Athens Itinerary Help!

We didn’t stay at the Hera last year on our first trip, but were in the same neighborhood. But you’ll be a half block from the ManiMani restaurant (www.manimani.com.gr ), so good we ate there twice, and you won’t find a better place at an affordable price anywhere in Athens!

Be at the Acropolis at closing time, when some of the crowd will have departed before you. The staff will be ushering you out, wanting to go home themselves, but take as long as you can to be one off the last people out of there that day. As you exit the Acropolis, walk a few feet to the right (north) to Nars Hill, which may be covered with lounging young people and overflowing trash receptacles, but has a nice view over Athens.

One sight we didn’t get to, but could be worth your time if you can, is the Temple of Olympian Zeus, east of the Acropolis Hill.

Watch out for pickpockets/purse snatchers on the Metro - we had a bad encounter in April 2018.

I've never stayed in that area of Athens but it appears to be good for access to the Acropolis. In the afternoon I would wander around and get my bearings. There should be quite a number of shops, markets and tavernas on that side of the Acropolis but I can't say what would be best.

For 7/27 I would highly recommend getting to the Acropolis at opening time, 8 a.m. to avoid the tour groups and hordes of tourists. You'll have a good hour plus of relatively peaceful and relaxing time before you get overwhelmed with tourists.

You can then go to the Agora which doesn't get the crowds of the Acropolis and I would also recommend Kerimikos Cemetery, one of Athens best and least visited archeological sites. You can buy the multi-site ticket for 30 euros which covers everything mentioned plus more.

Too many options for dining out but avoid the more touristy-oriented areas . . . anything with fancy pictures of food and where most diners look out of place in Greece.

7/29 is good for going straight to the Central Markets. It's wild, crazy and something you may never experience back home. Even if you go later in the day it will still be a great time. In addition there are numerous side streets off of Athinas St. with small, locally-owned shops with all kinds of Greek goodies.

Psiri is a wonderful area of Athens, just behind Athinas St. and close to Monistiraki Square but without the tourist impact. More of a local area to dine, shop and hang out.

Check out this wonderful website for Athens and areas you are interested in:
https://www.athensguide.com/

Temple of Olympian Zeus is indeed worth the visit. It's pretty much just a few columns, but they give a clear idea of the size of this large and impressive temple in its prime. It's part of the Acropolis Ticket.

I don't see a mention of the National Archeology Museum. The Acropolis Museum is OK, but the National Archeology Museum is the best museum in Athens. If given the choice, choose the NAM.

Things will be crowded in late July. Also hot. Consider doing the Acropolis in the morning as early as possible.

I'd suggest the RS city walk as your "afternoon activity" on your arrival day the 26th. Then, as advised, the Acropolis early on the 27th, followed by the Acropolis museum. On the 28th, the National Archeological Museum (take a taxi both ways) and the Agora. That plan has you walking around outside on presumably jetlagged arrival day, gets you to both museums while limiting you to one per day, and puts the Acropolis and its museum on the same day so it's easier to connect the art to its original setting. The 29th looks good as you have it.

We stayed 5 nights at Hotel Hera. Consider dinner at the rooftop Peacock Restaurant. Amazing view of the Acropolis. Our favorite restaurant in Athens was Mani Mani. We ate there 3 times. (Reservations required). The hotel concierge will be happy to reserve a table for you. A short walk from Hera. Unique Greek cuisine and the best wine we had in Greece. Enjoy your stay!

Oh, as good as ManiMani was, we also had an extra special, expensive gourmet dinner at the exceptional Botrini’s restaurant. We took a taxi to and from our Art Gallery Hotel, which is near where you’ll be staying at the Hera. Happy eating!

The nearest metro stop is Acropoli, about 2 blocks uphill from the Hera. Across the street from the metro is a block of tourist restaurants - don't go there! If you go downhill from the Hera a couple of blocks, you'll find a lot of restaurants, much cheaper and many more locals. BTW it's easy to get to the hotel from the airport using the metro.

The Acropolis Museum is behind that metro stop. It's worth a visit, but as Paul said, the National Archaeology Museum is the wow. However, for your first night, you may want to go to the Acropolis Museum since it's close. Whether you visit it or not, you can have dinner (reasonably priced) on the open balcony with a great view of the Acropolis. The Hera has a rooftop bar/restaurant, the view isn't as good and it's indoor with wall-to-wall windows.

Definitely go to ManiMani for a great dinner. I'd have gone more than once if I'd known how good it was.

I think you're taking on too much on Saturday. It will be hot and there's very little shade. I was there 2 years ago and used the RS 2016 guide, which said you could exit the Agora at the foot of the Acropolis. There was a small exit gate that was unkempt and padlocked. Also Athens is hilly and you'll be going up and down in the heat. I would try to visit the Acropolis first thing in the morning, whichever morning you choose.

There is a special changing of the guard ceremony on Sunday morning at Syntagma Square at 11.00, with lots of extra pomp and a marching band. It starts about 10.45 and you'll want to be there earlier to jockey for a position to stand and watch. Of course, you can see the ordinary changing of the guard every hour on the hour 24/7. And on the half-hour the guards rotate positions.

For a splurge dinner, do not miss Aleria. It's in an interesting chic neighborhood worth exploring for cafes/bars before/after dinner.

For a classic, wonderful non-touristy meal of good value, Atitamos. Good way to break up the walk to the Archaeological museum, which I don't see in your itinerary, but it should be.

You mention the Acropolis Museum. I think you mean the three story New Acropolis Museum, which take quite a while to go through. Make sure you go up to the third floor.

The Archaeological Museum is great, consider going there.

For entertainment one evening, if you are interested in traditional Greek music and dance, consider the Dora Stratou dance theater: http://www.grdance.org/en/ Makes a great addition to an evening after dinner. The theater uses authentic music, costuming and dance from different areas of Greece to create a memorable performance. Some older Greeks sitting near us were quietly singing along to some of the music. It's an intimate setting. We came home and bought all their music on iTunes. Really, really enjoyed it.

It's located not far from the acropolis. Based on what I've read, though, I would not walk through the Philopappos Hill after dark if coming from the acropolis area. There will be cabs waiting at the theater exit point after the performance ends.

I agree with what's said about Dora Stratou evening -- really enjoyable! However, it was not my experience that there were taxis waiting at the end of performance... perhaps we left a little early, but there were NONE... and it was a nightmare to get back to our hotel... the nearby streets had no taxis cruising, the one we found claimed not to know where our hotel was, we finally just exited at the nearest busy street. I would suggest strongly if you go you have the phone # of a taxiyou can call for a pick-up; get a reliable one from your hotel desk.