Ancient Wonders and Modern Energy

Athens is a city that rewards the traveller who approaches it without prejudice. It is not, as some suggest, merely a base for island hopping. It is a genuinely fascinating city — ancient and contemporary in equal measure — and it deserves at least three days of serious attention.

Getting There

Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) is 26km from the city centre. The metro to Syntagma takes 40 minutes; a Discovia pre-booked transfer takes 30–45 minutes depending on traffic. For first-time visitors, the transfer is recommended — it begins to contextualise the city before you have even checked in.

The Acropolis: Doing It Properly

The Acropolis requires more than a passing visit. Buy a multi-site ticket that covers the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora, and the Kerameikos cemetery — the combination gives you a far richer sense of classical Athens than the Parthenon alone. Arrive at 8am when it opens. The sunset view from the Acropolis hill is available from the paths above the theatre and requires no ticket.

Monastiraki and Psiri: The Living City

The flea market district of Monastiraki and the adjacent neighbourhood of Psiri represent Athens at its most contemporary — street art, independent restaurants, craft cocktail bars, and a creative community that makes the city feel anything but fossilised by its own history.

Day Trip to Cape Sounion

The Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, 69km south of Athens, sits on a headland above the sea and is best visited at sunset. Book a Discovia car rental or a guided day trip through the Attica coast road — a scenic drive that passes through several beach towns.