For those who follow me on Instagram you’ll know that yesterday was my birthday. While having to celebrate it with a knee brace and on crutches wasn’t ideal, I’m so grateful to everyone who helped make my 27th birthday so special! I’m celebrating here on the blog by sharing the final leg of my trip to Greece with my Athens Travel Guide. If you haven’t been keeping with the latest, let me fill you in with a quick recap. To celebrate another year of being debt free I decided to treat myself to a trip to Greece with my mom and my college bestie! After much debate we chose to do the typical tourist visit: Mykonos, Santorini and Athens. Be sure to check out my Mykonos guide for things you should know before you even leave for Greece and my Santorini guide if you’re planning to head there in the near future! Now that you’re all caught up, keep scrolling for my Athens recap!
Where to Stay
The Air BnB that we went with in Athens was a 5th floor penthouse with a balcony and rooftop view of the Acropolis! This was my favorite Air BnB of our entire trip by far because it felt so much home like compared to the others we stayed at. Our host was super helpful and inviting, she left us watermelon, wine and cookies! All of which were insanely delicious! The best part was the jet bathtub which was perfect way to end a long day of walking in the hot sun.
What to Do
I love that Athens has so much to offer! Of course looking back I wish we would have planned a little better to include some sights that weren’t directly in the city. But we had more than enough to fill our two days there to the brim! Here’s what I’d recommend doing while you’re in Athens:
- Acropolis. An obvious choice but definitely worth the money! Definitely get there first thing in the morning and spring for the $34 dollar day pass that gets you into other historic sites as well. Be warned though the day pass doesn’t get you into the museum.
- Ancient & Roman Agora. A short distance from the Acropolis is are the Agoras. Both extremely gorgeous. The Roman Agora is much smaller so you can breeze through it quickly but definitely plan some time to get through the Ancient Agora.
- Flea Market. Now I only recommend you do this if you’ll be there on a Sunday because that’s when the genuine antiques can be found. During the other days it’s more touristy shops with gimmicky souvenirs.
- Garden. We stumbled upon the garden during our first day when we were trying to get a feel for how far our Air BnB was from all the sites. This should be on your list of things to see. From the numerous turtle ponds to the parrot’s nests in the pine trees it was simply stunning.
- Rooftop Dining. If you get the chance try to find a restaurant or cafe with a rooftop view of the Acropolis. It’s relaxing to take in a latte and the view! But be warned every rooftop view isn’t the same so ask to see it, and the menu, before deciding to stay.
Where to Eat
I’m not exaggerating when I say that the food in Greece is spectacular. Seriously! If you think the Americanized Greek food you’re eating now is amazing then the real stuff is going to change your life. Honestly I feel like I’ve been eating lies ever since I came back. Of all the places we ate, here’s where I recommend you should stop:
Breakfast
–Fresko Yogurt Bar. If you’re a fan of Greek yogurt, then definitely stop here. You get to create your own breakfast, lunch or snack or whatever meal, yogurt bowl with any toppings you like! I suggest trying their dark cherries with walnuts or doing a museli style bowl.
–Happy Blender. If you’re looking for lighter options like juices, smoothies and smoothie bowls then this is a solid choice! They also make their own breakfast bars and balls as well.
Dinner
–Old School. I was pleasantly surprised by this restaurant. We initially thought is was more a cocktail bar but after reading their menu we decided to give it a try. If by now you haven’t tried any traditional Greek food then I suggest getting their Traditional platter. Everything was sensational, my favorite being the moussaka and the spinach pie!
–Liondi. We got lured into eating here because their waiter charmed my mother. He seemed pretty ready to marry her but I’m sure he says that to all the tourists! My mom and I decided to split a few things. We got 3 different dips and a grilled meat platter that was cooked to perfection! We actually got so much that we had leftovers for lunch the next day.
–Eleas. Right next to Old School is Eleas which was a family owned restaurant. I went with the classic pork souvlaki and was not disappointed.
What to Pack and Wear
If you’re going in the summer expect for it to be ridiculously hot and that you will walk A LOT! With that in mind you need to pick clothes that are breathable and comfortable. If you’re prone to chafing pass on the cute short shorts and wear something that will protect your thighs. Trust me on this! Also be sure to pack comfortable walking shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. A lot of bloggers fail to mention that you’ll be walking through gravel and dirt roads to see a lot of the sights so plan accordingly. As for bringing hats, it isn’t a terrible idea but be sure to check for how windy it will be because keeping one hand on your head to keep your hat from running away gets tiring after a while.
Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for my follow up on how I felt I did packing for my trip to Greece. Also make sure you share any recommendations of your own below!
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I went to Greece many, many moon ago, and now I want to go back! And look like you! Seriously, what a wonderful trip. Lucky mom!
You’re too too kind Renee! Thanks so much for stopping by to share!