Mainland · History, mythology and legacies
Athens
Athens carries the longest historical legacy of any European capital, the birthplace of democracy, philosophy and theatre, now buzzing with world-class bars and food. We design private Athens itineraries that combine the ancient sites with the city's very modern pleasures.
The ancient city of Athens is full of gems and hidden surprises, steeped in history, mythology and legacies. Your trip starts now, as you let imagination take you there.
History, mythology and legacies
Compared with any other European capital, Athens carries the longest historical legacy, and most people arrive wanting all things ancient Greece. It is a huge city of several million people, overgrown and sprawling, yet from the early nineties onward it staged a resurgence, fully realised during the 2004 Olympics, and today Athens is spoken of in the same breath as Paris, London and the other great capitals that have successfully combined the old with the new.
Explore Athens
The best advice we can give about the capital of Greece is not to judge a book by its cover. Yes, it is undoubtedly rustic, and yes, it operates on GMT, Greek Maybe Time. But this city is the birthplace of democracy, once the epicentre of the world, and it has shaped how most modern societies operate. Where else can you walk the streets of the city that gave us philosophy, medicine and the Hippocratic oath, theatre, architecture, science, the Olympic Games, and, let us not forget, fried cheese, Greek salad and gyros? Tell us what you are looking for and we will take care of the rest.
Plaka
One of our favourite and most picturesque areas to explore is the city’s oldest neighbourhood, built on top of the residential quarter of ancient Athens and called the Neighbourhood of the Gods for its closeness to the Acropolis. Plaka is all clean, colourful, labyrinthine streets full of neoclassical architecture, bustling cafes and amazing places to eat.
The Acropolis
The sight everyone wants to see, and rightly so: you simply have to go. If you are visiting for the history, take the combined ticket that also covers the Ancient Agora, Hadrian’s Library, Kerameikos, the Roman Agora and the slopes of the Acropolis. Go early to beat both the queues and the summer heat, and consider a walking podcast to guide you around.
Rooftop bars
We love a rooftop bar as the best way to rise above the noise and enjoy spectacular views through the evening. The city has wonderful options serving delicious drinks against a dazzling skyline; Couleur Locale, CityZen and 360 Cocktail Bar are three of them.
Pairing Athens
Almost every Greek journey passes through Athens, so we make the passage count: pair the capital with Nafplio and the Peloponnese, Delphi and Meteora on the mainland, or a sail into the Cyclades via Sifnos.
Known first-hand
Our best picks in Athens
- Best Bar The Clumsies
A perennial fixture at the top of the international best-bar rankings, with award-winning cocktails and a great homely atmosphere. Chase it with Brettos, where you sit on wine barrels beneath a glowing wall of bottles holding dozens of secret-recipe house liqueurs.
- Best Viewpoint Lykabettos Hill
The highest spot in Athens, on foot from Kolonaki or by funicular, with metropolitan views that include the Acropolis itself. For sunset, Filopappou Hill is free: grab gyros and a couple of cold beers and watch the sky burn.
- Best Sight Acropolis Museum
A brilliant museum containing everything you need to know about the sacred rock. Relive classical Athens through its exhibits, then finish with a meal at the museum restaurant and one of the greatest views the city has to offer.
- Best Dining Varoulko
The seaside restaurant of one of Greece's best-known chefs and part of the city's clutch of Michelin-starred tables, specialising in fish that combines traditional plates with a modern twist.
- Best Local Souvenir Melissinos Art
Custom-made Greek sandals from the poet sandal maker, whose fittings have included Barbra Streisand, Jackie Kennedy and The Beatles, with designs inspired by the footwear of Socrates, Plato, Pericles and Helen of Troy.
- Best After Dark Batman in Neos Kosmos
A tiny bar with an exclusively Greek soundtrack from the last fifty years and a great whiskey collection. Hard to get into on weekends, worth the try, and ask us about the famous bouzoukia for the full Athenian night out.
Athens is served year-round by its international airport (ATH), and the port of Piraeus connects the capital by ferry to most of the Greek islands.
Design
Design your experience
Tell us the occasion, the season and who is coming. One of our Epicureans will come back with a first sketch of Athens, and will tell you if another corner of Greece suits your dates better.