We love traveling to Athens. The history and the architecture really combine to let me know that I’m in no other city. So, I thought that I tell you about my favorite things to do in Athens.

In most other cities, you look around and see Starbucks, McDonalds and many other global giants. If you were dropped in there blindfolded, it may take you a little while to figure out which city you’re in.

But not Athens.

The sights, sounds and atmosphere leave you in no doubt.

Heralded as the cradle of civilization, and the birthplace of democracy. Although, if you watch the news, you could be forgiven for thinking we haven’t come too far in those areas.

In my childhood, I loved reading the stories about the Greek gods and monsters. And how the lines between fact and fantasy, myth and legend, were so expertly blurred.

The stories kept me entranced for hours. Imagining myself sailing the oceans like Ulysses. Or battling like Hercules. They were real kids own adventures.

So, when the time came for us to make our first visit, it was very exciting. Naturally I had to read up on what to see, check where the trains went, find out where was the best area to stay in. All the usual things I do for a first visit.

We stayed in a backpacker’s hostel, about 3 minutes away from the Plaka area, and the local underground train station. I turned out to be a perfect spot.

Getting Around In Athens

I find the quickest and most convenient way to get around Athens in on the underground trains. They stop at all the major sights, run frequently and are relatively clean.

The most exciting way to get around Athens is in a taxi. For someone who works in emergency services, I was expecting a crash at every turn.

Apparently marked lanes on a road are more of a suggestion, and speed limits only apply on days ending with a Q. The few taxi rides we’ve had there have all been more like a Disney thrill ride.

Athens is, to a certain extent, a very walkable city. Wandering through the streets brings the buzz of the city straight to you. And you really should take the time to do some walking here.

Tour buses are prevalent as well. They cater not only to city sightseeing tours, but also day trips to sites further out from the city. The tours are great value if you’re a history lover, as they give you a huge amount of narration during the day.

Parthenon/Acropolis

People use Parthenon and Acropolis interchangeably, but they are different things. The Acropolis is the large chunk of rock. The Parthenon is the building that sits on top of the Acropolis.

The view from the top alone is worth visiting for. But the Parthenon is much bigger when you get up close, and astounding to understand the craftsmanship that went into its construction.

In a time before cranes and power tools, it’s hard to comprehend how the accomplished this with such accuracy.

You need to accept that when you visit, there will be scaffolding covering parts of the Parthenon. It’s an ongoing process, with no end in sight. And really, who can complain that they’re trying to preserve such an iconic landmark for future generations to see.

We’ve visited here both with a tour, and independently. In my opinion the tour wins out on a couple of fronts.

The first is the amount of background story and history that you get as part of the tour. The second is the ability to skip the queue. In the middle of a hot summer’s day, you could easily be standing in line for 45 minutes on a rock. It gets seriously hot.

Acropolis Museum

Almost at the foot of the Acropolis is the Acropolis Museum. This is a relatively modern museum that has been cleverly thought out. Utilising glass flooring in several areas allows you to see the remnants of ancient Athens.

The museum beautifully tells the story of the Parthenon and the other buildings on the Acropolis.

It gives rise to the question of when, and if, the British Museum might return the Greek artifacts to Greece. The old argument was that they were safer in England, as Greece had civil unrest, and the museums were not up to a standard deemed suitable.

It’s fair to say that new museums like this one are certainly up to standard, and the civil unrest is not too different from the rest of Europe. I’ll guess we’ll see how that goes.

Check out the website for the Acropolis Museum.

The Plaka

The Plaka is the old Athens, and it’s a fascinating place to get lost in. It starts at the foot of the Acropolis. There are essentially 2 sides to it. You have the shopping precinct which is full of quirky shops selling all sorts of things. No big chain stores here.

And the other part is housing. This is an incredible labyrinth that winds around the other side of the Acropolis. Lots of little narrow alleyways, and you quite often think that you’re in someone’s backyard. Or front yard. It’s very confusing and wonderful all at once.

Temple Of Olympian Zeus

This site, like so many others is in ruins. But there’s just enough left to give you a glimpse of what it might have been. Another fine example of ancient Greek engineering.

This site is good to just wander through for an hour or so, and take it all in.

Syntagma Square

Also known as Constitution square. The main highlight here is the changing of the guard which occurs every hour. It is performed by the Presidential Guard known as the Evzones.

Their elaborate dress, and unique style of marching makes it well worth watching. This takes place in front of the tomb of the unknown soldier.

Hop on/Hop off bus

In a city with so much rich history, the hop on/hop off bus concept is a winner. Use this with a 24 hour pass to help get your bearings in the city, and gain a better grasp of the history of the place.

Take A Day Tour

There are plenty of day tours that head out from Athens each day. And they are very easy to book. We tend to be in Athens during the peak of summer, and still have no trouble booking the day before.

We have been on the tour to Delphi and the temple of Apollo. I had watched so many documentaries on this place that it was a surreal experience to see it in person.

The tour over to the ancient city of Mycanae was well worthwhile. Although the city is in ruins, it was fascinating to move through it and get a feeling of the size of the place.

Mycenae was also the city where Helen lived with her husband Agamemnon. When she fled the city with Paris of Troy, she became known as Helen of Troy, and the Trojan wars began.

Island Tours

Island tours run every day from Piraeus Port. One popular one runs between 3 different islands. You get about an hour on each and it gives you marvellous tasting plate of what the islands have to offer.

So, there it is, some of my favourite things to see and do in Athens. Is there more to see? Definitely. But I have to keep going back to see it all.

What I’ve described here, including the day tours, is a solid 5-6 days which will give you an entry to ancient Greek culture. But it is by no means, the complete story.

To pick up the rest of the story, you’ll have to get over there yourself. And can I suggest when you’ve run yourself ragged on the mainland looking at all of these sites. Head over to the islands for a few days, or a couple of weeks, and just relax.

If the islands interest you, check out this post, which tells you how to best get around the islands.

How to travel the Greek Islands

Cheers and happy travels