How many days does it take to explore Athens? Traveling around Athens. Excursion “The Road to the World of Ancient Civilization”

Welcome to the city of paradoxes! How inspiring architectural antiquities look, and how tasteless the ubiquitous graffiti looks... Athens will delight and sadden you, cause delight and bewilderment - and all depending on where exactly you go. Poe - my impressions of the city, as they say, are without embellishment.

And in this article I will give you a short pleasant walking route around the city and tell you a little about the sights.

If you like to walk, then for this route you don’t have to use the metro at all - everything is quite close to each other.

Let's start.

Acropolis

If you want to experience only positive ones from the whole range of feelings, start with eternal cultural values - from the Acropolis. You can approach from the metro station of the same name, where you will gradually climb uphill along a cute pedestrian street with other attractions and souvenir shops around.

Slowly climb up, take a deep breath and look around. It is better to come before opening or two hours before closing, so that there are as few tourists as possible - this way you will be able to feel the spirit of these ancient buildings. In our version, we start the day from this hill. The Acropolis made a surprisingly unique impression on me, and even despite the squally wind, I didn’t want to leave the hill for a long time.

Opening hours in the summer season: weekdays 08.00-18.30, weekends and holidays - 08.30-14.30.
Opening hours in the winter season: weekdays 08.00-16.30, weekends and holidays - 08.30-16.30.

Entrance ticket: 12 euros (this includes several attractions), university students from EU countries, journalists and some other categories of citizens are entitled to free entry.

Plaka

It’s best to go down on the opposite side of the hill - this way you’ll get to a beautiful observation deck (it’s not far from the ticket office) and you’ll see cozy narrow streets with textured doors and windows and, of course, various cafes (if you stand with your back to the Acropolis, the streets will be to the right). This area is called Plaka, and it is one of the oldest in the entire city.

It would be a good idea to eat there.

Royal Garden

After walking around the Acropolis and Plaka, it's time to hide from the midday heat in the Royal Garden. Admire the beautiful trees, bright flowers, well-groomed grounds, sit on a bench and enjoy the scenery. It’s actually very pleasant to walk, breathe and relax here. The visit is free. This is what the garden looks like in January.

Panathinaikos Stadium

On the right side of the Royal Gardens is one of the oldest stadiums in the world, and it is famous not only for this, but also for the fact that it is entirely made of white marble, and in 1896 the first modern Olympic Games were held here. You can look at it through the fence, or you can buy an entrance ticket and arrange an unusual photo session against the backdrop of huge marble steps and benches.

Entrance fee: 3 euros for adults, 1.50 euros for students and pensioners.

Parliament House and Changing of the Guard

Look, you are very close to the famous Evzones who serve at the Parliament building! Return to the Royal Gardens again, but this time go to Syntagma Square. Before reaching it, you will see the Parliament, and it has a guard of honor - the Evzones. The ritual of the changing of the guard takes place every hour, but the most colorful one is at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The Evzones look quite exotic, and the statutory movements are funny in places (may the Greeks forgive me). But if you know that each shoe weighs about 3 kilograms (after all, there are 60 nails in the sole for better stamping of the step), the marching step is taught for 5 whole weeks, and only good-looking men no shorter than 187 centimeters are taken into the guard duty, the action of changing the guard is perceived somewhat differently. to another.

By the way, these funny pom-poms on the shoes are also for a reason. During the dark times, the Turkish occupiers forbade the Greeks to carry any weapons, and the rebels hid sharpened blades in tufts of wool on their boots.

The photos of the Parliament and the Evzones turned out to be somewhat unsuccessful, but here is a fragment of a demonstration just not far from the Parliament. They say that they go on strike here very often and for a variety of reasons.

Lycabettos Hill

If you still have 1-2 hours before sunset, go to this highest hill in Athens. The landscapes from there are simply incredible! It would also be a great idea to stock up on food in advance and have a picnic at the top. There are practically no benches there, but there are more than enough “ergonomic” stones.

You can take the funicular, but the climb to the top is not very difficult, and I recommend doing it on foot - then the picturesque views will gradually unfold before you, and you will get maximum pleasure.

Ermou pedestrian street

After relaxing on the hill, you can go to the nearest metro station (Megaro Moussikis or Evangelismos) and travel 1-2 stations to the central one - Syntagma. The walk will take 20-30 minutes.

Once on Syntagma Square, dive into Ermou Street - the modern shopping life of the city is concentrated here, and there are pleasant cafes in the alleys and neighboring streets. Walk slowly, buy yourself some roasted chestnuts for 3 euros, walk around and enjoy life - at the end of the street you will find the Monastiraki metro station, from where you can go to your hotel.

Other attractions

If you will be in Athens for longer than a day or you want to see something else, here are my modest recommendations.

Ancient Agora and Mars Hill

The hill was created specifically for those who want peace and tranquility, but get crowds of tourists in Acropolis and Lycabettos. The main thing is to climb competently - from the Monastiraki metro station, first along the road, and then turn left onto almost untrodden mountain paths. Not dangerous, not too cool and very beautiful! It’s a pity that the photo does not convey all the impressions, but the fact that there are much fewer tourists here is a fact.

Here's my better video)

Philopappos Hill

Another beautiful and uncrowded hill not far from the Acropolis. The climb is also easy, the view is picturesque, and you really want to run along the cozy paths.

Coastal tram

A tram stops a stone's throw from the central Syntagma Square, most of which runs along the sea itself. Buy a 1-day pass in advance for 4 euros and validate it at the stop before your first trip - this way you can get off at any place you like and continue moving whenever you want. In the coastal part, trams run every 5-10 minutes, but if you want to get to Syntagma again, you will have to wait 15-20 minutes for the desired route.

What's not worth it

Sea port

If this is not an intermediate point on your route, you shouldn’t come here on purpose. In some guidebooks I came across a recommendation that said, look at the ships and yachts, but in fact - run away from here! With the emergence of the problem of emigrants, the port seemed to me the most unpleasant and rather unsafe place (here are mine).

Omonia Square

Some sources are even adamant - they say, if you don’t want to ruin your vacation, don’t stay in a hotel that is located next to this square!

Unfortunately, I myself found out about this too late and booked accommodation nearby. What can I say - the square itself looks really gloomy after dark. If you plan to return home really late, you might want to consider changing your location. During daylight hours the square looks more or less decent.

And may your stay in Athens be extremely pleasant!

Photo 1 of 36:© commons.wikimedia.org

It is difficult to write a guide to Athens. Not because there are many attractions here (although there are quite a few), but rather because each one requires at least a small excursion into history.

Therefore, when I started preparing this article, the main question was: provide historical information or do without it. I decided to go with the second option. In the end, website you are reading for useful information for your trip, and everything else (in particular, why the city was called Athens, in what year the Acropolis was built) can easily be found on Wikipedia.

We will tell you something that cannot be found on the Internet in a well-structured form - how to plan your day in Athens, what attractions to see, how to get around the city, and so on. So let's begin.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 07:00 - 08:00 - Watching Athens wake up

To have an idea of the city that you will get to know in the next 24 hours, you need to look at it from above! There is probably no better place than Philopanos Hill in Athens.

This place is not as popular as the famous Lykabettos Hill, so there are significantly fewer tourists here. And even more so early in the morning, so you can enjoy a calm environment and stunning views of the city. From the top of the hill there is an excellent view of the Acropolis.

How to get there: you need to get to the Sigrou-Fix metro station - this is the red line. Next, walk along Drakou Street. You see a green hill and a path - you go there. You can see the Athens metro map by clicking here.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 8:00 - 10:00 - visiting the Acropolis

If theater begins with a coat rack, then Athens certainly begins with the Acropolis. This is the symbol of the city, its main attraction. As a result, there are always a lot of tourists here. Therefore, in order to take a photo of the same Parthenon without a crowd of onlookers in the background, it is better to come to the opening itself. Moreover, it is not so hot in the morning, which is also important when visiting the Acropolis.

TIP: Wear comfortable shoes, you will have to walk a lot and climb uphill. And be careful - many of the steps are very slippery.

© commons.wikimedia.org

Acropolis is translated from Greek as “Upper City”. Its pearl is the ancient Parthenon temple. The impression can be reinforced by the scaffolding that covers many of the buildings on the Acropolis - all of them are under restoration. The intrusive traders are also a little annoying, but you have to come to terms with this - the place is very popular among tourists.

In addition to the Parthenon, do not forget to take a photo of the Theater of Dionysus (there will be a good angle - from above), and also climb the Areopagus rock - a good view of Athens (but again, it is very slippery).

The entrance ticket to the Acropolis is €12. The ticket is valid for four days, and now you will understand why this is necessary. The fact is that as a bonus you get free entry to six more attractions: the Theater of Dionysus, the Roman Agora, the Ancient Greek Agora, the Temple of Zeus, the Library of Hadrian and the cemetery of ancient Athens - Ceramics.

How to get there: The nearest metro station is Akropoli, red line. More details about the cost of travel on public transport are below, in a separate chapter. You can also walk from the stations "Thissio" and "Monastiraki".

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 10:00-11:00 - see the exhibition of the New Acropolis Museum

There is a unique museum 300 meters from the Acropolis. We are sure that you will immediately notice the ultra-modern building, which stands out against the background of the general landscape. It was designed by Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi. This is the New Acropolis Museum.

The museum is truly unique; it was built on an archaeological site. Moreover, the floors on the first floor are glass - so that you can see everything with your own eyes. The total area of the museum is 226,000 square meters. There are a lot of exhibits; the author of these lines was most impressed by the collection of ancient statues. You can view a detailed plan of the museum.

By the way, there is a cozy cafe on the roof of the museum where you can have a cup or glass with an inspiring view.

Museum opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 08:00 to 20:00. The entrance ticket costs €5.

How to get there: The entrance to the building is from Dionysiou Areopagitou street. The nearest metro station is Akropoli.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 11:00 - 12:00 - visit the Agora

Many tourists, after visiting the Acropolis, ignore the Agora and, in our opinion, in vain. At the very least, the Agora is worth visiting to look at the Temple of Hephaestus - the best preserved ancient temple. It was built in the period 449-415 BC. and was dedicated to the god Hephaestus, the god of crafts and blacksmithing. No less impressive than the Parthenon.

Entrance fee: A visit to the Agora is included in the price of the Acropolis ticket.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 12:00 - 13:00 - walk around the Monastiraki area

One of the oldest inhabited areas of Athens, bordering the Agora. It’s especially interesting to walk here on Saturday and Sunday; life is bustling around - there is a flea market on Ifestou Street. You can buy anything: from standard souvenirs to antique furniture.

In general, Monastiraki has a lot of souvenir shops and antique shops. But there are few attractions. The main one is located on Adriano Street - the Church of Agiou Philip from the 17th century. At the entrance to the Monastiraki metro station there is another architectural interest - an ancient mosque built in 1759 by the Turkish governor Cistaraki.

© commons.wikimedia.org
However, this area is loved precisely for its unique atmosphere, and not for its attractions. Here you can just take a walk, watch the traders, listen to street musicians, or drink a cup of coffee in a cozy cafe.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 13:00 - 14:00 - lunch at the central market

To feel the atmosphere of the city, you should definitely visit the market. Therefore, we further head towards Varvakios Agora - the central market of Athens. In the morning (the market is open from Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 18:00) there is brisk trade here. As one of the travelers accurately put it, “this is a covered building, filled with sellers and buyers, like a jar of herrings, and the trade there is so plentiful that it cannot fit indoors, spilling out.”

At the market you can not only take a couple of characteristic photographs of the local population, but also buy gifts for home: sweets, cheeses, spices, olives.

At the same time, you can have a tasty and inexpensive lunch at the market - there are several excellent taverns on the territory. We recommend the restaurant PAPANDREOU, it is located in the meat department of the market. The cuisine is traditional Greek. The audience is very different. From truck drivers, traders, to local youth regaining their energy after a stormy night. The prices are reasonable - you can have a hearty lunch for €10-15.

How to get there: The market is 500 meters from Monastiraki metro station.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 14:00 - 15:00 - immerse yourself in the cozy streets of Plaka

This is the most ancient district of Athens, without a doubt, it can also be called the most cozy. Plaka is literally made for walking: narrow cozy streets, atmospheric cafes, taverns, and colorful locals at every step. The houses around are not that old - only “some” 200-300 years old, but they were built on the foundations of ancient times.

Be sure to check out Hadrian Street - it is considered the oldest in Athens.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 15:00 - 16:00 - promenade along Ermu Street

There are a lot of clothing stores on Ermu, so you can buy yourself some new clothes in between. A little hint: boutiques of luxury brands are located at the very beginning of the street, then there are stores of more affordable brands, such as Zara, Marks&Spencer, etc.

However, our advice to you is not to spend a lot of time shopping in Athens. Firstly, you won’t have time to see all the sights of the city, and secondly, you won’t buy anything super exclusive or budget-friendly.

16:00 - 16:30 - watch the changing of the guard at the Parliament building

After a walk along Ermu Street, we find ourselves at Syntagma Square. It's like Independence Square in Kyiv, the heart of the city.

The main attraction of Syntagma Square is the Palace of the Greek Parliament. Nearby is the monument to the Unknown Soldier, near which the presidential guard of honor changes every hour. The spectacle is interesting - definitely worth watching. At least for the sake of the Evzones - soldiers of the royal guard. Their clothes are elegant and lush: white tights, a skirt, a vest with hand embroidery, a red beret. Pay special attention to Evzone shoes. Strange-looking shoes with pom-poms (called tsarukhi) weigh no less than 5 kilograms!

By the way, all Evzones undergo strict face control - each candidate must not only be well trained, but also have an attractive appearance and a height of at least 187 cm.

The changing of the guard takes place especially solemnly on holidays. If you are in Athens on Sunday, come to the square at 11:00, you will see the ceremonial change of the duty unit, accompanied by a military orchestra.

However, we want to warn tourists who like to photograph everything that moves. The soldiers are on duty, so you shouldn’t get too close to them, much less try to hug/throw the flag of Ukraine over your shoulders and similar things that our tourists like to do. If you cross the line, the Evzones will start hitting the marble slab with the butt of their weapons. This is a sign to move away.

It is worth noting that various kinds of demonstrations often take place on Syntagma Square, which, naturally, does not add coziness to this place. But in the square you can get free Wi-Fi, at least the local authorities declare its availability.

16:30 - 17:00 - examine ancient artifacts at the Syntagma metro station

This station is rightfully included in the ranking of the most unusual subways in the world. In fact, it is a small archaeological museum. As you exit the subway car, you will see various unique exhibits hidden behind glass. For example, a fragment of an ancient Athenian water supply or ancient burials.

The artifacts were discovered during the construction of two additional metro lines (this was during preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games), when engineers worked in tandem with archaeologists. As a result, it was possible to build a metro and preserve thousands of priceless archaeological finds. Some metro stations have become underground museums. In particular, various exhibits are also on display at Akropolis and Monastiraki stations. However, Syntagma is more interesting.

How to get there: Syntagma metro station is located at the intersection of the red and blue metro lines.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 17:00 - 18:00 - visit the Panathenaic Stadium

If viewing the ancient artifacts at the Syntagma station has aroused your interest in history even more, then you are in a direct path to the National Archaeological Museum, which is near the Victoria metro station. The exhibition here is the richest in Greece. The Benaki Museum is also worth a visit.

However, we decided not to include either one or the other in our route, since it is still impossible to visit these museums in one day (our plan, as you can see, is compressed to the point of impossibility). But if you are in Athens for more than a day, be sure to visit. The museums are really interesting.

We will continue our route. From Syntagma Square we walk through the Royal Garden to one of the most amazing sights of Athens - the Panathenaic Stadium.

Just imagine - this is a huge structure built entirely of white marble! It's breathtaking. And this marble miracle was erected back in 329 BC. e. Naturally, the stadium has not survived to this day in its original form, but in 1895 it was literally rebuilt. Funding for the project was given by philanthropist Georgios Averoff, whose statue now stands at the entrance.

Behind the Panathenaic Stadium, at the end of Anapafseos Street, there is another attraction worth visiting. This is the First Athens Cemetery. Believe me, the place is actually interesting and not at all gloomy.

The cemetery was opened in 1837 and became a burial place for the local elite. Not surprisingly, almost every tomb there is a work of art. Particularly impressive is the mausoleum of Heinrich Schliemann (the famous archaeologist) and his family. Therefore, the cemetery is often called an open-air museum.

On the territory of the cemetery, by the way, there are three churches: two Orthodox and one Catholic.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 19:00 - 20:00 - dinner at the Funky Gourmet restaurant

Let's say right away that the restaurant is not cheap (you can check out the menu here) and is not located in the most romantic place. But everyone who visited this establishment unanimously repeats: they have not been fed so deliciously for a very long time.

The restaurant address is 13 Paramithias Street. The nearest metro station is Metaxourgio (red line). It is better to book a table in advance by calling 210 5242727 or through the official website.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 20:00 - 22:00 - enjoy the evening panorama of Athens from Lykabettos Hill

This is the highest hill in Athens - its height is 277 meters. It is not surprising that from here you have a beautiful view of the city: the Acropolis is clearly visible, behind it is the port of Piraeus, and the Aegean Sea. Great place for photography lovers.

At the top of the hill, which is often also called Lycabettus, the 19th century white stone chapel of St. George is worth seeing. There is a restaurant nearby: the amazing panoramas of Athens only whet your appetite. There is also an open-air theater on Lykabettos. In the summer, concerts and various performances take place there.

How to get to Lycabettos Hill: Take the metro to Evangelismos station (blue line). From there, follow Ploutarchou Street to the lower funicular station. The funicular is the fastest and most convenient way to get to the top of the hill.

Funicular operating hours: in summer from 08:45 to 00:45 every day except Thursday (Thursday from 10:45 to 00:45), in winter from 08:45 to 00:15 every day except Thursday (Thursday from 10: 45 to 00:15) Cars depart frequently - every 5-10 minutes. The cost of a round-trip ticket is €14.

You can also take a taxi to the hill (the cost is about €25-30, you will need to walk another 5 minutes from the parking lot) and walk (there are two pedestrian paths). At a calm pace, the ascent will take about 20 minutes, but if the day turns out to be hot, we would recommend taking the funicular up (take a one-way ticket) and descending on your own two feet. If you climb the hill in the evening, it is better to buy a round-trip ticket on the funicular.

There are no problems with public transport in Athens, well, or almost none (we are hinting at frequent strikes). The most convenient and fastest form of transport is the metro. There are only three branches (we provided the diagram above).

The cost of a single trip is €1.4. The ticket gives you the right to travel on any type of public transport (buses, trams) for 90 minutes. If you plan to travel a lot during the day, it makes sense to buy a ticket for a day for €4 (again, for all types of transport).

Tickets must be purchased at the box office, or better yet, from the vending machines that are available at every metro station and tram station. Nothing complicated - everything is intuitive, there are instructions in English. The main thing is not to forget that the ticket must, roughly speaking, be punched at the entrance (if we are talking about the metro, then at the station itself, if we are talking about the bus, there is a machine inside the cabin).

Attractions of Athens in 24 hours - how to get from the airport

The airport is located 27 km from the city center. You can easily get there by public transport and save on taxis.

The most convenient and easiest way is the metro. The entrance to the subway (Aerodromio station, blue line) is located opposite the airport building. You can buy a ticket from a machine, however, there are also ticket offices. We wrote about the cost of travel above. In terms of time, it takes about 40 minutes to get to the city center by metro. It’s just worth clarifying one point: most trains from the Aerodromio station only go to the Doukissis Plakentias station. Then you need to get out and change to the metro, which goes to the center. Direct trains to the airport run every 30 minutes.

Subscribe to our telegram and stay up to date with all the most interesting and current news!

The capital of Greece, Athens, is truly a wonderful place for relaxation and a romantic trip. Sea Gate of Athens start from the port of Piraeus. In order to learn about weather changes, Athens relies on Mount Pendeli, its peak, covered with heavy clouds, means the approach of a thunderstorm. Famous Mount Hymet, which was sung in ancient times, is still famous for its honey and spices.

Travel to ancient Athens

The capital of Greece, named after the goddess of wisdom and knowledge, worthily bears this gift. The city itself is quite lively and noisy, filled with a lot of interesting places and attractions. Museums with very rare ancient arts and, of course, modern art galleries, countless shops and workshops with souvenirs.

Theater of Dionysus, Athens Greece

In the summer, holidays take on a unique flavor; coastal shops are simply overflowing with interesting things. The variety of goods is so great and rich that there is something for every budget. Numerous bars and cafes will offer national cuisine, which is very difficult to refuse, and you can also enjoy national music there.

Story: Journey to Athens

Sights can be seen either during an organized excursion or simply by walking or moving independently from one place to another. The famous Acropolis, this is where the treasures of ancient civilization have been preserved. Its appearance reflects the course of world history. Ancient temples and buildings are located at the very top of the mountain and attract tourists with their antiquity. On the southern slope of the city is the Theater of Dionysus, this is another place that not a single tourist who visits this country misses. Around it, the ruins of ancient buildings are still preserved, which arouse genuine interest in this place.

Ancient Athens in Greece

There are a lot of significant places that you can visit on holiday in Athens, such places as Temple of Zeus, Temple of Poseidon and Parthenon, will tell about the interesting history of this city. Visiting these places where mythical gods once lived and lived, they carry a certain mystery that you want to unravel. The best holiday in these places is, of course, summer, but also in winter

What to see in Athens if you have very little time but want to see all the main attractions?

Athens is the cradle of ancient culture and history, one of the most ancient capitals of Europe, a storehouse of cultural values. Without visiting this city, it is impossible to get a complete picture of either the ancient culture or the ancient culture. Of course, it is impossible to cover all the attractions of Athens in one day, and yet, if you find yourself in this wonderful city for just one day, I would like to suggest this route for an independent overview of the most significant and interesting places in Athens. Such places include:

Arch of Hadrian
Athens Acropolis and Acropolis Museum
Ancient Agora
Prison of Socrates
Syndagma Square and the Greek Parliament
Zappio Park
Archaeological Museum, Benaki Museum, Byzantine Museum (one to choose from or all at once)
Plaka
Lycabettos

Below is an approximate plan for visiting these attractions within one day and their brief description.

This is not a complete list attractions of Athens and Attica, I just tried to highlight the most striking of them, without which the idea of the city will be scanty. The start time for visiting each attraction is also very roughly scheduled. That’s why you are an independent traveler, so you can decide for yourself whether to stay longer in any park or museum or boldly move on to exploring the next one! However, this plan will help you get your bearings and better plan your time to see as many interesting things as possible.

7-00 Begin travel around Athens It is best to go early in the morning, not only to have time to see as much as possible, but to avoid the heat inherent in the local climate from April to October.

The first place you should go is Temple of Olympian Zeus, which is located near the Acropolis. There you can also see the majestic Arch of Hadrian. In addition to a taxi, you can get there by bus 209 or by trams 2, 4, 11, stop Agalma Vironos.

Hadrian's Arch is an architectural monument of the Roman era; it was built in 131 by grateful Athenians in honor of Emperor Hadrian on the road connecting the old and new parts of the city. The height of the arch is 18 meters, it is decorated with columns in the Corinthian style.

Just a few steps from Hadrian's Arch is the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the largest ancient temple in Greece. Its construction began in the sixth century BC under the tyranny of Pisistratus, but was completed six hundred and fifty years later, in the second century AD under the same Roman emperor Hadrian. Today, the traveler can admire sixteen proudly towering columns in the Corinthian style and one fallen.

Athens Acropolis and its map

8-00 500 meters west of the Temple of Olympian Zeus is Athens Acropolis- the heart of ancient architecture, one of the most important religious centers of the ancient world. It is located on a cliff 156 meters high. It is clearly visible from anywhere in the city, so it will be easy and pleasant to walk there.

For your convenience, below is a map of the Acropolis of Athens (scaleable).

Tickets to the Acropolis

Continue west along Dionysiou Ariopagitou Street along the fence of the Acropolis Park, and then turn northwest and follow the path through the park, after a hundred meters you will see the Acropolis ticket office.

Acropolis ticket costs 12 euros, this price also includes tickets for visiting the archaeological areas and museums around the Acropolis (the full list is indicated on the tickets themselves). Reduced ticket price 6 euros, students are entitled to it, you must show the cashier a document confirming your student status.

Children and teenagers under eighteen years of age, students of educational institutions of the European Union, guides of the blind or other disabled people, journalists, and guides can enter the Acropolis free of charge upon presentation of the appropriate documents.

During winter (November 1 to March 31), visiting the Acropolis is free for everyone on Sundays.

For those who are interested in the history of the Acropolis, I suggest watching a short video:

Pedestal of Agrippa and Temple of Nike

Climb the Acropolis past Agrippa's pedestal(left) and temple of wingless Nike (right) and through Propylaea go to its top.

Temple of the Wingless Nike built in the fifth century BC and dedicated to the goddess Athena Nike (Athena Victory). Inside stood a statue of the goddess, wingless so that she could never leave the city of Athens. The portico is a striking example of the Ionic style in architecture.

Pedestal of Agrippa was built in the second century BC by the Pergamon king Eumenes. On the pedestal there would have been a statue depicting the king and his brother driving a bronze chariot, and for a time there stood a statue of Antony and Cleopatra, which the Athenians demolished in the first century AD to erect a statue of the Roman emperor Augustus Agrippa. But, unfortunately, not a single statue has survived to this day.

Propylaea- this is the main entrance to the Acropolis itself, translated from Greek this word means “entrance”. The Propylaea was built in the fifth century BC. They are decorated with Doric columns. Next to the giant central door for the gods, four more doors were made, decreasing from the center to the edges.

Parthenon and Erechtheion

Immediately after entering the Acropolis, you will see the majestic (right) and Erechtheion(left).

Parthenon in the Acropolis of Athens

is a symbol of Athens and one of the symbols of Greece. This majestic and at the same time elegant building is quite well preserved. The Parthenon is an ancient temple from the fifth century BC, built in the Doric style with Ionic elements. It is dedicated to the patroness of the city, Athena the Virgin (the word “parthena” means “virgin” in Greek).

The Parthenon stands on three marble steps; in ancient times its roof was covered with tiled roofing. The temple is thought out in the smallest detail in order to visually facilitate construction and correct some errors of human vision. At first glance, it seems perfectly rectilinear, but in fact there is almost not a single straight line in its contours.

It is noteworthy that the Parthenon was built without the use of cement or any other mortar.

The frieze, metopes and pediments of the Parthenon were decorated with many beautiful bas-reliefs and statues. Many of them have survived to this day, some of them are kept in Athens museums, some in the British Museum.

Erechtheion - another of the ancient temples of the Acropolis. It is easily recognizable by its columns in the form of statues of young women (koretiads). These are copies of the original columns, as the original ones are in the British Museum. The temple was built in the fifth century BC and is dedicated to Poseidon, Athena and the Athenian king Erechtheus, after whom, in fact, it was named.

Erechtheion

Theater of Dionysus and Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Approaching the right (as viewed from the entrance) edge of the rock of the Acropolis, you can admire two ancient theaters Odeon of Herodes Atticus And Theater of Dionysus. The theaters are connected by a long gallery-portico called Stoa of Eumenes.

Theater of Dionysus(right) is a theater of Greek drama; it was here that the performances of the great playwrights of antiquity - Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes - were first presented. This theater is one of the oldest theaters in the world; it was built in the fifth century BC and was initially made of wood, but in the 4th century BC it was reconstructed and became marble. The theater accommodated about twenty thousand spectators, which is half of the entire population of Athens of that era. The first row consisted of the 67 dark bed of Emperor Hadrian, a great admirer of Greek culture. Emperor Nero performed in this theater.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus was built in the middle of the second century BC, designed for five thousand seats, almost everything has been preserved to this day, except for some decorative elements. Currently, the theater continues to be used for its intended purpose.

Acropolis Museum

Before leaving the Acropolis, do not forget to visit the Acropolis Museum, located in the south-eastern part of it, because it exhibits priceless archaeological finds, which are stored in chronological order, starting from the Archaic (1800-600 BC) and ending with the Roman period (1 -5th century AD). Of particular value are the sculptures and sculptural groups from the pediments, metopes and borders of the Acropolis temples.

Ancient Agora

10-00 Located northwest of the Acropolis Ancient Agora. In ancient times, it served as a market square, as well as a center of socio-cultural life. Nowadays, a Sunday market is held here every week. The most interesting buildings on the Ancient Agora are the Temple of Hephaestus, built in the fifth century BC, as well as Stoa (colonnade) of King Atallus. You can enter the Ancient Agora with a ticket to the Acropolis.

Acropolis opening hours:

The Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Museum of the Ancient Agora, Byzantine Museum of Athens, Roman Agora are open from 8:00 to 19:30 in summer and from 8:30 to 15:00 in winter.

Prison of Socrates

11-00 Another place that is interesting to visit in the Acropolis area is jail ancient Greek philosopher Socrates. It is located in a small cave on the Philopappou hill (west of the Acropolis). It was in this prison that he spent the last 30 days of his life, awaiting execution of his death sentence.

You can also take a walk to the top of the Philopappou Hill itself, which is also called the “Hill of the Muses”, in ancient times it was a favorite walking place for thinkers. From the top there is a beautiful view of the city. There is also a rather nice monument to Philopappus, a man who held many different positions in Athens in the 2nd century AD and did many benefits to its inhabitants).

Constitution Square

11- 45 Must visit Constitution Square (Syntagma) in front of the Greek Parliament, because it is there that the changing of the guard of the Evzone National Guard soldiers takes place every hour. The word "evzon" translated from Greek means "well belted." They wear a uniform modeled on the Greek national costume, the integral parts of which are the fustanella (men's skirt), pharaeon (red cap with a long tassel) and tsarouhi (leather boots with large pom-poms). Also noteworthy are the movements of the guards during the changing of the guard, which contain elements of national dances.

Get to Constitution Square (Syntagma) from the Acropolis You can take bus number 230 from the Afetiriya stop, Akropoli-Zografou to the Syntagma stop.

Museums of Athens

12-10 After you have enjoyed the changing of the guards, you can visit and at the same time hide from the heat in one of the museums of Athens or take a walk in the Royal Zappio Park, located directly behind the Parliament Buildings.

The most interesting museums in Athens (besides the Acropolis Museum) are Archaeological Museum, Benaki Museum, Byzantine Museum.

The Archaeological Museum houses a unique Mycenaean collection (gold jewelry, precious stones), a collection of Cycladic art, as well as beautiful antique statues, frescoes, and ceramics. The Byzantine Museum is housed in a mansion of Florentine architecture (1848). It exhibits the achievements of Byzantine art (ecclesiastical objects, works of Byzantine and post-Byzantine sculptors, paintings, small handicrafts, icons and frescoes).

The Benaki Museum was founded in 1930 by Antonis Benakis, it houses a collection of ancient Greek and Byzantine art, a large collection of Chinese porcelain, it also displays household items and weapons from the time of the Greek struggle for independence (from the Ottoman yoke), as well as Coptic jewelry and Turkish craftsmanship.

Get to the Archaeological Museum(www.namuseum.gr) in Athens you can take bus 608 from the Syndagma stop to the Musio stop, also by tram number 2 (Syndagma-Egyptou) or by tram number 3 (Syndagma-Polytechnio). Full the ticket costs 7 euros, reduced price 3 euros. The museum is open from 8-00 to 20-00.

Byzantine Museum ( www.byzantinemuseum.gr) is located 650 meters east of the Greek Parliament, you can simply walk along Vasilisis Sophias Avenue. The museum is open from 8:00 to 20:00 in summer and from 8:30 to 15:00 in winter. Ticket price 4 euros.

Benaki Museum(www.benaki.gr) is located in the next building to the Byzantine Museum. Ticket price to the Benaki Museum 6 euros, admission on Thursdays free.

Plaka and Lycabettos

18-00 You can end your day in Athens with dinner in one of the cozy restaurants on Plaque. Plaka is for Athens what Old Arbat is for Moscow, Monde Marte for Paris or Covent Garden for London. It is located at the foot of the Acropolis, in addition to taverns and restaurants, there are many souvenir shops, cafes, nightclubs and much more.

22-00 After dinner and a walk around the Plaka, walk up the hill Lycabettos to enjoy the mesmerizing view of the city at night.

The top of the hill is topped by a tiny, whitewashed church, restaurant and cafe.Nearby, carved into the rocks on the northern slope, the Lycabettus Theater hosts open-air concerts including Placebo and Groove Armada.

Mount Lyccabeettos

According to legend, the goddess Athena wanted the Acropolis hill to be higher, so she tore a piece from a nearby mountain range, but on the way to the Acropolis she was distracted by more important matters and threw a piece of rock near the Acropolis, subsequently forgetting about her plan. This is how Lycabettos Hill was formed.

There is one road and many walking paths leading to the top of the hill, covered with pine and cypress trees. Also on Lycabettos Can take the funicular. It operates from 8.45 to 0.45 in the summer (except Thursdays, when opening hours are from 10.45 to 0.45) and from 8.45 to 0.15 in winter (except Thursdays, when opening hours are from 10.45 to 0.15. Lifts every 30 minutes.

The funicular is located on the street on Plutarch Street (οδος Πλουταρχου) in a closed tunnel. The fastest way to get to the funicular is from the Evangelizmos metro station (Ευαγγελισμος), signs located along the street will help you get there.

At the top is the Church of St. George (X-XII centuries).

Have a nice day in Athens! I hope you now know what to see in Athens on your trip!

I don't like group tours through agencies. I organize all trips myself, so I live the same trip three times - when I plan, when I actually arrive at the place and when I write about my impressions.

Many people are afraid to travel on their own; they believe that it is expensive and dangerous. There are a thousand arguments: you need to know a foreign language, deal with paperwork, obtain a visa, spend time booking a hotel, buying tickets, collecting information on attractions and choosing a method of traveling around the country. In fact, everything is much simpler than it seems 🙂 The consulate’s website has a list of documents for obtaining a tourist visa, there are a lot of services for independently searching for tickets and hotels on the Internet, and it’s easy to create a travel itinerary based on travelers’ reports. Those like me:)From an independent trip, the impressions are brighter, there is more freedom and the costs are acceptable.

Athens is a very convenient city for individual exploration. This is not just the capital of Greece, it is the birthplace of myths, legends and ancient heroes.No one even really knows when this city appeared on the map, but the Greeks firmly believe that it could not have happened without divine intervention. According to legend, the sea god Poseidon and the goddess of wisdom Athena fought for the right to be his patron. Both decided to bring gifts: whose gift was more important won. Poseidon hit the rock with his trident and water poured out of the stone, and Athena stuck a spear into the ground, and an olive tree sprouted from it. The goddess's gift was considered more important and Athena won the argument, and the city received her name.

Airport, named after the famous Greek politician Eleftherios Venizelos, I immediately liked it. I appreciated the cleanliness, convenience for passengers and numerous signs indicating where to go. You can get from Athens airport to the city by bus around the clock. You can use the metro (8 euros), while travel by bus from the airport costs only 5 euros.

Note to tourists: before boarding the bus you need to buy a ticket; drivers do not sell them. Travel cards cost 5 euros; standard tickets (1.4 €) for Athens public transport are not suitable.

Transport in Athens is well developed; in addition to the subway, the system includes trams, trolleybuses, buses and commuter trains. The fare payment system is simple: the tickets are the same for all types of transport, surface and underground.

In my opinion, tourists benefit most from using Athens reusable travel cards. They cost only 4 euros for 24 hours of use, and if you take a card for 5 days, it will cost only 10 euros (2 euros per day). They can be purchased at metro ticket offices and ticket machines. Using the subway, moving around the city is convenient and safe, the trains are quite decent, the stations are clean and guarded, getting where you need to go in Athens is not a problem.

To pay tribute to the Greek capital fully, the first acquaintance should begin with the ancient layer of history, with the heritage of ancient Hellas. I recommend starting with . Although the hill overlooking the city has long ceased to be a sacred place, it remains a link between the past and the present, the heart of the ancient city.

The ancient Greeks appreciated how convenient the one and a half hundred meter high cliff was for defense back in ancient times. In the 15th century BC, the hill was already built up and fortified with impressive walls. During the archaic period, the Acropolis was thoroughly rebuilt and large temples were erected there, including the sanctuary of the goddess Athena, the patroness of the city.

The flow of tourists to the Acropolis does not subside either during the day or in the evening. To touch the history, feel the power of the structure and try to imagine what the main attraction of the capital looked like many centuries ago, stock up on a guidebook with a diagram and description of ancient monuments.
I decided to go to the Acropolis early in the morning, before the opening, when the sun was not yet at its zenith. On weekdays, access to the complex begins at 8 am, on weekends and holidays at 8:30. Warning: under no circumstances should you take stones with you from the Acropolis, even those on the ground - you can pay a hefty fine for this. I walked slowly, recognizing the temples from the guidebook and choosing places for photos. You need to wait until the group with the guide goes to another place and gives you a favorable angle and literally captures the moment. You can spend half a day here, sit and relax if the weather is not very hot. From the observation decks of the Acropolis you can admire wonderful panoramas of Athens, admire them as much as you like.

Acropolis– this is an open-air complex, with all that it implies. To preserve the ancient sculptural compositions, they were moved to the new Acropolis Museum, which is located at the foot of the hill. The Greeks collected several thousand valuable exhibits within the walls of the museum, turning it into a real treasury of ancient art.

Adjacent to the south-eastern side of the Acropolis is the Theater of Dionysus, one of the oldest structures of its kind in the world. Scientists believe that performances began to be given there some twenty-five centuries ago. The stands could fill about 15 thousand spectators; not every modern stadium can boast of such a capacity. The first row was reserved for noble persons, as evidenced by the surviving inscriptions on stone slabs.

Note to tourists: you can visit the Theater of Dionysus for free if you buy a ticket to visit the Acropolis.

Having finished admiring the Acropolis and tired of the multilingual crowd of tourists,went down to Monastiraki Square. I no longer had enough strength to explore other sights; I needed to rest and “digest” the impressions. In search of shade and silence, I passed the square and went up the street. Erma, turned onto St. Irini. At the intersection with Athinaidos Street, there is another monument with ancient history, but in an updated version - the Church of St. Irene. Archaeologists cannot say exactly when the first temple appeared on this site. We only know that this happened a very, very long time ago. By the middle of the 19th century, the building became very dilapidated and the authorities decided to replace it with a new one. And to ensure the continuity of history, and perhaps for practical reasons, ancient stones from the dismantled building were used during construction. The Church of St. Irene was a sight to behold; it was not for nothing that for some time it was considered a cathedral.

The Greeks had been hatching the idea of decorating the capital with a huge Orthodox church for a long time, but for a number of reasons, work began only in 1842. The first stone in the foundation of the Athens Cathedral was laid personally by King Otto I. Despite the importance of the project and royal support, the work was greatly delayed, the estimate turned out to be exceeded, and in the end, money for completion had to be raised literally by the whole world. As a result, the whole process took more than 20 years, with three different architects working on the building in turn. As a result, the Athens Cathedral came out to glory. The building, whose bell towers stretched forty meters, became the largest temple in Greece of that era. And even though its design doesn’t seem particularly impressive from the outside, the interior is very rich inside. There are many pleasant cafes with designer decorations around; the area is clearly chosen by local youth. I decided to relax, sipping a cold Freddo cappuccino with cinnamon in a very nice cafe.Tailor Made. I looked through the photos, watched the students buzzing around and noted that “all young people are the same” - liberated, cheerful. This filled me with positivity and gave me the strength to continue. My path lay on the central square of Athens - Syntagma.

On the square Syntagma, which has been on the screens a lot lately, there are regular clashes between police and demonstrators demanding that the government ease austerity measures for ordinary people. The place for the protests was chosen for a reason, because the former royal palace, where the Greek parliament now sits, rises above the square. Fortunately, that day I was not able to enjoy the local color with the demonstrators.

If you're new to Athens, be sure to check out the popular ritual of changing the guard of honor at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in front of Parliament. Guardsmen in ancient traditional costumes: white skirts with many pleats (they say there are as many as 400 of them!) and in wooden clogs with pompoms, they march in unison, throwing up their legs funny. Crowds of guests of the capital gather to admire this action. As I was told, it is best to come to the square on Sunday around 11 am, when the ceremony is especially magnificent. You can get close to the soldiers, which is what everyone takes advantage of. I didn’t notice any visible security or police around, only tourists with cameras and food for pigeons. This is also a tradition - every second person considers it a duty to feed voracious birds. To the right of the Parliament there is a green park with the proud name National Garden, smoothly turning into Zappio - a place for tourists and Greeks with children to walk. On the central alley grow tall palm trees, apparently brought from Central America, as evidenced by a sign. The park itself leaves much to be desired, but it does its job: it provides shade and coolness. In addition, in its depths, closer to the exit to Amalias Avenue, I discovered a nice cafe under a green arch, but left it for next time. It was time to return to the hotel, organize impressions and photos and prepare a plan for the next day.

What else can you see in Athens in 2-3 days?

If you like visiting museums, be sure to visit the archaeological, Byzantine and historical ones.

Besides them, I also chose the Military Museum. Not because he is a fan of guns and planes, but this is the history and strength of the country. I recommend visiting with children, they will find it interesting. The museum is located next to Evangelismos metro station, blue line. First, I walked around the museum and looked at the area with aircraft equipment. Everyone is actively taking selfies with airplanes. Inside they ask you to take photos without flash, but this is the case in all museums. No problem, I obey, I turn it off. To explore the museum building, you first need to go up to the third floor and then go down. Such an idea. The building is three-story, square. The collections are arranged chronologically and are dedicated to specific events and periods. The museum is rich and worthy of attention.

I remember an incident in a souvenir shop. I wanted to buy a desk calendar for next year and decided to bargain. It was in September, at the end of the tourist season. There are a lot of calendars on the counter; supply clearly exceeds demand. So I tell the seller directly: lower the price, I’ll buy five pieces for gifts. And it benefits you. Who will need them in the middle of next year? To which the cunning Greek replies: I won’t sell it cheaper, it’s not profitable. At the end of the year I will hand them over to the printing house where I got them from. They will stand here and gather dust, in case someone buys them. If she doesn’t buy it, I’ll return it, but I’m not going to give up the price. She left with nothing. It’s a shame, but I learned for the future that even in Greece, bargaining is not always appropriate. J

Where can you eat inexpensively in Athens?

Pay attention to the small eateries where the Greeks themselves prefer to eat. This rule should be followed in any country, in any city where the travel virus takes you.

Eat Goody's chain", it operates on the principle of fast food. There you can taste meat and veggie burgers, Greek salad and other local dishes (about 5 euros for lunch per person). Sandwiches prepared on street stalls are even cheaper (2-3 euros), and of course souvlaki - a Greek brand, an eternal classic!

– this is a separate story. There you can behave at ease and relaxed. Any meal begins with fresh bread or croutons, fried in olive oil, with spices and garlic - scordopsomo. For appetizers, dzadzyki (yogurt, cucumber, garlic) or melizanosalata (eggplant caviar), then hot appetizers - hot cheeses, especially bujorti and kaserocroketes, then kolokifakia (a zucchini dish) and, of course, the village salad "horjatiki", known to our Slavic people called "Greek". Popular main dishes include beef in tomato sauce, arnaki (lamb) or oven-baked pork trotters. Personally, I liked the “moussaka” in pots, now I cook it at home, I’m nostalgic for Greece :-)

My hotel was located close to the main attractions, relatively inexpensive, from the “bed and breakfast” series. There was no point in sitting in the room, so I spent all my time exploring the city on my own. Athens left a mixed impression. On the one hand, there is a huge number of ancient monuments, on the other hand, there is some kind of neglect. There are a lot of emigrants in the Omonia area, there is graffiti on the walls around the city, there are a lot of thick, untrimmed bushes, dilapidated buildings, and haphazardly abandoned cars. Many streets are blocked due to construction work. The result: inconvenience for pedestrians and traffic jams. People get nervous, honk their horns, and add their negativity to the general annoying rumbling noise of road works. Compared to the islands, Athens is not conducive to relaxation, especially the city center.

Natalya B.