You can’t go wrong with a visit to this ancient Greek city. Known for its great heritage and historical remains, this fascinating destination has plenty to offer. There’s something for everyone in this tropical paradise, which has clean beaches, breathtaking scenery, a buzzing nightlife, and delectable food. Check out our below tips provided by Athens’ locals to make the best of your visit to the spectacular city.
Head to Acropolis
The Acropolis, the greatest emblem of Ancient Greece’s splendor, stands magnificently in the middle of Athens. The hilltop was designated a holy sanctuary during Pericles’ reign in the 5th century BC. If you’d like, you may climb the marble stairs on the west side of the Parthenon and be dwarfed by its colossal columns, as travelers have done for millennia. The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is the perfect place to round up your trip with a performance.
In addition to that, you can pay a visit to the contemporary Acropolis Museum. The valuable items that have been taken from the hill and deposited here for safekeeping are illuminated by natural light. Museum visitors may see the 160-meter-long Parthenon frieze erected at eye level in a glass atrium on the top floor of the museum, allowing them to gain a better feel for the marble masterpiece’s grandeur and grandeur.
Check Out Monastiraki
You have a wide range of possibilities here and, depending on how much time you spend clicking away on camera, you may need a whole day to fit in some of these views. Monastiraki, a district rich in historical landmarks and museums, allows visitors to get up and personal with the past while also taking in the best of what contemporary civilization has to provide.
It’s important to see both the ancient Agora, where ancient Athenians conducted business and politics, and the Roman Agora, where the Romans conducted business and politics, including the Propylaeum, the Gate of Athena Archegetis, and the Tower of Winds, which is located in the Roman Agora’s eastern section. Varvakios Agora is the place for adventures in Athens as the public markets are a must-see. If you want to see a modern market, where you can find all kinds of meat and fish, as well as people selling herbs and spices, then this is the place to go according to the locals. This is because you’ll want to follow local cuisine techniques and cook your meat and fish with the right spices for a mouth-watering result.
Loumbardiaris Church
There’s little doubt that this 16th-century church that sits at the foot of Filopappou Hill is one of the most beautiful churches in Athens. It has a thick timber ceiling, marble flooring, and an incense-filled atmosphere. Inside, a 1732 fresco depicting St. Dimitrios atop a horse in an Alexander the Great-like stance is prominent.
Architect Dimitris Pikionis gave the churchyard its Japanese flair with a wooden gate and bells. Pikionis also restored the masonry on the rear of the house, which is a lovely piece of art. The church was the scene of a supposed miracle in 1648. Turks, stationed atop the Acropolis, were about to fire a cannon at a church full of worshipers when a bolt of lightning struck the gunner, sparing the gathering.
Panathenaic Stadium
Enthusiasts of architectural elements and sports enthusiasts, who can envision the clamor of the audience from millennia ago, will like the white Pentelic limestone seats carved into the ravine near Ardito’s Hill. Ticket holders are given an audio tour, access to a small exhibit about the contemporary Olympics, and the option to pose for a picture on a winners’ podium. When the Panathenaic athletic competitions were originally held there in the 4th century BC, the stadium was utilized as a venue. Animals were slaughtered in the arena at Hadrian’s inaugural in AD 120 according to legend. Herodes Atticus later reconstructed the chairs in marble.
Roam Through Athens Central Market
A typical outdoor market with yelling merchants and all the aromas that come with it is the best thing about this location. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything, the central market is still a wonderful location to visit because of its beautiful and fragrant fruits. While most merchants don’t speak English, you can gesture to goods of interest and communicate with them using any translation application. If you’re staying in a self-catering unit, you’ll have access to meat and fish.
Even if you cannot check all that is mentioned above. Remember that food, beverages, and alcohol costs have stayed relatively cheap in Greece because of the country’s recent financial woes. Local wines are far less expensive than their imported equivalents, and they’re just as good. Even if you’re traveling on a budget, there are lots of things to do. For a limited time, between November and March, on the first Sunday of each month, you may visit the Acropolis and the National Archaeological Museum of Greece for free.
