Athens! For years, this destination was high on my bucket list. Like really high! For theater history, architecture and Christian History. Like any good tourist, before I went, I asked a friend who had recently visited for tips. "I couldn't wait to leave Athens!" was her advice. Not what I expected! Plot Twist. I had already booked my ticket - there was no turning back. So I made the trek to find the answer to the question, "Is it worth visiting Athens, Greece?" Did I regret it? Come along and see!
FUN FACTS ABOUT ATHENS
Democracy started in Athens. It's one of the oldest civilizations and the hottest city in Europe (be mindful of this in the summer months)!
PULL FACTORS: WHY VISIT ATHENS?
Go if You're: a History Buff, Ancient Theatre Lover, Greek Mythology Junkie, Christian History Geek, Greek Philosophy Fan. Planning a trip to the Greek Islands (Athens is the main hub if you're flying into the country). These are some reasons Athens is worth visiting.
DESTINATION PROFILE: ATHENS
Overall Experience: 5/10 (Spoiler! So you can tell I didn't love it 😔)
Language Spoken: It's all Greek to me, if you know what I mean! At hotels, retail stores, restaurants, tourist sites etc, the staff spoke English, so we didn't face problems re: language.
How Long Should I Stay in Athens?: 3-4 Days (I think it's worth spending most of your time exploring the islands)
The People: In general, the locals, seemed quite open, lively and helpful.
Currency Used: Euros
Visa Requirements: Schengen Visa which allows tourists to visit countries in the EU. This is required for those without passports from Europe, UK, USA, etc. (More info here: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/)
Best Suited for: Family/Friends.
Not so Great for: Solo travel. I found it rather bustly and in some areas "rough around the edges" to brave it out alone, especially as a female. Aside from beaches, it didn't seem very kid-friendly. Despite much research, we didn't find many places to entertain children, except for a playground which was closed when we arrived and a very fascinating fairy tale cafe (details below).
SHOW ME THE MONEY: WHAT'S THE COST OF VISITING ATHENS?
Budget: $
As with any trip, it can cost as much as you'd like. But I am a bargain hunter, so I'm always finding ways to cut costs. From my perspective, the cost of living in Athens is not very high. So food, transportation, etc can be affordable. You will perhaps spend the most on accommodation.
GETTING AROUND ATHENS
Transportation: Arriving by air, we opted to take a taxi to our hotel, because we had an early morning flight and we were too exhausted to figure out the details of public transport. In Athens, the main form of public transportation is trains. They are reliable, but often crowded (especially at peak hours) and some stations would benefit from being renovated. Initially, it was a bit confusing to purchase tickets from the automated system. Agents were hard to find to help and transferring within some of the bigger stations can be a bit confusing. So be patient and budget some extra time into your schedule to get through these possible kinks.
TOP 5 PLACES TO VISIT IN ATHENS
1. Acropolis - it's what the destination is most known for - the primary reason Athens is worth visiting. It is collection of buildings and place of worship of ancient Greek Gods. The building is set upon a hill as the Greeks wanted to have their gods central & visible from various vantage points as a reminder throughout their daily activities. This means you can see the Acropolis from many parts of the city centre. It's amazing to look at, especially at night, when lights are cast against the buildings. That was a pleasant & unexpected surprise for me! In this area, there are also lots of eateries and shopping opps. Finding the entrance to the Acropolis isn't very straightforward; it is somewhat hidden, but you will find many other persons making the trek (you'll also spot lots of big, fat Greek cats along the way…irrelevant, but I had to mention them). Locals are also quite helpful, so you won't get lost. Stepping in the Acropolis is surreal! It may take a while to believe that you are actually experiencing history at its best. You might need to pinch yourself! Being on top of Athens, is a great opportunity to shoot some pics of the view beneath: ruins, clustered (extremely clustered) houses, etc. Pro Tip: It's quite a hike uphill, so wear comfortable shoes. Tickets cost on average (€10-€20 based on the time of year). To beat the crowd, go at the opening time, or a few hours before it closes.
Panathenaic Stadium- hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. So if you are a sports fan, you will definitely want to add this to of places to visit in Athens, Greece.
Beaches- when you're tired of seeing ruins, museums and the like, take a dip in the beautiful waters of beaches such as Astir Beach Club, Legrena Beach or Akti Vouliagmenis Beach. These are located a distance away from the city center, but are reachable by taxi. Another alternative is to participate in a Hop On-Hop Off Bus Tour which actually takes to you to many of the most famous sites and also beach areas: https://www.getyourguide.com/athens-l91/athens-hop-on-hop-off-tour-24h-ticket-t4211/?partner=true
-Theatre of Dionysus- the birthplace of European Theatre, dating back to sixth century BC. Many ancient plays such as Oedipus Rex and Medea were first staged here! It's kind of mind blowing! If you're a lover of the arts, then this site in Athens is worth visiting. One thing to know is that the Theater to Dionysus is off limits and can only be viewed from a far. The theatre lover in me was disappointed about that.
-Ancient Agora: an former marketplace and gathering place, now littered with history-filled ruins. There are also temples on site.
FREEBIES: FREE PLACES TO VISIT IN ATHENS, GREECE
As a budget lover, this is always one of my favorite parts of a trip!
-Mars Hill/The Areopagus is free. It was here that many ancient discussions of philosophy and law took place. If you are into Christian History, this is where the Apostle Paul gave his famous speech about the "Unknown God" (Acts 17). For me, this was actually the most powerful part of my visit, on the site of one of the best sermons in history. Mars Hill is pretty much a "chill spot" now. You'll only recognize it by the plaque which transcribes Paul's speech in Greek. It's recommended to have a late picnic here and watch the sunset, as the city lights up.
-Free Entry to the Acropolis! On the following days entry to the Acropolis is Free: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October, every first Sunday of the month from November 1st to March 31st.
-Zappeion Gardens: we happily discovered a free park. It was beautiful- like an oasis in the center of the city! There were several picturesque points, namely a flower patch, and an arch. This is where we found the only playground we saw in Athens, and unfortunately we arrived just when it closed (around 4:00pm). The park is large and is a perfect spot for a nice long walk or jog. It also has a picture worthy fountain, columns, a lake with swans and turtles. So much, for free!
WHAT TO EAT IN ATHENS
Mousakka- seriously, you can live on that alone! It's my number one recommendation. It tastes a lot like Lasagna, but even better. The main difference is the way the meat is seasoned and it's full of veggies. It's primarily eggplant, seasoned beef and a creamy sauce.
Loukoumades- round Greek donuts, you can find fancy ones with fillings and fascinating toppings.
Gyros- they are everywhere and very budget friendly. Surprise: I didn't know they come with fries inside, but they do. I actually wasn't a fan (mainly because I didn't fancy the quality & flavour of the meat), but you can't really go to Greece and not have Gyros.
My Secret Site: When you exit the Acropolis, if you walk to the right and keep on that path (instead of going back into the city center), heading toward the Hellenic Literary and Historical Archive. There is a whole exciting world to discover! Here you'll find:
Philosophy Corner- I call it that. It's a wall and store with quotes with quotes from Aristotle, etc. So nice for pics!
Really cute shops- I even found one with a Bob Marley shirt.
Nice backdrops for pics- hanging lanterns, beautiful vines will definitely make your photos pop!
Restaurants: these one were less crowded and more relaxed than those at the foot of Acropolis. There was also a cute shop selling Smoothies with Greek Yogurt.
WHERE TO EAT IN ATHENS
LUKUMAΔΕΣ: for Lucamades
Fairytale Athens: for Coffee, Breakfast Dessert
Little Kook-This was one of the best kids friendly experiences we could find. It's an elaborate cafe based on children's stories. It's always extravagantly decorated based on the season, so prepare for lots of photos. We went in the Christmas season, so it was quite a site to behold (see photos below). Even walking to your table is an event! We went in Alice's Rabbit Hole and the winding staircase definitely brought the story to life. It's very pricey though, so I'd advise eating a meal before and going for desserts/drinks.
Nancy's Sweet Tooth: for tasty desserts
Comfort Level as a BlPOC. I was okay until we were leaving. Screening at the airport was like no other. All passengers had to present their documents about 4 times between checking in and walking to the gate. At the gate we are asked to present them again. Immediately as the agent saw our Jamaican passports she called for security. Like, what on earth???? When she reviewed them and saw that everything was in tact, she nodded and they left. Talk about racial profiling. We were ready to leave! Then they checked everyone's documents again as we boarded the plane. It was serious!
Best Photo Opps : Acropolis, Mars Hill at Night, Acropolis at Night (it lights up), Walk near Acropolis (Lanterns, Vines, Philosophy Quotes)
Helpful Tips: Mars Hill is inconspicuous and right beside Acropolis (don't make the same trip twice, like we did). It's literally just a rock! Wear good walking shoes to the Acropolis, it's quite a hike! Apparently there's a tour bus that can drive you up the hill.
Where to Stay: Not where we stayed!!! We opted for a budget-friendly option (€37/night) several stops away from the tourist area at train stop "Omonia". Please avoid this area at all costs! The buildings are run-down, the roads have potholes, food options are limited - in general it's not what you want to experience as a tourist. Our room had an unpleasant smell, when they offered is another, it too had an odour. The fixtures, building and design were all outdated. Pro Tip: Stay near the Acropolis: Train Stop "Monastiraki" (that was the one of the most pleasant areas in Athens we experienced).
SUMMARY
What I Liked about Athens:
-Zappeion Gardens
-Dinner near the Acropolis at Night
-being on site of The Acropolis
-The shopping district near the Acropolis.
What I Didn't Like About Athens:
-Our "hotel".
- It was extremely difficult to find a hotel with a pool.
-Vendors trying to solicit business near Acropolis
-Intense screening on leaving, profiled at the airport b/c of my Jamaican passport.
My Regrets: The hotel/area we stayed at, not trying Loukoumades (the doughnuts), not having a Greek Smoothie, Not trying "Nancy's Sweet Home Bakery"
So, do you think it's worth visiting Athens, Greece? What's one thing that surprised you most about my experience?
Check out my video on Athens:
