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We wrapped up our two-and-a-half-week adventure with a quick two-day stop in Athens after our cruise. Athens is one of those places where you can’t walk five minutes without bumping into a piece of ancient history. After tossing our bags in the hotel, we headed straight for the Plaka neighborhood. A little afternoon wandering gave us a feel for the city’s maze of streets and local sights.
Athens really sprawls out, so don’t expect to see it all in two days—trust me, we tried. After hopping around Santorini, Naxos, and cruising the Adriatic for a week, we had our sights set on the big one: the Acropolis. There’s so much more to Greece, and we already know we’ll be back to dig deeper into Athens and its neighborhoods.
Day 1: Exploring the Neighborhood
Plaka is the main tourist hub at the foot of the Acropolis, full of winding pedestrian streets lined with shops and restaurants. As you wander, you’ll stumble across ancient ruins tucked between cafes and boutiques. We loved poking around and discovering a beautiful old church built in the 11th C.
Mostly, we just enjoyed meandering and soaking it all in at our own pace. Stopping at different spots to enjoy a drink or Souvlaki or both.
There’s even a quirky spot called Little Kook, decked out in Disney themes that changes seasonally, It’s pure magic and imagination. You can enjoy a meal, snack or drinks while taking in the creativity.
We stayed here…
We stayed at The Fresh Hotel, a Marriott property (points!). It’s a convenient walk to main Plaka, tourist sites, and the Acropolis. The staff was welcoming even before we arrived, arranging for a waiting car as we disembarked from our cruise. Seamless service, bag storage, and local recommendations. We enjoyed drinks and snacks on the roof before heading out to explore. The room was clean, recently refreshed, and a nice size (same as our cruise cabin!) The roof offers drinks and dinner with a view of the Acropolis. We were pleased with our choice and would recommend it to city-savvy travelers.
Day 2: All About Ancient Greece
We booked the earliest time slot possible for our Acropolis visit—early birds get the ruins, or at least a little peace. The Acropolis towers over the city, and from up there, you really see how Athens stretches out in every direction. After making our way through the gate, we started the climb. We reached the top and, for a brief, glorious moment, had the place almost to ourselves.
There’s something magical about standing next to those ancient columns and soaking up the history. We lingered at the top for about 45 minutes before the tour groups started rolling in and the magic got a little crowded. We spent another hour and a half exploring the rest of the site. After exiting the site, we found ourselves in a park with fantastic views back at the Acropolis.
You cannot miss this: We booked our Acropolis tickets the minute we booked our flights—no sense risking disappointment. Your ticket gets you into the Acropolis and the other ancient sites, but only the Acropolis needs a reservation. We highly recommend taking a tour, whether guided or self-guided, to really get the most out of your visit.
We wandered into a nearby neighborhood for lunch and a well-earned beer, with the Acropolis still keeping an eye on us from afar. Fueled up, we checked out the Temple of Ares and the Roman Agora—just another day of time-traveling through history.
Heads Up!
During the peak Summer months, Athens can get overwhelmingly hot. The Acropolis can even close, the reflections from the marble making it unsafe for tourists. Make sure you carry extra water and keep yourself hydrated. We pack our Nuun Electrolytes to drop into our water for extra replenishment.
Our Beer Note: The Alfa – pale, light lager 5% ABV has a sweet, light flavor, refreshing on a hot day. Brewed in Greece since 1961 at the Athenian Brewery. We enjoyed this beer throughout our Greek adventure.
For our last night in Greece, we treated ourselves to a rooftop dinner and drinks, with the Acropolis glowing in the distance. Something we do in most cities is a food tour – it gives you an opportunity to connect with locals, and enjoy the foods that make a location special. We have several friends take this highly rated Gourment Food Tour of Athens. If only we had more time…
Our Final Verdict
We could have used more time in Athens, but after all our adventures, we were just about ready to head home. Our take on Athens: it’s a sprawling city, a little rough around the edges, but still manages to be warm and welcoming. We will definitely be back. Athens would make a great base city for exploring the Greek mainland or as part of a larger Greek experience.
