Matador's Ultimate Guide to Athens

Immerse yourself in the birthplace of Western civilization ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Athens]( Matador's Ultimate Guide to Athens Hi all, This week Matador explores Athens, where ancient history meets modern innovation. Explore 3,000 years of captivating architecture and archaeological wonders from classical to Byzantine — all tucked away in peninsular terrains and the Hymettus mountains. And who needs sleep when Athens comes alive at night? Whether you prefer the elegance of rooftop hotel bars, the energy of dance clubs, the thrill of live music shows, or the bohemian atmosphere of underground joints, Athens nightlife has something for everyone, any day of the week. If you need a little break from city life, hop on a bus or board a ferry and take a day trip to the surrounding ports and islands to indulge in the Mediterranean climate and stunning terrain. Get all the insider tips to make the most of your visit. [EXPLORE ATHENS]( Get Inspired [The Acropolis]( The Most Famous Archeological Site in the World Dominates This European Capital City Being the greatest artistic complex coming out of Greek antiquity, visitors could do with some help to understand the Acropolis’ significance and appreciate its monuments’ beauty. To make your Acropolis visit as dazzling as the rest of your stay in Athens, we asked two professional tour guides, Jessica Van Der Does and Dr. Dimitria Papadopoulou, to provide some tips on how to make your one-day visit a cinch. [READ MORE]( [Aegina]( The Best Islands You Can Day Trip To From Athens Get yourself to one of the many beautiful islands that you can reach from the port of Athens in 40 minutes to two hours. Ride a rented bike to beautiful beach coves, lunch at lovely restaurants, and enjoy a break from the bustle of the capital city. Here are our favorite Greek islands you can day trip to. [READ MORE]( [Philopappos Monument]( The Best Viewpoints in Athens To Take in the City’s Rich History Athens is a city blessed with a rich topography, surrounded by three hills of various heights offering great panoramic views. Summer is the perfect opportunity to walk up these hills, taking in the fresh Mediterranean air as you look out over this historic city. As beautiful as each of these hills are, however, it wouldn’t be a proper Mediterranean itinerary without a rooftop cocktail and a late-night bite. These eight spots offer a unique perspective of the city, allowing you a bird’s-eye view of the major sites in the process. [READ MORE]( [Athens at night]( How To Have the Most Epic Night Out in Athens This vibrant city has another side that remains undiscovered by many visitors: It’s one hell of a party town. Nightlife makes up a sizable chunk of Greek culture, and as nights out are popular among locals of all ages, they make for a unique experience for foreigners if navigated with some expertise. This is a city where you never know where the night might take you, whether you’ll end up in the central neighborhood of Gazi or on the Athens Riviera. [READ MORE]( [LGBTQ Guide To Athens]( The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide To Athens Greece has always been high on the list of LGBTQ+ destinations. It’s one of the most liberal and welcoming countries in Europe for travelers of all colors of the rainbow. Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, and other beautiful islands have attracted crowds who vacation at lavish beach clubs and party at some of the best events on the queer calendar. But it’s not only the islands where you can find a community. Gay Athens is one progressive place with several saunas, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and other establishments that specifically cater to queer people. [READ MORE]( [Plaka]( 6 Reasons Plaka Is the Best Neighborhood for First-Timers in Athens There’s no denying that beautiful Greek ruins and famous landmarks get the maximum attention here, but today, there’s far more to do in Athens than tour ruins. A wave of new eateries, pubs, contemporary cafes, and Greek fashion are on the rise. The centuries-old neighborhood of Plaka is a hotbed of urban regeneration and nostalgia, a place where even the Greeks ache to return to over and over. Its iconically Greek charm makes it the ideal welcome to this city for first-timers — here’s why you need to visit. [READ MORE]( Nature + Adventure [Mount Olympus]( How To Hike Mount Olympus, Greece, as a Two-Day Trip From Athens Although no human mortal reached the summit of the fog-shrouded, 9,573-foot peak until as recently as 1913, today many intrepid hiker can ascend to what was once the solitary domain of Zeus, Ares, Athena, and all other Greek gods. If you have two days to spare while on a visit to Athens, here’s how to reach these lofty heights as well. [READ MORE]( [Kerameikos]( 8 Archaeological Sites and Museums You Can't Miss in Athens Beyond the Acropolis Widely considered to be the birthplace of democracy and the cradle of Western civilization, Athens has been continuously settled for at least 5,000 years, making it one of the world’s oldest cities. As such, Athens is one of the richest archaeological sites on the planet. Stroll down Ermou, the city’s major shopping street, and you’ll catch tantalizing glimpses of the Acropolis, looming over the neighborhoods of Monastiraki, Plaka, and Psyri from atop its rocky limestone perch. But while it’s undoubtedly the most famous, the Acropolis — home to the iconic Parthenon — is far from the only ancient attraction in town. From ruined temples to sprawling cemeteries and world-class museums, here are eight lesser-known sites you should hit on your visit to Athens. [READ MORE]( [Piraeus]( Why You Should Take Some Time To Explore Piraeus on a Trip To Greece On your visit to Greece, there’s a good chance you’ll pass through Piraeus. There’s an equally good chance you won’t slow down to check out this port city, using it instead as a throughway between Athens and the Greek Islands, as do millions of tourists each year. But Piraeus has more to offer than its busy boat docks and traffic jams. It has picturesque neighborhoods, hilltop restaurants with amazing views, and some of the most incredible seafood the country has to offer. Here’s why Piraeus should be a stop, not a pass-through, on your itinerary. [READ MORE]( Food + Culture [dessert in Athens]( The 10 Best Places for Dessert in Athens, Greece Exploring the sites and museums of the capital city of Greece is great, but Athens’ heart beats where people come together to talk, laugh, and enjoy good food. So, where you really want to be in order to understand the local way of living is a patisserie. Patisseries are an indispensable part of everyday life in Greece, and indulging in a housemade dessert is a favorite pastime among Athenians of all ages. [READ MORE]( [Rooftop Bar]( 7 Athens Rooftop Bars With the Best Views of the City Some of the very best views of the city can be found at more modern establishments: rooftop bars. There are rooftop bars all around the city that are perfect perch points to take in the Athens skyline with a drink in hand. Starting with businesses around Monastiraki Square at the heart of Athens center, these are the seven rooftop bars to go to in Athens. [READ MORE]( [Koulouri]( 7 Must-Try Street Foods in Athens, Greece Greek cuisine is classic Mediterranean. When in Athens, you don’t need to go to a pricey restaurant to enjoy delicious Greek food. Instead, venture the streets of Athens for substantial, good value, easy-to-grab meals. [READ MORE]( Epic Stays Take the headache out of planning and check out our staff picks for places to stay [Athens places to stay]( [Athens places to stay]( [Athens places to stay]( [Athens places to stay]( [Athens places to stay]( [Athens places to stay]( [Epic Stays TikTok]( FOLLOW US AND FIND YOUR NEXT #TRAVELSTOKE [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Linkedin]( [Youtube]( [Instagram]( [TikTok]( [Pinterest]( [Custom]( [Update your email frequency and topic preferences here](. Or [unsubscribe from our newsletter.]( We'll be here when you need us! Copyright © 2023 Matador Network, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Matador Network, PO Box 7775, Suite 40021, San Francisco, CA 94120, United States