Greece has been a bucket list travel destination for me for a long time. Not only have I always had a serious interest in Greek mythology, but Hercules was (and still is) my absolute favorite Disney movie! Our main destination was the island of Mykonos, but I couldn’t imagine going all the way to Greece and not experiencing Athens as well. Since the city is a major international hub, we decided to make Athens our home base where we flew in and out of, building in a day to explore at the beginning of the trip.
Getting to explore the ruins and learn more about Greek culture and history was a dream come true, even if just for a day. Since our time was limited, we tried to squeeze as much as we could into our 24 hours in Athens. See below for a day that packs a punch!
1. BUT FIRST, COFFEE
We were up bright and early on our only full day in Athens, so we ventured out to grab some coffee and fuel up for the adventures ahead. Our Airbnb was only a few blocks from the base of the Acropolis, so we opted to pop into a local coffee shop called Drupes & Drips that was on the way. Their coffee was SO good and the baristas were super friendly. It was the perfect start to our day. If you’re needing a little sustenance in addition to your cup of joe, the baristas at Drupes & Drips recommended a bakery right across the street called Takis that smelled absolutely divine!
*Fun fact: This coffee shop actually turns into a tapas and wine bar after 1:00 p.m.! So if you need a break from the afternoon heat after hitting up all the sites, make sure to stop by for refreshing cocktails and appetizers.
2. EXPLORE THE ACROPOLIS & PARTHENON
The Acropolis and the Parthenon are two of the most well-known structures in Athens (and possibly the world), so they obviously topped our must-see list for the city. We intentionally started our day here, thinking that hiking up to the top of the Acropolis would be a little more bearable in the morning that midday heat. We were wrong. Though I’m sure it would have been even worse had we gone later in the day, woooo boy it was HOT! Even though the heat was pretty intense, getting to explore these ruins that hold so much significance not only in mythology but also in our world's history was pretty remarkable. Tickets for entrance to the Acropolis and everything it holds is €20, but I highly recommend getting a guide for your time here as well! There are plenty of them milling around the bottom of the Acropolis and it's definitely worth the money to dive deeper into the history of the sacred hill.
*Fun fact: While many people use “Acropolis” and “Parthenon” interchangeably, the Parthenon is actually just one of three structures that sit atop the rocky hill known as the Acropolis.
3. ACROPOLIS MUSEUM
At the base of the Acropolis, you’ll find a huge museum dedicated to the monument. Entrance fee was only €10 during the “summer season” (April 1 - October 31) and there was so much to see that it was definitely worth the price! As I've mentioned in previous posts I'm not much of a museum girl, but this one was actually super interesting! It made for an excellent supplement to exploring the Acropolis and provided more in-depth information on everything we saw.
4. TAKE A LIGHT LUNCH
After a morning full of hiking and wandering around a museum, we definitely worked up an appetite! We decided to stop for a light lunch on our way from the Acropolis Museum to our next destination, the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It's only a 12 minutes walk but lucky for us, the streets in between the two landmarks are filled with a ton of delicious options! We ended up sitting down at the Cave of the Acropolis, which had traditional Greek food and lovely ambiance, without the super high price tag of some other contenders.
5. TEMPLE OF OLYMPIAN ZEUS
I won’t lie, I had a major Hercules moment here. Did I embarrass my friends by filming myself singing “Go the Distance” from the Hercules soundtrack at the top of my lungs? Yes. Did I care? No. It was so cool to walk around these ruins that I’ve heard so much about in both history and mythology. What really struck me was the sheer size of the temple's columns. Whenever I encounter ancient structures like this (or the Colosseum in Rome, for example) I'm always baffled and awestruck that they managed to construct such large monuments so long ago without any modern machinery! Mind-blowing.
*Fun fact: Did you know that “Hercules” is actually the hero’s Roman name? His name in Greek mythology is Heracles, but I suppose that doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as nice for Disney!
6. MARKET
Though we'd had a delicious lunch prior to visiting the Temple of Olympian Zeus, we still wanted to explore the famous Varvakios Agora market to get a better taste (no pun intended) the local culture. I rarely visit the farmer's markets in my own city back home, but for some reason I'm fascinated with busy European marketplaces like this. It's a great way to immerse yourself in the sights and smells of a new city! If you aren't in Athens for an extended period of time, you might not want to buy fresh meats, fish, or produce, but many stalls actually sold nonperishable gifts and souvenirs like spices, dried fruit, or olives that you can easily take home with you.
7. DINNER WITH A VIEW
When you only have one dinner in the city, go big or go home. We originally chose Strofi for its rooftop terrace that provided brilliant views of the Parthenon and Acropolis, but the food was just as incredible as the view! It was the perfect way to kick off our Greece trip...and to celebrate the birthday of our favorite redhead, Minette (pictured far right)! The staff was lovely and accommodating on all levels, but they took their service over the top with a special dessert and birthday serenade for our sweet friend.
8. GET (A LITTLE) ROWDY
Despite the fact we needed to wake up at the crack of dawn the next day to catch our ferry to Mykonos, we had to go out to celebrate the birthday girl! And it just so happened that one of Athens highest rated bars, the Tiki Bar, was just blocks from our Airbnb. The cocktails were delicious and tropical, the vibe was super laidback, and our bartender was so friendly! It really hit the trifecta for a low-key night out celebration.
*Fun fact: Because the Acropolis is such a high, central point in the city, many hotels and restaurants have rooftop bars that overlook the Parthenon! Seriously, just throw a stone and you're likely to hit a rooftop terrace. We just opted for something a little more festive since we already got to soak in the incredible views at dinner!
Athens has a lot to offer in addition to the above attractions; from wineries to beaches, the city is incredibly diverse. However, if your time is limited and you're a big history nerd or Greek mythology geek, this itinerary can satisfy those interests.
Commentaires