Sights In Athens, 2022

Athens is a beautiful and captivating old city. It is rich in culture, history, architecture and religion. There are many options for tours starting at 30 euros and going over 60 euros a person, along with a hop on/off bus as well. We enjoyed walking through the city, seeing the sites and what else the city had to offer, while also stopping for the occasional beverage and snack. We had 3 weeks in Athens, however if you were stopping through before going to the islands you really only need 4 days max to see all the sites, eat your fill of food and even have a hangover or weather cautious day.

There are an abundance of sights to see in Athens and it can get expensive quickly. We found the cheapest one to be 4 euros a person and the most expensive was 12 euros. There are day passes you can purchase that range from 30 euros to 100 euros, along with bus passes and day tours out of Athens. When we started looking into these packages, we had already walked a number of the sites so it was not worth it for us.

If you go to Greece between the months of December to March (their winter), on the first Sunday of the month all attractions are free to enter. We did try and do some sightseeing this way, however other Greek Holidays made this a bit difficult. Some of the sights were closed and transit schedules altered because of holidays.

As you walk to the sites you have two options, you can pay to go through the gate a bit closer to the ruins (you can not touch or walk through them) and see some information plaques. Your second option is you can walk around the outside of the fence and see the ruins from a bit further back and read the plaques further back and that was free.

We picked 3 sites we really wanted to do and paid to go into them. The rest we walked around the outside of, read the plaques and got some good pictures. We did not feel like we missed out on any of the attractions by doing it this way because there is so much information online as well, it was not hard to find the answers to any questions we had.

Kerameiko's Archaeological Site

This was the first site we went looking for. There is a small museum and you can pay a fee to enter the grounds. We walked around the grounds from outside the fence and there are informational plaques around the area. This site was used as a burial ground from the 9th century BC until Roman times; it is still being excavated to this day.

Cost: Free - Walked around the outside of the grounds

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Hadrian's Library

Right in the middle of the Syntagma Square is Hadrian's Library, this site was the largest library in Athens. Used to store important literary works and legal documents, it was also a gathering place for people to hear lectures and host various philosophical schools.

Cost: Free - walked around the outside.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Photo Credit: Ryan C.

Hellenic Parliament - Changing of the Guard

Alexis (our AirBnB host) mentioned this to us when he drove us to Athens. Telling us how cool it was to watch and it did not cost anything. The Changing of the Guard at the Lost Soldiers Tomb at Hellenic Parliament happens every hour on the hour and takes a total of 10 minutes. You hear the guards coming out, clear a path up the middle (which from their shoes you can see exactly where they will walk) and watch the guards change out.

You can also walk the gardens located behind the Hellenic Parliament which are beautiful and well taken care of. There are nice walking trails all through here and a few plaques with ruines as well and artwork.

Cost: Free

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Panathenaic Stadium

The Stadium where the Olympics have been held. You can see everything from the outside of the fence, however actually walking the track and around the seating is something you should do. At first I did not see the point of going in, like I said you can see everything from the outside of the fence. There is a small museum on the inside where you can go through and see memorabilia from the Olympics over the years.

We also visited this site at the end of February around lunch time and it was empty, there were maybe 10 other people walking around which made it more enjoyable. No lines, no crowds, just some people walking around enjoying the history of this stadium.

Cost: 10 Euro/ person

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Olympieion - Temple of Olympian Zeus

This one has mixed reviews online because of the scaffolding that is being used to hold the remaining pillars upright and you do not have access to the "temple" area. You can see this from outside the fence line but there are alot of trees in the way, it was worth paying the 4 euros each to go in and walk the grounds. It is really interesting because you see where the main temple was, where parts of it have fallen down and as with all the ruins they have parts tagged and are slowly rebuilding and preserving.

There are also a few tortoises living in this site, so it was fun to walk around and point them out to one another. We also sat on a bench in the sun for a bit watching other people walk right by the tortoises which was amusing.

Cost: 4 Euro /person

Photo Credit: V. Gray

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Hadrian's Arch (Gate)

Just on the outside of the Temple of Zeus is Hadrian's Gate, if you stop and actually take it in you can see the Acropolis through it. As I walked through it gave me a blissful moment of "holy, we are actually in Greece ''. As you walk through the arch from the Temple ruins into a modern intersection it is surreal. I honestly can not explain this feeling any other way, for me it was just the realization of being where we were and taking in everything.

The arch was erected in honour of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, who was a large benefactor to the city of Athens. This arch was built to emphasise the then new district of Athens.

Once you pass through the arch you can walk into the neighborhoods at the base of Acropolis and see other ruins, shops, statues, churches and lots of bars and restaurants.

Cost: Free

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Acropolis

You can not go to Athens and NOT go to the Acropolis, it would be like going to Rome and not going to see the Calcium. This site completely floored me, the size of the rocks/bricks used to make the temples, everything being taken up there all by hand, is insanity. It is a lot of walking uphill with a lot of uneven ground, so you do have to watch your footing. It is completely worth every uneven step and rest break up to the top to pass through the old entry gates into the grounds, it is something you have to see to believe.

Acropolis means "highest point", this is the highest point in Athens and the views from the top over the city really shows a perspective I was not expecting. I knew the city was big, yes, however when you stand at one view point and can see the sea and turn to look the other way seeing the city going to the mountains it is astounding.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

As you walk through the grounds and see all the different structures still standing, it will captivate you. We didn't talk much as we walked around, both trying to take in everything and see all the little details that people had done on each building. Same as all the other archeological sites, you can only get so close until you get another fence between you and the buildings.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

One of the best views of the Acropolis is from Filopappou Hill. We had spent so much time walking around Athens, around Ancient Agora, had dinner on a rooftop bar and walked the foothills of the Acropolis which all have a different view of the Acropolis. However the best one by far that we found towards the end of our trip was during our hike up Filopappou Hill to the monument. From this viewpoint you get the chance to take in the magnitude of the ground and all the structures that make up the Acropolis, it is worth the hike to top to take in.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Cost: 10 euro /person

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is located on the Acropolis grounds. You can walk up to the gates and while climbing the stairs up the Acropolis you can look down into the Roman theatre. It does open up in the summer months for concerts and other attractions.

Cost: Free to walk around

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Acropolis Grounds

Walking the Acropolis Grounds or foothills if you have time, is something you should do. Touring through this area is was very interesting, lots of old structures that are unmarked, the gardens are beautiful and give a mystical feeling as you pass through them and this is also a route you can use to go from one Neighborhood to the next (without the busy streets) and you get to see different views of other landmarks ( The Parthenon, The Temple of Athena etc.).

Cost: Free

Phot Credit: V.Gray

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Tower of Wind

The Tower of Wind is also called Horologion meaning "Timepiece". This is the oldest meteorological station in the world. This building was built to measure time, this octagonal marble tower each dies faces a point of the compass. There is also a wind vane on the top of the tower made of brass in the form of a Triton. Below on the sides of the tower that face the sun there are sundials, while also containing a water clock to tell time when the sun was not shining.

Cost: Outside Free - In the grounds 8 euro

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Filopappou Hill

This was not on your radar at until our last few days in Athens, when we were just looking for something fill time. After walking through these grounds and up to the monument we figured out pretty quick, we should have done it sooner. As mentioned above the view of the Acropolis from here is astounding, along with being able to see the city of Athens from the mountains to sea and the monuments from the vantage point are gorgeous.

Cost: Free

Photo Credit:V.Gray

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Metropolitan Church of Athens & Church of Theotokos Gorgoepikoos

As you walk in Metropolitan Square you will find the Metropolitan Church of Athens and Church of Theotokos Gorgoepikoos. The Metropolitan Church of Athens is the headquarters of the Archbishop of Greece, it's the "official" church of Athens. This cathedral is constructed with materials from over 70 abandoned or ruined churches. Its paintings, stained glass, sculptures and architecture in this church are captivating. We found ourselves silently walking through, looking at all the little detail the church has to offer.

Cost: Free

Photo Credit: V.Gray

The Church of Theotokos Gorgoepikoos also known as the Little Metropolis is located right beside the Metropolitan Church of Athens. It was built in 787, on top of a temple and this church was turned into the city's public library in 1841 and then restored back to its original form in 1856 and dedicated to Agios Eleftherios. It is now one of the few churches that has been maintained in its original form.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Cost: Free

Ancient Agora

Ancient Agora or Market Hill was known as a meeting place. Today you can walk all over and around the hill and again with a view of the Acropolis and Filapaou Hill. We noticed the Hill one night while having dinner at a rooftop bar, that a ton of people were on this hill to watch the sunset. So naturally the next evening we had to check it out, despite the overcast and windy weather it was still picturesque.

Cost: Free

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Photo Credit:V.Gray

Central Market

If you want to go grocery shopping with the locals, Central Market is where you will find everything from freshly butchered meat and eggs to vegetables and nuts, along with little local restaurants and baked goods too. This market is a huge and the pictures do not never come close to showing its actual size or justice for its beauty. There is an indoor and outdoor section to this market and every area is packed.

Cost: Free

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Walking the Squares & Gardens

We spent a lot of time walking, which we do most places we go as we find it to be the best way to really see where we are. We took our time and walked through so many gardens (National Garden and Zappeio, National Library Garden, Archaeological Site of Lykeion and Rizari Park etc.), squares ( Klafthmonos Square, Kolokotroni Square etc.) and neighborhoods seeing all the sculptures, beautiful foliage, street art and of course stopping at little cafes and pubs to take everything in.

Every neighbourhood has something different it is known for Acropolis (under the shade of Acropolis), Plaka the most picturesque and in the heart of Athens, Syntagma meaning constitution with Parliament and central Athens, Anafiotika which has white washed houses with colourful shutters similar to the Greek Islands and many more all with shops, dining, breweries and lots of history.

Cost: Free

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Staying in Athens for 3 weeks was more than enough time to experience everything we wanted. As I said before, if you are going to Greece and get a few days in Athens, 3 - 4 days is more than enough time to cross everything off your sightseeing list. As I look back over our pictures from this trip I can happily cross the mainland of Greece off of my bucket list, leaving the Islands to one day be visited, when Covid does not make travel so difficult.

Cheers!

**Please note that all opinions and views expressed in this post are my own, from my own experiences. If you would like to see more pictures follow me on Instagram vikki.gray **