Athens is a mesmerising mash-up of history and modernity - with enclosed city ruins amongst cafes and independent stores or hilly pathways leading you to fascinating monuments next to contemporary galleries.
Being more acquainted with smaller city centres, Athens was larger than I expected. The sprawling city was filled to the brim of activities that my short three stay was insufficient. I came into the city extremely cautious and skeptical after hearing how my friends did not really like Athens, having been pick-pocketed or scammed during their stay. HOWEVER, I actually enjoyed my stay in this incredible city that has something for everyone.
With almost 80 museums and centres, numerous historical places and a dozen possibilities of taking a day trip out from Athens. Do you know they even have an Emotions Museum for Children and Teenagers? There is just so much to do in the city and I would love to head back one day, perhaps in spring or autumn as summer was too dry for my Asian genes. For now, I have narrowed down a few “what to do” for a first timer in Athens.
Points of Interest:
1) Acropolis – A no-brainer! The iconic 5th century city ruins are the most popular attraction in town. Highly encourage visitors to reach at the opening time (8am) as cruise ship passengers will be flocking to the site at around 10am. Use an EU student card and you would be able to skip the ticket queues in addition to getting in for free! The area houses the Parthenon, Erechtheion, Arrhephorion and Temple of Athena Nike. If you are interested in learning more about ancient Greek mythology and history, having a guide will be great idea. You can easily join guided tours to the Acropolis on GetYourGuide and Viator.
2) Monastiraki – The diverse main square which name means “small monastery”, is surrounded by rooftop bars, markets and antique shops. With the Ottoman-era mosque, orthodox church and Hadrian’s library, one can’t help but to marvel at the melting pot of cultures found in this neighbourhood. Buy Evil Eye trinkets or other Greek handicrafts along pedestrian alleys and the Monastiraki flea market. Do watch out for your belongings though. Visit a Greek Tavern to try traditional food. I really like the vibrant area as there were rows of stores selling handmade trinkets and further north of Monastiraki, kooky cafes like Little Kook. For vintage finds, walking along Protogenous should do the trick!
3) Plaka – The picturesque neighbourhood which used to known as the “nightclub district” now holds ancient sites, museums, churches and little squares with cafes and restaurants. The cafes along the Plaka stairs are another Instagram worthy place but the prices are more expensive. Jam packed with alluring family run shops, you are sure to find something amidst the typical souvenirs and organic Greek products. A great souvenir store would be Forget Me Not with unique finds and local craftsmanship.
4) Anafiotika – Take those Instagram-worthy shots at the white-washed Ottomon village. An antidote to both the ancient ruins and the bustling city streets, the steep neighbourhood from the 19th century. To visit, you can try heading in the direction of Stratonos, Athina 105 55-58, Greece and on the way, you will be surrounded by graffiti at dodgey looking streets. That's when you know you are at the right path.
5) Central Municipal Athens Market – Walking to the market, you would pass by a bunch of thrift stores where most of the apparels are going for €1.99 when I was there. Take your time to go through the overflowing racks of clothes and you never know what you might find there. At the market, you can find pounds of spices being sold for under €5 which is a huge steal for a Singaporean. I bought a bag of thyme, lavender and chamomile for one euro each! Check out stores selling olives, vendors are more than eager to offer you some to sample.
6) Hills – Climb one of the many hills to be greeted by great views of the city. Lycabettus Hill can be reached by foot and by a funicular. Filopappou Hill with the Filopappou monument and the church of Ayios Demetrios Loumbardiaris. The Pnxy is another hill in central Athens, and was the official meeting place of the Athenian democratic assembly (ekklesia). Today, it is a great place to walk area with views of the Acropolis and city view.
7) Outdoor cinema – Cine Paris is one of the 90s outdoor film venues in the city (opened in 1920) and has a great view of the Acropolis especially during sunset. Bring a jacket if you are prone to feeling cold as the night is a little chilly. Also, it is an open smoking areas thus if you dislike the smell of smokes, avoid the tables as that’s where most of the smokers will be seated at. There is also Cine Thisio that offers traditional Greek cinema snacks.
Museums and Activities:
1) Acropolis Museum – If you need some context pre or post Acropolis, visit this museum to read up about the history (and to seek air-conditioning from the summer heat). I love the way natural lights highlights the artifacts and how you can get clear city views of Athens at the café balcony. General entrance fee is €10 in summer and €5 in winter season.
2) Museum of Cycladic Art – As a museum lover, I wanted to be more educated on the Neolithic Art. The art form in this museum revolves around nude figures of humans (generally folded arm figurines). The museum also has the Thanos N. Zintilis Collection of Cypriot Antiquities with items from the Chalcolithic period (4th millennium BC). However it was closed and I decided to go for Benaki Museum instead. Admission fee is €7.
3) Benaki Museum – Just a short walk away from Syntagma Square, the neo-classic building houses collections ranging from prehistoric to modern Greek culture. Fun Fact: the museum was named after Antonis Benakis, a wealthy art connoisseur who collected art and donated his collections to the Greek State. Admission fee is €9.
4) The National Archaeological Museum – Learn about the Atikethera Mechanism, the world’s oldest analogue computer. There is also the gold funerary mask, the Mask of Agamemnon. And so many more beguiling, well-preserved ancient art. Admission fee is €10.
5) Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre – Saw this online that tingled the hipster heart of mine. The centre houses both Greece’s National Library and Opera. There is a free shuttle bus from Syntagma Square.
6) The Apivita Experience Store – A 4 storey concept store that features plant-based products, a spa, a natural pharmacy and a juice bar. I got a couple of hair and facial masks and chilled at the juice bar.
7) Make your own fragrance – Stumbled upon Indie Scent, a hole-in-the-wall store where you can personalise your own scents for really affordable prices (€7 for 50ml). I’m extremely picky with my scents and was asking a whole bunch of questions on top of rejecting the scents the lady put together. Yet she was so patient and even told me to come back after 2 hours to confirm that I like the top, middle and base notes.
Tours:
1) Walking Tour – Learn more about the ancient city as they guide you around the must-see attractions and points of interest. Walking tour usually takes about 2 – 2.5 hours so remember to bring a bottle of water around. Typical sights include government buildings, important squares, ancient sites (such as Academy of Athens, Hadrian’s Arch etc) and areas with preserved historic city ruins.
2) This is My Athens (http://myathens.thisisathens.org/) – This website allows you to meet locals who are passionate about their country and love meeting tourists to bring them around their home town. I found it pretty cool because you can take a “quiz” on your preferences, whether you like shopping, history, night life, and they would match you up with an available local. All for free! I would recommend bringing a gift from home and/or tip them after the tour.
3) Temple of Poseidon – This was highly recommended to me however traveling there yourself was a bit of a hassle and the offered tours are expensive, jet-lagged me decided to give this a miss. However, do catch the sunset if you decided to take a trip to the cape.
4) Delphi – If you love ruins, a trip to Delphi would be like travelling back to time with well-preserved ancient city. Main archaeological sites include The Sacred Way, Athenian Treasury, Serpentine Column, Temple of Apollo, The Amphitheatre and The Stadium. For better historical context, visit The Archaeological Museum of Delphi. The city is a 3 hours bus ride from Athens.
5) Meteora – My favourite place in Greece (not that I have been to many)! Breath-taking panoramic views from the monasteries especially during sunset. There are different tour agencies organising day trips to Kalambaka if you are short of time. Alternatively, take a 4-4.5 hours train ride to Kalambaka and the bus up to Meteora. Though I would recommend for you to stay in Meteora for 2 to 3 days.
Bonus Tips:
Bring proper footwear because there are a lot of walking to do in the hilly city
Sunglasses and sun block are a must with the high UV all-year round
A jacket would be great for chilly nights
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