Athens in 3 days: Things to Do, and Places to Stay?
Mar 14th, 2013, 11:02 AM
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Athens in 3 days: Things to Do, and Places to Stay?
Hello everyone,
My girlfriend and I will be visiting Athens for 3 days in early July, and we had a couple of questions that we were hoping an Athens expert could answer.
-Other than the main tourist attractions (Acropolis museum, Parthenon, Dionysius Theatre), are there any not-to-be-missed attractions that you can think of?
-Any suggestions for great accomodations for about 70-80 euros per night? Preferably in the Plaka area, as I believe is the safer area (compared to Omonia at least)
-Any amazing restaurants off the beaten track?
-Any general info to know, or any areas to avoid at night?
Thanks everyone!
Mike
My girlfriend and I will be visiting Athens for 3 days in early July, and we had a couple of questions that we were hoping an Athens expert could answer.
-Other than the main tourist attractions (Acropolis museum, Parthenon, Dionysius Theatre), are there any not-to-be-missed attractions that you can think of?
-Any suggestions for great accomodations for about 70-80 euros per night? Preferably in the Plaka area, as I believe is the safer area (compared to Omonia at least)
-Any amazing restaurants off the beaten track?
-Any general info to know, or any areas to avoid at night?
Thanks everyone!
Mike
Mar 14th, 2013, 04:39 PM
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Your three days will be very busy seeing the Acropolis, the new Acropolis Museum, the Agora, and the Plaka, the National Archeological Museum, a hike up Lycabettus Hill. Depending upon how slow or fast you like to tour, you might have time to add the Benaki Museum or Anafiotika, the village on the northeast side of the Acropolis. I can't recommend hotels in your price range. If you can go a little higher, a good spot right near Monastiraki Square is Hotel Attalos, However, keep looking and you'll find the right price.
Mar 14th, 2013, 10:07 PM
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Here are some good hotels that are close to your price range :
Hermes - Herodion ( in the Acropolis area)
Amalia ( opposite National garden) - Parthenon ( a few steps from the New Acropolis Museum and the Acropolis red line metro station) - The Athenian Callirhoe ( close to the Zeus Temple and the Acropolis metro station)
As for what to do off the beaten track
1. Take the tram from the Syntagma Square to Glyfada, a posh southern suburb on the sea, with endless shops, cafes and restaurants
2. Take the green metro line to the end station of Kifisia, a very green northern suburb of Athens, ideal for shopping, people watching, and having lunch/dinner in one of the great restaurants
3. Take the red metro line to Keramikos, a fun area of Athens, full of life with cafes and restaurants.
There are thousands of restaurants in Athens, personally ( like most locals) i never go to the Plaka restaurants as they offer "touristy" food.
When in the center try
Trapezaria near the Acropolis with excellent modern Green cuisine
Mani Mani in Koukaki ( near Acropolis) with innovative local cuisine of the Mani peninsula ( Peloponnese)
Melilotos in Monastiraki - excellent home cooked like greek cuisine
Attikos Greek House ( near Acropolis) with traditional greek cuisine and one of the best views of the Acropolis on the roof terrace.
Hermes - Herodion ( in the Acropolis area)
Amalia ( opposite National garden) - Parthenon ( a few steps from the New Acropolis Museum and the Acropolis red line metro station) - The Athenian Callirhoe ( close to the Zeus Temple and the Acropolis metro station)
As for what to do off the beaten track
1. Take the tram from the Syntagma Square to Glyfada, a posh southern suburb on the sea, with endless shops, cafes and restaurants
2. Take the green metro line to the end station of Kifisia, a very green northern suburb of Athens, ideal for shopping, people watching, and having lunch/dinner in one of the great restaurants
3. Take the red metro line to Keramikos, a fun area of Athens, full of life with cafes and restaurants.
There are thousands of restaurants in Athens, personally ( like most locals) i never go to the Plaka restaurants as they offer "touristy" food.
When in the center try
Trapezaria near the Acropolis with excellent modern Green cuisine
Mani Mani in Koukaki ( near Acropolis) with innovative local cuisine of the Mani peninsula ( Peloponnese)
Melilotos in Monastiraki - excellent home cooked like greek cuisine
Attikos Greek House ( near Acropolis) with traditional greek cuisine and one of the best views of the Acropolis on the roof terrace.
Mar 18th, 2013, 09:35 AM
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Have dinner or lunch at a restaurant with an Acropolis view such as Strofi, Filistron, etc. It will cost more but its a memorable experience.
There are a number of outdoor dinner and drink venues if you exit the Thission metro station towards the walkway around the Acropolis. The side streets are also full of cafes full of young people and this might appeal to you. They put out tables with candles at night and its very festive.
If you are into museums, the Benaki, Byzantine and Cycladic musuems are close to each other and are excellent.
There are a number of outdoor dinner and drink venues if you exit the Thission metro station towards the walkway around the Acropolis. The side streets are also full of cafes full of young people and this might appeal to you. They put out tables with candles at night and its very festive.
If you are into museums, the Benaki, Byzantine and Cycladic musuems are close to each other and are excellent.
Mar 18th, 2013, 10:35 AM
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Yes, the Plaka area is where you want to be! We recently stayed at Hotel Plaka for 75E per night and loved it. However, we were there in Feb, so summer rates may be higher. We loved their rooftop deck. And I think 3 days is fine for a "highlights" trip.
Mar 23rd, 2013, 05:46 AM
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Sorry, I've only just seen this post as I've been away in Athens for 8 days & only had brief looks at anything on the i'net
For hotels take a look at my reviews on Trip Advisor, there should be around 17 of them on there & the one I've just stayed at will appear soon (Athens Centre Square). I have never paid more than your budget for any of them, it varies quite a bit as to which comes up the best deal at the time, but check their own sites, booking.com, venere,com etc.
Any that do fall in your budget range for your dates feel free to ask me for more detail if needed.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/members-reviews/Yiassas
For hotels take a look at my reviews on Trip Advisor, there should be around 17 of them on there & the one I've just stayed at will appear soon (Athens Centre Square). I have never paid more than your budget for any of them, it varies quite a bit as to which comes up the best deal at the time, but check their own sites, booking.com, venere,com etc.
Any that do fall in your budget range for your dates feel free to ask me for more detail if needed.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/members-reviews/Yiassas
Mar 23rd, 2013, 06:42 AM
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Be sure to go to the Acropolis itself as well as the museum. And there's a sort of promenade around the base of the Acropolis: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com...alking-tour-2/. There's also the ancient agora and the Stoa of Attalos.
For a change, we wandered the (tiny) streets of Anafiotika, a picturesque old neighborhood on the base of the Acropolis, with small island-style houses and nice views.
One thing we regret missing was the Greek folk dancing at the Dora Stratou theater.
For a change, we wandered the (tiny) streets of Anafiotika, a picturesque old neighborhood on the base of the Acropolis, with small island-style houses and nice views.
One thing we regret missing was the Greek folk dancing at the Dora Stratou theater.
May 10th, 2014, 04:38 PM
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-Cine Thisio
The open air cinemas are a Greek tradition, and Cine Thisio is probably the best place experience it, as it is the oldest in Athens (since 1935) and the most atmospheric, it transfers you to the Athenian Belle Époque. Watch a classic film like Casablanca in the beautiful green yard in the summer night breeze, with an Acropolis view. Makes you no wonder why CNN voted it as the most enjoyable movie theater in the world: http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/e...heaters-355218
-Museum of Cycladic Art
One of the best museums in Athens, it has artifacts from one of the first civilizations in Europe, the Cycladic, which was based in the islands of the Cyclades. Parian marble statuettes, golden jewels, and ancient vases, it is a really unique Greek civilization of the 3200 BC-2000 BC.
-National Archaeological Museum
The fully renovated National Archeological Museum is one of the biggest and most remarkable archeological museums in the world. Its numerous and outstanding exhibits give you the opportunity to travel back in history. Ancient Greece is the most important civilization of Europe (if not the World) and this is the best place to taste it.
The open air cinemas are a Greek tradition, and Cine Thisio is probably the best place experience it, as it is the oldest in Athens (since 1935) and the most atmospheric, it transfers you to the Athenian Belle Époque. Watch a classic film like Casablanca in the beautiful green yard in the summer night breeze, with an Acropolis view. Makes you no wonder why CNN voted it as the most enjoyable movie theater in the world: http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/e...heaters-355218
-Museum of Cycladic Art
One of the best museums in Athens, it has artifacts from one of the first civilizations in Europe, the Cycladic, which was based in the islands of the Cyclades. Parian marble statuettes, golden jewels, and ancient vases, it is a really unique Greek civilization of the 3200 BC-2000 BC.
-National Archaeological Museum
The fully renovated National Archeological Museum is one of the biggest and most remarkable archeological museums in the world. Its numerous and outstanding exhibits give you the opportunity to travel back in history. Ancient Greece is the most important civilization of Europe (if not the World) and this is the best place to taste it.
