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Contributed By: Lauren ClarkDespite its historical significance, Athens never made it onto my original Euro-trip itinerary but a random chain of events resulted in a spontaneous trip to the Greek capital.
Admittedly, I had pretty low expectations when we booked it, all I knew was that I wanted to see some ancient Greek ruins and stuff my face full of fresh feta. I’d heard (from multiple people) the city of Athens was dull, dirty and disappointing but after spending the week there, this couldn’t be more wrong! If you don’t have the patience to read the whole article, just check out my A Guide to Athens shared Google Maps list. It’s got everything you need saved on there.
As soon as we landed we hit our Airbnb, a great value apartment right near the Plaka (the touristy spot). This location was fantastic, it was within walking distance to pretty much everywhere, so despite being a total tourist trap when it comes to food and drinks, it’s a great place to make a base if you know where to go for the authentic Athens experience (see below).
In order to get the most out of this amazing city, I recommend booking a food tour for your first night. That way you’ll get the lay of the land, as well as some great tips for all the best restaurants serving up cheap, delicious Greek eats.
One of the best food tours I’ve ever been on was here in Athens with ’Food Around Athens’. No joke, this food tour is the one that started my obsession with food tours. It’s a non-negotiable for day-one, every city I visit involves a food tour of some kind on the first night to figure out what’s what. This set up the rest of our trip to be what foodie dreams are made of. Rachel’s passion and love for her city was contagious (in a good way) and it really allowed me to see the city in a completely different light. She spoke of how the economic collapse has necessitated a boom in local produce and traditional Greek food and wine. This also cultivated a sense of community and boosted Greek pride in general. Sure, the city is still a little rough around the edges, but you can really feel a buzz in the air as you walk around the less touristy areas, where you’ll find people talking for hours over Ouzo (a tasty dry anise-flavored aperitif), wine and a delicious meal.
Athens Foodie Adventure Highlights
I know this is supposed to be an adventure article but I’m into foodie adventures just as much as outdoor adventures and you really can’t travel to Athens without visiting at least one of these marvellous spots!
1. Diporto
+30 21 0321 1463
If you go to only one restaurant make it Diporto, cheap classic Greek food in a basement joint run by an old Greek guy called Dimitris. They usually only have one or two options for the day so just nod your head and accept whatever they want to give you and you won’t be disappointed. This restaurant is full of locals and hard to find. Situated in a basement of a street downtown, this is well and truly off the tourist path.
2. Tavern Klimataria
+30 21 0321 6629
Local music vibes and yummy food at Tavern Klimataria (check when live music is on, which is most nights, Thursday is best), it’s also cheap! They’re rude too so you know it’s good. Order a few carafes of homemade wine for a couple of Euros and get ready to sing along (maybe even dance).
3. Couleur Locale
Normanou 3, Athina 105 55, Greece
Stop into this vibrant hipster rooftop restaurant/ bar with a terrace serving great grub and top-quality cocktails - not to mention the rooftop views of the Acropolis. It’s one of the lesser-known rooftops in Athens but still busy so make sure you get there well before sunset if you want a good table.
4. Jazz in Jazz, Kolonaki
Dinokratous 4, Athina 106 75, Greece
Quirky live Jazz your thing? Check out this bar in a trendy part of town, it features interesting interiors, is popular with the locals young and old and serves up great classic cocktails to boot!
The Best Things to Do in Athens
Acropolis Walking Tour
What’s the Acropolis? It’s basically the area full of everything that comes to mind when you think of historical Athens (white limestone ruins). The Parthenon is the most famous, but there is also the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus (book tickets to a show here, details below!), and the Theater of Dionysus. It’s the most popular thing in Athens so I recommend getting it over and done with super early to beat the crowds and the heat. If you have the extra cash it’s worth joining a small group walking tour or a guide to show you around and share stories and mythology that will make this place come alive. Ensure the ticket price also includes tickets to the Acropolis Museum as well.
Get a €30 combination ticket for multi-day museum visits
Check out this website for cheap batched multi-day tickets to all the museums and take your pick. Valid for: Acropolis of Athens, Ancient Agora of Athens Museum, Ancient Agora of Athens- Areios Pagos, Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos, Hadrian's Library, Kerameikos, Lykeion Archaeological Site, North slope of the Acropolis, Olympieio, Roman Agora of Athens, South Slope of Acropolis to name a few! A bonus of this combo ticket is that it allows you to skip some of the queues too!
A Live Show at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus
STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND BOOK TICKETS IN ADVANCE.
Fancy watching a live show of classical music, opera or something equally eye-wateringly good all while sitting in ancient ruins? I wish I had known about this before I was there as everything was already booked. They have shows at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus often during the summer - get stuck in right in amongst the ruins for the night of your life (if you're into that kind of thing... Which I am).
In the shadow of the Acropolis and its ancient temples, hillside Plaka has a village feel, with narrow cobblestone streets lined with tiny shops selling jewellery, clothes and local ceramics. Sidewalk cafes and family-run tavernas stay open until late, and Cine Paris shows classic movies al fresco. Nearby, the whitewashed homes of the Anafiotika neighbourhood give the small enclave a Greek-island vibe.
Church of Panagia Kapnikarea
Pl. Kapnikareas 3, Athina 105 63, Greece
The Church of Panagia Kapnikarea is one of Athens' oldest and most beautiful Byzantine churches. Built in the 11th century, this small yet stunning church is located in the heart of the city on Ermou Street. Its intricate mosaics, frescoes, and architectural details offer a serene escape from the bustling streets. The church’s rich history and spiritual ambience make it a must-see for those interested in religious art and architecture.
Psyrri
Vibrant Psyrri centers on Iroon Square, whose surrounding streets have eateries offering meze and live music, including rembetika (Greek blues). Bars with DJs stay open late, as do tavernas serving traditional specialities like meatballs and Greek salad. Small artisan shops, often decorated with graffiti, sell handmade leather bags, indie fashions and offbeat homewares.
Varvakios Central Municipal Market
Νο68 Βαρβακειος Αγορα, Athina, Greece
Varvakeios Market, also known as the Athens Central Market, is a bustling hub for food lovers. Located on Athinas Street, showcasing an authentic taste of local life with its wide array of fresh produce, meats, seafood, spices, and more.
Monastiraki Square Flea Market
Ifestou, Athina 105 55, Greece
If you have a spare Sunday morning head to the flea market to find anything and everything from vintage clothes, and ancient coins to broken toys.
Hike up the 60-90 min trail to the top of Mount Lycabettus or Hill Lycabettus depending on who’s asking. This hill is twice the elevation of the Acropolis and has insane 360 views of Athens. It offers a reasonably challenging trail through fragrant pine forests sprinkled with cypress, eucalyptus, olive and almond trees. Get your inner city nature fix with plenty of bird watching along with native Greek tortoises roaming around wild! At the top, you can pay to use a coin-operated binocular viewer but I wouldn’t count on it. Bring some lightweight NOC binoculars with you - excellent for birdwatching and perving out of your hotel windows at night as a bonus. The nearest metro station is Evangelismos but just scrap that, wake up early and walk to the street: Ilia Rogkakou 7, Athina 106 73 - the trail begins around here and winds through the forest.
Nerd out at the OTHER Museums
Of course, you can’t go to Athens without going full Greek and seeing as many ancient Greek ruins as possible but Athens has so much more to offer than the Acropolis Museum and National Archeological Museum (although both are essential to visit). Any or all of the below sites offer something different. Don’t miss some of these unique cultural and historical experiences.
The Museum of Cycladic Art was an unexpected stand-out for me, it was so epic, do not miss this! It’s located near the botanical gardens (Botanical Museum of the National Gardens) you can kill two birds with one stone. There’s lots of interesting architecture around the area too, and loads of other art and cultural museums on each corner so get onto Google Maps once you’re there.
Koumpari 1, Athina 106 74, Greece
The Benaki Museum is a cultural gem in Athens, located in the former family mansion of an art collector, with displays on Greek culture from prehistory onwards. Housed in a beautiful neoclassical building, the museum’s exhibits include ancient artifacts, Byzantine icons, and contemporary art. Its unique curation and frequent special exhibitions make it a must-visit for art and history enthusiasts.
First Cemetary of Athens
Logginou 3, Athina 116 36, Greece
If, like me, you can spend hours strolling through an old cemetery, then add this to the list. Established in the 1830s, the First Cemetery of Athens is more than just a graveyard; it’s an open-air museum. Renowned for its remarkable sculptures and monuments, the cemetery is the final resting place of many prominent figures in Greek history. Strolling through its serene pathways, visitors can admire the artistry of the elaborate tombs and reflect on the stories they tell.
B. & M. Theocharakis Foundation for the Fine Arts & Music
Βασιλίσσης Σοφίας 9 &, Merlin 1, Athina 106 71, Greece
Located near Syntagma Square, the B. & M. Theocharakis Foundation for the Fine Arts & Music is dedicated to promoting unique exhibitions, lectures, workshops and concerts. Check the calendar for what’s coming up here. Its stunning architecture and thoughtfully curated events provide a culturally enriching experience for visitors. There’s also a super cute cafe in the building if you need a break.
Best Hikes Around Athens
There are many epic trails around town which I had on my list, but admitantIy, I was too full of feta to move very far during this trip so I never made it. Lucky for you I have all the details for my top 3 ready to go so if you feel called to hit the trails, the info is there (thanks All Trails!).
Pan’s Cave Hike - taken from All Trails app.
Length 12.6 km | Elevation gain 694 m | Route type: Loop
Get to know this 12.6-km loop trail near Fyli, Attica. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 4 h 37 min to complete. This is a popular trail for hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime.
The route starts from the Agios Cyprianos Monastery, north of file settlement and follows a good path to the north. It passes through ravines and peaks in several beautiful landscape variations on Mount Parnitha, east of the Goura stream, to reach the Pan Cave. It is an ancient place of worship of the god Pan, well hidden and protected by nature.
Meton's Solar Clock and Philopappos Monument Trail
Length 3.7 km | Elevation gain 109 m | Route type: Point to point
Check out this 3.7-km point-to-point trail near Athens, Attica. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 59 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking and walking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The best times to visit this trail are April through October.
A beautiful walk in the center of Athens, on the hill of Philopappos, just opposite the Acropolis hill. Starting from the neighborhood of Thisio, the path leads to the beautiful low hill of Athens, the ancient center of democracy, dialogue and philosophy. A route that transports the visitor to the footsteps and environment of the ancient Athenians. There are the monument of Pnyx, the Sanctuary of Zeus and Meton's solar clock.
Ambelokipi - Lycabettus Hill - Vironas - Mt Hymettus Circuit
Length 19.5 km | Elevation gain 517 m | Route type: Loop
Explore this 19.5-km loop trail near Athens, Attica. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 14 min to complete. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime.
A long circular route which starts from the capital Athens and leads to the neighbouring mountain of Mt Hymettus. The route passes through areas and along the avenues of the suburbs of Athens, visits the hill and the suburban forest of Lycabettus and enters the beautiful paths along the Aesthetic Forest of Hymettus as well. So many views over the capital from various angles but also a beautiful sense of the mountain next to the big city.
Where to stay in Athens?
I couldn’t have been happier with our location in Plaka. Yes, it’s the touristy part of town but it’s a perfect place to make a base. Right in the middle of it all and near the historical centre. Other interesting areas I’d be happy to stay included Kolonaki, Syntagma, Psyrri, and Monastiraki.
Where to work in Athens?
If you’re working on the road, the best coworking space in Athens is StoneSoup Coworking Space, which is where I set up shop, I loved the vibe there. Did I try any other places…. Nope. So I can’t say for sure but it ticked all the boxes for me so I didn’t need to search elsewhere.
Gear to take to Athens:
MATADOR FREERAIN WATERPROOF PACKABLE HIP PACK
The Freerain Packable Hip Pack is a 2 litre waterproof, hands-free place to keep valuables close by. You can easily fit a Kindle, phone, wallet and even a rain jacket in there. It’s super durable and pick-pocket proof so you can enjoy the city worry-free. It also packs down to next to nothing.
Why I like it: I love Matador products in general, my last FreeRain28 backpack lasted me 5 years of constant wear. And this is just as good, it fits more than you'd expect and is a no brainer to bring with you on any trip.
OSPREY TRANSPORTER 40L WHEELED DUFFEL
Arguably the best-wheeled duffle on the market, this bag can handle more than most, including some of the chunky cobblestone streets of Athens. Rain or shine, it's totally weatherproof and it's the right size to bring in the carry-on on the aeroplane to minimise time wasted in the airport queues (just keep it under the weight limit).
Why I like it: I've got the 40L and the 120L Transporter and believe me when I say they are built to last. I have not been kind to mine at all, I've slammed them down plenty of steps and dragged them off road and the handles are yet to show any signs of wear.
GRAYL ULTRAPRESS PURIFIER BOTTLE
Compact, fun, and ridiculously easy to use — the 500ml UltraPress® Purifier Bottle fits into any pack pocket (or cup holder), requires zero setup, and makes safe, great-tasting drinking water in a mere 10 seconds (3L/min). On-the-go filtration and purification for the global traveller.
Why I like it: Easy to use, clean water from anywhere. It saves on plastic bottles and gives you peace of mind.
TEVA ORIGINAL UNIVERSAL SANDALS
With a design than pretty much hasn’t changed since the 80’s, you know it’s a good bet. From raft docks, stoops, and sidewalks around the world, one of Teva's very first sandal stands as a testament to timeless comfort and utilitarian style.
Why I like it: Super durable, lightweight, surprisingly long lasting and easy to travel with. I usually only travel with 2 types of shoes if I'm travelling without check-in luggage and these will always be my top pick for a warmer climate!
Check out my A Guide to Athens shared Google Maps list. It’s got everything you need on there.
If you need any further help, don't hesitate to come in-store to chat with our experts or shoot us a message online if you have any questions! We’ll see you outdoors. Share your adventures with us on Instagram at @wildearthaustralia and use the hashtag #MyWildEarth to be featured.
About the contributor:
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Lauren Clark is the social media manager for Wild Earth. An obsessive gram counter who's always on the hunt for the lightest and most compact gear for hiking and travel. You'll find her overseas in one country or another attempting digital nomad life. When she's not working she's taking in as much culture as she can, eating all of the foods, hiking all of the trails and trying to find people to belay for her. Follow her adventures on Instagram.
