It is the heart of Greece. One of the biggest historical place in Greece. Also known as the birthplace of Classical Greece, and therefore of Western civilization. As we reached Athens there was so many things to do, loads of history with a nice blend of infrastructure and nature.
To explore Athens either you can hire a car or even use public transport. Public transport is very well connected to all the major sites. You can buy day pass as it will be more cost effective.
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| (Parliament) |
As it was time to explore Athens and get a better understanding of it. We started the day with a free walking tour, we had an English speaking guide with us and the tour lasted for almost approx. three hours. It was a really informative tour.
The tour started from Syntagma square and headed towards the
Constitution square where you will see the Guards guarding the parliament with whom you can click photograph but they will not speak and move. There we headed towards the
National Garden and headed to
Zappeion hall and
Olympic stadium of Athens it is a huge white marbled from where we headed to
Temple of Olympian Zeus where the guide gave us some history of it and the last stop at Parthenon. It covered all the major attractions as we walked through the tour it became more and more interesting full of fun and knowledge.
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| (National Garden) |
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| (Olympic Stadium) |
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(Zappeion)
As the tour ended we were drained off with energy. Athens was full of scorching heat so we decided to take a break and relax so we headed towards the Acropolis Museum cafeteria. It served some good food and drinks where you can relax and enjoy the food. To escape from the heat we then explored out the museum. Then we headed towards the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Gate to have a closer look. Where we witness only the ruins remain today. The column that has fallen and can still be seen on pieces was brought down during a thunderstorm about a century ago.
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| (Ruins in Temple of Olympian Zeus) |
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| (Acropolis Museum) |
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| (Parthenon) |
Parthenon the most important site of the country. We visited it as the last stop of the day to skip the crowd. You can get a real feel without any tour groups and have enough time for photography. It is the biggest tourist attraction of entire Greece. Acropolis is the eternal symbol of democracy, education and inspiration. From here you get a nice view of the city and of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. The view in the evening is amazing a perfect end of the day.
DAY 2 IN ATHENS
As the day started and we strolled in the Syntagma Square where there were many Bakery shop and those shops served some amazing pies and coffee. After having delicious breakfast we strolled around Plaka area where there are many shops selling different items from souvenirs to cosmetics and hand made products. The most touristic place to shop was the
Monastiraki, for its part, is known for its string of small shops and markets, as well as its crowded
flea market and tavernas specializing in
souvlaki.
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| (Stoa of Attalos in Ancient Agora) |
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| (Ruins of Ancient Agora) |
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| (Temple of Hephaestus in Ancient Agora) |
The main attraction for the day was Ancient Agora. Early in the history of Greece, this place was designated the area in the city where free-born citizens could gather to hear civic announcements, muster for military campaigns and discuss politics. It was an important place where trade takes place. If you are fond of museum then you can visit the
National Archaeological Museum, the largest archaeological museum in the country, and one of the most important internationally, as it contains a vast collection of antiquities; its artifacts cover a period of more than 5,000 years, from late
Neolithic Age to
Roman Greece.
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| (National Archaeological Museum) |
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| (Gold Mask in Museum) |
The last stop of the day was the Mt. Lycabettus from where you get a very nice view of the entire city. There is a St. George Chapel at the top of it. There is a café but its price is similar to its height. The hill has a large open amphitheater at the top where you can sit and enjoy the view with the sunset. To reach the hill you can use a funicular railways which climb the hill from the lower terminal at Kolonaki station.
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| (View of the City from the hill) |
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(View of Parthenon from the hill)
RECOMMENDATION:
- Wear some comfortable footwear as you need to walk a lot.
- During the day as temperature rises try to spend that time inside away from heat.
- Spend at least 2 days in Athens.
- Just stroll around the streets to have a better feel of the city.
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