Athens is my favourite city. Although I live here and I have to deal every day with the traffic jam and the long distances, I wouldn't change it. I think Athens is a very interesting, vivid and of course historical city. Athens is not only the obvious part, Acropolis, Plaka and the significant ancient sites. It is also the hidden neighborhoods, the cliffs, the untouched beaches and the places where you feel like having explored a paradise that takes your breath away. This is Athens I adore, and I want to share it with you!

1. I love Athens: the top places to
go recommended by an
Athenian
Athens is my favourite city. Although I live here and I have to deal every day
with the traffic jam and the long distances, I wouldn't change it. I think Athens is
a very interesting, vivid and of course historical city. Athens is not only the
obvious part, Acropolis, Plaka and the significant ancient sites. It is also the
hidden neighborhoods, the cliffs, the untouched beaches and the places where
you feel like having explored a paradise that takes your breath away. This is
Athens I adore, and I want to share it with you!
Anafiotika
Under the hill of Acropolis, is located the neighbourhood of Anafiotika, which
took its name by the first residents, who built it and came from the Cycladic
island of Anafi. Small colourful houses with Cycladic architecture, narrow paved
streets, traditional shops, cafés and bars make this district a hidden gem of
Athens under the magnificent shade of Acropolis. Just wander around these
cobblestone paths, take hundreds of photos and feel the aura under the sacred
hill of Acropolis.
Monastiraki Flea Market
Shopping in Athens is great, and you can find many districts and malls to shop
from elegant boutiques or shops with unbelievable deals. The most impressive
shopping area in Athens is Monastiraki Flea Market, a marketplace with
numerous small, local shops with everything you can imagine. Coins, beads,
jewellery, delicacies, books and antiques remind you of the oriental bazaar, with
their traditional character of past decades. I can spend there hours, and by
searching in the numerous shops, you can find hidden treasures!

2. Petralona
On the one side of Filopappos Hill, is located Thiseio, on the other side
Petralona. Petralona is a neighbourhood with low-profile, small houses, cafés
and bars full of youngsters. From Ano Petralona, you can take the pedestrian
road that leads on the top of hill. From up there, the view of whole Athens and
the sea is just breathtaking. I discovered this pedestrian by accident, and since
then I recommend it everywhere. I wish I had a small house there to overlook
Athens the whole day!
Open-air cinemas
In Petralona, there is a retro open-air cinema (Cine Zefyros), which plays
cinefile movies in a wonderful setting with lounge chairs and serving souvlakia,
while Cine Thisio in Thiseio, is an open-air cinema, which is considered among
the best cinemas in the world as CNN recommended it as the most beautiful
cinema worldwide thanks to its magnificent view of Acropolis. Cine-Paris in
Plaka has also breathtaking view of Acropolis, where you can see movies in
their original language with Greek subtitles literally in the shadow of Acropolis.
A summer without several times in an open-air cinema I considered it as a lost
summer...

3. Koukaki
Airbnb declared Koukaki as one of the best neighbourhoods to live in Europe.
With a magnificent view of Acropolis, just near Thiseio and Plaka, Koukaki is a
district of past decades. Many neoclassical houses, especially when you
approach the pedestrian of Dionysiou Areopagitou, bars, galleries and elegant
shops create the scenery of old Athens. I usually eat brunch there with my
friends because the pedestrian in Koukaki just near the Museum of Modern Art
is full of cafes with delicious delicacies.
Dionysiou Areopagitou Pedestrian
My top of the top street in Athens is the pedestrian of Dionysiou Areopagitou,
which begins from the Acropolis Museum and ends in Thiseio, where the street
is renamed to Apostolou Paulou. This is by far the best walk in Athens, I try to
do it almost every Sunday in order to feel great the week after! You are literally
walk with a magnificent view of the Acropolis in a wonderful pedestrian with
flowers, trees and luxury, neoclassical houses. Then, you reach Thiseio, and
the street is full of bars, taverns and cafés. In this street, is also located the
entrance to Pnyx.

4. Ancient Agora
By far my favourite ancient site! Ancient Agora (Athens) is a top archaeological
site in Athens. Start from Temple of Hephaestus (I love it because it is maybe
the best-preserved temple in Greece) and follow the steps of ancient Athenians
to their daily hangout. Ancient Agora (Athens) was the heart of ancient Athens,
the focus of political, commercial and social activity, the religious and cultural
centre. Visit the Stoa of Attalos, which now functions as the museum of the site
and walk across the Panathenaic Way admiring the important monuments that
represent the essence of democracy. This is my next stop after having walked
in Dionysiou Areopagitou.
Technopolis
The district of Gazi, near Keramikos Archealogical site, is being dominated by
Technopolis-Industrial Gas Museum. There, you can see the gas production
line as well as the preserved machinery and equipment of old gasworks that
constituted the factory of gas for the Greek capital during the 19th and early
20th century. Today, Technopolis has become a hub for cultural events,
concerts and performing acts, giving Athens a modern industrial character.
Don't forget to visit the museum's shop, which is known for its innovative objects

5. available for sale. Drawing inspiration from the industrial exhibits of the
museum, the objects are produced by Greek handicrafts, and among them, are
jewellery and ergonomic decorative objects.
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
The Greek Festival is a cultural institution, which hosts major Greek and
worldwide famous performing artists in ancient theatre performances in their
original scenes. Every summer, from June to October, spectators have the
privilege to watch memorable productions of ancient drama in Greek language,
with English hyper titles. Thus, also the travellers in Greece have the
opportunity to watch the ancient drama and feel the aura of the glorious
antiquity, which gave birth to magnificent classic masterpieces that are being
admired till today. Since 1955, the Greek festival takes place mainly in the
ancient theatre of Epidavros and in Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens. The
Odeon of Herodes Atticus is on the cliff of Acropolis, just near the ancient
theatre of Dionysus, where ancient Athenians watched the performances we all
know today, like Medea of Euripides and Antigone of Sophocles. You can watch
there also great concerts with international well-known artists. It is very touching
to watch a performance near their original place of birth!
Lycabettus Hill
In the area of Kolonaki, is located the Lycabettus Hill, from which you will have
a breathtaking view of Athens. You can take the cable car and enjoy this view,
drinking coffee or eating in the luxurious restaurant that you will find on the top
of the hill. The view is magnificent, and although I have been there numerous
times, I love it every time even more!

6. Athens Riviera
Yes, in Athens, you can also swim, sunbathe and generally enjoy the sea just
a few kilometers from Athens center. The top place to do so is Athens Riviera,
the coastline that starts from Piraeus, passes from the suburbs Faliro, Alimos,
Elliniko, Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni and ends in Cape Sounio, where the
Aegean Sea begins. Athens Riviera is marked by an amazing coastline,
wonderful beaches with pine trees and water sports amenities, as well as
archaeological points of interests, such as the Temple of Poseidon in Sounio
and the Temple of Apollo Zoster in Asteras Hotel.
In Athens Riviera, there are also many bars, night clubs and chic restaurants
for unforgettable moments under the stars. Generally, some of the wonderful
beaches of Attica are in the coast of Athens Riviera. The beaches of Anavyssos,
Thimari and of course Sounio, where you can have an amazing view of the
temple of Poseidon on the cliff, overlooking the Aegean Sea, are so beautiful
that they can literally compete the beaches of Cyclades.
If you want to swim in a peaceful scenery, away from the crowds, Vouliagmeni
Lake is also a nice spot for swimming in crystal waters and sunbathing in Athens
Riviera. At the lake, a rare geological phenomenon waits to be discovered. The

7. waters are continuously refreshed by the sea, which is next to the lake, as well
as by the underground thermal springs. At the edge of the lake, near the
impressive rocks, starts a labyrinth-like underwater cave with 14 tunnels.
Among them, there is one, which reaches the 800 meters, making it the longest
in the world. There is also a huge stalagmite in the cave, which gives the lake
a mysterious and interesting character. The living world of the lake includes a
variety of unique organisms, living in the green waters of this aquatic paradise.
Among them, you can admire a sea anemone, species of sponges and molluscs
and the fish Garra Rufa, which is known worldwide because it provides skin
exfoliation and it is used in many fish spas.
Temple of Poseidon, Sounio
Regarding to the beaches and the excursions you can do in Athens, your
options are also numerous. In my opinion, an amazing day excursion is the visit
of the ancient temple of Poseidon in Sounio. You can take the bus from Athens
Center, and in about 1,5 hour, you will be at the cape of Athens, which has a
breathtaking view of the Aegean Sea. The route to Sounio is wonderful as you
admire the whole coastline of Athens, the famous Athens Riviera. When you
reach Sounio, you can visit the ancient temple, swim in the beach right under
the hill, which has the crystal waters of the Aegean Sea, and then, eat seafood
and drink ouzo in one of the traditional taverns there. Swimming on the beach
under the temple, visiting this significant monument and enjoying the view as
well as eating mezedes in a tavern by the sea is a once in a lifetime experience
you will always remember.

8. Temple of Artemis, Vravrona
The ancient Temple of Artemis is located in Vravrona, on the eastern side of
Attica, in a close distance to the Airport of Athens (Greece). In the
archaeological site of the temple, you can explore in addition to the temple, the
sanctuary of Ifigeneia, the gymnasium and other ancient buildings, and there is
also an Archaeological Museum with many findings of the area. The landscape
is astonishing, full of trees and a small river crossing the site. After this, you can
swim in a beach in Porto Rafti, Loutsa or Rafina, which are located nearby. I
recommend you the beach of Chamolia in Vravrona, which is a totally
undiscovered place, where you can enjoy the sea away from tourists especially
in the low season.
Parnitha Mountain
Athens is surrounded by three mountains (Parnitha, Imittos and Penteli).
Parnitha has been declared a national park with many species of flora and
fauna. Hiking on this mountain is a great experience due to the breathtaking
view of the whole city and the Argosaronic Gulf, the exploration of beautiful
hiking paths, the walk together with many animals, such as birds, deers and
hares, as well as the feeling that you are totally inside the nature, only 10-20

9. km from Athens Center. It is a top excursion from Athens I highly
recommend. On Mountain Parnitha, in addition to hiking, you can also explore
the Summer Palace of the Greek Royal Family in Tatoi. It is a historical place,
which includes the abandoned buildings of the palace and the outbuildings of
the former Greek Royal Family, which left Greece in 1973. The buildings are
outstanding, and the walk in this huge estate is impressive thanks to the
beautiful, natural scenery and the history behind this place.