Athens, Greece

I spent 3 full days in Athens, exploring the city and visiting some of the tourist sites. To be honest, I'd say 2 days would be more than enough if you're just thinking of checking out the city centre + popular tourist sites! I went there in Early April so the weather was just nice! It was sunny but not too hot, arnd 15deg! Perfect time to visit Athens!

Anyhowz my family stayed in Melia hotel. It's located near Omonia train station and a 15 min walk away frm Monastiraki Square (The main square in Athens) Quite a convenient location! Only drawback is that there's no wifi in the room, and if you want internet in your room, you'd have to pay extra! But there's free wifi in the hotel lobby.

Everytime I visit a city, I'd always join the free walking tour (if there is one)! I think such tours are very helpful and informative! Most tour guides would bring you arnd the city centre, point out the main tourist attractions and provide some background knowledge and history. And at the end of the walking tour, it's up to you to tip your tour guide! (For me, I'd usually tip a fiver cos I'm a poor student, jokes!!!)

And so, I went on the free walking tour while I was in Athens! (Check out: http://www.athensfreewalkingtour.com/ for more info)

Here are some of the places I visited:

 

Monastiraki Square

A very busy area filled with small shops and food places. You can find loads of restaurants selling gyro and souvlaki here. 

Small shops selling various products ranging frm slippers to dried food stuffs

We met our tour guide in Monastiraki and frm there, we took a little walk arnd and visited most of the tourist sites. 

 

On the way up to the Acropolis.....

Loads of graffiti on the walls.

More graffiti... I'M A BIRD~

Yikes Idk what is this place but I'm assuming that it's one of the agoras or sth....

Roman Agora

 



Tower of the winds in the background

Just my family and I posing for a photo!

I'm really bad with all the names and Greek history but this is one of the ancient ruins! You'll definitely walk past it on your way up to the Acropolis! If you're an EU student, simply flash your student card to get free entry. I think my parents paid 12 euros per person to enter and the ticket includes entry into the Acropolis, Ancient Agora and some other sites too!

Acropolis

 

If you don't already knw, the Acropolis is located on top of a hill and so on your hike up, you'd be able to catch a view of Athens. Very pretty!

 

And so this is the Acropolis! When you think of Greece, you'd definitely think of the Acropolis (even if you don't knw the name, I'm sure you'd knw that this is the famous Greek architecture!) This is a major tourist attraction so be sure not to miss it! (LOL YOU WOULDN'T....)

Entry is 12 euros each! According to my tour guide, it can get pretty crowded in the mornings so the best time to visit the Acropolis would be after lunch! My family visited this place just after 11am and it wasn't too bad!

National Garden of Athens

A beautiful park located in the centre of Athens. Formerly known as the Royal Garden, it is now known as the National Garden. It is located just 5 mins away frm the Zappeion and the Panathenaic Stadium.

Zappeion

This building was used for some major olympic events before but now it's mainly used for meetings and ceremonies.

Hadrian's Arch

Located abt 5 mins away frm the National Gardens, the Hadrian is a gateway separating the old and new cities of Athens. 

The Parliament

The parliament is located in Syntagma. In front of the parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded by guards (known as evzones) in traditional uniform. On the hour, every hour, there would be the changing of guards and they'll do some marching (similar to the changing of guards at London's Buckingham Palace except slightly less spectacular)

(The guards were still in their winter outfit when I visited hence the thick clothes!)

Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

Pillars made of blue marble.

A statue of an orthodox priest (Archbishop Damaskinos of Athens) in front of the cathedral.

Did you knw that the main religion in Greece is Orthodox and the Metropolitan Cathedral is the largest church in Athens? As you enter the building, you'll see huge pillars made of blue marble and if I didn't rmb wrongly, the tour guide did mention that the marble's frm Mykonos (lol random fact!!!) And becos of the extensive use of marble, the interior felt significantly cooler!

And......

THIS PLACE!!!!! I can't rmb the name of this place!!!!!! I tried googling it etc but I just can't figure it out!!!! I'm sure it's some sort of stadium or sth but it's not the Panathenaic stadium!!!! Ahhh does anyone knw the name of this place? But anywayz you'll walk past it on the way to the Zappeion!

Mikrolimano

This place isn't in the city centre. We took a train to Faliro and then a cab (abt 3 euros)! There are buses going there frm Omonia too (not too sure which number) but I'd say just take the train + cab, you'll be less likely to lose your way haha!

So Mikrolimano is near the sea side and hence you'd expect loads of restaurants selling seafood! I went there during the day and it was pretty quiet but I think it shld be more lively in the evening. Do take a slow walk arnd the area and explore the place. This area can be covered in abt half a day

That's all I have for Athens! Didn't post pics but while you're there, do check out the Panathenaic stadium too! It's the stadium where the first Olympics was held! Definitely worth seeing! Also if you're into shopping, do check out Ermou Street where all the shops are!

Athens is a lovely place and I'm glad I chose to visit it over my Easter break this yr! Up next, Santorini! Stay tune for more of my Greek adventures! X