Athens Greece: Ancient Ruins, Amazing Food, and a Little Chaos ~ Adventures in Southern California

Athens is one of those cities that everyone should visit at least once. The history is incredible, the food is fantastic, the nightlife is some of the best we've experienced in Europe, and there are endless things to see. But Athens is not Rome. It's a little rougher around the edges, there are some neighborhoods you'll probably want to avoid, and you will have to deal with crowds at the major attractions. That being said, we had a fantastic time exploring Athens and the surrounding coast.

We visited in the fall, and the weather couldn't have been better. It was 83 degrees and sunny every single day for the entire week. We found an amazing, newly renovated, condo in the heart of the city for $100/night. If you get out of Monastiraki Square, eating out is surprisingly affordable compared to other major European cities.

Exploring the Acropolis and Ancient Athens

Obviously, the biggest attraction in Athens is the Acropolis, and it's every bit as impressive as you would expect. Climbing up the hill with hundreds of other tourists is a pretty wild experience. They restrict admission to the time slot printed on your ticket to help control the number of visitors. We were expecting a nightmare getting through the crowds, but honestly, it wasn't much worse than waiting in line at Disneyland. We were up the hill in about 15 minutes. Once you're at the top, the Parthenon is incredible. It's amazing to stand next to a monument that's been there for 2500 years. The views over Athens are also spectacular. You can see the city stretching out in every direction. Make sure to explore the surrounding archaeological sites, including the Ancient Agora, the Temple of Hephaestus, and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

One of our favorite experiences was climbing Mount Lycabettus. It's a fairly steep walk to the top, but the views are worth it. In fact, I thought these were the best views anywhere in Athens. You get an incredible panorama of the entire city, with the Acropolis sitting on its rocky hill and the Mediterranean visible in the distance. If you enjoy walking and don't mind a climb, I highly recommend making the trip up.

Monastiraki Square, Markets, and Shopping

Monastiraki Square is the liveliest part of Athens. The area is crammed with restaurants, shops, street vendors, and people wandering around at all hours of the day. The streets surrounding the square are filled with souvenir shops, clothing stores, antiques, and just about anything else you could imagine. It's a great place to spend a few hours walking around without any particular destination.

The market days are especially fun. You can find some really interesting treasures if you take the time to dig through everything. I came across a vendor selling assorted coins from all over the world and ended up bringing home a huge pile of discontinued coins 10 euros. It's exactly the kind of thing I love finding when I travel. There are plenty of typical tourist souvenirs, but there are also some genuinely interesting antiques and collectibles mixed in.

The nearby Plaka neighborhood is also worth exploring. There are beautiful pedestrian streets, little restaurants, outdoor cafés, and shops tucked into narrow alleyways. You can walk around these neighborhoods for hours, stopping for food or drinks whenever something catches your eye. It's one of the best ways to experience Athens.

Incredible Greek Food and Rooftop Dining

One of the best meals of our trip was at Metropolis Roof Garden. The restaurant itself was excellent, but the views from the rooftop were almost indescribable. Looking out over the city with the Acropolis in the background while enjoying a great meal was one of those experiences that makes a trip memorable. I would definitely recommend finding at least one rooftop restaurant while you're in Athens.
One thing I will say about Athens is that the service can be wildly inconsistent. We encountered some of the friendliest, most welcoming people we've ever met while traveling. There were restaurants where the staff treated us like family from the moment we walked through the door. But we also had a few experiences at the opposite end of the spectrum, including encounters with waitstaff that became so hostile I nearly came to blows with them. The difference between the best and worst service was pretty incredible. You really need to temper your expectations with the waiters in Athens.

Swimming Along the Athens Riviera

I highly recommend taking a taxi down to Limanakia Beach Bar, along the coast near Vouliagmeni. This was one of our favorite experiences of the entire trip. It's a beautiful rocky cove with incredibly clear blue water. There are rocks where people jump into the deep water, and it's a popular spot for diving and swimming. After swimming at Limanakia, we explored the nearby Vouliagmeni coast and stopped for drinks on the beach.

Nightlife and the Rougher Side of Athens

The nightlife in Athens is incredible. There are endless bars, restaurants, rooftop lounges, and pedestrian streets filled with people enjoying the evening. Areas around Monastiraki and Psyrri are especially lively, and you can easily spend an entire night wandering from one bar to another. The warm fall weather makes outdoor dining and drinking even better. That being said, Athens definitely has some rough neighborhoods. We wandered into part of the Metaxourgeio neighborhood and ended up on streets filled with brothels and some pretty sketchy activity. We got out of there really fast.

That experience really summed up the contrast in Athens for me. One minute you're walking through a beautiful pedestrian neighborhood filled with restaurants and cafés, and a short distance away things can look completely different. It's a city with plenty of character, but it's not nearly as polished as some of the other major European destinations we've visited.

Day Trips to the Greek Islands

Another great thing about Athens is that you can use it as a base for exploring some of the nearby Greek islands. The port of Piraeus is a major ferry hub, with dozens of boats departing every day for islands all over the Aegean. You can visit some of the closer islands on a day trip or catch a ferry farther out if you have more time. We visited Aegina, which is an easy ferry ride from Piraeus and makes a fantastic day trip. It's a great way to experience a Greek island without having to deal with airports or commit to several additional nights away from Athens. You can spend the day exploring the island, enjoying the waterfront, and eating at local restaurants before heading back to the city.

If you're planning to visit Athens, I would definitely recommend setting aside at least one day to explore a nearby island. It's a nice change of pace from the crowds and busy streets of the city.

Final Thoughts on Athens

Athens is a city with some amazing highlights and a few drawbacks. The ancient sites are spectacular, the food is incredible, and the nightlife is fantastic. The nearby coast is beautiful, and being able to take day trips to the Greek islands makes it an even more appealing destination. We also found that our money went a lot further here than in many other European capitals.
But I wouldn't go expecting Athens to be another Rome. It's more chaotic, a little grittier, and some areas aren't particularly attractive. The crowds around the Acropolis and major attractions are unavoidable. Would I recommend visiting Athens? Absolutely. We had a great time. I especially loved the combination of ancient history, incredible food, warm weather, nightlife, and easy access to the coast. It's not the most polished city in Europe, but it’s definitely one of the most lively ones.