympian Zeus – Staggering 55 foot high columns that are still standing. Pictured directly above.
• Temple of Hephaestus – Built in 7th century and still in tact. One of the best preserved temples in the world (located in the Agora). Pictured below.
• Panathenaic Stadium – Built in 144AD and still the only stadium in the world completely made of marble. Home to first modern Olympics.

Drinking Tourist Review: Athens used to only be known for its remarkable history and traditional Greek food. In the last 10 years, the city has truly transformed itself into an updated cultural mecca that highlights their rich past and hints at an exciting, modern flair for the future.

Hope you enjoyed the post! Are you interested in checking out the review on Santorini (Greek island) or other European Cities?