How I Spent Four Days in and Around Athens, Greece

I’ve been to Greece several times and I always tell people that it is one country that I would always go back to. There is so much to see, do, and eat and your experience almost never will be the same as before. So, if you’re in the mood to have several days of relaxation, meet really genuinely nice people, and eat foods that will blow your mind just from the sight and smell of it, consider taking a trip to Greece.

I’ve traveled to Greece in the past and I’ve mainly stayed around Athens. I have traveled to Santorini and hope to travel to several of the other islands the next time I go. The last time I went to Greece was last September. It was a group trip with one of my best friends and her family. By now, I call them my family because through the experiences that we’ve had, they’ve kind of grown on me.

For this last trip I did a lot of the planning. I wanted to ensure that everyone had experiences that would be memorable but also challenge each person’s mind and body. This wasn’t purely a relaxation vacation. I’m thankful that everyone accepted the challenge even if there were some tough moments.

Day 1-Travel Day and Settling In

We arrived in Athens and took the public bus that runs to/from the airport. We took bus number X95 to Syntagma Square in downtown Athens. I highly encourage you to take either the metro or the bus if traveling to/from the airport. It will cost you much less money.

If you opt for the three-day tourist pass then you can use your pass to get around the entire time. Then you can use the pass on your last day to get back to the airport. The three-day pass includes one roundtrip fare to/from the airport and then all fares in/around Athens. The metro and buses are pretty reliable and are regularly on time. This video does a pretty good job of explaining the different transportation options from the airport.

We were pretty tired after the long flight from the U.S. So we headed to our accommodation. We stayed in a wonderful Airbnb in what appeared to be a boho/artsy area near the Ermou pedestrian street. The area had a lot going on in the evenings and was very lively. Still even as the nightlife heated up outside, we were able to rest with little to no noise. This area is also very close to two main metro stations and other transportation.

After finding our Airbnb and dropping off our bags, we decided to eat at Athinaikon Restaurant. We wanted to get our first taste of Greek & Mediterranean cuisine. The restaurant had a lot of options for both vegetarians and meat-eaters. I think we went a little overboard when ordering but anything was better than airline food.

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The food was wonderful and a perfect way to wind down from our travel day. Athinaikon Restaurant was reasonably priced. I thought the casual yet somewhat romantic ambiance was worth the price as well as the food. We grabbed desserts from the restaurant and headed back to the house and got some much-needed rest.

Day 2- Dinner and a Night Performance

We got up early and went to the travel agency in Pireaus port to pick up tickets to ride the ferry for our day trip from Athens to the island of Hydra. It was a short train ride down to Piraeus port from Athens.

After we picked up the tickets we went to meet the rest of the family at the airport. Our Airbnb host had arranged pickup from the airport for us all. So we headed over to our new Airbnb situated just below the Acropolis.

While everyone got refreshed I broke down the itinerary. I let the group know that later that evening we would be going to an outdoor performance at the Dora Stratou Greek Theatre. So we decided to go get something to eat.

We took a detour to check out some street and wall art while we walked over to the theater because I love public art.

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Now I admit that I did not know that the hike from our house to where the theatre was would be somewhat strenuous but after a while we made it over the hills near the theatre. We found a quaint little restaurant called Kouvelos at 66 Gennaiou Kolokotroni str, Athens, 11741. We just happened upon this restaurant with no planning and luckily they had room to seat us. The food was amazing and the wine and drinks, as well as the service, were awesome. They do have live music on certain nights. So, I encourage you to just wander sometimes because you never know what you’ll find.

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After dinner, although everyone was feeling kind of sluggish from the food and drinks, we headed over to the the Dora Stratou Theatre and watched the performance. Unfortunately, half of my friends and family were falling asleep as it had been a long day. I’m glad we were able to catch an authentic Greek song and dance performance to be enriched culturally. I even shot a short video of the performance.

Getting a taxi at night from Dora Stratou Greek Theatre was not very easy. I highly advise arranging some sort of transfer service to get you back to your accommodations prior to attending.

We practically had to fight for the last remaining taxi. Then, the taxi drivers could not find our address although they bragged about driving for 20+ years! It’s probably because so many of the streets look similar and are spelled or pronounced in a completely different way. Good thing I had my Google directions running to help the driver.

TIP: One way to help keep safe, avoid getting lost, or make sure your driver is not abducting you is to run Google Maps or another app. You can then see where your driver is taking you.

We ended up getting dropped off near one of the entrances to the Acropolis on the Plaka. It turned out okay because our accommodation was within 5 minutes of the Acropolis. Many of the streets surrounding the Acropolis are pedestrian streets that vehicles can’t enter during most times of the day. So keep that in mind if you’re staying near the Acropolis. You may just have to walk!

Day 3- Failed Day Trip to Hydra but Rolling with the Punches

This was supposed to be our relaxation day with a trip to the island of Hydra. I had booked the ferry tickets directly through Hellenic Seaways. You can purchase tickets through other carriers that can get you a ferry ride to two other islands Aegina and Poros for a little bit more. Just be sure the tours are in season.

TIP: Be sure to read the fine print of your ferry reservation because some ferry companies advise that you have to pick your tickets up 24 hours prior to boarding. The closest pick-up station for me was actually in Piraeus, so that is why I had to make the separate trip mentioned earlier.

Anyway, I had booked ground transportation to Piraeus port through KeyTours. When we arrived, our driver couldn’t find our ferry. He went to ask about the ship as he thought for some reason that the ship had left. He found out that our departure had been canceled due to rough seas.

TIP: You may find this happens a lot during certain seasons. Be sure to check with the ferry company before you head out. Gusty conditions can also delay flights as well, so check with your airline or sign up for text/email updates to keep you in the loop.

One thing I’ve learned through traveling is that you just have to roll with the punches. Plans change and you just have to adapt. Rather than let the canceled ferry ruin our day, we had a little breakfast at Athina Bistrot. We decided to jump on a hop-on-hop-off bus to find a beach to go enjoy the sand and sun. We headed to Edem Beach and spent a few hours there just drinking, swimming, taking photos, and just having a wonderful time.

If you are planning a day trip to Hydra, we had planned to relax on the beaches of the Mandraki Beach Resort. There are a few beaches on Hydra but the island itself does not have any cars so everyone gets around by speedboat, donkey, or by walking. Mandraki Beach Resort is one of the few resorts that provide access to the resort’s beach and is a bit more luxurious.

You don’t even have to book a hotel room. You can reserve your beach chairs and towels for a small fee before you even show up. Just check with the resort before you arrive to confirm your reservation. I did want to note that many resorts and locations close during the off-season. So if they don’t immediately reply to your email, be patient and follow up.

Some of the other beaches from what I read on TripAdvisor were a bit more treacherous and rocky. A few beaches of note are Saint Nicholas Beach, Vlychos Beach, and Avlaki Beach. Take note of how far away each beach is from the ferry dock so you make sure you calculate the appropriate time to get back to the dock to catch your ferry.

Day 4 – Acropolis and surrounding area

What visit to Athens would be complete without a visit to the Acropolis? As I had been to Athens before, I couldn’t let the people that I was traveling with not trek up the hillside to get a gander at the abounding history atop The Acropolis.

The Acropolis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains several buildings of great historical significance including The Temple of Athena Nike, the Theatre of Dionysus Eleuthereus, the Propylaea, and the most photographed and well-known by tourists; The Parthenon.

We had a quick breakfast to charge us up for the day. I had purchased our entrance tickets in advance which included Acropolis the skip-the-line feature, so getting in was easy when the gates opened at 8am (check the opening times before you go). The walk to the Acropolis is approximately a nine minute walk, but the incline increases quite drastically.

TIP: I HIGHLY suggest to get there as close to 8:00 AM as possible as the cruise ship/tourist crowds start to come about an hour/hour and a half after that. It’ll be nicer without all the crowds and possibly a bit cooler temperature-wise.

If it looks crowded when you get there, then you can always do the Acropolis Museum first, then lunch, then the Acropolis. Just be aware that in the summer, the marble gets quite hot and there is no shade up by the Parthenon. Here’s a view of the crowds from the Propylaea or the entrance gate to the Acropolis.

To explore the Acropolis, I highly suggest comfortable walking shoes, preferably with grip as the marble/rock is very slippery. Also, I suggest sun protection and water as there is hardly any shade. It will still be about 80-90 degrees in early September all day.

If you’re traveling solo or just want to know a bit about what you’re looking at while you’re up there, download the Rick Steves Audio Europe app of iOS and Android and then Rick Steves Acropolis Tour and map prior to going so you have a free audio tour. 

Once you get past the congestion leading out into the main grounds of the Acropolis, I think seeing the Parthenon for the first time just might take your breath away! It’s so amazing that the architecture there has remained for thousands of years.

Of course, there’s always time for a selfie, right? Check out the lady in the left of the photo!

Be kind to the surroundings or you WILL get yelled at by the people maintaining the grounds. We saw a lady that knowingly walked into a restricted area with her selfie stick until the groundskeeper caught her. She ran after her and advised the lady that she was in a restricted area that was actually in the middle of being restored and she was damaging history.

When you get done at the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum is approximately an eleven min walk from the Acropolis. I also purchased these tickets in advance. again they were Acropolis Museum skip-the-line tickets. It was great to just walk by the crowd standing in line waiting to get in. The Acropolis Museum does require you to check any bag larger than a purse, so you might welcome off-loading your bag to take the weight off your shoulders.

So, at this point on our trip, the people I was visiting Athens with were getting pretty tired and hungry. Seeing so much history and walking all day can really take it out of you. So, our last adventure of the day was an authentic cooking lesson taught by a local at Chocolat Royal from the Athens Walking Tours company. I would say this was most likely the highlight of the trip!

Our teacher was Rena and she did a wonderful job and making the entire event fun and interactive. I loved the stories she told about Greece and her views of history as well as her pride in Greece. She really helped to enhance the cooking experience by helping us learn while we collectively made dinner together.

I was thankful that she and the company are very responsible about choosing dishes that are not only delightful to eat but also won’t cause any allergic reactions. If you choose to book this tour, just make sure you note any allergic or dietary issues provided in the checkout and they’ll do their best to accommodate your needs.

The menu included cheese-spinach pie (Spanokotiropita), Tzatziki Dip, Greek Salad (Horiatiki), Roasted lamb with potatoes, Dolmadakia with vine leaves, Zucchini Balls, & Yogurt Dessert.

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The cooking experience was scheduled for about four hours in total but we stayed a bit after dinner to have a few drinks and talk to Rena and some of the other guests. Honestly, the four hours went by so quickly that I wished it lasted longer.

We finished off the cooking portion of the class by throwing back a glass of Ouzo or Raki. I think the best way to drink this anise-flavored drink is to just throw it back and then yell out “Opa!!!”

They even gave us a recipe book so that we could make the recipes at home. Everything was really easy to make and made with fresh local ingredients which I think helped to make the dishes taste so even more delicious.

This experience was well worth the money because there was a lot of food. We also had a lot of fun conversations with guests from all over the world. We also got superb views of the Acropolis as the sun sets on the balcony.

TIP: This tour is less expensive with the more people you have in your group. So if you are going with a group, book all the spots together for a discount. Even if you go solo, it’s still a very worthwhile experience. The wonderful food, history, and local commentary is well worth the cost.

Concluding Thoughts

One thing I love about traveling and about life is sharing experiences. You really can be in any location as long as you’re with genuine people who are in tune with experiencing as much as life has to offer. You’re almost always guaranteed to have an amazing time. Visiting Greece has always been a place where I know great memories will be made. It’s one place that I always tell people that I would go back and visit.

When you look back at the years of your life and certain experiences just stick out as the best moments of your life, it’s really hard not to want to return to places that inspire you to be happy and stay positive.

I hope you liked coming along on this journey with me. Please leave me a comment if you’ve ever visited Greece or what your hopes are for travel adventures in the future. Thanks for reading!