Athens ║ A Quick Travel Guide

While Athens itself may not be what you thought it was supposed to be, (i.e. it is pretty dirty) then heading to the local or even farther islands may be what you need.

The city of Athens can be described as ancient meets modern. On a hill above you is a monument like the Parthenon and below it modern hotels and restaurants. There’s a lot of contrast and that makes it pretty cool to see it all. There is graffiti everywhere — this is the teens rebelling, say the locals. I saw a lot of people taking photos of the graffiti because some of them are really artistic and just plain awesome.

  

The currency is Euros, but don’t worry there are a lot of affordable things to buy. So if you forgot to bring a hat and sunglasses then get ready to haggle prices! But really, make sure you’ve packed your sunglasses and hat, comfortable walking shoes, and a backpack/cross.

Visit all the monuments; in fact, spend one whole day walking around the city chasing after monuments! There’s a pass that costs 12 Euros that allows you access for 4 days into all the monuments (i.e The Acropolis, Temple of Zeus, The Agora and about six other). You need to see all of them, because they look even better in real life compared to the history books.

If you download Rick Steves’ app then you can hear all the information on the monuments and find the best walking paths on your own. We found an awesome walking path that just mesmerized us!

What you need to do is jump on a Hop On/Off bus to get a great view of the city your first day. This bus ride is so worth it, because you get to see the city while in an air-conditioned bus, take photos and decide where you want to experience more in depth.

Stay

Stay at the O&B Boutique Hotel – it’s a newly renovated boutique hotel that pays attention to their customers. We had a view of the Parthenon that was out of this world! Couldn’t believe how close to it we were.

Shop

So, the shopping was interesting in Athens. I don’t think that they care much for malls or the usual European shopping as much. There’s a big department store called Attica that has about six floors of everything! If you have been to Paris and visited Galleries Lafayette then you’ll understand what I’m talking about.

There are shops everywhere, and as a tourist, you really do want to buy from the mom and pops around town. That’s where you’ll meet the awesome locals! Make sure to buy Greek olives, handmade leather sandals, spices for Greek dishes and a small bottle of Ouzo to drink with friends ツ

Do Not Miss

See the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; this is a must! The guards change every hour, and the way they do it is just phenomenal, plus you can get a picture taken with one of the guards.

Stop at Fish Doctor to get your tired feet cleaned – by fish! Ticklish at first but once you get used to it you’ll like the little bites, not to mention how awesome your feet will glow afterwards!

Walk

Through The Plaka and Anafiotika. Look this up and do not miss it. Basically you will walk through tiny alleyways and see into these beautiful homes on hills. It’s so magical, my favorite part of Athens!

 

Eat

Gyros║ Taziki║ Greek yogurt ║ Souvlaki

Don’t forget that this is the country where you’ll eat the best Gyros, Taziki, Greek yogurt, and Souvlaki!

 

Bring

Sunglasses ║ Comfortable walking shoes ║ A backpack/cross body bag ║ A hat

The art, culture, people, and architecture of Athens are beyond words. While taking photos is a great idea, some fun videos are even better than words! Make sure you’re uploading to Insta and Facebooking to make everyone back home jealous!

Buy yourself a small souvenir, send your mom a postcard, and make friends with the locals, they’ll be the ones to tell you where all the authentic hangouts are – you’ll remember your trip for a lifetime!

 

 

♡find me at www.CandidlyYekta.com