The ancient metropolis Athens is best known for the remains of the antiquity. The Acropolis, Ancient Agora, and impressive temples of Hephaestus and Zeus are the biggest attractions of the Greek capital.
Athens has surprised me because it offers so much more. The colorful labyrinth of alleys beneath the Acropolis is a perfect starting point to explore by foot the authentic and trendy neighborhoods. Proceed at the end of the day to the Lycavittos Hill where at sunset you can admire the splendid views of the Acropolis and the city.
View from the Acropolis of Athens
1. The famous Acropolis
Of course you have to visit the famous ruins and the symbol of Athens, the Acropolis, with its impressive temples. This “holy mountain” lies in the middle of the city and forms the link between the present and the past.
On this mountain, you find some sacred temples, which date from the prehistoric time, all dedicated to different gods. The famous Parthenon temple on the Acropolis -of which many think that it is the Acropolis- is known for its beautiful columns and magnificent views.
The Parthenon (by Omar El Mrabt)
Other parts of the Acropolis include the Dionysus amphitheater dating from the 4th century BC, the Herodeion, the beautiful temple of Athena Nike (from 420 BC), and the 10 meters high golden ivory statue of the goddess Athena. Furthermore, a visit to the completely renewed Acropolis Museum, one of the best museums in the world, should not be missed out.
Dionysos amphitheater (click on picture to enlarge)
Do you know where Acropolis stands for? Akros stands for highest part and polis means city, in other words “the highest point of the city” 🙂
2. The old district Plaka
The picturesque district Plaka is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. Enclosed between the Syntagma Square, Monastiraki Square, the Acropolis and the main shopping street of Athens, Ermou. It is a maze of winding narrow streets and steep steps. The Plaka is a popular area for both tourists and Greeks themselves, for this reason, you find here also many souvenir shops, restaurants, and tavernas.
Also, great ruins from Antiquity can be found here, including the Roman Market and Hadrian’s Library. Take a seat at the cafes where the locals eat, order a Greek iced coffee (called frappe) and enjoy the beautiful views of the Acropolis.
Tip: Are you looking an excellent hotel in this district? Then I can recommend the brand new hotel Electra Metropolis. This hotel has a great view of the Acropolis and you can enjoy the setting sun until the late hours. Recommended!
View from the Electra Metropolis hotel
3. Authentic Greece, the Anafiotika district
If you’d like to see the traditional side of Athens, then walk up towards the Acropolis, and look for the neighborhood called Anafiotika. Anafiotika was built in the nineteenth century by inhabitants of the island of Anafi.
Here you can stroll quietly through the narrow streets and escape the hustle and bustle of Athens. The whitewashed cube-shaped houses with earthenware pots and large green plants on the doorstep make you feel you’re in the middle of a Greek picture.
Photo by Dan Costin 
4. The trendy neighborhoods Psiri & Gazi
Get local and visit the area of Psiri, that is very popular among the Greeks. Once a notorious class district, now it’s a trendy area of Athens with quaint shops, street art, restaurants, cafes, and lots of live music. The nearby quarter Gazi is as well a place where hip Athens meet. This area has recently been renovated and transformed into a nightlife center with numerous bars that are open until late-night.
In Psiri you’ll also find the most authentic taverna in town called Karamanlidika. This taverna is very popular among the locals. Karamanlidika is near the Varvakios market. At the end of this open air market, you arrive at this authentic taverna where you can nibble traditional Greek specialties.
Greek lunch at Karamanlidika in the Psiri district
5. Flea market in Monastiraki district
This district is named after the monastery which in the past was located here, and consists of the Monastiraki Square and surrounding streets. Monastiraki is just like Plaka touristic, but very nice. This district is known for its second hand shops and the weekly crowded flea market.
Every Sunday hundreds of merchants display their merchandise in this market which atmosphere is very similar to an Oriental bazaar. Grab a coffee or take a glass of wine on one of the terraces on Adrianou, overlooking the Ancient Agora and Acropolis.
6. Syntagma Square, the hub of Athenes
On this square, there is always a lot going on. Everywhere you see streams of people on their way to the shopping streets or the subway, while musicians and artists are ready to entertain the passing public.
Just steps away from Syntagma Square stands the Parliament building. Here, at every hour of the day, the ceremonial changing of the guards takes place. On Sunday, the guards also wear their traditional clothing consisting of white kilts, red berets and the famous wooden shoes with pom-poms. A popular spot for taking a picture!
7. Shopping in Kolonaki
Kolonaki is the Greek version of the famous Dutch P.C. Hooftstraat, just 10 minutes away from Syntagma Square. In this upscale and stylish neighborhood, you will find luxury boutiques selling clothes of international and Greek designers.
Most shops and cafes can be found at the Tsakalof Street. Enjoy a cup of coffee on the terrace and watch the people passing by. This street has therefore been nicknamed the catwalk and is a beautiful area to wander around or go shopping in the trendy boutiques and designer shops.
Kolonaki street
Kolonaki is also the place from which you can reach the Lycavittos Hill, with 277 meters it is the highest point in Athens. Take as the evening falls the cable car up to the top of the hill and close the day with one of the most spectacular sunsets over the city of Athens.
Beautiful sunset picture of Athens (picture made by Omar El Mrabt *)
From Athens you can fly easily to one of the islands of Greece. Read here my blog about Rhodes, the sunniest island of Greece from where you can take a boat trip to the most romantic island called Symi.
* Omar is an influencer from Finland who is making beautiful pictures. Curious about his work? ⇒ Follow him here directly at his Instagram account @omarelmrabt.