Join me as I take you through our time in Athens, Greece.
What to see, what to do, & what to eat. Enjoy!
When planning our trip to Europe I am so happy that we took our time in planning, so that we could truly maximize our time in each location. Our first stop in Europe was Athens, Greece. We were there for only two days, so that meant to see it all, we needed to have a plan so we would be ready to hit the pavement the moment we landed. On our first day we were awake for 25 hours due to the time changes and us not sleeping on the flight, needless to say coffee was welcomed with open arms but thanks to the excitement of a new place, we quickly forgot just how tired we were.
Day NO. 1
Once we landed, we went straight to get checked into the NJV Athens Plaza. The hotel was in a great central location and we had a great view of the Acropolis from our lovely private terrace that accompanied our room. We were within walking distance to the shopping areas of Ermou St. and Athinas St. and our stay was complete with a complimentary breakfast each morning through our lovely travel agent. I highly recommend having breakfast built-in with your stay on any extended trip, as I feel it can save so much time (and money) when having to plan a breakfast stop each morning.
When freshening up after the flight, I chose to wear a light weight sun dress for our first day that I paired with a Panama hat, gold sandals, and my favorite Nusa Luna straw bag. The weather in August can be pretty toasty so I would recommend wearing something cool, with a relaxed fit. My sandals were, surprisingly, a staple the entire trip and were not only comfortable for the long days of walking, but stylish as well.
Our first stop was for lunch at Tzitzikas kai Mermigas, it was a tasty intro into the Greek culture and had a nice patio to relax and people watch. From there we made our way throughout Ermou St., Athinas St., and on to Plaka where we stumbled across a little jewelry store called Midas where I found the gold Greek coin pendant I had on my “things to get” list. The sweet owner even threw in an evil eye charm as a gift.
From there we explored more throughout the streets of Ermou and Athinas, making our way to a local coffee shop called Tailor Made that I found while researching. For a little more insight into how I go about researching and planning trips, you can see more information in this previous post. After a few cups of coffee, we were able to recharge from the long flight and put a little extra pep in our step for the remainder of our day. Our experience at Tailor Made proved the positive reviews that brought us there were correct. Filled with lovely staff, amazing coffee, and a nice atmosphere, I would highly recommend it. So much so that we even went back the second day.
After a coffee boost, we made our way to the famous Melissinos the poet sandal maker to have custom Greek sandals made. If any place is good enough for not only Jackie O but also Carrie Bradshaw (who also goes by Sarah Jessica Parker), then I knew I had to get my hands on a pair (or two). The owner was so kind, and the pictures of so many celebrities past and present adorning the walls, made for a good distraction while you waited for your sandals to be made.
After having our Greek sandal dreams fulfilled, we finished the night by stopping at Osaka for a sushi date of fresh fish accompanied with local greek wine that hit the spot. After dinner we took our time and strolled our way back through town, and back to our hotel to get some much needed rest for the following day.
Day NO. 2
After a good night’s rest we started our second day bright and early with breakfast at our hotel before our tour of the Acropolis. I chose denim shorts paired with a striped button up top with a simple knot at the waist, both cool and comfortable to explore in. And of course, my Panama hat, gold sandals. and straw bag.
We started with a bus tour of Athens and the key sights to see. From there we made our way to the Acropolis. In August you need to be prepared and hydrated, because it is H-O-T and they do not have water at the top. You can purchase bottled water just past the gates and I highly recommend doing so for the long flight of slippery stairs in your future. Once we made it to the top, we spent a hour walking around the Acropolis and marveling at all the history and its beauty. To see how tiny you are compared to these structures that were started in 447 B.C. is so humbling to think about.
From there we made our way to the Acropolis Museum that overlooks an archeological site of an ancient Athenian neighborhood with glass floors that dates back to 7th-9th century A.D. I would highly recommend seeing the museum and booking it with a tour as the lines can be very long, and with a group you basically walk right in.
After our tour of the museum we headed to lunch at Eris and took a moment to relax and reflect upon all that we were lucky enough to see that morning. We chose to sit in the outdoor seating that is across from the restaurant to take in the views and people watch. We were very pleased with choosing Eris for a great lunch destination.
After lunch we walked to the site of The Ancient Agora of Athens and toured around the immense grounds. An agora was a central public space in ancient Greek cities, which was the center of the athletic, artistic, spiritual and political life of the city. The amount of history in Athens is enthralling and knowing we didn’t even see but a fraction of it and still saw so much will leave you in awe. Also, as a side note, you can find plenty of places and options around the entrance of the The Agora if you need a quick bite to eat, a little pick me up, or a full meal.
It was late afternoon and we were worn out from a day filled with walking and heat so we made our way back to our favorite coffee shop Tailor Made to recharge not only our phones by ourselves as well. After recharging for a bit, we explored the streets of Athens some more and with all the fun we lost track of time and unfortunately did not have enough time to make it back to our hotel to change, so we headed straight to our dinner reservation at Dionysos Zonars.
If you are looking for a great view of the Acropolis, along with excellent food and service, you should consider Dionysos Zonars for a romantic dinner. After scouring reviews we decided to give it a shot and were glad we did. We had a great experience and the polite waiters were a fine way to end our two day stay in Athens. To top it all off, the beautiful view of the sun setting behind the Acropolis made for an unforgettable experience.
On to our next stop, Santorini.
Where to Stay:
NJV Athens Plaza
Places to go:
Midas Jewelry
Mellisinos The Poet Sandal Maker
Ermou Street
Athinas Street
Temple of Zeus
Hadrian’s Arch
Places to see:
Panathenaic Olympic Stadium
Changing of the guards at the Greek Parliament
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Places to Eat:
Tailor Made for Coffee
Tzitzikas kai Mermigas
Osaka Sushi
Eris
Dionysos Zonars
Activities to do:
Tour of the Acropolis
The Acropolis Museum
The Ancient Agora of Athens
Things to get:
Ancient Gold Coin Pendant
Authentic Greek Sandals
XO
Claire B.
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