What I did: Acropolis and Parthenon- I visited the Acropolis and surrounding area including the Parthenon. It is an area steeped in history, and it also provides great views of the surrounding area. Acropolis Museum- The Acropolis Museum is a very nice place to visit for anyone interested in Greek or world history. It provides background on the Acropolis and Parthenon, and contains a number of interesting displays. Free Walking Tour- As I have mentioned before, free walking tours are a great way to see a city. I went on a tour led by Pluto, who, in addition to showing us around the city, also offered us some free snacks and drinks along the way. Panathenaic Stadium- The Panathenaic Stadium is one of the most famous stadiums in the world. It is worth a visit when in Athens. The entrance fee is relatively inexpensive, and audio tour guides are offered and provide context and information about the iconic stadium. Monastiraki- Monastiraki is an area with a variety of shops and cafes. It is a cool area to walk through, and some good deals can be found on a variety of things. Central Market- The Central Market in Athens has a wide variety of foods and trinkets for sale. Most of the food for sale is not sold ready to eat, but there are numerous restaurants near the market also. Syntagma Square- The Syntagma Square was a cool place to walk around while I was there. At night I watched a break dancing competition, and also watched the changing of the guard in front of the parliament building which was...unique and interesting. This square was also featured in the latest Jason Bourne movie. Where I ate and drank: Athinaikon Restaurant- Athinaikon Restaurant was a nice restaurant a short walk from Syntagma Square. Their food was good, and their service was excellent. Mokka Specialty Coffee- Mokka Specialty Coffee serves Greek coffee in the traditional style. They grind the coffee into a fine powder, then heat it in a pot in hot sand. The coffee is served without filtering the grounds. Because the coffee beans are finely ground, they create a mud-like substance at the bottom of the cup. After drinking the rest of the coffee, some people believe they can read futures by pouring out the grounds and deciphering them. Fresko Yogurt Bar- Fresko Yogurt Bar offered traditional greek yogurt with options of traditional or nontraditional greek toppings. It was very good, and I would recommend stopping by when in Athens. TsiknaBoom- TsiknaBoom is a great, local, authentic restaurant for very good prices. It is definitely worth a stop when in Athens. Bet Cafe- Bet Cafe was a decent place to grab a bite to eat. It wasn't spectacular, but also wasn't particularly expensive either. Where I stayed: City Circus Athens- City Circus was a great place to stay in Athens. They offered a free glass of wine at their bar downstairs, and offered a relatively inexpensive laundry service. The staff was very nice, and everything was very clean. Athens Backpackers- Athens Backpackers was also a great place to stay in Athens. Their rooftop bar is a great place to catch a sunset and socialized with fellow travelers. How I got around:
I took the KTEL bus from the station in Patras to arrive in Athens. Once in Athens I used the metro system a few times, but I walked most of the time so I could see more of the city. My favorite thing: Athens had many things to offer. They obviously have a heavy dose of interesting history, and they also have a nice mix of the "new city." Also, I was surprised by the high quality of beer I found in Greece. Additionally, the prices of things such as food (which I thoroughly enjoyed) are relatively inexpensive when compared to other major European cities. My least favorite thing: Athens may not be what some people expect. There is graffiti scattered throughout the city, and it has a bit of an edge to it. It does not offer many of the things that other major European cities such as Rome, Barcelona, and London offer, and it has a smaller city feel. However, I think this adds to the charm of the city. For next time: Next time I would like to check out Cinque Wine Bar, as I have heard many good things about it.
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About MeWelcome to the Healthy Explorer Blog. If you like travel stories have a look around my blog and check out my podcast— maybe you'll find an extra spark for your own adventures.
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