Kalotaxidi
Greece is one of those places is that looks just as magical as it actually is. The crystal clear water looks like an exaggeration but, its not. My Greek friend invited me to spend 8 days in Athens with her exploring her home.
Greece is very affordable
I currently live in Madrid and I was fortunate enough to live with a diverse amount of people my first year here. Living with 3 girls from Greece, Latvia, and El Salvador was such a great experience and we’re still close today. My Greek roommate moved back to her home in Athens last summer and offered to host me anytime. Of course, I took her up on her offer! She hosted me at her apartment in the center of Athens and I got to see Greece from a local view. Here’s how to spend 8 days in the ancient city of Athens.
The summer months are blazing hot so be prepared with sunscreen and light clothing.
Learn a few words in Greek
Learn some greetings and simple requests like hello, good morning, good afternoon, good evening, and do you speak English? All of these will be extremely helpful when you come to interact with others.
A bus from the airport to the center of Athens is 6€ (one-way) and from there it is very easy to walk around! If you plan to see many sites in the center in a day, then hop on the rail. There’s only 2 lines so it’s not easy to get lost.
Do a free walking tour
This is the easiest way to explore the center on foot and hear about Athens history. You’ll see sites like Hadrian’s Arch, National Gardens, and Zappeio Hall
Visit the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Parthenon and Temple of Zeus
You can buy certain tickets based on what you want to see. A ticket for the Acropolis is €20-€30 but if you have time, buy the combination ticket for the museum as well.
Monastiraki Flea Market
An absolute must for finding local and cheap finds. Buy some olive oil and pistachio butter if you find them!
For some amazing ice cream shops in Athens check out this post by Greece Is
Bairaktaris
A great Greek restaurant with amazing food and prices in the center by Syntagma Square
Philopappou Monument
This has been called the best viewpoint of the Acropolis and 360 view of Athens. Hike up the hill and see for yourself!
Visit Panathenaic Stadium
Original Stadium of Modern Day Olympics
The site of the first modern Olympic games! You can actually take a stroll or go for a run inside.
Roam around and eat in Kallithea and Plaka
Two of the most popular neighborhoods in Athens, Kallithea and Plaka are great for dinner and a night out
See some of the lesser visited Greek Islands
I did not travel to Santorini or Mykonos. I cannot afford a luxury trip like that, but maybe one day! Greece has thousands of beautiful of islands and those two are the most expensive, even for tourists. Go out of bounds and explore the not so popular ones. I visited Aegina this time round and I plan see Paros, Naxos, Sifnos, Crete, and Corfu next time.
Ferry from Athens to Aegina Island
As the trip came to a close, we left one day to take a ferry from Athens to the beautiful island of Aegina, just an hour ferry ride. My friend recommended Saronic Ferries as the best and cheapest option. Aegina has this beautiful, quaint charm about it and not a tourist in sight! It was lined with olive trees and beaming sun.
To read more information about this island visit here
Overall, I think the city of Athens can be easily explored within 3 days. The purpose of my trip was to spend time with my friend and get the local flavor of the country, so I didn’t travel around the Greek islands like most do. I highly recommend exploring the city of Athens for 3 days or so and then head on to exploring some of the Greek Islands!
For more exploration in Europe, visit Skiing in the Spanish Pyrenees
