Just back from our whirlwind trip to Greece! What an action-packed week it was! Two days in Athens, two days in Mykonos, two days in Santorini, and then back home.
It was nowhere near enough time to spend in Greece, and I am sad that I missed Delphi, Meteora, and Olympus, but since this was quite last-minute (we didn’t get our visas until the week of our departure), I am grateful just being able to visit Greece.
With that said, on to our travels!
Surprisingly, the Acropolis was the last place we visited before leaving Greece. Our first day in Greece was just spent roaming around the Plaka (downtown Athens area, surrounding the Acropolis). Our plane landed too late for any of the guided Acropolis tours – something we wanted.
So, our first day in Acropolis was just a bit of acclimatization, followed by two days in Mykonos and Santorini each. We returned early morning from Santorini just in time for the Acropolis tour.
The Acropolis tour
The tour bus dropped us at the base of the Acropolis. We then walk through the park and up the hill enjoying the wonderful city views.
Note: The only way to get up to the Acropolis is by walking. You need to be able to climb up that hill. There is a lift that takes people up, but it’s strictly for those who have a disability card. A couple of older women nearby requested the lift but were denied. So, keep this in mind while planning for the tour.
That said, the climb wasn’t particularly difficult. It was a beautiful day, the crowds moved slowly, and so it ended up being quite a pleasant walk.
The guide, who was very knowledgeable, told me that the Acropolis was a common structure in all the city-states of ancient Greece. This one was the most famous because it lasted, being made entirely of marble. Also, the Acropolis isn’t one building; it’s more like a complex containing an amphitheater, temples dedicated to Athena (the temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and the most famous Parthenon).
Odeon of Herodes Atticus Amphitheater
One of the first things we saw upon entering the complex was the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. This is the famous open-air amphitheater that is still in use today. Famous musicians and singers such as Yanni, Maria Callas, and others have performed there. I can’t imagine what a wonderful experience it must have been; our tour guide said the acoustics are excellent here.
Temple of Athena Nike
This is the first temple we saw. We saw this temple from a distance; our tour didn’t let us get too close to it. What we saw of it (pretty much the view in this photo) was breathtaking. Our guide informed us that the temple had been heavily renovated and rebuilt.
Fun fact: Did you know that the Nike sportswear brand is inspired by Greek mythology? Nike (goddess of victory) is a facet of Athena, and her wings inspired the design of the Nike swoosh logo.
Erechtheion
The Erechtheion is another temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. It’s not as famous as the Parthenon (visible from miles); however, it’s just as beautiful.
Again, we weren’t taken close to the building – probably because of all the broken rocks. I thought of asking our tour guide to take us closer, but I didn’t see anyone near the building, so I guess it’s forbidden to come close.
This temple is renowned for its beautiful Caryatids – the maidens who support the roof. There are 6 in total. The ones here are copies; five originals are in the Acropolis Museum, and one is in the British Museum.
Parthenon
Now, we come to the most famous building – the Parthenon. This is also a temple dedicated to Athena.
The awe-inspiring Parthenon
There’s a lot of reconstruction ongoing at the Parthenon, so there is a lot of scaffolding all down one side of the building. The guide, however, mentioned that they weren’t building anything new, just filling in the gaps.
Acropolis Museum
Combine a visit to the Acropolis with the Acropolis Museum nearby. It’s a great way to get an up-close look at the artifacts that have been moved from the open-air Acropolis into the safety of the museum.
The museum is an architecturally very interesting building with a lot of natural light and good use of white space.
The exterior is also beautiful. I didn’t get a full photo of the building, but here you can see some of the interesting structural bits.
The museum is built over the remains of the ancient city. You can look down into the kitchens and latrines of Ancient Greece as you walk toward the entrance.
They also have neat models of the Parthenon and other buildings in the Acropolis – showing what they must have looked like when they were first built.
All the models were interesting. I particularly loved the model of the Parthenon frieze that tells the story of the birth of Athena. It’s too long a story to tell here, but there’s plenty of information on the web. Greek mythology, in general, is extremely fascinating. To learn more about these tales, I highly recommend reading Mythos by Stephen Fry.
The highlight of the visit was seeing the Caryatids up close.
My favorite display in the museum
Another reason to visit the museum is to enjoy the views of the Acropolis from the building.
You can visit the museum alone or opt for a guided tour. I’d recommend a guided tour that combines the museum and the Acropolis – it’s cheaper and more informative than wandering on your own at the museum.
Recommended Tours
The Private Mythology Tour of Acropolis and Acropolis Museum or the Best of Athens in One Day: Acropolis & City Tour with Transfer are excellent choices for a complete tour of the place with knowledgeable guides.
Enjoy the views of the Acropolis from the neighborhood
The last thing to do on your Acropolis tour is to enjoy the view of the monuments from the surrounding areas.
You can climb nearby hills, or relax on the terraces of nearby hotels or restaurants and immerse yourself in the view.
Another cool thing to do in Athens is to dine in the Plaka (downtown) area. You can sit in the outdoor restaurants, enjoy dinner, and soak in the vibe of dining near a world-famous monument built around 5000 BC.
We dined at the Cave of Acropolis, and it was crowded; the food and service were mediocre and a bit of a tourist trap in general. However, this view made up for all of it. ♥
So, while I don’t recommend the restaurant we visited, plenty are around for you to pick and choose.
Another thing to do is watch a Greek play. These are generally performed on a rooftop, and it is quite the experience. Here’s one you can check out – Medea and other friends.
Or, walk around and enjoy the views that surprise you at every turn! You can shop, dine, or even walk around with a gelato exploring the Plaka area. It’s a great way to spend a couple of hours.
Note: Avoid buying food to take home from here. The best food items (olives, honey, baklava, sweets etc.) are at the airport and have better prices. Instead, visit the nearby Monastiraki flea market and explore the lovely home decor, t-shirts, fridge magnets, and sandals. They are worth buying and of good quality as well.
Views of the Acropolis from downtown Plaka and surrounding areas
Devote a full day to the Acropolis and Plaka areas. This is one of the must-visit places in Athens that’s easily accessible., and worth lingering for an entire day. We came twice to this neighborhood; it was just that magical!
