Hello,
I will be flying into Athens for 1 and half days on Friday May 18th at noon.
What is best to do and where is best to stay?
Would like to see Acropolis. Any great town squares.
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
Give us a budget for lodging. And what kind of activities u enjoy. Museums, landm@rks etc.
Posted by
OP
32 posts
I like landmarks more than museums. Budget is open.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15582 posts
The Acroplis and the Ancient Agora would be my top choices. The RS self-guided walks too. The National Archaeology Museum is a wow. Catch the changing of the guard at Syntagma every hour 24/7.
Posted by
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
1370 posts
When you get to the Acropolis you can buy a multi site admission ticket. Find the ancient sites on that ticket will be a good plan to see as much as possible. Plus of course the Acropolis museum and the National Archeological museum. Thats a good 3 or 4 day plan. Do what you can in the time you have.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6500 posts
You said you don't like museums but if you go to one museum, anywhere, make it the Acropolis Museum at the foot of the Acropolis, on the south side. Go to the top floor and see the sculptures that came off the Parthenon itself, plus copies of those that have gone from the Parthenon to other museums in Europe. They're arranged as they were on the actual temple, aligned geographically with it, and very well described in multiple languages. It's an easy add-on to the Acropolis, though on the opposite side of the hill from the ancient Agora, which is also well worth seeing. Given your time frame and distaste for museums, I would not recommend the National Archeological Museum which is in a different part of the city.
There are lots of good hotels around the Acropolis, especially on the northwest, west, and southwest sides. Many have rooftop restaurants or bars with Acropolis views. Rooms with such views will cost more than those without. Lots of threads on this board about hotels in Athens.