Exploring Europe's Oldest Capital - An Athens Travel Guide to Planning Your Perfect Trip
When you’re planning a unique European city break, there’s nowhere on Earth quite like the Greek capital. As one of the oldest cities in the world, there’s an amazing amount of history and ancient architecture to explore. This short Athens travel guide will help you shape your holiday itinerary so you include the very best on offer.
Walking in the footsteps of those who’ve lived here across thousands of years is a special feeling. You can’t fail to be awestruck by the historical structures that have stood the test of time. When you plan your trip to Athens, it doesn’t all have to be about the past. There are plenty of modern attractions that are well worth a visit, too.
We’ve split our Athens travel guide below into two parts, one for couples and one for families. Have a read through and start imagining your next holiday in this unrivalled part of the world.
An Athens travel guide for couples
When you’re dreaming of a romantic city break, it’s fair to say Athens may not be the first European city that springs to mind. It’s absolutely worth considering, though, as you’ll see from our selection of highlights below.
● An Athens icon
Perched on top of the Acropolis, you’ll find the imposing Parthenon monument. This mesmerising marble temple dates back to 447 BC. Climbing the steps up the Acropolis gives you access to astonishing views over Athens. In our opinion, the best time to visit is at sunset when the pillars bathe in the last of the golden light at the end of another beautiful day in the Greek capital.
● Take a stroll around Anafiotika
If you decide to visit the Acropolis at the end of the day, there’s a picturesque neighbourhood below called Anafiotika we’d highly recommend. It’s located next to the busy Plaka district and is home to fewer than 50 houses.
Wandering the cobbled streets hand-in-hand with the one you love will give you that unbeatable holiday feeling. The narrow alleys and whitewashed houses are the perfect backdrop for romantic selfies for your social media accounts.
● Nourish your soul in the National Garden
There’s more to Athens than its incredible history. When you’d like a break from sightseeing and the buzz of the city, taking a trip to the National Garden is the perfect escape.
Spanning an impressive 15.5 hectares, the garden has around 7,000 trees and 40,000 species of other bushes and plants. The peaceful surroundings make it the perfect place to spend time with your partner and plan the rest of your trip. There’s also a lovely cafe in the grounds, where time seems to stand still as you watch the world go by.
● Leap into Lake Vouliagmeni
Just over 30 minutes from the city, you’ll find a hidden gem in Lake Vouliagmeni. Fresh water and thermal springs combine in this idyllic little getaway. You can dine al fresco and enjoy a lazy day in the sun with the beautiful trees and rocks providing a naturally stunning backdrop.
Great family fun in Greece
If you’re travelling as a family to Athens, there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained, excited and inspired. This second part of our Athens travel guide recommends some of the best places for kids you may want to research before you go.
● We’re going to the zoo!
A trip to the zoo is always a fun and fascinating day out. The Attica Zoological Park boasts the third largest collection of birds in the world, including species such as the Egyptian Vulture, Golden Breasted Starling and Hyacinth Macaw. You could easily spend all day marvelling at the winged wildlife, but there are also many other animals, such as elephants, snakes and crocodiles.
The zoo also runs several educational and conservation programmes so visitors can learn more about the animals and what’s being done to save many species.
● Explore the Eugenides Foundation New Digital Planetarium
Learning more about astronomy and other natural sciences is the order of the day at this spectacular planetarium in Athens. Sit back and watch incredible shows projected on the massive dome covering topics like ‘The Story of Earth’ and ‘The Enchanted Reef’.
There are shows for all ages, which are a great opportunity to learn more about the world around us in an entertaining and engaging way.
● Figures of fun
If your children are at an age where they love Playmobil, there’s one place in Athens you can’t afford to miss. The Playmobil FunPark brings these figures to life through various themes and will keep your kids engrossed as they wander around admiring the pirate ships, medieval castles and farms.
There’s also an on-site cafe if you can get your little ones to curb their excitement long enough to grab a quick bite to eat.
● See the city from high above
Our final Athens travel guide pick for families is a trip to the highest point in the city, Lycabettus Hill. At 277 metres, you may not all find walking to the top appealing, especially on a hot summer’s day. Luckily, there’s a cable car to do the hard work for you, making for a thrilling adventure for kids and adults alike.
The journey only takes a few minutes, so you can spend lots of time at the summit admiring the views or having a lovely lunch at the restaurant. There’s also a pretty whitewashed church at the top, St. George, which makes for another great photo opportunity from this fantastic vantage point.
These are just a few places we’d recommend visiting during your holiday to Athens. Hopefully, they’ve given you some food for thought and inspiration for your next trip.
If you’ve got any questions about our multi-centre deals to Athens and other amazing cities, we’d love to hear from you.
