One Day in Athens
EXPLORED | 01: A short travel guide.
Living on a Greek island has some incredible perks: sandy beaches, adorable alleys to explore, and all the essentials within walking distance of home. But in the off-season, the island is quiet with fewer people and fewer things open; most days tend to blend into one another. That’s why a trip to the city can feel like a balm to the soul.
On a recent trip, we stayed in an area near Ermou, in a little apartment in a one-way street close to the hustle and bustle of Syntagma Square and the Parliament building. We stayed two nights and one full day, and honestly, I feel refreshed from a dose of city life. And it made me realise that there is something powerful in finding yourself while in a city that isn’t home. The childlike wonderment of exploring a museum or monument. Wandering around and discovering a cute café, eating with locals and immersing yourself in the culture. It takes you out of your head and away from the things that make you overthink in daily life, connecting you to what makes being human beautiful. The tavernas brimming with patrons drinking ouzo and wine, snacking on local cheeses, and chatting animatedly in Greek. The street vendors sell grilled corn and roasted chestnuts, while buskers of all kinds spill music into the streets. Grand ancient monuments that are an impressive testament to craftsmanship and ingenuity. Athens is a city that pulls you into the heart of all these things with a warm hug and doesn’t let go. Here are some of my recommendations based on our trip.
Spend a little time in the morning at Centrale Café, sipping a coffee and watching as the life of the city passes by, while the bells of the beautiful Holy Metropolitan Church of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary ring out across the square. Amble across the square, being sure to admire the stunning front entrance mosaics of the church, making your way to the Acropolis. Most definitely go up to the top to view the Acropolis up close, the most iconic monument of Greece. Make your way back down and explore the surrounding area. Most notably, the Church of Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris, originally constructed in the 9th century from pieces of ancient ruins found in the area, sits in a peaceful wooded area that offers cool relief from the hot Greek sun. Make your way past the church, further up the hill, and there is the perfect spot to get a fantastic shot of the Acropolis. After you have strolled around the area surrounding the base of the Acropolis, go buy some fruit at the fruit vendors in Monastiraki Square. There you’ll find strawberries, cherries, apricots, grapes or peaches, depending on the season. Navigate your way to the Parliament building to watch the changing of the guard. End the day with dinner at Parodosiako Grill House, and enjoy excellent traditional Greek cuisine surrounded by locals. We ordered the horta (boiled wild greens), grilled spicy peppers (order some traditional cheese with these cause they are spi-i-cy!), the traditional sausage that had touches of orange zest and the spit-roasted pork kontosouvli. Living in Greece, we have eaten in our fair share of Greek tavernas, and honestly, the meal we had there was definitely by far one of the best.
Places I’d like to try next time:
A Tot - a cute hole-in-the-wall style café with reviews saying they have the best coffee in Athens. Also, their logo and vibe are super cute.
Granello Pizza Italiana - vibes on point, and their pizzas, which are made from a 48 hour fermented dough, look incredible.
Marketta - serving casual food made with high-quality ingredients, the food looks delicious, and their teal and white interiors look as fresh as their food.
Los Gatos - with a bright yellow facade you cannot miss, this spot serves tasty-looking Spanish-style tapas and paella.
Sentro Otso - the first Filipino cocktail bar in Greece, serving a quintessentially whimsical and exotic take on both classic and modern cocktails.
While there are thousands of cultural areas, cafés, bars and tavernas to explore in Athens, this itinerary was for us the perfect balance of “sightseeing”, being out in nature and living like a local for a day. If you have visited Athens, I would love to hear what your favourite spots are. And if you take any of my recommendations, I would love to hear about your experience.
Here’s to discovering yourself in a different city!
P.S: I didn’t take a ton of photos because I’m a live-in-the-moment kind of traveller and always regret not getting a huge amount of pics to look back on when I get home (note to self: take more photos).