Athens; These are the best tips for a weekend

Take the metro to downtown Athens

After a short flight of 3.5 hours (or three episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty), you’re already in the capital. And that airport, Eleftherios Venizelos, you’ll get through in no time. Of course, you can rent a car or take a taxi to the city center, but the metro is just as easy. Keep Google Maps handy and you’ll be fine. Line 3 connects the airport with the whole city, follow that and you’ll arrive at your hotel. Note: you need to buy a separate airport ticket, which you can do at the train station itself. Good to remember for the return trip: even if you travel through the city, with just this ticket you can get to the airport – and it’s only valid for a few hours. So watch out for fines and gates that won’t open anymore. Yes, even if your metro is delayed. Then asking for help with hand gestures is the only option; I (unfortunately) speak from experience.

Once in the city itself, the metro is also your best friend. Here’s a golden tip: buy a five-day pass for €8.50. With that, you can make all the metros, buses, and trains in Athens unsafe all weekend. That saves you from buying single tickets. Via line 2 you pass Syntagma and via line 1 you reach Monastiraki. From those stations, you can get almost anywhere.

Okay, the hotspots then. Where should you go?

Shopping and ‘playing tourist’

The popular Monastiraki

With its colorful streets, many street cats, and delicious food, Monastiraki is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Athens. It was definitely my favorite. In terms of location, it’s ideal: the neighborhood is close to everything, and I mean everything you want to go to. As soon as you step out of the metro station, you can go right and straight ahead to tourist shops. Both streets lead to local restaurants and spots where you’d love to hang out all day. Get ice cream at Mona Lisa and browse, while you’re there, in the circus-themed candy store Hans & Gretel. Is it scorching hot? Trade that candy for the delicious slushie. This was my favorite part of the neighborhood. You can tell by the 90 photos in my camera roll.

Are you turning left at the station? Then you’ll enter the more ‘authentic’ parts of Monastiraki. Here you’ll find local shops and can stroll around to get a more realistic picture of the neighborhood.

The Plaka district

Around the corner from Monastiraki lies the trendy Plaka neighborhood. Full of tourist shops, but also with local gems. Think jewelry stores, leather bag makers, and wrap skirt shops. Especially with a nice sun at your back, you’ll want to wander around. Walk into the residential areas and roam like a local through Instagram-worthy spots.

Cocktails and Disney scenes in Psiri

A stone's throw away in Greece is the neighborhood Psiri. This was my go-to spot for drinks and a fun evening. Don’t expect crazy nightclubs where you suddenly wake up next to a goat at five in the morning like in The Hangover. You’re just enjoying yourself in neon-lit bars and terraces. And for the parents (or Disney lovers) among us, there’s even a Disney street. De Little Kook is a café and ‘dessert house’ where you can eat deliciously in theme. Especially in the evening, this is amazing and feels like you’ve landed in Alice in Wonderland, with ice creams and cocktails as big as your face.

Culture in Athens

Yes, when you say Greece, you say antiquities. Besides all those fun places and shopping opportunities, you also want to soak up some culture in Athens. Where better to do that than in the country where democracy was invented? You could spend a week going from museum to museum, but in a weekend, these are the places you must see:

The Acropolis

This is the main attraction of Athens: the Acropolis. And no, it’s not just one building that you walk through as you might think. It’s an ancient citadel with multiple buildings. How do you get there? That’s a bit trickier. The Acropolis is not called ‘the highest part of the city’ in Ancient Greek for nothing, as you have to endure a steep climb to get there. Buy tickets in advance and just walk. After about twenty minutes, you’ll have one of the most beautiful views you’ve ever seen. Walk past the Parthenon, the temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. It’s under scaffolding, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. Additionally, a bit further on, stands the Erechtheion: a sacred temple dedicated to Greek gods and goddesses.

Another must-see is the Ancient Agora

The old town square of Greece. This was the center of social life and the political and economic heart of the city. Stroll through nature, pet some cats, and see where so much once took place. Besides the ruins, there are also temples you can walk through.

Museum tour in Athens

Visiting Athens without seeing a museum is impossible. There are hundreds of places you can visit, but the museums you absolutely must see are:

The Acropolis Museum: here you can see everything that, as the name suggests, was found at the Acropolis. With about 4000 objects, you won’t get bored here. Everywhere you look, there are statues, pots, and literally building fragments from the Acropolis. You can watch a video about the history and you have a beautiful view of the Parthenon and the Erechtheion.

The National Archaeological Museum: which is a 16-minute metro ride away. Here you’ll find all sorts of archaeological finds that were once excavated in the city. Wherever you look: ancient coins, life-sized carpets, wall tablets, and statues.

Eating in Athens

Let’s talk important: the food. In Athens, you’ll definitely eat well, with classic Greek dishes like tzatziki and souvlaki that are on every restaurant menu. Every street has a place where you can grab something delicious. For example, I went to Kasáta for delicious homemade iced tea and drank slushies in the heat as if my life depended on it at 12 Oz. The tastiest lukumádes you can find at LUKUMAΔEΣ and Frozen Greek Yogurt at the Fresko Yogurt Bar.

And my favorite place? Absolutely, without a doubt: Ellyz Café. This café could have been on Pinterest with pink flowers and white chairs. Here, there’s everything you crave. Pastry? Go for a filled croissant or another cake. Want pancakes? They have those too. Sandwiches with meat or vegan options? Check. And everything is in the same aesthetic: pink. Even the drinks and the La Marzocco coffee machine are pink. It may look too good to be true, but honestly: it’s really that good.

Hotels

Now you know what you can do, but where oh where should you stay? The best option is a hotel not far from the center, so you can be at all the hotspots in no time.

A good option is the Apollo Hotel. Five minutes from the Metaxourghio metro, this is an affordable and especially good base. The breakfast isn’t too big, but it’s a good foundation to start your morning. Not into breakfast? Then there’s a nice bakery next door. The room is nice and just what you need: you’re out all day anyway. And the best part? For a small price, you have a beautiful view of the Acropolis.

Another nice, and not too expensive place is the Athens City Hotel. Is it an all-inclusive resort? No, not that, but for a quick vacation, it’s good enough. The rooms are well-kept and you’re only 800 meters from a metro station. Within ten minutes, you’re already at the Acropolis. Amazing, right?

Do you want some luxury? Then the Pinnacle Athens is for you. Enjoy a glass of wine on your balcony or the rooftop terrace and jump into that super soft bed. This five-star hotel is only 500 meters from Monastiraki, so you won’t even need the metro all weekend. Save some money to spend.

Does all that fit in a weekend?

Look, vacation is for your rest, but if you want to make the most of a city trip in Athens – then you have to see everything. Seize every opportunity you can. Luckily, with the metro, everything is within reach; you just need to plan well.

On the first day, you’ll play tourist in Monastiraki, Plaka, and Psirri.
After a good breakfast, you’ll climb antiquities and stumble through museums on the second day.
On the third day, you still take it easy and visit the places you didn't get to on the first day. And don't worry about making your flight on time. Those metros run late, it'll all be fine. Siga, siga. (Or in Dutch: take it easy)