Viva Travels: Athens Quick Travel Guide

Last, but not least, on my Greece travel guide is Athens! This was the last stop of our trip (in which we also visited Mykonos and Santorini).  We decided to leave Athens for last, so we could catch our flight back to the states the next day without being in a rush.  Although Athens is completely different from the islands, you really can't leave Greece without experiencing the mainland.  It's filled with so much history and culture (and not to mention the shopping is much better there too).

Here are some must sees and do's while you're there:

Where to Stay: We stayed at the Electra Palace Hotel which was perfectly situated ....just a short cab ride away from all the attractions.

*Also wanted to mention that to get to Athens we took a flight from Santorini to Athens through Aegean Air

Things to Do:

Visit the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum.  It's absolutely breathtaking and one of the most characteristic monuments of the ancient Greek civilization.  Be sure to wear comfortable shoes because you'll be doing a lot of walking. Oh and don't forget your sunscreen!

If you have time, also check out the Panathenaic Stadium. It hosted the first Olympic Games of the modern era and is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble.

Wander the streets of Plaka, which is filled with a variety of touristy shops. For more high-end shopping you can also check out the boutiques located in Voukourestiou.

Where to Eat: 

Dionysos by the Acropolis- Grab some lunch at the Dionysos by the Acropolis restaurant (located right in front of the Acropolis). It's perfect for fueling up before making the trek up to the monument.

Spondi- For our last dinner in Greece we decided to visit Spondi, a Two Michelin Star restaurant (for my Top Chef fans haha). The restaurant itself is very romantic. It offers mediterranean cuisine with heavy french influences. You can also choose from the menu or from their prix fixe menu (which is what we did). It's a bit of a splurge,  but it's well worth it.

Lunch at the Dionysos by the Acropolis

Dinner at Spondi in Athens 

Overall, one day is a good amount of time to really explore Athens. I hope these guides have helped! You can also check out my previous guides to Santorini and Mykonos.


Have you been to Greece before? I'd love to go back to Santorini one day!