When visiting Athens in the summer, it’s crucial to be aware of the heat. This is something we had wished we watched out for on our trip. With only 2 days to spend in Athens, it was mandatory to bear the heat in order to get the most out of our visit.
On our trip through Turkey and Greece, we only cut out about 48 hours in Athens because we had heard there was a lack of things to do. I felt like we had almost every experience we were looking for in 1 day. After that, it didn’t seem like we were missing out on much else. Although the tourist sites were very interesting, I also felt that the city didn’t have much to write home about. Here’s what I felt was worth the trip and what i’d do all over again if I were to go back to Athens.
Acropolis and Surrounding Sites
The Acropolis is not only the most recognizable site in Greece but one of the most famous in the world. A symbol of a once great empire, this monument stands high above the city of Athens and looks down upon its citizens.
In the surrounding area of the Acropolis is the Ancient Agora, which is well worth the visit when waiting for your time slot for the Acropolis. There are still a few buildings from Ancient Greece that are still standing in this area like the Temple of Hephaestus.
This is truly a magical site and a must-see for anyone visiting Athens. One tip: book your tickets before you get to Athens if you can. We went to the ticket booth when we arrived and all the early morning tickets were sold out due to the fact that you have to hike up the hill to get there. Since it was almost 100 degrees Fahrenheit, getting a time slot at noon was not ideal.
Find a rooftop restaurant or bar at night
If you’re looking for somewhere to go for dinner or a drink, make sure to look up. There are plenty of rooftops in Athens that provide great views of the Acropolis lit up at night. This view provided a true perspective of how great this building truly was. I couldn’t help but imagine what this may have looked like thousands of years ago to the average citizen. It truly was the greatest structure in the world.
Soil Restaurant
Soil was a one of a kind restaurant experience right next to the first olympic stadium (Panathenaic Stadium). On our way to our table we walked right past the open kitchen and were greeted by every cook. With 14 courses, this restaurant provided unique takes on classic dishes as well as exciting new ones. Some of my personal favorites were the asparagus sorbet, the eel burger, and the coffee.
The staff tries hard to make it a really personal experience so you immediately feel like you’re being taken care of as soon as you walk in. This was surely a highlight of my trip to Athens and if you know you’re going to be in town, I’d recommend stopping by Soil.
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