Athens, Greece

 
 
 

LOCATION

Athens is the capital city of Greece, located in the southeast of the country, about 30 minutes away from the coast and the Mediterranean Sea. Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world, with a history dating back to more than 3000 years. It was named after the Greek goddess Athena – the goddess of wisdom, war and civilization. Athens is known for its Greek Architecture, the Greek Gods & the birthplace of democracy in Ancient Greek civilization.

MAIN ATTRACTIONS

  • Acropolis

  • The Parthenon

  • Temple of Athena

  • Temple of Zeus

  • Ancient Agora

  • Dionysus Theater

  • Panathinaikos Olympic Stadium

  • Monastiraki

  • Temple of Hephaestus

  • Plaka

TOP MUST-DO’S

  • Tour the Acropolis & see the Parthenon

  • Take a stroll down Plaka for some local cuisine & stores

  • View the Olympics’ first stadium in the Panathinaikos

  • Walk the city to see all the beautiful Ancient Greek architecture

  • Take in the views of the city from Aeropagus Hill

  • Watch the Changing of the Guard at Syntagma Square

REVIEW

The architecture of Athens is quite incredible when you think about it. The cemented temples, cathedrals and structures still stand tall (or at least what is left of them for some) thousands of years after they were originally built. That in itself is phenomenal, regardless of if you are a history junkie or not. Just like the Roman Empire, the Ancient Greek civilization is one that we spend half our school years talking about in our social studies and history classes. But when you are there, you appreciate the one or two times you listened to your teacher talk about the architecture and the cool pictures he or she put on the projector.

I have seen and done a lot of incredible things during my travels. But the Acropolis as a whole has to be one of the most incredible things I have ever been able to see in-person. Like I mentioned, the fact it is still standing tall after thousands of years leaves you without words. But when you actually take the trek up the mountain to see what is on top, you are in complete awe that the world has offered us this sight. Acropolis lies on top of an elevated plane of land that you can see in every which direction within Athens. When I say “elevated”, I am not talking about a slight incline in relation to the ground; I am talking about a few hundred feet up in the air. It takes a bit to get up there, but along the way (and the tour if you decide to do so – I recommend you do!) you stop to see other Greek architecture and history, like the Dionysus Theater. Once you are up there though, you feel like you are on top of the world; at this point, you kind of are. The Parthenon, the Temple of Athena, among other structures, highlight the beauty at the top of the rock. It was quite incredible to see up close and personal, something I will never forget!

Alongside Acropolis, you have many other sightseeing opportunities of the Ancient Greek civilization: from the Temple of Zeus, to Ancient Agora, to Hadrian’s Library, to the official 1st Olympics’ stadium, every direction you turn in reminds you of the beauty of Greek architecture. And if you like to get to know the locals, the culture and the cuisine, strolling down the Plaka or Monisteraki will provide you all the above. The beef souvlaki, tzatziki, baklava, and the traditional gyro round out a pretty nice lineup of local cuisine that any tourist must try when in Athens. Athens was a lot of walking, and the dry heat in the summer made some of those mountainous treks difficult, but for the views and scenery it was all worth it. A place that embodies its own culture and history, and displays it properly for the world to see.

 
Ryan HarrisonComment