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I'm back with my next European summer travel guide (first stop was Paris)! This time we're visiting Athens. Greece has been at the top of my travel bucket list for 10+ years. Joe and I started talking about visiting Greece when we first started dating (in 2012!). We knew we wanted Greece to be our second stop because it would take longer to get to from the US. We started with Paris - there's a direct flight from SFO. After a few days in Paris, we jumped on a three hour flight to Athens.
There is a ton to do in Athens and we barely scrapped the surface with our two full days. Without further ado, let's dive into my Athens Travel Guide.
ATHENS TRAVEL GUIDE
Where To Stay
We stayed at the Grand Hyatt Athens. We primarily chose to stay at Hyatt properties on this trip because I'm a big fan of their rewards program. The price was right and the location worked out well for the activities we wanted to do. We stayed for three nights in a king room and they actually upgraded us to a junior suite. The room was massive and the bed was really comfortable.
In terms of amenities, the hotel has a restaurant, bar, fitness center and spa. We opted to have daily breakfast at the hotel. I can't remember the price difference but it was marginally more to include breakfast with our room. The breakfast buffet was on the 8th floor, next to the rooftop pool. They offered a huge delicious spread. We thoroughly enjoyed the variety and quality.
We spent both afternoons at the rooftop pool, which featured a view of the Acropolis. The area was stunning. There were plenty of lounge chairs and cabanas (first come, first serve) as well as cocktails and tapas available poolside. I thoroughly enjoyed my lollipop cocktail while lounging in a cabana!
All in all, I found it to be a really nice hotel option and I wouldn't hesitate to stay there in the future.
Transportation
In Athens, we opted for Uber and walking. Our hotel was a little too far from the city center so we Ubered in both days. The Ubers were very affordable ($5-$10 one way) and were all actually taxis. Our hotel had a large drop off/pick up area so it was easy to come and go via Uber.
We spent both days walking around the city and primarily used Uber to go to and from our hotel. Otherwise the city is very walkable and there's a lot to see by foot. As long as you are physically able and wear comfortable shoes, I think walking is the way to go. I noticed several local buses too, which I assume would be an another affordable way to get around the city.
What To Do
Visit The Acropolis: This was the main thing we wanted to do in Athens. It's amazing because the Acropolis is situated on a hill and can be seen throughout the city. There are plenty of tours available but we opted to visit on our own. We purchased "skip the line" tickets via Get Your Guide (Viator has them too). There wasn't a huge line when we visited (late May) but I've heard the lines are quite long in the summer.
Take A Walking Food Tour: Honestly this may have been my highlight from our time in Athens. I booked a four hour walking food tour via Get Your Guide. It was so much fun! We spent the late morning and early afternoon with a guide exploring Athens. We learned about the food and culture. We tried a ton of local cuisine and I shared a Reel sharing an overview of the tour.
Visit An Open Air Cinema: Ok we didn't end up doing this because I was jet lagged but I really wanted to. I found the Thision Open Air Cinema, which is nearly 100 years old and faces the Acropolis. It's open in the spring and summer. Tickets are only available at the box office (and are around $10 each).
Dine With A View: We went for a rooftop dinner at sunset one night. Our table faced the Acropolis and it was such a beautiful spot to be as the sun went down.
Fairytale Athens Psyrri
Where To Eat
Karamanlidika: Joe and I enjoyed a delicious authentic lunch at this spot. I'm not the most adventurous diner but this place was known for their meat and I tried some excellent sausage.
Fairytale Athens Psyrri: Somehow I managed to find the ultimate girly spot. This cafe is decked out in flowers, pink and gold accents, and a huge swan display for photo opts. We stopped by for dessert and drinks. It's over the top in the best way possible.
Karamanlidika
Savvas
Savvas: We had the best kebabs here as part of our food tour. If you're looking for some great street food, this place is worth a stop.
Thissio View: This is where we had our rooftop sunset dinner. It was a great traditional restaurant. I recommend arriving 30 minutes or so before sunset, especially if you don't have a reservation.
Naif: We had lunch here and it was delicious. We both ordered pizza. This felt like more of a local spot and we got some good people watching in. We discovered it because it was down the street from the hotel and we would have definitely visited again if we'd been there longer.
I hope you enjoyed my Athens travel guide! As always, please feel free to comment with any questions. I'm happy to offer any help I can so you can have the perfect trip. If you try out any of my recommendations, I'd love to know. Enjoy Athens!
