Have you just landed a job in the Greek capital and don’t know where to go on the weekends? Don’t worry, we’ll help you find your way around all the city’s sights and hidden attractions.
Athens is one of Europe’s oldest cities, and it was here that democracy was born around 500 BC through a democratic and direct system where voters could have their say on various laws in the city. However, not all residents could participate in these elections; only men who owned property had the right to vote.
Few cities in the world have a culture and history similar to Athens, and if there is one people who know how to enjoy life and have fun, it is definitely the Greeks with their “siga-siga” and wonderful climate, not to mention the good food and some of the world’s most beautiful beaches.
Athens has a lot to offer those who live and work here, and we guarantee that you won’t be bored in Greece’s largest and most important city. Pack your sun hat—you’ll enjoy more than 250 days of sunshine a year—and your best walking shoes, and we’ll take you to the best places in Athens.
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Acropolis
Most of us associate Athens with the Acropolis and the magnificent Parthenon temple, located on the rock overlooking the city. Up here you will find some of the city’s and antiquity’s most important sights, dedicated to the city’s patron goddess Athena.
The myth of how Athena became the symbol of the city is based on the competition between the two gods Poseidon and Athena, who fought to become the city’s patron god by giving a gift to the city. The god who gave the most favorable gift to the city would also have the honor of becoming its patron god. In the end, it was Athena who won with her olive tree, which proved to be more beneficial than Poseidon’s salt spring on the Acropolis. Since then, Athena has been the goddess who watches over Athens, and the city has been named after its patron goddess.
Some sights you can see on the Acropolis:
Parthenon
The most magnificent temple located at the highest point of the cliff. This was a masterpiece of antiquity, built during the heyday of Athens and the reign of Pericles. Pericles hired the best sculptors and artists to build the Acropolis.
The Parthenon was built in the Doric style with marble and many decorations. Inside the temple are two rooms, one of which had a 12-meter-high statue of the patron goddess Athena, decorated with gold and ivory. In the 1400s, when the Turks invaded the city, the Parthenon became a mosque, and in 1687, the temple was partially destroyed by Venetian troops who attacked the Turks. Several restoration works have been carried out on the temple, and today there is also a museum here that contains many objects found on the site.
Pandroseion
Pandrosos was the daughter of Kekrops, who in Greek mythology was the first king of Athens. She had a temple on the Acropolis, inside which were the altar of Zeus Herkeios and the sacred shrine of Pandrosos. It was also here that, according to legend, Athena had preserved the olive tree with which she had won over Zeus.
Today, there is an olive tree outside the temple, but this was planted later as a memorial to the city’s important event.
Erechtheion
The temple is named after King Erechtheus of Athens and is believed to have been built on the same site where the Temple of Athena stood before the Persians destroyed it in 480 BC. It was also closed for a period during the Roman era when the Roman Empire began persecuting pagans.
During the Byzantine Empire, the temple served as a church, and during the Greek War of Independence, the temple was destroyed piece by piece. The Erechtheion Temple is built in the Ionic style with white marble. The temple is decorated with six pillars, and the temple porch has six columns in the form of female statues, or caryatids, which is the actual name for the statues. The columns with female statues are not the originals but copies that were created later. Five of the originals are in the Acropolis Museum in Athens, while one female statue is in the British Museum in London.
Temple of Athena Nike
The temple was built between 432 and 421 BC and is the best-preserved temple on the Acropolis. The temple is dedicated to the goddesses Athena and Nike and is located on the southern part of the Acropolis, right at the entrance. This was the first temple on the Acropolis to be built in the Ionic style. Many of the temple’s original decorations are on display at the Acropolis Museum.
Walk around the Plaka neighborhood
Plaka is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Athens, located just below the Acropolis and stretching to Syntagma Square. Here you will find many small shops, cozy cafes, and Greek restaurants. The street is full of colorful flowers, street performers, and vendors who will try to sell you just about anything. In the shops around the street, you can find many souvenirs, as well as handmade jewelry and other items.
If you like art, you can also visit some art galleries here, and there are also several museums in the area, such as the Children’s Museum, the Music Museum, the Jewish Museum, and the Greek Folk Art Museum.
If you want to eat typical Greek food in the area, head to the O Platanos tavern located in the neighborhood. This is a quieter area of Plaka, and you can sit and eat outside on the terrace surrounded by a mulberry tree. The tavern opened in 1933 and has continued to offer Greek specialties at a good price ever since.
Have a drink at a rooftop bar and enjoy the view of Athens
There’s nothing wrong with having a glass of wine or a beer to end the working week, especially if the bar is located on a rooftop overlooking the Acropolis and the best of Athens. When you live and work in Athens, you naturally want access to the best bars in town. Read on to find out where to find the best drinks with a view in Athens.
Thea Terrace Bar
The bar is located near Syntagma Square and offers a fantastic view of both the square and the Acropolis. Enjoy delicious drinks and a variety of dishes in an elegant setting.
Safestay Athens Rooftop Bar
At Monastiraki Square, you’ll find this simple and affordable bar with a 360-degree view of downtown Athens and the Acropolis. The bar is located on the top floor of the hotel of the same name. Here you can eat and drink coffee or cocktails.
Hotel Novotel Athens
Why not take a dip after a long day at work? The Hotel Novotel’s rooftop bar also has a rooftop pool overlooking the city. In the summer, you can also enjoy delicious drinks and international cuisine accompanied by lounge music.
If you like looking at antiques and finding bargains, don’t miss the flea market at Monastiraki Square, which takes place every Sunday morning. Here you can find everything from jewelry to books and souvenirs.
Watch the sunset at Cape Sounion
There are various day trips from Athens to Cape Sounion, a headland located south of Athens. Cape Sounion is best known for its temple facing the Aegean Sea, which is dedicated to the god Poseidon. There are also various stories about the cape, such as the one about King Menelaus who stopped here on his way back from Troy, or the one about King Aegeus who drowned himself nearby, hence the name of the Aegean Sea.
Swim in the sea and sunbathe on one of the beaches. Then enjoy some fresh fish at one of the many restaurants here while watching the sun set over the temple. Quite simply, a magical experience.
Take a gastronomic tour and learn more about Greek cuisine
Greek cuisine has its roots in ancient Greece, with influences from both the Middle East and the Balkan countries. It is mostly based on the Mediterranean diet, including olives, cheese, and lots of vegetables, but also various types of meat such as lamb, pork, and rabbit. Greek yogurt and feta cheese are some well-known Greek ingredients that can be found in most traditional recipes. It is also common to drink wine with meals, and the country produces many different types of wines, both red and white.
A culinary tour gives you the opportunity to visit different markets and restaurants and try various typical dishes, accompanied by a guide who will tell you about the history and background of Greek cuisine. There are various gastronomic tours in Athens, so it’s up to you to decide which one best suits your taste buds.
Take a stroll and enjoy a cup of coffee at Kolonaki Square
Kolonaki is an elegant neighborhood in the heart of Athens. Here you will find all the finest shops and elegant restaurants, and you almost feel like you are in Paris instead of Athens. Walk around and window shop among all the luxury brands, then sit down at one of the many elegant cafés here and enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of champagne if you want to feel extra luxurious.
Chill on the beach
After a long week of work in the big city, it can sometimes be nice to head to the beach for some sun and swimming on the weekend. Greece has more than 2,000 islands, but luckily you don’t have to travel too far to get to a beach when you live and work in Athens. There are several beaches, which have also been awarded blue flags, just a stone’s throw away from Athens, which you can easily reach during the warm summer months, or when you simply feel like taking a walk on the beach and recharging your batteries with some vitamin D.
The best beaches near Athens:
Astir Beach Club
The beach is only 20 km away from Athens and can be easily reached by taxi or car. Here you will find a public beach, but also sun loungers and various facilities where you can take a shower or get a massage, for example. There are also many beach shops and restaurants nearby.
Krabo Beach
This trendy beach is only half an hour away from Athens and is usually filled with Athens’ jet setters in the summer. Be sure to book sun loungers in advance as the beach tends to get crowded during the hot summer months.
Akti Vouliagmenis Beach
If you enjoy various beach activities, this is the place for you. Here you can play tennis, volleyball, or basketball. There are also playgrounds for children and a tavern serving fresh fish.
See a show at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus
A Roman theater built for various theater and music performances in 160 AD. Originally, there was also a roof over the theater, which could seat 5,000 spectators. The arena was renovated in the 1950s and has since hosted a number of international artists such as Pavarotti, Maria Callas, and Frank Sinatra, as well as many Greek artists. The Athens Festival is usually held here every year from May to October and is one of the city’s annual highlights, so be sure not to miss it when you live and work in Athens. The acoustics and the feeling of being in an ancient amphitheater are a unique experience that you will remember for a lifetime.
The Syntax Market
Athens’ most famous square, located near the Acropolis and many other attractions in the city. Here you will also find the Greek Parliament. Be sure to stop and watch the changing of the guard, which takes place once an hour every day. On Sundays at 11 a.m., you can also watch the entire ceremony with the traditional costumes.
The square has been the site of many events in Greek history and is very important to the residents of Athens. Stroll around the piazza and enjoy the historic atmosphere here. Nearby is Valaoritou Street, known for its refined cafes and many restaurants, or Ermou Street, where you can shop to your heart’s content.
Discover the modern side of Athens through street art
Many of us associate Athens with historic buildings and ancient temples rather than street art or graffiti. Today, there are around 2,000 street artists in Athens, and the city is actually full of murals with political, loving, and provocative messages.
There are various guided tours that take you through Athens’ street art and explain the different messages and meanings behind all the murals. One of the most famous tours is the “Athens Street Art Tour”, which takes you around Athens for about 3 hours to discover the city’s best street art together with a street artist.
