Well, here we are visiting Athens, looking forward to experiencing the ancient ruins, amazing Greek food, and friendly people. We start our Adventure in Athens with a 10-day stay. Athens is credited as the birthplace of our western civilization. What better place to begin our discovery of Greece and the surrounding countries.
Greece has been on Cindy’s wish list to visit since I’ve known her. I’m looking forward to seeing the ruins and experiencing the history here in Athens. Plus, as an added bonus, the amazing Greek foods in Greece will be a pleasure.
The history alone is remarkable, and I can’t wait to see these ancient historical icons of ruins such as the Acropolis. Athens has many other areas with greek ruins to see, such as the Ancient Agoda, Roman Agoda, and Kerameikos, a Cemetary of sorts.
The flavors of Greek food will be an experience that will tantalize our taste buds: tzatziki, souvlaki, and all other types of local foods. In addition, Greek people are known to be friendly and welcoming. This bodes well to have a great visit to Athens. Including other parts of Greece that we are looking forward to visiting.
Visiting Athens Experience The Ancient Ruins
While visiting Athens, it’s a must to experience the ancient ruins of Greece. The best place to start is at the Acropolis. The landmark hill in the center of Athens contains many ancient Greek ruins. Being 156 meters high, the Acropolis is considered the highest point in the spirit of ancient Greek culture.
Acropolis Entrance Tickets
Purchase tickets to the Acropolis and Slopes can be done online or at the site. You can buy single-use tickets or combined tickets.
Single-use tickets are valid for one admission to this specific site and only for the selected date. 10€
Combined tickets are valid for one admission per site to Acropolis and Slopes, Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian’s Library, Olympieion, Kerameikos, Aristotle’s School [Lykeion]. Tickets can be used for five days after the first entrance, which must have been realized within five days from the selected date. 30€
The Acropolis Experience The History
One of the best locations to find ancient ruins of Greece is the Acropolis. Dedicated primarily to its patron, the goddess Athena the Acropolis dominates the skyline of this modern-day city. Ancient ruins found here are the Temple of Athena Nike, Propylaea, Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Parthenon, Pandroseion, Choragic Monument of Thrasyllos, The Porch of the Caryatids, Temple of Rome & Augustus, and the Sanctuary of Zeus.
Greek ancient ruins themselves are awe-inspiring as they are pieces of history. These ruins have been passed down through time. So that we may envision what it may have been like to live in those times. Many ancient ruins are in such bad repair that you can not distinguish what the stones represent. Are these buildings or a temple of some kind. But then other buildings stand proud. You can see and maybe visualize what they may have looked like in all of their glory. No matter, these ancient ruins tie us to our past. For that, I’m very grateful that I have experienced these astounding Greek ancient ruins.
Parthanon
Built-in the mid-5th century BCE and dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena Parthenos. The Parthenon dominates the hill of the Acropolis. Construction on the Parthenon began in 447 BCE and was completed by 438. That year a significant gold and ivory statue of Athena was dedicated.
Craftsmans, know-how, and careful placement of cut stone ensured that the Parthenon remained intact for over two thousand years. Many sculptures were removed when the building was converted to a Byzantine church. During the building’s transformation into a Roman Catholic cathedral.
The Turks seized the Acropolis in 1458, and two years later, they adopted the Parthenon as a mosque. During the bombardment of the Acropolis in 1687 by Venetians fighting the Turks. A powder magazine located in the temple blew up, destroying the center of the building.
Currently, restorations are ongoing, so a crane is working within the Parthenon. This ongoing work makes it challenging to appreciate the beauty and grandeur of this truly historic building. Even so, it is well worth experiencing the history of this magnificent building.
Temple of Athena Nike
The Temple of Athena Nike has been standing in this prominent spot on the Acropolis since 420 BC. Athena was the goddess of war and wisdom. Nike is the Greek word for victory.
Temple of Athena was the temple that the ancient Greeks prayed at for victory in a war against Sparta. The temple was destroyed in the 17th century during a battle between the Venetians and the Turks but was rebuilt.
Erechtheum
The Erechtheum is a temple located on the Acropolis, and it’s one of the legendary pieces of Greek architecture. Its construction dates back to c. 421 and 405 when the Persian invasion destroyed the earlier temple to Athena. The Erechtheum was once a sanctuary dedicated to Athena Polias, Erechtheus, and Poseidon.
The porch of the Caryatids can be found through the southern entrance. Six draped female figures can be found here that support the entablature, which is Erechtheum’s most defining feature.
Acropolis Museum
The Acropolis Museum is located next to the Acropolis, the entrance fee was 5 € per person. We would recommend that you visit this Museum. It houses many artifacts from early greek life and that of the ancient residents of Athens. As well as unique sculptures of Greek Mythology. Downside is that in parts of this Museum you are not allowed to take pictures. I do not understand this. This is the only museum that we visited that had this restriction. I fail to see the reason behind this.
The main stop on any Athens tour is the New Acropolis Museum, located near the base of the hill overlooking the city. It has the most extensive collection of Greek architecture and ancient sculptures, including statues of the goddess Athena and “Kritios Boy.”
Roman Agora
Roman Agora (map) was built in the 1st century BC during the reigns of Julius Ceasar and Ceasar Augustus. The Gate of Athena Archegetis was the entrance to the market. A large columned structure looks like the front of a temple and sits on the western edge of the archaeological site.
After the invasion of the Herulae in 267, the city of Athens was restricted to the area within the late Roman fortification wall. Additionally, the commercial center of the town was transferred from the Ancient Agora to the Roman Agora and the Library of Hadrian.
Tower of the Winds is an octagonal clocktower in the Roman Agora used as a timepiece. Considered the world’s first meteorological station.
Unfortunately not that much to see here. The tower of the winds is the most impressive piece. The Gate of Athena is amazing but does look a little out of place.
Ancient Agora
Located to the northwest of the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora of Athens was once a marketplace and civic center. The people gathered here to browse all kinds of commodities. Ancient Greek democracy can be traced to this very spot. It’s a beautiful area to look at the cultural beginnings of Athens.
Overlooking the Ancient Agora (map) from the hill of Agoraios Kolonos is the Temple of Hephaistos, the god of craftsmen. This Temple, one of the best-preserved temples of ancient Greece, was constructed between 449 and 415 BC. Similar in style but smaller than the Parthenon. This temple consists of 34 columns that support a still partially intact roof. It is the best-preserved temple in all of Greece, thanks to its conversion into a church in the 7th century.
The ancient Agora is without a doubt one of the most important landmarks in the capital. Most of the buildings in the area have been damaged over the years. This site’s historic importance makes it a must-see for all visitors to Greece.
We enjoyed our visit to the Ancient Agora especially seeing the Temple of Hephaistos. An incredible building because it is in such good repair. There are lots of areas to walk around. The Museum here which is part of the admission, smaller than most but still enjoyable to visit. Another bit of information about this area is that there are a lot of open cafes to enjoy some downtime. After all the walking enjoy some delicious Greek food. Alternatively or a quiet drink watching people go by. Very relaxing.
Ancient Agora of Athens Museum
The Museum of the Ancient Agora is housed in the reconstructed Stoa of Attalos. Originally erected during the 2nd century BC as a gift of the king of Pergamon, Attalos II, to Athens.
Temple of Olympian Zeus
Temple of Olympian Zeus is known as the largest temple in Greece. The massive ancient complex took nearly seven centuries to complete. Building originally began in 515 BC by order of Peisistratos, but work stopped on the temple as it was seen as oppressive as Peisistratos and his son were seen as tyrants by the Athenians.
Under emperor Hadrian in 132 BC, the temple was finally completed and dedicated to Zeus Olympios. Work resumed in 175 BC but was halted 10 years later when the Roman architect Cossutius died. Today, the temple stands as a reminder of Greek history, but only 15 of 104 huge columns remain. The columns each rise 17 meters (57 feet) into the air and once surrounded a cella where two large statues were once standing.
I’ll be honest this site is not worth the money to visit as there really is not much to see What is standing most of it is hidden behind scaffolding and is not recognizable.
Panathenaic Stadium
Though built by the ancients, Panathenaic Stadium holds a special place in sports history. This original stadium, which dates to around 300 BC and was rebuilt in 144, has hosted several Olympics. More importantly, the stadium is where the Olympic flame starts on its journey to the nation hosting that year’s athletic contests.
In ancient times, the stadium hosted a religious festival dedicated to the goddess Athena every four years. The current structure was restored in the 19th century for the first modern Olympics Games after centuries of disuse. Panathenaic Stadium seats 50,000 spectators and is the largest stadium in the world made entirely of marble. The stadium is a major attraction in Athens.
Kerameikos Achaeological Site
Kerameikos Archaeological is one of the most important, and least visited archaeological sites in Athens. This is the ancient cemetery of Athens, which was in continuous use from the ninth century BC until Roman times. Over the years, archaeologists have unearthed temple columns, marble statues, and funeral offerings. Plus thousands of tombs and the remains of various public buildings.
Kerameikos is part of the Acropolis and Slopes combined ticket I talked about earlier which we purchased. We would unquestionably recommend visiting this very unusual locality. There are no large buildings or columns here but plenty of grounds to walk around. Having its own unique ancient ruins and the Museum has very nice pieces on display as well.
National Archaeological Museum
While visiting Athens the National Archaeological Museum is a must, having a large collection of artwork dating back to the Neolithic Age. The collections include small vases, working tools, clay vases, and other small artifacts. Including some of the oldest archaeological finds dating back to the 7th millennium. Over thirty rooms, sculptures from every century can be viewed, including ancient Kouroi Egyptian sculptures.
The National Archaeological Museum is, without a doubt the best Museum to visit in Athens. In my option, it is far then the new Museum at the Acropolis. Here you will find more displays and I believe better displays than at the Acropolis museum. There are issues with taking pictures.
This is a must-visit, we would recommend in the range of 4hrs to see and appreciate it all. When we visited on a Sunday it was free also in the off-season.
National Historical Museum
The National Historical Museum houses the history of Modern Greece. The period of Ottoman and Latin rule, the Greek War of Independence (1821). Liberation struggles, the creation of an independent state, the political, social, and spiritual development of the Greeks up to the present day.
We actually went to this Museum by mistake. I wanted to go to the National Archaeological museum but we pinned the wrong location and ended up here. That being said we thoroughly enjoy our visit here. We went on a Sunday so there was no cost to visit, an added bonus. If you have the time I would suggest a visit. It only takes a couple of hours and is very informative and interesting.
Lycabettus Hill
The view from Lycabettus Hill is best enjoyed at sunset, waiting for the lights of the Acropolis, and others to come on. We walked up the hill, it’s about an 80-meter elevation hike. Not that bad as you can take as many breaks as you wish. The pathway is not very busy either. Unfortunately, we did this climb late afternoon so no lights, terrific views though. If you are looking for something to do we recommend the hike it’s nice and the view is gorgeous.
At the top of the hill, you will find the Greek whitewashed church of Agios Georgios (St. George) and all are welcome to enter. The viewing platform in front of the church provides sprawling views of Athens, stretching out to the city’s coastline. A cafe is open for breakfast and lunch.
National Garden
In the heart of Athens, the National Garden provides a beautiful spot for a walk in the center of Athens. The National Garden has a private garden for the Royal Palace, which is now the Parliament Building. The Public Garden was established in 1923. This is a quiet and peaceful place away from the bustling city with gorgeous green walking paths.
Statues decorate the gardens as well as flowerbeds and small ruins of antiquity. The gardens of Zappeion can also be found here.
Monastiraki Square
Located in the heart of Athens, Monastiraki Square is unique, with cultures and eras, ever-changing and vibrant. It is definitely one of the most interesting areas within Athens. Generally a very lively location, even more so on the weekends.
If you were to stand at the center of Monastiraki Square and take a good look around you, you can see how unique this area is. This is a great place to spend some time if you are looking for something to do. You can people watch, get some great food, pick up souvenirs, have a drink with friends, or grab an authentic Greek meal and enjoy the tastes of Greece. Just come and enjoy.
The stunning diversity of the architecture of its buildings alone epitomizes the history of Athens.
Monastiraki Flea Market
Visitors to Athens need to visit Monastiraki Flea Market, a huge market and neighborhood in the historic district in Athens. On weekdays, there is a normal marketplace with shops selling everything from spices to souvenirs including clothing.
But on the weekends, this market transforms itself into a huge flea market, with vendors setting up tables to sell junk, antiques, and everything in-between. Monastiraki is a great place to purchase clothing, and souvenirs plus people watch from its many sidewalk cafes. Haggling over prices is expected here and part of the fun.
Central Municipal Athens Market
We love local markets and visit them whenever we have the chance. A market experience is like viewing the soul of the city. The Central Municipal Athens market was no different, many people kept to the old ways of shopping local for fresh foods. This place we found bustling with activity. Shop keepers are friendly and quick to offer their wares and if possible to sample the freshness of the product.
While visiting the market we sampled fresh cheeses, nuts, and dries fruits. Purchasing some fruit, vegetables, nuts, and some pork to enjoy later at our apartment. Nothing beats fresh for flavor. So if you find yourself in downtown Athens look this market up we highly recommend it even if you do not purchase. Sometimes it’s all about the experience.
Getting A Greek Sim Card
First thing is to get a sim card for Cindy’s cell phone so that we can use our computers, etc. You can indeed get a sim card at most small convenience stores. it’s another thing to find someone that knows that much about the card and even harder to find someone that can speak English. After some searching and local recommendations, we found a Wind store.
The lady at Wind who assisted us was incredibly helpful and spoke perfect English. We purchased a Q Kiu Star sim card, for 24 €. We received the following, 9 gigs of data and 200 minutes of calling. It Included Canada and the USA, which was a bonus, my parents are not tech-savvy, so we need to call them, just easier. Then, if you signed up to use their app, you received another 5 gigs. All in all, we ended up with 16 gigs of data. An excellent deal in my eyes, and with the app, you can see the status of your account. Even upload and pay for each month’s use. This card is supposed to be good for all of Europe so that will be great. As we will be visiting other countries in the southeast area (Balken), well let you know about the muti country use.
Covid-19 Protocols
Here are some of the Covid-19 protocols that we have run across in our stay in Athens and for that matter I’m the rest of Greece as well. You need to prove that you have been double vaccinated and the last shot needs to be 14 days or longer from the current date. This proof will be requested when flying, entering some stores, restaurants, and Museums.
The requirement to wear masks when entering any building, purchasing tickets at a wicket, entering restaurants, and in crowded locations.
Our Final Thoughts On Visiting Athens Experienceing, Amazing Food, People, And Ancient Ruins
- We Loved visiting Athens, the incredible ancient ruins that dot the center of the city are fasinating to see and experience. Greek food amazing flavors, there are cafes all over to sit outside and enjoy the people. Or good company with that special someone. We would definity recommend a Visit to this lovely city, you will not regret it.
Our Positives
- Ancient ruins of Greece with just a bit of Romean mixed in
- Friendly, safe city, and very walkable, we walked everywhere downtown putting on 15,000 – 25,000 steps on a daily basis
- The weather for us in early November was terrific, low to mid 20s and sunning
- there are many musueums to visit, all of them were fasinating with increible pieces on display
- off season from November 1 – March 31, some rates to attractions are reduced by half price, less crowds
Our Negatives
- We found the euro somewhat costly as we are from Canada and the exchange 1.5 X ( a small negative)
Would have, Could have, Should have
- We spent 10 days here and would not change a thing, no regrets, loved it
Next Stop
We head to Heraklion in Crete the capital for 7 days, then off to Chania for another 7 days. With 7 days left we need to figure out, which will make a total of 21 days on the island of Crete, and looking forward to every minute. We hope to visit many more ruins as well as experience the Greek way of life on this fascinating Island and let’s not forget the food as this is sometimes the best part.
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Recommended Travel Essential
Cindy and I call ourselves nomadic so with this lifestyle, we use certain essentials to make this way of life easier and more comfortable. With this in mind, we have composed a list of what we feel are essentials and some tips you might use to plan or take your next travel adventure.
- Travel Packing Essentials to help organize and make this task less stressful
- Travel Safety Essentials to make your life on the road a little safer, giving you peace of mind
- Living essentials to make life a little more comfortable, be this resting, working, or playing.
Accommodation Options While Traveling The World
- Booking.com is one of our go to’s when we are looking for a place to stay for a couple of days or longer
- Agoda.com we find is best to use when in Southeast Asia, but hey you never know what you might find
- Airbnb.com used to be our go-to but some of their cancelation policies are reasonable, give them a try as well
Travel Insurance
We always travel with some sort of travel Insurance be it just medical or complete trip coverage. We use Heymondo as we find their costs reasonable. Remember don’t travel and without coverage, the savings are not worth the possible costs.
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