Visiting Athens is like taking a tour throughout history. There are archeological sites all around the city and transitions in architectural design as it reflects the different periods from the past.
Athens is the capital of Greece and resides in the southern Attica region along the Aegean Sea. Unlike some of the Greek islands, Athens is a very affordable place to visit. It is full of character and has a charismatic entity that keeps you searching for more!
It is one of the oldest cities in the world and notorious for being the place where Democracy was born. If it weren’t for the Greeks, voting may not exist today!
We also have been greatly influenced by the intellectual minds of Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato. Each of them contributed to the foundation that Western civilization’s philosophy is based on.
There are over 20 neighbourhoods in Athens. In this blog I am going to highlight 6 of them, sharing our favourite places and things to do in each one.
Syntagma District
This area is in the center of Athens and where you would most likely meet up when doing a walking Tour of the city. It is a good place to start your trip and get your bearings. If you want to take the metro into the city from the airport, you can hop on the #3 and arrive here in about 40min (which is about the same time it takes a taxi and much cheaper). This is also where you would first arrive if taking the metro from the ferry terminal. From the Syntagma district, you can easily transfer to the other neighborhoods. We however didn’t feel the need to take any transportation once in the city center, everything was so easy to get to and each neighborhood seamlessly connected to the next.
If you happen to take the metro or if you are interested in what archeological findings were discovered while they were constructing it, check out the Metro Station Archaeological Collection right in the metro. Have a look around at the artifacts on display, it is interesting to learn about parts of the city that were left behind and just built overtop of and forgotten.
The 11th Century Byzantine Church of Panagia Kapnikarea is another example of how the city would just build over top of things. You can observe this church as you walk down Ermou Street. It is oddly positioned right in the center of the street, so you can’t really miss it. This Greek orthodox church was built over the ruins of a temple dedicated to Athena or Demeter (jury is still out on precisely which one).
Shopping along Ermou Street is a very popular thing to do. The street connects Syntagma Square and Monastiraki Square. There are many coffee shops (the Greeks make excellent coffee) restaurants and bars nearby.
Syntagma Square is a nice place to sit and enjoy a coffee and people watch. There are also several festivals and concerts that take place here.
From the square you can see the Parliament building. Many people gather here every hour on the hour to watch the changing of the guard ceremony in front of the Monument of the Unknown Soldier. This happens around the clock at the top of the hour and lasts about 15min. The ritual is performed to honor the Greek soldiers who have sacrificed their lives to defend Greek sovereignty throughout history.
Take advantage of one of the dozens of Walking Tours the city has to offer. We booked one (Athens under the Moonlight) for our first day in the city. It was an evening tour of local food and cool bars. The woman heading our tour was fun and knowledgeable. We were able to learn a lot in a short period of time, and this information allowed us to appreciate so much more about the city, than if we had just explored it on our own accord. The food was incredible, and we were taken to some stellar places.
One of the places our tour guide took us to was the Drunk Sinatra (Thiseos 16). It is on a side street off Kolokotroni Street. We had to laugh as soon as we saw the sign outside, it was a quote from Sinatra himself “I feel sorry for people who are not drunk”.
This retro-chic bar has a DJ playing great tunes and imaginative cocktails that encouraged us to order another. We loved the décor and atmosphere so much that we went back on our last evening in the city.
The National Gardens is also in this neighbourhood. It is a lovely space, covering 60 acres (24 hectares) full of hundreds of different species of plants and trees. I wouldn’t put it on the top of our list of things to do, but if you are in Athens for more than a few days it is a beautiful place to have a stroll through.
Psyri District
This was our favourite neighbourhood to explore. It had a cool vibe and creativity that could be seen everywhere. It is full of trendy shops, boutique hotels, art galleries, restaurants and bars that come alive at night.
We are always searching for Street Art in every city we visit, and this neighbourhood did not disappoint! We walked around here for hours checking out all the Murals.
*There are Street Art Tours you can take if you would like to dive deep into the meaning and history behind them.
If you are a foodie like me, Central Market “Varvakios” and Evripidou Street “Spice Street” are good enough reasons alone to visit this neighbourhood. Central Market has an extraordinary display of fish, meats, produce and cheese.
Evripidou Street is lined with shops selling an enormous selection of spices, olives, dry fruits, nuts, honey, and delicacies you never knew you wanted until your nose told you so! Walk around and take it all in! This is the best area to do a Food Tour, or just do what we did and eat everything we could get our hands on! Markets are such a great way to get a feel for how the locals live, what they eat and how they interact with one another. It put a smile on our faces to see how the Greeks seem to meet each and every topic with passion and certainty.
Miran Athens (45, Evripidou St.)
This place blows the socks off any deli we have ever been to! We saw it from across the street and I almost got hit by a guy on a moped in my attempt to rush over and get a closer look! They have a live wall on the exterior and the interior is full of cured meat and garlic hanging from the ceiling. For a moment there, I thought I died and went to heaven!
We noticed a dining space in the back and asked about what we could order, the gentleman behind the counter asked us a few questions about what we liked and quickly put together a charcuterie plate of deliciousness for us to sample, a couple of beers and a bottle of grappa, which is a strong alcohol often eaten with mezze (small dishes or appetizers). The meat melted in our mouths! This third-generation family-owned business has perfected the art of curing meats and sausages, even winning awards with their products! The grappa, on the other hand, was too strong for us, but it was fun to try and even funnier to watch my husband try to drink it!
Pittaki Street
This narrow street is an art installation in itself and is always picture-ready! Look up at the collection of lamps donated by the locals and strewn across creating a magical hue from one end to the other! You will notice a ton of graffiti down this alley and all over Athens. This is a huge way the people in the city express themselves throughout challenging times. Athens has the most graffiti I have seen in any city we have ever visited.
Little Kook
This little off-the-beaten path of Pittaki Street will lead you to the ever-fantastical fairy-tale café that serves up coffee and deserts that will transport you to wonderland! The outside has themes that change with the seasons and the inside is an incredible explosion of creativity and hidden treasures sure to tickle the senses and bring out the kid inside all of us!
Juan Rodriquez Bar (Pallados 3)
This was a fun surprise to find, and another perfect example of the uniqueness of the Psyri District. This bar is really cool… their crafted cocktails are in a league of their own, many of them named after famous singers. The décor was reminiscent of the great Gatsby but with a quirky twist! Come nightfall, the music gets louder and the place comes alive and stays open until the wee hours of the morning!
Acropolis District
Now this place is just a given when coming to Athens… I mean how could anyone visit the city and not have a look around? First-time travellers pretty much always put this on their bucket list of things to do!
There is a combo ticket that you can purchase online ahead of time. Make sure to do this, so you don’t have to wait in long queues. In many parts around the world, waiting patiently for your turn in line is not always the norm. The Canadian in me had a few moments when I wanted to lose my sh*t on someone that rudely budded in line ahead of us… but my Canadian upbringing also talked me down… I had to say to myself “You are on vacation, there is no rush”… I repeated this to myself like a mantra when this happened, and I can say it happened a few times throughout our travels to Greece. I recommend the 36eu ticket that allows access to all seven sites and is good for 5 days. Even if you think you only want to visit a couple of them, it is a really good deal, and you may find yourself having time to enter them all!
Lycabetthus Hill can be seen in the picture above. It stands 277 meters above sea level and is the highest point in Athens. There is a café you can go to for breakfast or lunch, and a restaurant (Orizontes) for a lovely evening watching the sunset (book a reservation ahead of time). You could also pack yourself a little picnic. To get there, the easiest way is to grab a taxi to the Kolonaki District, and have them drop you off at the end of Aristipou St. From there you can walk up or take the underground Funicular to the top. To get back down, either take the Funicular again or the stairs that go down beside Agios Georgios Church.
The Acropolis sits up high on the limestone hill and can be seen from all over the city. Try to make your way up early before the hottest parts of the day, there aren’t any shaded areas for a reprieve. It is open from 8 am to sunset (which varies depending on the season) so be sure to look it up. The view from up there is magnificent. We spent an hour walking around and learning about the ancient Greek civilization, getting an up close and personal look at the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike, Propylaea and the Erechtheion.
Head to the south side of the hill to see The Theatre of Dionysus. The theatre was built to accommodate 17,000 spectators, with the ones in the front row intricately carved and inscribed to seat only the elite. The theatre was a dedication to Dionysus, the god of wine-making and ecstasy and was the first known theatre of its kind.
You can also see the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. This roman style amphitheatre was built as an ode to his wife Rigilla after she passed. It seats close to 5000 people. The amazing acoustics of these theatres makes them incredible venues for concerts, and are still used today year-round. Elton John, Sting and Frank Sinatra are just a few of the greats that have performed here. One of the best times of year to catch a show or play is during the Athens & Epidaurus Festival, which takes place from June to August.
Plaka District
Hello, romance and relaxation. This neighbourhood resides just below the hillside of the Acropolis. It is the oldest part of Athens, mostly pedestrian streets with adorable shops, traditional family-run restaurants and boutique hotels. There are musicians around every corner and cozy little spots where you can sit for hours on the stairs under the twinkle lights sipping on locally made wine, and watching the world go by. This is by far the best place to have a romantic evening out with that special someone.
You can’t visit Athens without trying some Ouzo, it is the national drink of Greece you know! Its production has been said to go all the way to Byzantine times. Ouzo is an anise-flavoured liquor commonly enjoyed as an aperitif with mezze. We were told by the locals that it aids with digestion. I’m not sure if that is entirely true, but we went along with it anyway.
Make your way to 120 Adrianou Street to the shop of Angelo the Ouzo King where you can meet the man himself. He will give you a little lesson on the liqueur and help you choose that special bottle to taste. I was surprised by how much one differed from another. Ouzo can be made with a variety of herbs which can greatly affect the nuances of the drink.
Platanos Taverna (Diogenous 4)
For authentic Greek food, look no further! This place has charm, and the cuisine is all that and more! The food is very affordable, and the wine is made in-house. It is one of the oldest restaurants in the city and continues on because of its reputation and consistency throughout the years! Try the dolmades, taramasalata, potatoes, and lamb!
Brettos (Kidathineon 41)
Brettos is the oldest distillery in Athens, starting back in 1909 in a mansion in Plaka creating small batches of Ouzo, Brandy and flavoured liqueurs. As demand increased, they opened shop on Kydatheneon street where they still serve patrons today. This isn’t just a tourist destination, locals come here after work to meet up with friends or enjoy a nightcap. The colourful wall of bottles and welcoming atmosphere lured us in, and the friendly service and conversations with the neighbourhood residents kept us there much longer than we had anticipated. When we entered it was still daylight… the walk back to our vacation home was in the dark. We stopped off at a gyro place on the way home and engulfed a couple of those babies in a few seconds flat!
Monastiraki District
The Monastiraki District is a hustle bustle vibrant place to be, with iconic monuments, museums, rooftop patios, artisanal shops, flea market, local musicians playing in the street and a happening nightlife.
Monastiraki Square is full of kabob shops, cafés and venders pushing carts with roasted nuts and snacks (they are delicious), corn, pastries, and other tasty treats that you can grab while on the go. This touristy place has all the souvenirs and so much more. There are many hotels in the area to stay at as well as vacation rentals. The Tzistarakis Mosque is in the center of the square, this impressive structure has turned into a museum housing a large selection of pottery from Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, and Ottoman.
*Many of the streets are cobblestone and tiled in marble, which can be super slippery when wet, so save yourself an injury and wear sturdy shoes!
Right from the square, you can enter The Monastiraki Flea Market and let your eyes be hypnotized by the wide range of goods at your disposal. Athens is the best place to get a deal on handmade leather goods, jewelry, olive oils, clothing, and antiques! We waited for Athens to do most of our shopping because we knew about the lower prices and didn’t want to lug things around with us while exploring other parts of Greece… so this can be a good tip for you all… save Athens for the end of your trip!
I had the very best time haggling with a local merchant for a really cool jacket for Tyler… there was a lot of joking around… I’d suggest a price and he’d make a gesture as if I was shooting himself… and then he tells me to take another shot… in the end everyone was happy!
We entered a textile shop full of the most stunning rugs and pillows we have ever seen! These could be heirlooms that you could pass down generations. We were drawn to the pillow covers because we could easily fit them into our bag. The owner of the store poured us some of his family’s homemade wine and kept us company while we looked through piles upon piles of these covers trying to narrow down our favorites. A couple glasses of wine and stories from the owner’s childhood later, we walked away with some real treasures! I love genuine interactions like these, we had the best time learning about him and his family.
Keep your eyes out for olive tree wood items for the kitchen as well as chessboards and backgammon… the Greeks love their backgammon and the boards here are a beautiful keepsake.
Wake up your senses and get ready to laugh out loud as you get your feet a tickle of a lifetime! Have you every heard of a Fish pedicure, well we hadn’t until visiting Greece. You pay a small feet, I mean fee 🙂 and sit for a few minutes while the little guys go to town on your feet. It was harmless and just something for a laugh… a kind of once in a lifetime thing to do.
After all your shopping efforts, you deserve a break at a serene inner courtyard for a bite to eat and a cocktail. We recommend Six d.o.g.s (Avramiotou 6-8). This hidden gem is a shaded space full of trees, good music, and cocktails. We noticed mostly locals, which is a good sign that we were making a solid choice. We weren’t there in the evening but were told that this was one of the best party places in the city.
There are a bunch of excellent Roof top Bars in the Area. Our tour guide brought us to A is for Athens Bar located right in Monastiraki Square. There is a fantastic view of the Acropolis at night from here as well as friendly service and a modern aesthetic.
The 360 Cocktail Bar also boasts a similar view. We especially appreciated all the greenery. We scored ourselves seating under an Olive tree that was up higher providing a better vantage point and in the shade. This place had a cool vibe and a good mix of house music. It seemed like a perfect after-work place to meet up with friends.
Anglais Athens (Kirikeioi 6) was hands down our favourite rooftop patio we went to while in Athens (and we went to many). A local recommended it to us, and we’re so happy he did! It is located on the roof of an apartment building. It’s a bit tricky to find, look for a sign or search out the elevator and take it to the 6th floor, then it’s just a short flight of stairs to the top. This is a hip and happening gathering place serving up crafty cocktails and delicious eats! We scored ourselves a high table with incredible views all the way to Lycabettus Hill. I’m pretty sure we were the only tourists there at the time, everyone around us was speaking Greek… except for our waiter, who came back around with an English menu and made us feel like we were old friends.
For a truly unique atmosphere, enter Noel (Kolokotroni 59b). Look around and feel the razzle-dazzle of the 1920s. It is reminiscent of France and the art deco era with opulent chandeliers, golds, and hues of green and florals all around. We felt intrigued, walking from one room to the next (spanning 2 floors) and feeling more delighted with each new space. They are open until 4 am on weekends which makes it perfect for that night you want to get all dolled up and dance the night away!
Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten those late-night munchies! Savvas (Ermou 91) has you covered! This famous kebob shop has been around since 1922 serving up plates that will satiate that hunger and then some! Located in a mansion right by Monastrikaki Square. this place has a lot of seats over a few floors including a rooftop. I’d avoid the dinner rush and stick to the late-night hours. (My mouth is watering, as I write this!)
*The next few archeological sites are included in the combo pass I talked about earlier*
Ancient Agora
Take a walk around the grounds where Athenians would congregate to discuss current issues and conduct business. Witness the intricately preserved Temple of Hephaestus. The temple was a dedication to Hephaestus (God of fire) and Athena (goddess of pottery).
While strolling through the gardens you will eventually find the Odeon of Agrippa and the Statue of Hadrian.
The Stoa of Attalos once a marketplace, now functions as the Museum of the Ancient Agora. The long outside corridor is marbled underfoot as well as the substantial columns. There is a lovely breeze that flows through, so this is a nice place to relax and have a look around, head inside and learn about some of the artifacts.
This was where we ended up bumping into a couple from San Francisco that we had met while on Santorini island. What were the odds, that we happened to be at the exact same time is a city of 3 million people, not including all us tourists! We stopped and enjoyed a leisurely lunch before continuing.
Between Ancient Agora and Roman Agora is the Gate of Athena Archegetis, which connects the two.
The Roman Agora is just off Monastiraki Square. It is less impressive than the others but worth a peak. Inside you’ll see The Tower of The Winds, this marble clocktower is the first known meteorological station in the world.
Thissio
This is the last District we want to share with you and the one we chose to stay in. This neighbourhood feels peaceful… the kind of area you want to take your time to enjoy and unwind. It has a very central location and we walked everywhere from our vacation rental at all times of the day. You can also take the M1 line to Thissio if you’re using the metro.
Walk down the lovely pedestrian streets of Apoltolou and Irakleidon and take in the neoclassical architecture and hilly surroundings.
Spend a few hours at a Hammam Shahrazad (Porinou 12). Pamper yourself and let your body decompress in a luxurious Turkish bathhouse with a massage, scrub, steam bath and some calming tea. You deserve it!
Cinema Thission
We stumbled upon this open-air cinema while walking in our neighbourhood and thought it would be such a great thing to do on our last evening in Athens. Watching a movie with the Acropolis in the distance felt unreal. They had wine and snacks and provided blankets, which was a nice touch. An adorable committee of stray kittens bounced around with their moms’ watchful (yet trusting) eyes welcoming the patrons as they cozied up for the evening. A very memorable experience indeed!
We both said we would stay in this neighbourhood again the next time we visit Athens. You are very much connected to everything the city has to offer, just a bit removed from the chaos. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, and shopping as well as street merchants and musicians. It is an idyllic place to be!
Funny enough, both Ty and I weren’t really excited about the Athens part of our Greece trip… we both ended up loving it and look forward to going back one day!
Thanks for stopping by!
If you are looking for more to do in Greece, check out some of our island adventures…
