Athens in 4 days: places and food you can't miss
- Vipasana Karkee
- Sep 26
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
My trip to Athens was a last-minute decision. It was October in Switzerland, the weather had started getting dreary...and my jackets were out from the basement. My boyfriend called me at work and said the magic words: let's go to Athens next week!
"No way," I reacted immediately. I had just started a new position at work and was determined not to come off as complacent. I paused for two more seconds and went on, "Okay, let's go, but let's go in two weeks...so that I have more time to mentally prepare." And so I did, and went on this lovely trip to this historical city.
Where to go:
Acropolis
Do I even have to say why? This historical complex in Athens is a must-visit. Even if you forget about it before your trip, you will be reminded of it once you're in Athens as it sits atop a hill and is visible from many parts of Athens. As a big fan of Disney's Hercules, it was surreal to see all the monuments and Greek architecture that inspired this movie.
Tip: Book your tickets in advance! We booked our tickets for the sunset slot, which was around 6 pm in October. The golden hour lighting is magical.
Hop-on hop-off bus
I'm embarrassed to say this but I partook in this cheesy ritual. With only a few days to soak in all the history, we decided to let our snobbiness go and booked our city tour tickets. We booked it very last minute so this is certainly an activity you can book once you're in the city and get a sense of how you want to enjoy the city.
We took the Big Bus tours which showed us the Temple of Zeus, the National Library, and so much more!
Plaka and Monastiraki
These were some of the nicest neighborhoods I've been to in Europe. So very lively, with lots of restaurants, bars, and cafés. Time passes by quickly when walking around the narrow streets and entering cute little shops! We stayed in Monastiraki and would stay in the neighborhood again in a heartbeat.
Kalamaki Beach
There was no way we were leaving Athens without taking a dip in the Mediterranean waters. Friends and family who had visited Greece warned us that the beaches in Athens wouldn't be as nice as the ones in the Greek islands. I'm sure they're right, but the Kalamaki beach in Athens was more than I'd asked for. The water was a clear blue, beaches were clean and quiet, and the sunsets were magical. We went here every day!
The beach club was rather pricey and you have to pay to enter, which is funny because Kalamaki beach is free - which is why I recommend only going to the beach.
Where to eat:
I am a nuisance to travel with sometimes because I want to go to the nicest places to eat when I travel. One bad restaurant can ruin a whole trip, or make it memorable, however you want to see it. If you are anything like me, here are a few tried and tested restaurants.
Perfect place for souvlaki and pitas and everything Greek. They have outdoor seating and I found it to be a perfect lunch restaurant.
Great place for Greek classics. We loved the desserts here. Oh and the view from the rooftop is magnificent!
This Mediterranean place will not disappoint you! It feels more contemporary but traditional (am I making sense?)...well you will have to visit to know.
Great place for cocktails in Monastiraki.
If you're anything like me and needs to switch up cuisines every few meals, I'd recommend this Italian place. Delicious food awaits!
I hope I have equipped you with all you need for a quick trip to Athens! Enjoy the food, the people, and the beauty of this historical city.
Comments