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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Tell me about Athens

48 replies

Hairbrush123 · 24/08/2021 11:03

I am going to Athens in a few weeks and cannot wait. Has anyone got recommendations for where to visit in Athens? We are there for a full week so plenty of time. DP and I are going for our anniversary so we’d love to dine somewhere a bit special. We both love Greek food so give us your favourite Greek restaurants in Athens please! Thanks.

OP posts:
SardineJam · 24/08/2021 11:07

Of all the city breaks we've been on, Athens was the most disappointing, perhaps it was because of the area we stayed in but we found it dirty (and so many sex shops!!) and expensive, also we don't eat lamb and lamb was on the menu everywhere! Hopefully this was just a bad experience and someone else will be along to poo poo me!!

MilesJuppIsMyBitch · 24/08/2021 11:09

I LOVED it. Obvs the Parthenon and the Agorra, but just Athens in general. It just felt chilled out & real.

I liked the big covered market in the middle of the city.

SardineJam · 24/08/2021 11:15

We did do this which was good www.thisisathens.org/withalocal/node/2 and we also took the bus to Akti Vouliagmenis...the city sightseeing bus is very good value for hop on and hop off and got us all over the place...we were able to negotiate the cost of the tickets (initiated by the seller, not us) for the bus and paid a lot less than any advertised rate

RunningOnFumes · 24/08/2021 11:23

There are some great seafood restaurants in Piraeus, can't remember the name of the one we went to but the food was fresh and delicious!

Zodlebud · 24/08/2021 11:58

Jimmy’s Fish in Piraeus was a real highlight for us.

We stayed in Kolonaki in a hotel with a view of the Acropolis and the area is full of lovely restaurants, bars and boutique shops. Would highly recommend basing yourself there if you haven’t already booked accommodation

usedtobeboss3 · 24/08/2021 12:06

We loved Athens! The restaurant on the top of the Acropolis museum was excellent - as was the museum, of course. We certainly didn't struggle to find decent places to eat, and loved the city in general.

pinacollama · 24/08/2021 12:13

My husband and I went for our first anniversary and absolutely loved it

I recommend taking a couple of hours wandering the little streets of Anofiotika. We finished up at a cafe called Yiasemi for lunch.

jenonajetplane.com/anafiotika-athens-greece/

We had some amazing meals- 2 favourites were Simul Gastronomic Situ and Scala Vinoteca. Not traditional Greek but totally recommend both.

GiantHaystacks2021 · 24/08/2021 12:15

Not my favourite city to be honest.

SicParvisMagna · 24/08/2021 15:28

My husband and I are off there at the end of September. I've booked a few trips and excursions through either viator or get your guide. Things like a cookery class with dinner one night, a catamaran boat tour with food for one day etc. Things like that with time for strolling, knicky knack shopping and eating our body weight in tzatziki Grin
Really looking forward to it. Our hotel overlooks the Acropolis and is literally down the road from the museum too so well placed without having to use public transport. I can't wait!

pinacollama · 24/08/2021 16:16

@SicParvisMagna that sounds amazing, I’m jealous!

SicParvisMagna · 24/08/2021 16:33

[quote pinacollama]@SicParvisMagna that sounds amazing, I’m jealous![/quote]
Thank you! I've spent ages researching and looking into stuff. Im the sort that plans our time away with military precision. Sounds dull, but if it was down to my super laid back husband, we'd just wander round all day, which would be lovely and relaxing but we'd miss out on so much because he never has a clue where to begin with looking at holidays and stuff. I never want to come home and think oh bugger I wish we'd done this so try to pack in as much as poss. We're there for 5 days and have something booked every day, but like I said with plenty of time to just stroll and soak it up. So it's best of both worlds :)

The weather has been so bad this summer hasn't it? I'm dying for some sun, and to just sit outside a restaurant in the late evening when it's still warm, to just be relaxed, possibly a bit red faced from too much wine and good food and just happy. Ahhh! I can't wait honestly. We only visited Greece for the first time in 2019 and I loved it, but we went to an island. I imagine this will be very different!
Any other recommendations of anywhere to shop or see or anything will be very appreciated! x

NoviceNewMN · 24/08/2021 17:32

The rooftop bar at the Athens Hilton does a good cocktail and has an awesome view of the sunset over the Acropolis. The restaurant up there is also good but you want an outside table for the view.

The rooftop bar at the Grand Bretagne is also good and right on Syntagma square

The Acropolis museum and the Acropolis itself are shouldn't be missed. The museum is one of the most site sympathetic museums I've ever been too. You can literally look through the window to the Acropolis itself. Do please be prepared for the walk up to the Acropolis being a bit of a hike - it's worse if it is very hot and if you have any fitness issues - so build your day around that - don't do it last thing if you are feeling tired or in the midday sun as it would spoil your enjoyment.

Forget Me Not - a shop in the Plaka - has some lovely and unusually stylish gifts and is worth a vist:
www.forgetmenotathens.gr/the-store

There is much tourist junk sold in the Plaka but some nice shops amongst it all and fun to wander through.

minipie · 24/08/2021 17:41

I went around 10 years ago OP but I remember my Athens restaurant choices were heavily based on this online guide by Matt Barrett an ex pat who lives there. I can’t remember the names of any of the places we ate unfortunately but I still remember the food!!

Raaaaaaarr · 24/08/2021 17:53

I'm Greek and the one and only time I went there I didn't like it. The mistake I made was to pick a random area to stay. There were syringes in the street and people shooting up etc - it was awful. That said the area around the acropolis is lovely and agree that the acropolis museum and restaurant is great. I think just follow guidance on the best areas to go to.

Original poster
Hairbrush123 · 24/08/2021 22:30

@SicParvisMagna where are you staying? Sounds fabulous!

Thanks all for the recommendations. I will look at them. So exciting!

OP posts:
TomAllenWife · 24/08/2021 22:38

Oh I'm so envious, we went to Athens for the first time last year and have recommended it to anyone who'll listen since then.

Stayed in a beautiful hotel with rooftop bar and pool with fantastic views of the acropolis.
It was so lovely and hot and we lay out in it every day then ate and drank every nite. It was the perfect trip.

Have a lovely time Smile

TheWholeWorld · 24/08/2021 22:43

Loved Athens. We stayed in a friend's apartment in glyfada but it's a pretty nice suburb with some good restaurants and a metro station. Yes to all previous recommendations. Also Athens is Really Hilly - which is great for views of the city but you will feel it after wandering the streets. Would also recommend the temple of Poseidon at Sounion if you have time.

SicParvisMagna · 25/08/2021 16:50

[quote Hairbrush123]@SicParvisMagna where are you staying? Sounds fabulous!

Thanks all for the recommendations. I will look at them. So exciting![/quote]
We are staying in a hotel called the Herodion which is on the same road as the museum, with views over the back of the acropolis but it's walking minutes from the south entrance to it, and like I say the museum itself.
I'm more than happy to share the trips and stuff we have planned if you fancy stealing some ideas? :) Happy to help!

Original poster
Hairbrush123 · 25/08/2021 23:59

@SicParvisMagna yes please! PM or write it on here. I would be ever so grateful. Thanks.

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Africa2go · 26/08/2021 00:05

Agree with a pp. Went expecting a gorgeous cultural city and it was really disappointing. We were offered drugs repeatedly, it was dirty and even as a couple I felt unsafe.

I would travel to an island/islands and limit my time in Athens in all honesty.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 26/08/2021 00:05

DD and I stayed there a couple of years ago and loved seeing the historical sites. I also found the ancient church nestled under a highrise building amusing.

You get approached a lot on the streets by people wanting you to buy things. And the begging was eye-opening. A man and his 2 young children stood out to me. They spent their day sitting on his lap under a blanket to seem like more of a draw for people to give money.

Tell me about Athens
DrMadelineMaxwell · 26/08/2021 00:11

Also, traffic is a nightmare in the centre and in the plaka area, so a short transfer distance can take aaaages to travel. And beware motorbikes turning at junctions even if you've pressed a crossing button and theoretically have the right of way to cross. They also park everywhere and you often can't pass on the pavements.

ShuddaBeenMe · 26/08/2021 00:15

We were looking forward to it and it wasn't good at all. It was full of drug dealers and aggressive beggars.

Honestly if I went again I'd get a boat to one of the islands.

Bayleaf25 · 26/08/2021 09:02

We’ve been recently and really liked it. We enjoyed the Acropolis, Ancient Agora and the stadium of the modern Olympics. I would give the Temple of Zeus a miss if I’m being honest.

We enjoyed wandering around, drinking coffee and people watching. We only had 2 days though and I’m not sure I needed much more (or would venture further out of the city).

Bayleaf25 · 26/08/2021 09:03

Just to add, we didn’t actually experience any aggressive begging or drug taking.