How to Spend 2 Days in Athens

What better place to kick off your Greek Island Hopping than in Athens! My husband and I planned our 1 week honeymoon in Greece and it only made sense to start with 2 days in Athens. Athens has incredible ancient sites, great shopping, delicious eats, a lively nightlife and you’ll definitely get in lots of steps!

When To Go

We went during prime season; June 30th – July 2nd. While we still were able to see a ton of amazing things, we definitely had the crowds with us along the journey. Also, the weather was HOT. If you’re looking for a bit of a calmer / cooler time to visit Athens I’d recommend going in May or September. 

How to Get There

We arrived by plane from Zurich, Switzerland. It was about a 2 hour and 10 minute flight. However, our flight turned into a 4 hour and 10 minute flight. But I guess it was still quicker than “going up north” for vacation! If you’re from Michigan IKYK. 

Our flight was scheduled to get into Athens at 13:50 however we didn’t get in until closer to 15:40. Fun reminder to also pack some snacks in your bag for the plane rides just in case! 

Where To Stay

There are 4 main areas that you can have the option of staying in right at the city center.

Plaka– Super cute picturesque neighborhood filled with beautiful homes and tons of restaurants and bars. This is definitely also known to be filled with tourists which we experienced first hand when we were visiting. It is still a cool place to look into if you only have a couple of days and want to be right in the hustle and bustle of everything.

Monastiraki– Another great area filled with tons of restaurants and bars. You’ll find a bit of a younger party crowd here which we didn’t really realize when we first booked our Airbnb. During the day walking around seems like every other part of Athens and then at night the streets come to life! There were so many cool bars that we walked by but I guess we are now too old and didn’t venture into any of them. 

Syntagma – This is Athen’s central square. There are a lot of cute hotels in this area and you’re still able to get to many sites and amazing restaurants by foot. If a fun central hotel is what you’re aiming for, this is the spot. 

Kolonaki – If shopping is your thing, this is the place you can’t beat. This is more of a posh and upscale part of Athen’s with a lot of designer stores. Perfect for a hot day to walk in and out of some air conditioned stores. Once you’ve worked up an appetite from shopping, be sure to check out Patriarhou Loakeim Street and mingle in the trendy cafes. 

Where We Stayed

We stayed in the Monastiraki area in this Airbnb. This place was a 10 /10 for us. We took the Metro from the airport (about 40 minutes) and then just a simple 6 minute walk from there. Plus the streets were easy to roll our luggage through as well. I can’t say it’s the same in Italy!  

The apartment was super clean and our host had amazing tips and recommendations for us. The thing that sold us on here though was the view from our balcony. We had an amazing view of the Acropolis so there was no need for us to even need to head to a bar with a view and spend more money than we needed. We just grabbed a bottle of wine from the store with some snacks and had our own private cocktail hour with the stunning view. 

How To Get Around

Athen’s may seem big at first glance but it’s actually quite easy to get around. We got around 90 percent of the area just by walking. Granted, in the heat it took a little longer to get places because we were stopping into air conditioned shops to cool down, but most sites were 15 – 20 minutes away with a walk. There were also buses and taxis that could be used as well. 

If you’re staying in the center of Athens and need to get to / from the port or the airport the Metro is a great option. It was simple to use (once we had time to figure it all out since we missed our first train). Google maps is a great resource to type in where you’re going and it will show you which Metro you need to take. Plus the signs in the stations are also all in English so that was very helpful as well! 

What To See

There are many sites to see around Athens! Since our 2 day trip ended up getting cut down to 1 we weren’t able to see as much as we’d hope, but here’s a little list for you for your next trip to Athens!

Acropolis – definitely be sure to get here early! We made the mistake of getting here at lunch time and not only was it crowded but it was super hot! I’ve also read that cruise ships that are docked usually will arrive with their groups around 10 am so the best best to get here would be between 8am – 10am. I’d also advise not going around sunset. There are tons of people that come as well for the sunset photos. We could see them all from our balcony. BUT what makes this spot so special then? Well, this dates back all the way to circa 4000/3500 BC and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Atop the Acropolis is the Parthenon which is dedicated to the mythological goddess of wisdom, Athena.  

Acropolis Museum – We didn’t have time to personally go here but it would have been a great spot to go and escape the heat. The museum is built predominantly out of glass to allow natural light to enter the museum. There are over three floors of ancient artifacts to explore. Some of the most noteworthy items that are on display are the frieze of the Parthenon temple and the five Caryatids. 

Hadrian’s Arch – this was built in 131 AD by Emperor Hadrian. It was a way to separate the old and new cities. You can’t miss this one!

Temple of Olympian Zeus – this is just behind the Hadrian’s Arch. This started to be built in 515 BC by Pisistratus, who was the son of Hippocrates. It was, however, completed in 129 AD by the aforementioned Emperor Hadrian.

The Panathenaic Stadium: this is a marble stadium linked to athleticism across many eras. It is closely linked to the modern Olympic Games, the first of which were held in 1896.Unfortunately we didn’t make it here due to being exhausted from the sun and it wasn’t as close to the others. 

National Gardens: a peaceful oasis in the heart of Athens, these used to be a retreat for King Otto and Queen Amalia. It is located right next to the Hellenic Parliament in Syntagma Square.

Changing of the Guards at the Hellenic Parliament:  the honorable Evzones guards placed in front of Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are dressed in a traditional, folklore costume called a ‘foustanela’. They have a specific routine when it comes to changing their shifts which visitors will find intriguing, occurring on the hour, every hour, every day of the week.

There are SO many other places to visit around Athens this is just the tip of the iceberg! 

Where to Eat

Ella Greek Cooking – This was where we went to dinner for our first night in Athens and it did not disappoint! Ella restaurant is known for its urban Greek cuisine. The restaurant was cute and a little bit away from the super touristy areas so that was a plus. If you’re going I recommend sharing as the portions are massive. Also don’t forget to get a Liter of the white house wine. It was so good – and cheap! 

Vova Bar – We came here for lunch and really enjoyed it! While we wanted to eat as much Greek food as possible, sometimes you just need a good sandwich and side salad. Of course paired with some house white wine. It also looked like an amazing place for Brunch. 

Overall Croissanterie – If you love croissants as much as I do then this is a must. The croissants are massive and there are so many options you can choose from. My husband and I got just the normal and a nutella one and they were perfect for our breakfast before we headed to the Ferry in the morning. I’d recommend getting there early as they do run out of options later in the day.  

A Little Taste of Home – What a cute restaurant this was! We had our last dinner here and we loved every bit of it. The staff was extremely friendly and you could tell our waiter sincerely enjoyed his job and loved being able to serve others there. You can find some traditional Greek food here but they are also offering different cuisines from around the world.

Efcharis – We had dinner reservations here but it was in a very crowded part of town. While the reviews looked great and food looked great as well we wanted something a little less touristy so we decided to keep walking. But would still be a place worthy to check out!

Lukumades – This was a dessert shop that was recommended to us by a friend who has been to Athens before. They serve up amazing Greek donuts covered in sweet or savory toppings. Unfortunately the line was super long and we were so full from our dinners so we decided to pass on dessert. However, if we go back I’m coming here before dinner to ensure I get a little taste 🙂 

Cocktail Bars

While we didn’t make it out to any cocktail bars in Athens there are SO many to choose from. If you’re around the Monastiraki area I feel the choices were endless as we were walking around one night. Here were some that were recommended though.

A for Athens – Supposed to be a great spot with a view of the Acropolis. 

360 Degrees Hotel – Another great spot with a panoramic view of Athens. Could be a great spot to catch the sunset with a cocktail as well. 

Six d.o.g.s – Trendy bar hosting live music, DJ’s, club nights and art exhibitions. 

The Clumsies – Cocktails with classic pub fare. This was a little bit away from the touristy area. It’s also on the list for one of the top 50 bars in the world! We walked in here after we got our croissant and it looked like it would be a great place to enjoy a cocktail in the evening. 

Little Kook – Now, I can’t say if this is a place to actually enjoy a cocktail or not BUT if you’re into anything fairytale it is a must to at least walk by this place. It was super cool just to look at. I’m sure they are serving up some creative cocktails to match the decor as well!

Grocery Stores

AB Market – This was a smaller supermarket that had fresh fruit, veggies, cheese, meats and wine. I didn’t find many snacky items here though but a good quick stop if you need something small.

BAZAAR Supermarket – This was a larger market that had everything you’d need. We were able to get our breakfast (greek yogurt of course) and some fresh fruit from here. 

What to Wear

Since we were in the heat of the season, light and breathable clothes are a must! Don’t forget to pack your sunscreen as well! You’re definitely going to want to be lathering up with that all day.

During the Day- Comfy shorts, shoes and light top. 

I ended up just wearing a sports bra, comfy shorts and my tennis shoes. This allowed me to enjoy walking and still stay cool(ish) from the heat!

During the Night

Thankfully it does get colder when the sun goes down. We also noticed quite a bit of a breeze which really helps cool things down. For dinner I wore white pants and a flowy light pink top and the next I wore a cute little sundress. Perfect for an evening out for dinner and drinks. 

In Conclusion

Athens was a town that had SO much to do and see. If you want to go to a place with a lot of history and shopping, this is the place to go. Stay tuned for more of my blog posts featuring the rest of our Honeymoon to Milos and Naxos!

Would love to hear if you have any places you’d recommend are must sees as well. Feel free to drop them in the comments below or share your thoughts about visiting Athens!