This week I will take you to the neighboring country of Greece. Extending the weekend and having a 3-4 day getaway and whether Turkish coffee is better, Greek coffee; The ideal address to end the debates about whether Turkish yogurt is tastier or Greek yogurt is the capital city. 

Visit Acropolis and All Historical Places

When you think of Athens, places full of history such as the Acropolis, the Parthenon and the Temple of Zeus come to mind. First of all, let me determine right away that the Acropolis is not a historical monument, it is the name of the hill where the famous Parthenon is located. It is also the highest peak in the city. The name Acropolis is already a combination of the words akros (highest) and polis (city). In the Acropolis, there are structures such as the Temple of Nike, the Erechtheion, the most famous of which is the Parthenon. They are also quite well preserved. You may have seen many historical cities, especially on the Aegean coast, but the Acropolis in Athens is really impressive. I suggest you spend at least one day here. Please note that the ticket you buy to visit this area is valid for 5 days.

You can visit the Acropolis Museum to see the historical artifacts unearthed from the Acropolis.

Another of the famous historical buildings in Athens is the Temple of Zeus. Although most of it has been destroyed, it is not difficult to imagine what a magnificent place it was in its time. On your way to the Temple of Zeus, you can also stop by the Hadrian’s Arch near it.

My last suggestion for the historical part of Athens is to watch a concert in the Herodes Atticus Odeon if you come across the festival period.

Enjoy the View at Lycabettus Hill

I must also say that the best place to see the Acropolis from the front is Lycabettus Hill. You can go up this hill on foot or you can take advantage of the cable car. In fact, the most beautiful thing is to go up by cable car and go down on foot. A nice spot for sunset hours.

Explore City Squares

Let’s explore the present of the city. Let your first stop be Syntagma Square, where the Parliament Building is located. This is one of the places where the heart of the city beats. Also, if you come across an open-air cinema, don’t enjoy it. When you go to Syntagma Square, don’t forget to watch the changing of the guard in front of the Parliament building. They display a very interesting image with their pleated skirts and pompom shoes.

Another lively spot of the city is Monastiraki Square. This is a fun place where mostly young people hang out and there are many cafes and bars. One of the most striking places in the square is the Tsisdarakis Mosque. On Sundays, a big flea market is set up in Monastiraki Square, if you are a fan of the market, don’t miss it.

Plaka is another neighborhood that I would recommend you to visit. This is the historical city part of Athens. It is also a region full of very cute cafes. A small corner of Plaka is also called Anafiotika. It is a neighborhood made up of houses built by locals brought from Anafi Island. Pretty cute and photographable. It is located at the foot of the Acropolis.

Visit the Stadium Where the First Olympics Were Held

If you are a sports fan, you can’t come to Athens and not see the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first Olympics were held. Although the stadium is in a very modern state today, it is very impressive to think that the Olympics were held here centuries ago and to try to feel that atmosphere.

Enjoy Greek Music

Before you end the day, take yourself to a tavern, watch the sirtaki performers with Greek music, or even start accompanying them after a few glasses of ouzo. The dishes are very similar to the Aegean cuisine we are used to, but you should try the red mullet, octopus and moussaka in Athens, what do you think?

Athens is a city that provides opportunities for both cultural tourism and sea tourism. There are beaches that can be reached from the city center by tram or bus. You can also choose one of the beaches of Vouliagmenis, Alimos, Glyfada or Varkiza and spend your afternoon cooling off in the water.