Planning on what to see and what to do in Greece can
be a daunting task. That is because the country
has so much to see and do that it would likely take you
at least three separate vacations to even begin to exhaust
the possibilities. When you get to Greece, it is
highly likely that you will arrive in Athens. Athens
is a city packed with attractions
and all of them are vying for your attention. One
of the best things about Athens, however, is that
many of the suggested itineraries Athens destinations
can be found close together. From the center of
the city you are within reach of ancient ruins, world-class
museums, exciting shopping
and delicious places to eat. You may only have one
day in Athens, or you may have the luxury of having more
than a week there. Regardless of how much time you
have there, the following recommendations encompass some
of the attractions that could make the list for any Athens
suggested itineraries.
1-3 Days
It is often said that all roads in Greece lead to Athens,
and you could easily spend two weeks in Athens and still
feel like you left something out. If you flew into
Athens, or have just a few days there before you head
out to another destination, there are a couple of “must-sees”
that you won’t want to miss. The best place
to begin any Athens itineraries is at the centrally located
Syntagma Square. At Syntagma
Square you will find the Parliament Building and it
is fun to watch the changing of the guards there, especially
at 11:00 a.m. on Sundays. From Syntagma Square you
can head west towards the Plaka neighborhood. This
is the city’s oldest neighborhood, and a favorite
among both Athenians and tourists. There are many
great restaurants in the Plaka, and you can peruse the
Plaka flea market, or head
for the expensive brands on Ermou Street. Just to
the southwest of Syntagma Square, you will find the Acropolis.
If there is one place you that has to go on your Athens
suggested itineraries list, it is the Acropolis.
Located near the Acropolis
are the ancient agora,
the Roman agora, the Odeon
of Herodes Atticus and Areopagus
Hill.
4-7 Days
Among the museums you will want to include in Athens
itineraries are the Benaki
Museum and the National
Archaeological Museum. If you head just southwest
of Syntagma Square, you will find the National Garden
and further along you can visit the Temple
of Olympian Zeus and Panathinaikon
Stadium. Just northwest of Syntagma Square as
you come to the Benaki Museum, you enter the neighborhood
of Kolonaki. Kolonaki
is one of the more upscale neighborhoods of the city,
offering terrific restaurants and shops of world-class
designers. Near the Benaki Museum, you could easily
spend a couple of hours at the Museum of Cylcadic Art.
All suggested itineraries Athens lists should also include
a visit to Lykavittos Hill. Rising above Kolonaki,
you can’t miss it. Take the funicular to the
top of Lykavittos Hill, or walk up it if you so desire,
for the best view of Athens. There is also a restaurant
on top of the hill, making it the perfect spot for an
evening meal. With so many transportation
options in Athens, you might consider finding a Greece
tour that takes you to some of the attractions outside
Athens. Consider taking a boat tour to the islands
of Aegina, Poros and Hydra as part of Athens itineraries.
Or, head to the Peleponnese prefecture and stay a night
or two in Pyrgos, from which
you can access small coastal towns and the ruins at Olympia.
7 + Days
With more than 7 days, you have plenty of time to round out the suggested itineraries Athens locales that you might have otherwise missed. One of the great pleasures near Athens is a trip to the Cape of Sounion. Along the way, you will find a scenic route along the Aegean Sea that has a lot of beaches you could stop off at. With this amount of time as well, you could really mix and match your trips to various museums. Add the Acropolis museum to your list of Athens suggested itineraries and try to make time for the Stoa Attalos, (Ancient Agora Museum). But, there is also more to Greece than Athens, and you will likely get the itch to head to an island or two for a couple of days. There are cruises and ferries operating regularly out of Athens that service the islands, as well as a good number of flights. You could easily spend a few days on Santorini or Crete, or mix a couple of days between those islands and other islands like Mykonos and Rhodes and return to Athens. If you want to mix rockclimbing with sightseeing, consider a trip to Meteora in the Thessaly region. The mountain views and natural rock formations here are astounding, not to mention the Greek monasteries that sit perched on a series of rising mountain rocks.
