Short & Sweet Athens Trip Report

Old May 31st, 2017, 06:34 AM
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Short & Sweet Athens Trip Report

I have learned so much on this forum, so for what it’s worth I hope this trip report helps somebody with their planning. This was our first visit to Greece.

We (my wife and I, mid 50s) spent three full days in Athens late last summer and I wish we could have stayed longer. I am one of the people on this site that could easily spend a week or more in Athens. We are interested in history, ancient sites, beautiful art, hiking, experiencing new cultures and the beach! When I’m in a place like Athens Greece, I stay awake as late as possible and wake up as early as I’m able. My wife on the other hand likes a slower pace so we compromise and take breaks during the day and have long lunches and dinners. Before we departed I did extensive research, including many threads on this site. Here is how we spent our three days... I hope it helps!

Day 1: We arrived at the Acropolis first thing in the morning right when it opened, before the crowds. We stood in a line of about 5 people at the ticket window; but by the time we departed the site later there were hundreds of people in line. After entering the site we hired one of the local tour guides, which really worked out well. Then after our tour we climbed Areopagus Hill (Mars Hill), which is right next to entrance of the Acropolis. We then toured the New Acropolis Museum, which was wonderful. After lunch and a short break for jet lag, we took a taxi to the National Archeological Museum. This museum was very impressive and I will be going back someday. After the museum we took a taxi to Syntagma Square and ended the day with a walk down Ermou Street, then through the Plaka and had dinner.

Day 2: We went on a self-guided walking tour, which started at the Monument of Lysicates, and then we walked through the Arch of Hadrian, which is right down the street, and toured the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Afterwards we walked by the Melina Mercouri Monument and then visited the north and east slope of the Acropolis, which includes the Theatre of Dionysus and Odeon of Herodes Atticus. We then walked around the Acropolis and toured the Ancient Agora including the Stoa of Attalos, and the Temple of Hephaestus, followed by the Roman Agora and the Tower of the Winds. I was told that the inside of the Tower had just re-opened for the first time in 200 years, and it could have been my favorite site of the day! Side note: We bought the total ticket at the Acropolis, this pass included entrance to the Temple of Zeus, the North & East Slope of the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora and the Tower of the Winds. We then had a late lunch at one of those great restaurants on the side of the Acropolis hill. After lunch we took a taxi to Mount Lycabettus, I had no idea how big Athens was and the view from the top was absolutely unforgettable! So glad we did this…. We took a taxi back to Syntagma Square and then after a short walk, toured the Benaki Museum. After the museum we walked to the Monastriaki district for dinner.

Day 3: Our first stop was the Prison of Socrates, and then we walked up Filopappou Hill. The views of Athens and especially the Acropolis from the top of Filopappou hill are unsurpassed! We were the only people up there and it was totally worth it. Next, we walked to the Pnyx, the birthplace of democracy! Again we were the ONLY people there. We then visited Hadrian’s Library, and had another long lunch. After a break at our hotel we went on a bus tour to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon. We then returned to Athens for a late dinner.

There were so many other sites, museums and areas we missed, which is great because I can't wait to go back. Athens is a wonderful city, with wonderful people, wonderful food and some of the top ancient sites in the world!

We spent just over 2 weeks in Greece and I enjoyed every single minute!
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Old May 31st, 2017, 08:28 AM
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Whew! I'm exhausted just reading about it ... but I applaud your stamina and your obvious pre-trip preparation, because obviously you were able to appreciate the history you walked through. I've covered the same ground, but it took me several trips .. and each time I knew more, and made new discoveries. Your narrative is a great answer to this too-common query on these travel forums "On my trip I've scheduled a day in Athens -- what are the must-sees?"
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Old May 31st, 2017, 09:26 AM
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You sure packed a lot in! I visited Athens over ten years ago and loved every minute. At the time the prison of Socrates was not marked, and we followed directions written by a poster on this forum, it felt like an adventure finding our way there through the ancient agora. Is it marked now?
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Old May 31st, 2017, 10:52 AM
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Travelerjan, Your comments on this site went into a lot of my planning, thank you for that! We did pack a lot in, but I had a fear that this would be the only time we would ever be in Athens and I wanted to see all we could. We enjoyed Greece so much that we are planning to return and take a more leisurely pace.

Nikki, The Prison of Socrates is marked by a few caves at the bottom of Filopappou Hill, however from what I've read, many scholars believe he was actually imprisoned in the Ancient Agora.
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Old May 31st, 2017, 08:02 PM
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Steve255, how much do the guides charge at the Acropolis? Debating whether to hire someone in advance or doing what you did.

Thank you for your report-- you sure did do a lot!!
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Old Jun 1st, 2017, 07:27 AM
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Thanks Steve! And alas, you fell for the sign of an enterprising private citizen, of "caves" off the pedestrian promenade. Actually, ancient writings seem to indicated that the true "prison" was in the Agora ... As Nikki says, in the past you had to follow instructions in a far corner of the Agora, where a few walls of rubble marked off the prison area, including a row of cells. I believe there is now a small marker denoting one as Socrates' cell. However, tho it IS documented that his prison was in that Agora area, there is no definite proof of exact location. But it's all fun!
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Old Jun 1st, 2017, 08:33 AM
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Your best option for visiting the Acropolis and surrounding area is to get there when it opens first thing in the morning at 8 a.m. Very few tourists and you'll get a more peaceful and tranquil experience. Get a good guide book or surf the internet for the Acropolis and you'll find this is something you can do on your own at no cost, at your own pace and avoid the crowds, especially if you are there during High Season.

I've been to the Acropolis in the morning and afternoon and the morning at opening is far superior to later in the day when the tour groups come in with pushing, shoving and obnoxious tourists elbowing you and getting in the way of photo ops and just making the time there not as wonderful as it could be.

Get there at 8 a.m. and you'll be taken back 2,500 years and if you are lucky you'll see Greek Soldiers raising the Greek Flag and signing the Greek Anthem and marching off the Acropolis.

Do yourself a favorite and get there at 8 a.m. or as an alternative late afternoon . . . it will be worth getting up early or showing up later to experience one of the World's Best Archeological Sites in a sacred and laid back atmosphere.
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Old Jun 1st, 2017, 09:34 AM
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Jeanned, I think I paid around 30 euro for 2, we were in a group of 6 people. But since then I downloaded a podcast tour of the Acropolis which was very good and is free. I do agree with "crazyh" about getting there early. We did see the Greek soldiers marching back from raising the flag and it was very special.

Travelerjan, That is too funny, about the "caves" of Socrates's cell! Now I have one more mission next time I'm in Athens... thanks
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Old Jun 1st, 2017, 12:07 PM
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Wow, great report, I admire your ability to accomplish so much in such a short time!

I am going to Athens this month for a conference and will be able to squeeze out a few hours of free time on the first day and maybe a few more on the last. Of course I want to see the Acropolis and it looks like I'll have to do it with the hordes as I'll be working at the conference during the morning hours.

Given my limited free time, is it worth taking a bus tour just to get an overview?
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Old Jun 1st, 2017, 12:20 PM
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Steve255, we will have two of our children with us, aged 19 & 12, so I think a good guide may really engage their interest (both boys love history and mythology). E30 is a good price for two. How long was the tour? My one concern about hiring a guide there is unknown quality whereas by hiring via the internet, I can read reviews of a guide. The price of guides however on the internet is considerably more...

8am sounds like the time to be there! We are going to Athens at the beginning of our trip so I am not sure if this will be doable for us given jet lag.
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Old Jun 1st, 2017, 03:41 PM
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To WiesserTee

The hop-on, hop-off bus tours are not a good choice in Athens. THey are a great idea in London, where some major sites are miles and miles away from others (Buck Palace, down to the Tower on Thames)... but in Athens all the major landmarks re bunched together in the center, and many on streets/ lanes that prohibit cars... so you cannot get close to the Acropolis or Roman Agora on bus tour, you end up sitting stuck in traffic, staring at office buildings.

There is ONE answer that will get you around -- the "Happy Train." You can board it in 2 places -- Syntagma Square and one other... it's a small open-air "train" of Fake choo-choo w. open-seat cars -- it's allowed to go on the no-vehicle lanes, thus get close to sites. Takes 60 minutes I think and is a hop-on/ hop-off thing. http://www.athenshappytrain.com
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Old Jun 2nd, 2017, 04:07 AM
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Hi Jeanned, After talking with my wife, we think the fee for a guide was 30 euro each. The guides are located just after you enter the site. In fact there is a "Guided tour" booth on the right side after the entrance. Our guild was very knowledgable and the tour lasted around an hour.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2017, 05:47 AM
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PS to WeisserTee -- You can have a wonderful experience on the Acropolis by going at about 5:30-6 pm, all the crowds have left, the slanting light is glorious for views and for photos, it's open until 8 pm, but they start shooing you out at 7:30 so you can be out of the gates by 8. A great prelude to dinner!
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Old Jun 2nd, 2017, 07:43 AM
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Thanks, travelerjan, great suggestion because I will have free time later in the afternoon.
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