3 Days in Athens

Before the weather changes on us, I thought I'd spend my next few blog posts describing my adventures in Greece as a guide to anyone else who wants to plan a trip there. First stop, Athens!

Getting There:

I found Turkish Airlines to be pretty inexpensive and convenient coming from Houston, which flies directly from IAH to Istanbul. From there, you are only a short layover and flight away from Athens.

Where I Stayed/ Getting Around:

We stayed at the Hera Hotel, a super nice boutique hotel in an amazing location just walking distance from the major sites. It also has a stellar view of the Parthenon! We went during the shoulder season (May), so I was able to find a good deal. However, I imagine if you were to travel during peak season, you'd be better off finding something a little cheaper. After all, you're not in Athens to hang out at your hotel! I also found that rooms at highly rated hotels got snatched up really quickly, even during the shoulder season. Definitely book early to avoid disappointment when the hotel you've had your eye on has no vacancies! Also try to book within walking distance of the attractions. Even though Athens has a rail system, it is super easy to walk to everything. The only time we ever got on the metro was to and from the airport. Be sure to bring your walking shoes and be ready to explore this amazing city!

What to Do:

1. The best reason to visit Athens is to check out the historical sites of Ancient Greece. Here are the must-sees:
1. Acropolis & Parthenon: A must visit!!! I'd suggest buying an acropolis ticket for 12 euro before going to any other sites, as many of the sites are included. Try not to go here on on a summer afternoon, as it gets really hot and really touristy. However, full of people or not, the Parthenon is a wonder to behold. Besides how big and amazing it is, it is fun to notice all of the little details put into the design. Plus, you get a really nice view of Athens from the top of the hill! Also go to the Acropolis Museum which was really nice and definitely worth the price. Back in the day when Britain was expanding its empire, some really significant pieces from the acropolis vanished and reappeared in the British Museum. Now that Greece is its own country and a big tourist magnet, they naturally want their stuff back. The UK gave the excuse that Greece did not have a proper museum to display such important artifacts, so Athens built this beautiful museum. Still, Britain has not released Greece's artifacts. However, the Acropolis Museum is still a great source of information minus those missing pieces. 
   
   
   
   
   
2. Theatre of Dionysus: Take a look at this huge performance space while walking up the acropolis. 
   
3. Temple of Hephaestus: The temple in the best condition of all the ones we saw in Athens. How cool is it to see a building in basically the same condition as the ancients did almost 2000 years ago!
   
4. Ancient Agora: Where the ancients hung out, shopped, and did political stuff. It's pretty cool to stand here and imagine all of the activity that would have been happening thousands of years ago! 
5. Temple of Olympian Zeus: The biggest temple of its kind with only a few surviving columns. Talk about massive! I felt so tiny next to it. 
   
2. Shopping
1. Adrianou street: A great place to get souvenirs.
2. Sunday Flea Market: Mostly a bunch of junk, but fun to walk around nonetheless.
3. Ermou Street: Non-touristy shops; don't make the mistake we did and visit on a Sunday when everything is closed!
3. Eating
1. Souvlaki Row off of Monastiraki Square: We liked Sabbas the best for their pork gyro. Be sure to get it to-go as it is much cheaper! You can take it over to the square and sit on a ledge and people watch.
2. A taverna in the Psyrri area: The Psyrri neighborhood is the hot spot where the young 20s hang out. Stop at any taverna with a crowd, grab a table in the street, and enjoy some yummy Greek food and ouzo.
4.  Other stuff
1. Explore the Plaka: This neighborhood is right below the acropolis, so it is definitely very touristy. However, it is really fun to walk around or order an ice-cream at an outdoor restaurant and people watch!
2. Open Air Theaters: In the summer, Athens has a ton of open air theaters showing big name American movies. If you have the time, I'd definitely recommend checking one out! It is a really cool experience to sit in an open air theater with a view of the acropolis while watching a movie in English with Greek subtitles. 
   
   
   
   

Many people critique Athens as falling short of their expectations because of how "dirty" it is. However, going in, my expectations were low, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed my 3 days in Athens! It is easy to find the beauty in a city with as much history and culture as Athens. I urge you to go yourself and give it a try!