I have 4 full days in Athens. What are my options to see/do. We will spend New year eve there and we will have car. Love to listen to some local music somewhere.
Posted by
OP
78 posts
Is it worth to drive to nafpilo in one of those 4 days
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8906 posts
A car in Athens itself may end up being a bit of a liability over a help. Really consider just how important it is to you to have a car.
Nafplio is well worth a visit, but it is also easily accessed by long distance bus.
Access the Acropolis right when it opens, otherwise the crowds really take away from the experience. The Acropolis Museum is excellent and well worth a visit.
Posted by
Sidney, BC, Canada
986 posts
Also the National Archaeological Museum. Wandering around the Plaka area, touristy but quaint and you stumble across the occasional Greek ruin. There is a nice pedestrian walk around the base of the Acropolis to the Ancient Agora and Stoa of Attalos and the archaeological park including the Temple of Hephaistos, one of the best preserved temples in Greece. The changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier. The Temple of Zeus. If you are staying near the Acropolis these are all within walking distance and a car is unnecessary, in fact it would be a nuisance as parking is difficult. Athens is full of specialist galleries and museums.
Nafplio is a lovely small town but may not be the best way to use one of your precious four days in Athens, especially in late December with its shorter days.
Get a good Guidebook, I used Eyewitness Greece, Athens and the Mainland. Lots of useful information, illustrations and maps and really useful sections on Greek architecture, ceramics, art etc. I have not used Rick Steves’ guide to Athens but if it’s as good as his Rome guide that would be useful.
A lot of people on the forum recommend Mani Mani for a special dinner, have not been there myself.
Posted by
France Southwest
2366 posts
A car is absolutely useless in Athens, it is also, and above all, a source of trouble of all kinds. Public transport is very efficient and most of the places to visit are concentrated in the same area that is easily covered on foot.
I made this map which may be useful:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1OhGNGU1LUEgwFTul8u4YEe_tijF8Hqs&usp=sharing
For any tourist information about Athens, consult the city's official website:
The local music is mainly Rebetiko (a kind of Greek blues). In the Psyri district, near Monastiraki Square, very lively in the evening, you will find some bars/restaurants with live music.
Locate it here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VTTC7ogH9GYJkajD6
There are some other places frequented mainly by locals such as "Ο Αγγελος" in the Exarcheia district:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/4v85gz7cuwR2KUt98.
But I don't think you'll hang out there :))