August 8-11, 2019

The Aegean Airlines flight from Istanbul, Turkey to Athens, Greece (€129) might be the easiest flight I’ve had this trip. Metro from the airport to the city is €10, but it seems crowded at all hours and reading Greek is really difficult for me so I went the wrong direction the first two times I used the metro. 

The city is very walkable, and the city’s major landmarks (Acropolis and Lykavittos Hill) serve as good reference points as they’re visible from most places. My Schengen visa was close to expiring so I didn’t make time to visit other islands, but Athens very much feels like a jumping-off point for some beautiful islands.

Some things to check out while you’re there:

• Eat all the things. Don’t miss must-eats like Greek salad (Horiatiki Salata), moussaka, gyros, and Greek yogurt with honey and nuts.
• Begun in the 6th century BC, Greece’s largest temple, Temple of Olympian Zeus, took more than 700 years to build. It’s impressive for the size of its remaining Corinthian columns, 17m high with a base diameter of 1.7m. Small fee to view up close, or see it free from the gates by Hadrian’s Arch. 
• The Parthenon epitomizes the glory of ancient Greece. 
• The Caryatids, six maidens who support the southern portico of the Erechtheion, have their originals in the Acropolis Museum, open until 7pm. The museum discourages photo-taking so embrace things with your eyes.
• You can walk the steps of past Olympians at Panathenaic Stadium.
• Take the metro to Faliro and walk or taxi to beaches on that side. Some have entrance fees but you can get a voucher with the purchase of a coffee. Others are free but you pay for loungers and/or umbrella. These aren’t beautiful beaches, but it’ll do when you want to be in the water on a hot day.
• You can also take the metro to Kalamaki to see Bolivar / Poseidonos Avenue for a more party-like atmosphere in the water.
• Hike up Lykavittos Hill/Mount Lycabettus to get panoramic views of Athens. Or, just walk up Areios Pagos/Areopagus to get a good view of the hill.
• Every Sunday morning at 11 am, people gather in Syntagma Square to watch the official changing of the guards, the military unit whose members stand proudly in perfect stillness in front of the Hellenic Parliament.
• My initial thought would be not to visit the Central Municipal Athens Market unless you want to buy a large quantity of raw meat, olives, or spices, but I bought some of the best dried (sugary) fruit I’ve ever had there.
• I walked for at least an hour in the National Garden, watching turtles swim in the small pond.
• The Theatre of Dionysus Eleuthereus is a quiet place to rest, but also the oldest theatre in Europe.
• Buy sandals from Melissinos art.
• Play games all day for €10 at the Athens Pinball Museum.