I did not know much about Athens outside of visiting the Acropolis...but having made the journey to Greece, and taking in this magnificent city for 2 days, I can tell you that Athens is more than just ancient ruins and Greek mythology.
DAY 1: I arrived in Athens on a weekday afternoon ready to take in the sights before my guided tour scheduled for the following day. The ride from Athens Airport(ATH) is about 30 minutes from the city. I can't say it was a very scenic drive into town, but it was smooth with very little traffic. In previous posts, I've never made specific recommendations regarding the hotels I have stayed in...but in this case, I feel the need to give a shout-out to the Athens Gate Hotel. It is centrally located in the historic part of Athens, right across the street from the Temple of Zeus, right around the corner from the Plaka (shopping area), and you can enjoy great views of the Acropolis depending on where your room is facing or if you decide to have breakfast or dinner at their rooftop restaurant.
DAY 2: The next day I had to get up bright and early for a small group day tour of Athens that included visiting the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum, the Plaka, and Greek lunch. Our tour guide Maritza was very knowledgeable about the history of Athens and was quite entertaining. The Acropolis entrance was a short walk from my hotel and the meeting spot for our group. Now once you enter the grounds, be prepared to take a steep hike up to the apex...you are going to pass quite a few ruins such as the Temple of Nike, Odeon, and Propylaea. Once you make it to the top of the Acropolis, there is a particular perch you can take great photos of the Parthenon from. Also, be sure to take in the breathtaking view of the entire city while you are up there!
After the climb down from the Acropolis, we were then led to the Acropolis Museum which is located just adjacent to the ruins. Here you will get an even more detailed account of Athens's history and see some rare artifacts and a few replicas up close and personal.
After the museum, we were then led thru the cobbled streets of the Plaka and the Anafiotika quarter of Athens’ old town. We were able to visit some markets and shops to sample specialties like 'loukoumades' (Greek donuts), cheeses, and coffee.
Additional Note: Looking for a thrill? Check out Dinner in the Sky while in Athens. I have always wanted to do this and was very excited to find out Athens has one of these in their city! Just as the title suggests, you are having a 6-course dinner in the sky, while the table is revolving at a very slow rate at about 50 meters in the air! You will get a fantastic view of the Acropolis while up there of course...and if you are feeling particularly brave, you can recline your seatback to an almost 180-degree angle!
Overall, this was one of the better tours I have experienced in my travels that was worth the money. You can tell that Athens has taken great measures to preserve the ruins that remain, but also keep up with the times by including great modern entertainment and luxuries you can take advantage of. I will definitely be returning to Greece in the nearby future to experience Santorini, Mykonos Island, and certainly Athens once again!
