What to Do in Athens if You Only Have One Day
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When you arrive in Athens for the first time, it could feel overwhelming. As the biggest city in Greece, it is easy to feel a little lost while here, especially if you only have a short amount of time. Added to it is the fact that the city’s ancient past is constantly surrounded by modern life, and as a result, there is a lot to do here. The truth is, even if you only have a short period of time, you can get a nice overview that will allow you to see all aspects of the city, from the ancient history to glimpses of modern life. Here is a look at how you can maximize your time in the city:
Take a Tour of the City
The easiest and fastest way to get an overview of everything that Athens has to offer is to take a tour. Most tours will expose you to not only the historical landmarks, like the Parthenon, but also show you other aspects of the city, such as some of the key neighborhoods. Besides reserving a tour guide to take you around, you should also consider taking the “hop on, hop off” bus. This tour provides narration and also allows you the the freedom to get on and off at your own pace as long as the bus is operating. Take some time to plan out which landmarks you want to see up close and be sure to get off at that stop when the time comes.
Browse Through At Least One Museum
There are quite a few museums in Athens and if you only have a short period of time in the city, you won’t be able to visit all of them. Consider what you are most interested and focus your time on that museum. For example, if you are interested in the ancient history of the city and of the surrounding area, you will want to visit the National Archaeological Museum, which is jammed with artifacts and historical information. Other museums to visit in Athens include the Museum of Cycladic Art, the Benaki Museum, and the Museum of the Ancient Agora, which is located near the Parthenon.
Eat Delicious Food
One thing that can help you see more of the city during your short time here is to adopt the traditional Greek habit of eating a fairly late dinner. That way, you can have enough time to visit as many landmarks and museums as possible and will also give you plenty of time to do some shopping before you need to leave. The benefit of eating late is that you’ll be in the company of plenty of locals, and you’ll also be able to experience your meal at a more traditional and slower pace. The traditional food in Athens is top notch, and many look back at the meals they ate in the city with fondness. For some, dining was even the highlight of the trip!
Even though you may only have one day to spend in this city, you an still see a lot. Just be sure to think about exactly what you want to do while here so you don’t wast time on activities that don’t interest you.
Categorized in: About Athens, Greece, Greek Travel Guide
This post was written by Greek Boston
