Greece is one of the most popular European destinations on any travellers bucket list, but of course, there are plenty of cities and towns that you can see there – so how are you supposed to decide where to go? Well, Athens is one of the oldest cities in the entire world, and shouldn’t be missed if you’re going to be exploring Greece! It’s top of our list, after all we have a daughter with the Greek name Athena and we really should take her to Athens, right?
I think it would take around 4 days to explore and see what Athens is all about and make the most of a trip without being rushed. Here are the places and things I wouldn’t want to miss when we get round to going:
See The Temple of Zeus
But wait, isn’t it just a few columns? Surely it’s not worth it? It might seem that way in the beginning, but just use your imagination and you can see how big the building once was, even though it never reached completion.
See The Acropolis and Parthenon
This is quite possibly the most iconic site in all of Greece. It sits right on top of a hill overlooking the entire city. If you’re only in Athens for a day, even for a few hours because you’re taking one of the Greek island cruises, then make sure you see the Parthenon and the Acropolis. Taking a walking tour will give you the full experience, and you can even book a dinner at the end with a view of the Acropolis for something really special.
Get An Athens City Pass
If you’re in Athens for a few days or more, then you’ll be planning to see several sites and museums. One of the Athens city passes could save you money in the process. There are different versions, so make sure you do your research to find the right one for you. All of them come with a pass to use the hop on hop off bus, so you can explore at your leisure and get up close to the sites you really want to see.
Go To The National Archeological Museum
Here, you’ll be able to enjoy the largest collection of ancient Greek artefacts, displaying just how advanced Greek society was. If you’re interested in Greek history and you want to really immerse yourself in times gone by, this is a must.
Use Your Imagination At The Ancient Agora
Here, the ancient Greeks came shopping. You can’t go shopping there today but you can definitely see some interesting ruins.
Explore The Streets Of Plaka
Plaka is known as the oldest neighbourhood in Athens. You can explore the streets, get a drink, and discover more ancient ruins as you make your way around.
Take The Athens Highlights tour
This tour will enable you to see the highlights of Athens in just one day. It’s a half a day and you’ll learn about various attractions along the way, such as the Temple of Zeus. Don’t miss it if you haven’t got long to explore and want to make sure you see the best bits!
Where will you go with your family in Athens? We would love to visit Crete too whilst we’re so close, exploring the island by car with rental-center-crete.com. I think Hopefully, this has given you some ideas!