Athens - first time
 

Hi All,
I just finished researching AThens and I get the feeling that I need 2-3 full days to experience it. Does that make sense? Also, if anyone can give to me great itineraries and/or suggestions/must-sees, I would be most grateful.
Thanks,
Chrissem

3 days is sufficient. The "old standbys" are always a good place to start: the Parthenon, the Plaka, the National Archaeological Museum, the funicular ride up Lycabettus Hill. I'm sure you'll get a lot of other suggestions here, as well.

Hi there:

We spent 3 days in Athens at the beginning of our trip this summer and then 1 on the way back, after touring the islands. It worked out pretty perfect for us:

Day 1: We did the entire Acropolis site, the Ancient Agora, Pnyx, Observatory, Olympeion, and were able to spend some time strolling around Syntagma and Plaka.

Day 2: Took a day trip to Delphi. 3 hour bus ride north of Athens that was well worth it. Wonderful site in a very beautiful location.

Day 3: Did the Roman Agora and Kerameikos. Kind of ran out of things to do on this day; it was Sunday and many stores were closed and it was the beginning of June so many museums were still closed for Olympic "sprucing up".

Day 4 (on way back): Walked to Omonia square and then did the National Archaeological Museum. Checked out the National Library, University & Cultural Centre buildings. Finished up our souvenier shopping!

Could we have "done" Athens in 2 days? Probably. However, we loved Athens! There is tons of shopping and many, many wonderful cafes just to sit and enjoy the moment at. Athens, for me, was the surprise hit of our trip. I had expected to grit my teeth and just get through it. I'm not sure if it was pre-Olympics or what, but I found the city to be much cleaner than I expected and we really loved just enjoying being in Athens!

Hope that helps.

You're just the usual tourist who doesn't really mean they want to "experience it" when they say they want to "experience it". If you'd like to see the salient features and not "experience it" then two nights will let you fit in the Acropolis and a mueseum or two. However, if you really want to get a feel and vibe for the city, and truly "experience it", then stay for five or six nights. I was there in December for six nights, and picked up a real feel for the place, I could've quite easily stayed on for a few months.

I never ever see the point of going to X then Y then Z etcetera all to say "oh we went to so many places on our vacation". So what? Seeing things doesn't mean you've "experience(d) it". I will never stay anywhere for less than three nights, but then I won't make such grand statements as saying I "experience(d) it".

As for must-sees - the Acropolis of course, all the major and not so major museums, the shops, the local restaurants, the people. Hope you walk quickly!

You might want to take along the 'Blue Guide-Athens' which is great for the historical sites and museums (the museums have been renovated and *possibly* display case info might be off).
I wrote a trip report on the location of Socrates' prison and cell which might be of interest, do a search for socrates at the top of the page.
www.culture.gr/2/21/toc/index.html lists museums and sites.
Regards, Walter

The National Museum gets very crowded. If you are in Athens on a Sunday, go to the museum the minute it opens (tour groups start out later on Sundays). Then go to the things you most want to see first.

Also, take time to just wander around some of the side streets, the residential areas around Kolonaki, for example. Athens needs more than a few days to begin to get a sense of it.