Hi All: We're adding the finishing touches to our Greek Itinerary (we leave in one week-- yay!!)-- and realized we haven't spent much time deciding how we'll use our day and a half in Athens. We're thinking the RS walking tour, Acropolis, New Acropolis Museum, Archeological Museum...anything else? Any suggestions of best ways to tackle the city? We're a young couple who love to walk (I'm happy to walk 7-10 miles a day when sightseeing) -- we love things that are off the beaten path, but also want to see the "must see" tourist spots. Thanks again for all of your help!
Posted by
Centennial, CO, US
2127 posts
I don't have the RS book, so these may be on the walking tour, but in case not ... We like to visit the huge Central Market in Athens; it's a block or two down the street from the Attalos Hotel, where we always stay. It's an amazing sight... every kind of fish, poultry and meat you can imagine. There are vendors with olives, cheeses, etc. nearby and a fruit/vegetable market across the street. Good gyros at the little restaurant on the corner diagonally across from the market. We also enjoyed watching the changing of the guard at the Parliament building near Syntagma. They do it every hour on the hour, with an extended ceremony on Sunday mornings. Great photo opportunity.
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3321 posts
Erin when you have such a cruelly short time, it is vital to be very specific is the HALF day first, or by "half day" do you mean that your plane takes off at noon of the 2nd day??? If the latter you have only ONE day, because it takes 1 hour to reach Airport & u must be in line 2 hrs before flight. But since u do not say, I must guess. I'm guessing 1 day. You do not have time for "off the beaten path' you will be lucky to get to half the musts. Heres a possible sequence: A "DAY-A-THON" Up early, get to Acropolis entry 8 am, then u will have 90 minutes before tour crowds arrive ... i I don't usually love RS, but his book is a good Acropolis D-I-Y .. walk down thru ancient Agora, see Areopagus & the 2 Theatres. All this will take u until almost noon. THen Go to Acropolis Museum, lunch on the terrace (good value!!) then tour museum 2 hrs there. . Collapse for an hour if your hotel is near. Check if N.A.M. is open till 7:30 taxi there. Sure u can walk but you don't have the time! Rick's dash-by tour is OK ... All the "vase" areas are closed, a time-saver. Don't miss Santorini murals. HALF-DAY BONUS:
If you have a half day at the start, hooray! Then you can do Acropolis between 4:30 - 6:30pm; no one's there, the light is great. That gives u time on your "full day" for perhaps shopping or a specialty museum (LaLounis Jewelry? or the Museum of Popular Instruments?) or... just stroll down the pedestrian walkway below Acropolis, go up a hill, find the Pnyx the place where Senators met and Pericles spoke. Stand where he stood. A place to say farewell to Greece.
Posted by
Grand Rapids, MI, US
37 posts
The Acropolis rocks! Also save time for savoring the Plaka and also go to the Agora for sure (super close to the Acropolis). I LOVED shopping in Athens! Save time for having a long lunch with the locals! Happy travels!
Posted by
OP
San Francisco, CA
180 posts
Thanks, everyone! I'll be more specific about our time (sorry I wasn't to start with). We arrive in Athens late Thursday night, sleep, have all day Friday to explore, stay over again, and then leave on a 7pm flight on Saturday night. So-- I think we will have time for both the whirlwind tour of must-see items and some relaxing and taking it all in.
Posted by
Centennial, CO, US
2127 posts
I heard that the Acropolis was closing early (around 3:30 pm) this past winter. Not sure if it's a permanent schedule change, but you'll want to check on that when arriving in Athens so you don't miss it if you're planning an afternoon visit.