Top 10 Best Things to do in Athens

By Antonio Herrera Toro – Wikimedia

Top 10 Best Things to do in Athens

Athens is Greece’s capital and is a true definition of the peaceful merge of ancient and modern civilisation, traditional and current trends all in one.

The streets here are lined with chic cafés, cobble-stoned alleys, and fancy restaurants. There are museums and art galleries nestled in the neo-classical buildings found in the city.

The crown jewel of the city is the Parthenon and the acropolis that stand tall on top of a hill. For ideas on places to stay at while in Athens, find them here.

But first, let us look at the top 10 things that you can do while in Athens.

1. Explore the Parthenon

By Steve Swayne – Wikimedia

The Parthenon is said to be a symbol of western civilisation and Athenian democracy. It was dedicated to the goddess Athena and was built in 447 BC. This was during the period when the Athenian Empire dominated in the Aegean.

It is perched on top of a rocky outcrop and has been standing there for more than 2000 years.

The Parthenon served as a city treasury before it was turned into a church in the 6^th century. It became a mosque in the 15^th century.

Walking here you will get to see the massive pillars still standing firm and tall.

While there are still sculptures found on sight, most were plundered in the 18^th century. These artefacts can be found in the British Museum.

2. Visit the Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis museum is found in Makrigianni district in the city of Athens. It is home to several artefacts that were found at the Acropolis.

The main exhibitions in this museum include statues of Athena Nike, Erechtheion and several artefacts from the Parthenon.

This may be one of the best museums you will visit in Athens. The artefacts in here will complement your trip from the Acropolis ruins.

It is a unique museum with an interesting glass floor that lets you peek at artefacts below. The museum was designed by Bernard Tschumi a Swiss architect.

You can get a beautiful view of the Parthenon from the museum.

3. Tour the National Archaeology Museum

This archaeological museum was founded in the 19th century. It is the largest archaeological museum in the entire country as well as the one with the greatest collections of ancient artefacts.

The museum is in a neoclassical building that has more than 8,000 square feet display space. There are five permanent collections displayed and 11,000 other exhibits.

Walking through this museum, you will get to walk down the memory lane of Greek civilization. You will get an overview of the prehistory period to the classical period.

In the prehistoric collection, you will find artefacts from the sixth millennium BC to 1050 BC.

There are rare masterpieces of ancient Greek sculptures, vases and other decorative objects from the 11^th century. This gives you a look at ancient Greek pottery.

4. Stroll through the Plaka Neighbourhood

By Steve Swayne – Wikimedia

In our previous blog, this neighbourhood features in one of the places to stay in Athens read it here.

It also falls under things to do because of its narrow alleys and proximity to the Acropolis. This neighbourhood is one of the oldest inhabited areas in Greece.

The charming old lanes are lined with ruins of crumbling buildings from different periods. There are also some of the beautifully restored old buildings.

Strolling through this neighbourhood, you will find small museums, historic churches, and attractive squares lined with restaurants and cafés.

It turns colourful in the summer when the bougainvillaea flowers bloom. The streets here have antique shops selling ceramics, musical instruments, handmade jewellery, spices, oils and food.

5. Explore the Ancient Agora: Ruins of the Marketplace

By Janmad – Wikimedia

The ancient Agora once served as a marketplace and was the hub of daily life in ancient Athens. If you happen to be at the Acropolis on the northern wall, you can get an impressive view of the Agora from afar.

Agora is a Greek word meaning gather and orate. This tells you that the market place also served as a venue for public speeches.

Other than being a market place, it served as an administrative location, hosted athletic events and theatre performances.

One feature you cannot miss seeing while here is the Stoa of Attalos that was built by King Attalos II. It was renovated in the 1950s. This is where Socrates’ trial was held in 399 B.C.

6. See historic artefacts at the Museum of Cycladic Art

This is another museum that needs to be on your list of things do in Athens. It is found in the Kolonaki quarter and has been open to the public since 1986.

The museum is in a modern building with a façade of marble and glass. Its permanent collection is made up of more than 3,000 artefacts.

In here you will find art that represents ancient Greek, art from the Cyclades and Cypriot art. They go as far as the 4^th century and 6^th centuries B.C.

The temporary exhibits in this museum can be found in the 19^th century Stathatos Mansion. This building can be accessed from the main building.

7. Monastiraki & the Flea Market

By Janmad – Wikimedia

The Monastiraki neighbourhood is famous for its flea market. You will find narrow streets are lined with shops selling jewellery, apparels and groceries.

This area has a very unique ambience and is a nice place to just relax at an outdoor patio and people watch or stroll through the stalls.

There are several restaurants in this neighbourhood. It is, therefore, a good place to come for lunch to sample a gyro or any type of traditional Greek dish.

The main square here is surrounded by both new and old buildings and has a lot of fascinating sights.

8. Check out the Herod Atticus Odeon

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This is a Roman-era concert hall that was built in 161 A.D under orders of the Athenian Magnate Herodes Atticus. He built it in memory of his wife Aspasia Annia Regilla.

At least 5,000 people would be seated at the arena at once, there was a roof made from cedar wood that provided shade. This was destroyed by Hercules in 275 B.C.

For more than 1000 years, the arena was abandoned and left for ruins. The first excavation of the site was done by archaeologist Kyriakos Pittakis in 1848.

Restoration of the theatre was done in the 1950s by rebuilding stone tiers using marble from Mount Pentelicus.

Evening concerts, music and art festivals, including the Athens & Epidaurus Festival are held here giving you an experience similar to those held at the same venue centuries ago.

9. Changing of the Guard at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Another thing to do while in Athens is to watch the change of guard at Syntagma Square. It is an exciting and memorable experience.

These are soldiers of the presidential guard that stand in front of the Hellenic Parliament. It is also known as the tomb of the unknown soldier. They are here all year-round, day and night.

The soldiers always adorn traditional costumes complete with pleated skirts, leg tassels, and pompom shoes.

The monument found here, honours an unknown soldier who died while fighting for the country. It features a marble imitating a warrior’s grave from ancient times.

The monument was carved in the early 1930s. It has blended both French Empire design and Athens’ ancient architecture.

10. Temple of Hephaestus

Lastly, make a stop at Temple of Hephaestus which is at the top of the Agoraios Kolonos hill. This is on the northwest side of the Agora of Athens.

The temple was built in the second half of the 5^th century B.C, however, the construction was delayed for at least three decades due to lack of funds and labour. All the available resources were redirected towards the Parthenon.

It is much smaller than the Parthenon but has amazing sculpted elements. You will see the labour of Hercules, pronaos and opisthodomos, and the battle of Centaurs and Lapiths.

The best view of this temple is from the outside.