SIGHTSEEING AND MUSEUMS

Athens is one of our favourite places in the world. Once the heart of Ancient Greece’s powerful empire, the city boasts an incredible list of archaeological landmarks. The best way to see them is to buy an Ancient Athens combined sites ticket for €20. It’s valid for the Acropolis of Athens, Ancient Agora of Athens, Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos, Archaeological Site of Lykeion, Hadrian's Library, Kerameikos, Museum of the Ancient Agora, North slope of the Acropolis, Olympieio, Roman Agora of Athens, South Slope of Acropolis. Travel tip: Avoid the crowds and hit the Acropolis early - oh, and bring water.

In to museums? The Acropolis Museum (€10) is a must-visit, as is the National Archaeological Museum (€10) which is home to the Antikythera Mechanism, the world's earliest known "computer." You can also take a stroll along Vasilissis Sofias Avenue where you’ll find the Museum of Cycladic Art (€7), the Byzantine and Christian Museum (€8) and the eclectic Benaki Museum (€9).

Athens is also home to several vibrant neighborhoods. The most popular is the charming historic district of Plaka at the foot of the Acropolis, with its restored 19th century neoclassical homes, pedestrianised streets, shops and restaurants. Looking for a bite to eat: Try Taverna Saita or Arcadia.

From there, you can easily hotfoot it to lively Monastiraki, a bohemian district with stores selling a variety of souvenirs and flea market gems. Looking for a good place for a sundowner? Head to the A for Athens rooftop cocktail bar. And for a truly authentic Greek dinner after, head to Ta Karamanlidika. 

If you plan on staying in town, the residential neighbourhood of Koukaki has been enjoying rave reviews since Airbnb included it in its “Hot Districts” list a couple of years ago. It’s full of colorful streets, quintessential Greek architecture and cute boutique shops and cafes.

EXCURSIONS, DAY TRIPS AND MORE

Athens is also a great starting point to get settled in Greece before venturing further. Popular day trips from the capital include visits to Delphi, Corinth and UNESCO heritage sites of Mycenae and Tiryns.

If you feel like taking a mini road trip, we recommend heading to Nafplio (a stunning seaport town in the Peloponnese) or the monasteries of Meteora. If you want to rent a car, let us know and we can hook you up with a discount!

You can also hop down to some nearby islands like Spetses, Hydra or Aegina by ferry from the port of Piraeus. FerryHopper.com is great for researching costs, timetables and purchasing tickets in advance. Also if you book through them, you get e-tickets.  

If you want to head to the bigger islands (i.e.: Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Milos etc), jump on an internal flight (ferries will take 5+ hours). Olympic Air is our usual flight operator. And in case you’re wondering which larger island we’d recommend… it’s Milos. Definitely Milos. Rent a car, stay in Pollonia, explore the island’s 60+ beaches and spend a day at sea — you can thank us later.