The ancient city of Athens is full of gems, hidden surprises, steeped in history, mythology, and legacies. Your trip to Athens starts now, as you let imagination take you there. Below, you will find out more about visiting Athens with Epicure Greece, and please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.
In comparison to any other European capital, Athens carries the longest historical legacy, and people tend to want to all-things ancient Greece when they come to visit. Athens is a huge city of five million people; overgrown, overpopulated, and sprawling, in the early nineties Athens had a resurgence, winning back its prestige. And this metamorphosis was fully realised during the 2004 Olympics, giving Athens the gold medal it truly deserves; now it is talked about in the same sentence as Paris, London, and other great European capitals that have successfully managed to combine the old with the new, carrying themselves into the 21st century. We can plan your Athens vacation for you, adding in other destinations from our Greece Mainland Holidays and perhaps one or two spots from the nearby Cyclades Islands.
With Epicure Greece, the best advice we can provide for the capital city of Greece, is not to judge a book by its cover. Yes, it is undoubtedly rustic and operates in GMT (Greek Maybe Time), however, the ancient city of Athens is full of gems, hidden surprises, steeped in history, mythology, and legends. This city is the birthplace of democracy was once the epicentre of the world and it has shaped how most modern societies operate today.
Where else in the world can you walk the streets of a city that created democracy, philosophy, medicine, doctors Hippocratic oath, pharmacies, theatre, sewage system, language/words/sayings, architecture, science, technology, Olympic games….oh and fried cheese, greek salad, and gyros. You can visit Athens your own way as we create the perfect Athens holiday for your needs and your desires. Tell us what you’re looking for from your trip to Athens and we’ll take care of the rest!
One of our favourite and most picturesque areas to explore in Athens is the oldest neighborhood in the city: Plaka. Plaka is built on top of the residential part of ancient Athens. It is referred to as the “Neighborhood of the Gods” because of its proximity to the Acropolis and many other archaeological sites. Plaka is all about clean colourful labyrinthine streets full of neoclassical architecture, bustling cafes, and amazing places to eat.
The sight everyone wants to see and rightly so – you simply have to go here when you’re in Athens! If you are visiting Athens for the history, we recommend plumping the extra €10 for the special package which includes entrance to the following: Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Archeological Museum of Kerameikos, Archeological site of Lykeion, Hadrian’s Library, Kerameikos, Museum of the Ancient Agora, North and South slopes of the Acropolis and the Roman Agora. Tip: Go early to both beat the queues and the summer heat! If you want to get more info, download a free Acropolis walking podcast to listen to as you go around.
We love a rooftop bar as the best place for getting above the noise and enjoying spectacular views of Athens throughout the evening. There are so many wonderful bars in Athens, serving delicious drinks for you to enjoy with a dazzling views of the skyline – Couleur Locale, City Zen and 360 Cocktail bar are just three wonderful options.
When we say Athens has fantastic bars, we would be doing it a disservice. Athens has one of the best nightlife scenes in any city. Clumsies has been awarded the ‘Best Bar in the World’ award for three consecutive years with award-winning cocktails and a great homely atmosphere. Another bar we love is Bretto’s where you sit on wine barrels beneath multicolored bottles lining the wall where there are 36 different types of liquer (all secret recipes!). Let the drinks flow and the good times roll!
Lykabettos Hill is the highest spot in Athens, overlooking the whole city. You can either walk up (the path starts at the end of Aristippou Street in Kolonaki) or ride the funicular to the top and enjoy metropolitan views WITH the Acropolis in it! Filopapos hill is a superb panoramic sunset spot – and it’s free to enter. So why not grab some gyros and a couple of Mythos beers and walk up to watch the sky burn over one of the best cities in the world?
One sight you should definitely visit on your Athens trip is the new Acropolis Museum of the Acropolis. A brilliant museum containing everything you need to know about the Acropolis. Re-live classical Athens through the museum interactions and lose yourself in Greek history. Finish off a great day with a meal or coffee at the museum restaurant with one of the greatest views Athens has to offer.
If you are a foodie, Athens is definitely the place to be. From excellent street-food such as souvlaki and loukamades, all the way to Michelin star restaurants (of which there are 5!) One of these Michelin star restaurants is Vathoulko, whose owner is one of the most well-known chefs in Greece. This seaside restaurant specializes in fish, combining traditional plates with a modern twist maintaining great taste and originality. Alongside Greek food, there are also excellent Mexican, Vegetarian, Japanese and burger places that we can point you in the right direction of – you certainly won’t go hungry! For more foodie experiences, you might like to add Sifnos to your Greek itinerary.
Getting your own pair of custom-made Greek sandals from Melissinos is a real Greek experience! Barbara Streisand, Jackie Kennedy and The Beatles have all been here. Now you can go too. The shop is a crossroads of poetry, art and home of the Ancient Greek craftsmanship of sandal-making. The designs of Stavros Melissinos Sandals, much like his poetry, are influenced by ancient Greek mythology and history and are based on the footwear of such notables as Socrates, Plato, Periklis, and Helen of Troy.
For a wild and crazy ‘Greek experience’, visit Batman at Nea Kosmos where the soundtrack is exclusively Greek music from the last fifty years. Enjoy the trip down Greek-Music history lane with a whiskey from its great collection. Warning: it can be hard to get in as it is just a few square meters, and Fridays and Saturdays can get really busy. Another proper Athenian experience is to visit the famous ‘’mpouzoukia’’ at least once in your life. Ask us for our best tips and where to head!
Would you like to find out more about this destination or speak with one of our Epicureans about the best options in Greece? Reach out to one of our experts who can tailor an unforgettable experience that will be the envy of your friends.