Athens (named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom) is Europe’s oldest capital city inhabited for nearly 8000 years and it is a vast city of around 3 million residents with 6 million visitors a year set in a valley surrounded on three sides by mountain ranges and on the fourth by the Saronic Gulf. The idea of democracy was first conceived here on the rocky Pnyx Hill near the Acropolis, demos meaning ‘the people’ and kratos ‘the power’.
Most visitors to Athens stay in the central area of the city which is made up of a few key neighbourhoods dependent on your reason for visiting and preference. The following are just a few areas to consider for your stay:
Acropolis –staying in Plaka, Koukaki or Makriyanni will give you the closest access to the amazing ancient citadel but it is visible across the city due to the presence of the Panthenon atop the Acropolis (the Greek name for any ‘high city’ built atop rocky, elevated ground). If travelling by metro go to Akropoli Station and meander the stately neoclassical buildings before visiting the Acopolis and the Acropolis Museum.
Plaka – Athens old town known as the ‘neighbourhood of the Gods’ where you’ll find the ancient Agora and pastel coloured houses and alleyway shops full of arts, crafts, clothes and souvenirs. Plenty of food options and check out the Tower of the Winds believed to be the world’s first weather station built in 100-50 BC.
Koukaki – despite its close location to the Acropolis this beautiful neighbourhood has retained its natural charm and appeal and has a very relaxed locals vibe to it. Tree lined streets, eclectic mix of cafes and bars and boutique shops this place is definitely worth a visit and in fact was once voted by Airbnb travellers as the fifth most interesting neighbourhood in the world!
Makriyanni – is considered the neighbourhood for the Acropolis. Its an upmarket area and centres on the Acropolis Museum, an ultramodern glass and steel building exhibiting artifacts and statues from the Acropolis archaeological site. A visit to the museum is highly recommended with tickets €15/£13/$16 with booking online and various time slots to choose from.
Syntagma – is the business, political area and home to the Old Royal Palace now the Hellenic (synonym for Greek) Parliament and the must see changing of the guard. This neighbourhood borders the National Garden and is a welcome break from the heat if you’re there in the summer. Staying near here gives you great access to the metro and the tram line for exploring Athens.
Kolonaki – upmarket shopping where you’ll find Gucci, Balenciaga and Chanel as well as Greek designers but also contemporary art galleries and many museums including Athens very own Gagosian, the Byzantine Museum, the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture and the Museum of Cycladic Art.
Monastiraki – visit the flea market for more people watching, nik naks and souvenirs with some ancient sites including Hadrian’s Library, the Stoa of Attalos and the Altar of Zeus. The Agora of Athens is nearby in the Plaka neighbourhood. On Sundays the open square comes alive with music and dancing free for everyone to visit.
Getting around Athens:
Like Rome, Paris, London and New York walking is the best way to experience a city but using public transport does help getting around with ease and Athens has a very good metro and tram system.
The metro has three lines in Athens with stations across all the main neighbourhoods. The Blue line connects all the popular areas of the city centre and the Port of Piraeus and the airport. We recommend the use of the Stasy website to plan your city trips and the tram is an excellent way to travel with Syntagma the central point to catch it.
Public transport tickets are available at any of the metro stations, tram and bus stops, train stations and newsagents and ticket prices are much cheaper than most major cities. Ticket options include:
- 90 minute €1.40/£1.20/$1.50
- 24 hour €4.50/£3.80/$4.90
- 5 day €9/£7.60/$9.80
- 3 day tourist ticket (includes return transport from the airport) €22/£18.50/$24
Accommodation:
There is a plethora of accommodation choices in Athens so it really comes down to budget and which area you want to stay. We chose to stay in an AirBnB in Kallimarmoro due to its large rooftop terrace and uninterrupted and amazing views of the Acropolis and proximity to the Panathenaic Stadium. (Pic 3)
If you prefer a hotel over an AirBnB we recommend these hotels by budget:
£££££ The Dolli at Acropolis is a 1925 neoclassical mansion transformed into an amazing hotel with a rooftop restaurant and infinity pool with breath-taking views of Athens and the Panthenon.
££££ Ergon House located near Monastiraki Square is a modern stylish hotel with a fantastic restaurant and rooftop bar with views of the Acropolis. If you love food you’ll love Ergon as it has a large atrium area with bakers, butchers, greengrocers and fishmongers with chefs on hand to prepare the food you’ve purchased.
£££ Acropolis View Hotel a simple but lovely hotel with a rooftop terrace with amazing views of the Acropolis with some rooms offering a balcony view.
££ Sweet Home Hotel is a charming hotel in the Plaka area with comfy beds, a great breakfast and is located in a quiet street but close to the main attractions and many bars, cafes and restaurants.
£ Phaedra Hotel is also located in Plaka near the Acropolis Museum and the Temple of Zeus. Basic but comfortable hotel that if you’re on a tight budget is a perfect stay for exploring Athens and it even has a rooftop terrace with views of the Acropolis.
Attraction/Sites tickets:
You can buy tickets at the various sites around the city as you go but we recommend buying a multi-pass from Headout. The Headout site provides you with clear options of the things you might like to do, costs, reviews and ratings and timed slots for the Acropolis and access into multiple other sites around the city.
