Athens, Greece Travel Guide

WHERE TO STAY

Grande Bretagne
Address: 1 Vasileos Georgiou A’str, Syntagma Square, Athens 105 64

According to the locals​,​ this is best hotel to stay at in Athens. This beautiful hotel is located right in the middle of Athens within walking distance to most tourist sites, museums and the old shopping district. It is also located in the middle of all the high end shops with all of the designer brand stores right around the corner such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton. The crowning jewel of the hotel has to be the beautiful view from the rooftop restaurant on the 8th floor of the Athens skyline including Acropolis. I looked forward to enjoying a great breakfast buffet every morning while enjoying the sunrise with the most famous landmark in the world right before your eyes. You can also head to the 8th floor for dinner and drinks to enjoy a panoramic​ic​ view. ​This is a​ must visit for a sunrise or sunset for a instagramable moment. If you don’t have the budget to stay ​at this​ hotel, I would definitely recommend going to the the restaurant and having a drink at the bar just to experience the view. The rooms are reasonably sized, comfortable and very nicely furnished. The service is definitely first class across the hotel. The staff is very attentive and accommodating.

BEST VIEW OF ACROPOLIS FOR THE SUNSET

A for Athens
Address: Miaouli 2, Athina 105 54

What a great way to end our last night in Greece. The bar is located on the 7th floor of the A for Athens hotel. Be aware that to get to the bar​,​ you must take an elevator that only holds about 6 people. If you are a bit claustrophobic​,​ you can use the stairs. Right when you step out of the elevator, the breathe taking view of the sunset setting over Acropolis was revealed. Situated on the rooftop​,​ it has a terrific breathtaking view to the Parthenon and Monastiraki square. We went in off season (October) and the bar was almost full at 6pm​. S​o if you are planning on going July-August​.​ you should consider reserving a table. Drinks were not as expensive as I might have thought. About 10 euros per drink. The bar has a menu full of interesting fun cocktails. If you want a table with a view, get ready to swoop in like a vulture as soon as anybody moves. We were lucky enough to catch the last two seats at the bar. Hands down the best view of Acropolis at night, no doubt.

Galaxy Bar
Address: 46 Vassilissis Sofias Avenue, Athens, 11528

The Galaxy Bar is located on the top floor of the Hilton hotel. It offers a very cool atmosphere, great music and a magnificent view of Acropolis and Athens​.​ which is worth seeing it lite up at night. This bar is a must-visit for those staying in Athens​.​ but be aware that the drinks are on the expensive side. Drinks can run about 20 euros each and the service is a bit slow​.​ but well worth to head up for one drink as it has been ranked as one of the world’s 10 best rooftop bars.

Vive Mar
Address: Leof. Kon/nou Karamanli 18, Voula 166 73

We visited here ​after spending the day at Vouliagmeni Lake.This all day cafe-restaurant is located on the Athens Riviera, on the sea, located between Glyfada and Vouliagmeni and about a 30 minute drive from Athens city centre. Staying in Athens, you sometimes need to escape to see the real beauty of Greece. Visiting the lake and Vive ​M​​​ar was one of the highlights to our Athens trip. Looking across the water you really get why people truly love Greece.
Great food, beautifully decorated inside and outside, fun atmosphere, wonderful staff, a very relaxing and romantic atmosphere. Service was fast and attentive, the food was tasty, well cooked and presented and ​the staff was polite. ​It is a great location to just chill out, relax and enjoy the true beauty of Greece. You can’t go wrong here! I would definitely go back again and again.

PLACES TO VISIT

Acropolis of Athens

A must see while visiting Athens​, as it is probably the most famous of archaeological sites. Best to go early in the morning​, as it can get extremely busy with a lot of tour groups. It is quite a hike up to the Acropolis, but well worth it once you reach the top. Make sure to hydrate and wear walking shoes with good traction. There are a lot of steps, it is on top of a hill after all. It is an all uphill climb and the marble can be extremely slippery. The climbing up part might be challenging for some, but if you take it slow you will be alright. You can purchase a water bottle outside the main entrance and refill the water once you reach the top. Entrance is 20 euros per person. You can purchase a 30 euro pass which includes 7 other attractions. It is amazing to see the remains of the original buildings as well as the repairs being completed. The 360 degree views of the city are absolutely incredible. Wandering through the Acropolis leaves you in awe. It’s hard to imagine how such a massive structure could be been erected over 2500 years ago. The restoration is being handled very sensitively and the information boards will give you an overview of how and why the various buildings were constructed and used. Much of the Parthenon has been taken apart and put back together with pieces being replaced or clamped to remedy the wear and tear of centuries. A lot of the area’s were under restoration but still spectacular to visit. You will need 1 ½ – 2 hours in order to fully enjoy your time there. It’s incredible to think every where you’re walking is over 2000 years of history around you.

Vouliagmeni Lake

When in Athens​, you probably want to visit the beach, right? Well if you are looking for something a little outside the box and enjoy something that the locals do, you can visit Vouliagmeni Lake. The setting of the lake was just beautiful with steep cliffs and crystal clear water. We took a thirty minute uber ride from our hotel here​, which cost about 29 euros but it was well worth it. An amazing natural lake with the perfect constant temperature all year long. Entrance fee was 12 euros per person. Remember to bring a towel with you​, but if you don’t you can purchase one for 17 euros each. I could imagine this lake gets very busy in peak season​. Since we visited mid​-October on a weekend and luckily were able to grab the last two lounge chairs. Lifeguards were on duty the whole time we were there​, which also makes it perfect to bring the kids. They have changing rooms in the back if you need to change into your bathing suit. We may have missed it but there didn’t see​m to be any safe place to leave your valuables​, so leave what you can at your hotel and don’t forget to grab that towel from your hotel. The lake is full of doctor fi​sh that eat all the dead skin of your body. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone of all ages.