top 10 things to do in
top 10 things to do in
Ancient Athens is one of the earliest known cities in the world and visiting Athens is like stepping back in time.
I can’t explain the feelings that overcome you when you are standing on the very grounds which spawned so many great works of art and significant governmental developments and ideas, including democracy, to say the least. Here’s a list of some of our favorite sites we visited in Athens.
1. Panathenaic Olympic Stadium
There are two Olympic Stadiums in Athens. One is the more modern stadium built in 19080-1982 and named after gold medalist Spyros Louis. This is the stadium which hosted the 2004 Summer Olympics.
The second stadium is called the Panathenaic Stadium which was originally built in 330 BC to host the Panathenaic games and later served as the venue used for the opening and closing ceremonies of the very first modern Olympic Games. This is the only stadium in the entire world built entirely of marble. You can explore the entire stadium both aboveground and belowground including the spaces where the earlier athletes readied themselves for the games.
2. Explore Plaka
Plaka is a quaint village town near the Acropolis which has tiny shops and street merchants selling local jewelry, clothing and art. We really enjoyed taking our time to meander the cobblestone streets of Plaka and discover treasures and souvenirs to take back home.
3. Acropolis
This is a no-brainer. If you’re in Greece and you don’t visit the Acropolis, what are you doing? This hilltop citadel is home to many of the temples and historical buildings which define ancient Athens including the Parthenon, the Erechtheum, the Temple of Athena and so many more. It’s probably safe to say that at least one of the sites you plan to visit is located on the Parthenon, anyway.
4. Erechtheion
This ancient temple is located on the Acropolis and is really quite stunning. Construction of this temple began in 421 BC. My favorite part is the Porch of the Caryatids (or Porch of Maidens) with six female figures, although I don’t believe this porch was included in the original structure but was added on later.
5. Ancient Agora of Athens
This marketplace is where merchants and artists would assemble to buy and sell goods. It’s also a gathering place where politics and intellectuals would meet and trade ideas. These are the same streets where Socrates roamed and democracy was born. That’s gotta give you some kind of feels, right?!
6. Acropolis Museum
This museum, located by the Southeastern slope of the Acropolis Hill, focuses on the archaeological site itself and houses every artifact found therein. The original museum resided on the Acropolis but was too small to house the many interesting findings which have been excavated over the years.
The new and larger museum was opened in 2009 and Greek officials are hopeful that, with this larger location to serve as a sufficient home for the Parthenon Marbles, the United Kingdom government will agree to return the ancient relics back to their place of origin.
7. Mount Lycabettus
Take a funicular to the top of this hill to visit the Chapel of St. George, a large open-air amphitheater and for an incredible view of the city below which is also called Lycabettus.
The amphitheater, also known as Lycabettus Theater has hosted many renowned artists over the years, including Ray Charles, Bjork, Moby and Bob Dylan, just to name a few. Check the venues website to see if you can catch a concert while you’re in Athens.
8. The Odeon of Herod Atticus
The Odeon is another ancient theater structure which still hosts events today. This stone Roman theater, built in 161 AD on the Southwest slope of the Acropolis was built by Greek Herodes Atticus in memory of his Roman wife.
At a minimum, you need to visit this site just to see the incredible architecture. However, if you can, you should also catch a show while you’re in town.
9. Philopappos Hill & Monument
This is a beautiful monument atop a hill which provides a great view of the Acropolis and the surrounding city of Athens. This archaeological park is home to many species of birds, bats and tortoises.
This is also the location of the Pnyx which is the meeting spot of ancient democratic legislatures and the stone pathways here are listed by UNESCO as a protected monument of cultural heritage.
10. Crush Some Falafels
Do yourself a favor and have some falafel while you’re in Athens. These little deep fried chickpea treats are so inexpensive that they’re practically free and they are so delicious! You can eat them in a pita, on a skewer, on top of a salad, however you like it. Just do it!
So there’s our list of the 10 Best Things to Do in Athens. We hope you visit Athens yourself and see why we love it so much! Let us know in the comment section below if we can help.
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We love traveling together to see incredible places and eat as much delicious vegan food as possible. This site is our way of helping you plan your perfect trip based on our experiences.
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