When it comes to history, Athens is definitely one of the most impressive cities we have visited! Through travels, we have been mesmerized by Ancient Mayan, Inca, and Roman ruins. But staring up at the towering Acropolis and beautiful Greek ruins was one of the most impressive views we have seen.
I’m not the biggest history buff, but it is hard not to be interested when visiting Greece’s capital city. The Parthenon was in its prime 400 years before the Colosseum in Rome was ever built! The entire city of Athens is overflowing with history. Many of the hotels and restaurants that we visited had glass floors with millennia year old ruins under their floors. The city is also full of charming streets and delicious restaurants. Islands like Santorini, Mykonos, and Zakynthos are just a short trip away. All these reasons and more are what make Athens a definite must-visit city in Europe.
Here are 10 of our favorite things to see and do in Athens, Greece!
1. Acropolis & Museum
Possibly my favorite tour throughout our travels was the Skip the Line Acropolis Tour with Parthenon and Museum Tour in Athens. I couldn’t believe how people thousands of years ago had the technology to build such awe-inspiring structures such as the Parthenon. Our tour guide did an excellent job of making us feel as if we were in 4th century BC as we ascended to the top of the Acropolis.
It is still hard for me to believe that such magnificent structures were built 2,400 years ago! (That is the same time in the past as the year 4,400 AD is in the future!) After the Acropolis, our guide led us through the Acropolis museum. This area housed many of the original statues and other pieces of art that were found on and around the Acropolis. The top floor is designed in the same dimensions as the Pantheon, giving a sense of just how massive the ancient temple was when it was built.
Our guide was truly incredible. I’ve never appreciated history as much as I did walking around the Acropolis and museum. We booked this amazing tour through TheTourGuy.com. If there is one tour to go on in Europe, this is definitely one that you can’t miss!
2. Monastiraki Food Tour
Greece is not only full of impressive architecture and democracy, but great food also! What better way to taste Greece’s culinary expertise than through a food tour. The Athens “Locals” Food Tour in Monastiraki had some of the best food portions of all the food tours we have ever experienced!
We tasted a plethora of tasty Greek dishes including koulouri, bougatsa, meats and cheeses. One of my new favorite dessert snacks were loukoumádes, doughnut-like food covered in honey. (I of course had to eat 2 or 3 to get the full cultural experience!) Like the Acropolis tour, we booked this amazing food tour through TheTourGuy.com. Every tour we’ve taken through them we have loved! Their tours are a great way to experience the city from a local’s perspective.
3. Panathenaic Stadium & Olympic Stadium
Greece is home to the original Olympics! One of the most famous sites was the Panthathenaic stadium built around 330 BC! By the second century, the stadium was expanded to seat nearly 50,000 people and built entirely out of marble! This site’s historic importance continued as it was the location for the opening and closing ceremonies of the first modern Olympics in 1896. In 2004, more than 2 millennia after it was originally built, the stadium was once again used as an Olympic venue. Although much of the stadium has been restored, it is still an impressive sight to see. The 80,000 seat stadium is the only stadium in the world that is built completely out of marble!
The Athens marathon was taking place during our visit. This 26.2 mile route is the exact route that Philippides supposedly ran in from the city of Marathon to Athens to deliver the news of victory. This legend is the origin story of why a marathon is now 2.2 miles (42 km) in distance. It was so much fun standing in this historic area cheering on hundreds of runners as they crossed the finish line!
4. Pláka and Anafiotika Neighborhoods
In addition to unbelievable historic attractions, Athens also has countless charming streets filled with shops and cafes. Two neighborhoods that offer picturesque walking streets and incredible food are Pláka and Anafiotika neighborhoods. The hardest part of exploring these areas was choosing which restaurant we wanted to eat at because there were so many great options. Be sure to check out rooftop restaurants with breathtaking views of the Acropolis. No matter what you do or where you go, you pretty much can’t go wrong exploring these incredible neighborhoods!
5. Ancient Agora: Ruins of the Marketplace
The Acropolis was where the temples were, but the main square of ancient Athens was located in the Ancient Agora. Today you can stroll through the ruins and imagine the area in all of its splendor. These are the same streets and buildings that famous philosophers like Plato and Socrates once deliberated. One of the most prominent buildings to visit is the Temple of Hephaestus. If you look up, you can see the massive Acropolis looming hundreds of feet above! It is one of the must-see locations of Athens.
6. National Archaeology Museum of Athens
The National Archaeology Museum of Athens is one of the most important museums of archeology in the world. It is the largest museum in Greece and houses more than 11,000 exhibits. Some of the items on display date all the way back to 6000 BC. The entrance fee is only a little more than $5 USD. We unfortunately didn’t go inside this amazing museum, but it is at the top of my list to visit the next time we are in Athens!
7. Roman Agora & Hadrian’s Library
Nearly 4-5 centuries after the height of ancient Athens, the city became an important Roman territory. The main city center during this time period was the Roman Agora. This was a popular area for various business and social uses. It is one of the best places in the city to see the merger of two of the most influential ancient civilizations. Many of the things that the Romans did were influenced by the earlier Athenians. When completed in 134 AD, Hadrian’s Library became the largest in Athens and was used to continue the city’s great tradition of learning. The Roman Agora is just a stroll away from the Ancient Agora.
8. Olympieion: Temple of Olympian Zeus
The Temple of Olympian Zeus took over 600 years to finish, but when completed it became one the largest temples in all of Greece. Construction started during the 6th century BC during the height of Athenian culture. However, over the years construction waned and wasn’t completed until the famous Roman Emperor Hadrian took over the project in the 2nd century AD. At 360 feet long and 143 feet wide, the temple was even bigger than the Parthenon. However, Olympieion didn’t last long as much of it was pillaged and destroyed by barbarian invaders in 267 AD. Today, there are only a few of the massive columns that remain standing and the temple is used as an open-air museum.
9. Monastiraki Flea Market
Another charming place to visit in Athens is the Monastiraki Flea Market. Whether you are looking to shop or just out for a stroll, the flea market makes a great place to explore. There are hundreds of local vendors selling all types of goods from lavish carpets to refrigerator magnets and everything else in between. It is a great place to rest after a long day of wandering around this incredible city.
10. Changing of the Guard at Syntagma Square
In the center of the city is the Hellenic Parliament in Syntagma Square. This is also the location of Greece’s monument of the unknown soldier. The guards are dressed in traditional Greek uniform with long skirts and pompom covered shoes. The guards move in slow, deliberate steps as they change positions. It would be hard for me to do one of their movements without toppling over. One of our taxi drivers in Athens served for 6 months as one of the guards. He told us that it was a difficult job, but an honor. No matter rain, snow, or shine, the guards are there to honor the fallen soldiers of Greece.
Tips and Suggestions
The first thing we did when we got to Athens was eat some amazing gyros! The second thing that we did was take a tour of the Acropolis. I would suggest anyone visiting this incredible city to start here. This was honestly one of our favorite tours that we have taken in our travels. Our guide was incredible and it really helped us better understand the history and cultural influence that Ancient Athens had on the entire western world
The other tour that I would definitely recommend was the food tour. Greek food is some of my favorite food in the world and there is no better way to experience it than with a local guide. This food tour also had some of the biggest portions of any food tour we have been on, which is also a huge plus! We found these tours through TheTourGuy.com. They offer tours in many cities in Europe (as well as some in the USA) and are usually the first place that we check when booking tours in a European city. We loved our time in Athens and hope to be back to this incredible city soon!
How to Get To Athens
Athens is an incredible city to visit! If you’re planning a trip there, we recommend booking transportation to Athens through Bookaway. Bookaway sells online transportation tickets such as bus, ferry, and trains worldwide – so it’s super easy to book your transportation tickets through them and focus on planning the rest of your trip!
