Visit the Temple of PoseidonThis amazing ancient temple lies at the Aegean Sea and was constructed in the 5th century. A temple inscription confirms that it was constructed for Poseidon. You should attempt to be here early in the morning or at sunset. From the temple you can sometimes see several islands on a clear day.Technically this is a day journey from Athens as it is 70kms south of the town. From the Mavromateon Terminal there is a bus from Athens and you can also get it from Syntagma Square. Look for the bus that goes to Sounio.
Watch the Sunset at Lycabettus HillWatching the Lycabettus Hill sunset is one of the best things to do in Athens. Not only is the sunset incredible, but from here you get incredible opinions of Athens. You can also see the all lit up Acropolis for the night.There's a funicular to take you up and down if you don't want to climb the hill. The cost of the funicular is € 7.50 return or € 5 for a one-way ticket.
Shop in the PlakaThe Plaka is a neighborhood under the Acropolis. Much of this region has been closed to traffic, although delivery trucks are still permitted and some roads are open. The chain store and more upscale stores are located on Ermou Street. Then there are the tourist stores and smaller end stores that are further down past Monastiraki Square. Here you can discover souvenirs that you might want to take home for your friends and family. Plus, this is a wonderful place for watching individuals.
Visit the Benaki MuseumVisiting the Benaki Museum is one of the best cultural things to do in Athens. The Benaki Museum is the museum of Greek culture ranging from prehistory to the 20th century. The collection offers rooms from houses, large sculptures and smaller items like swords and historic documents.The museum is a short walk from Syntagma Square. It's located in a beautiful Neo-classic building. You can enjoy a coffee and the view from the cafe.
Climb to the Acropolis
Seeing the Acropolis of the 5th century is the most common thing to do in Athens. This implies, of course, that everyone likes to go there, including tourists from cruise ships. My recommendation is early to get there. The project opens at 8 a.m. and travelers arrive at the cruise ship around 10 a.m.Most people visit the Acropolis to see the Parthenon but there are several other things to see on the hill, including the Erechtheion, the Arrhephorion, and the Temple of Athena Nike. From the Acropolis, you can see much of Athens and can see all the way to the sea.
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in AthensThe idea behind the creation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center was originally conceived in 1998 when the Stavros Niarchos Foundation decided to make a donation that would create a multi-space that would enrich Athens ' cultural facade. Initially, the donation was destined separately for the National Library and the Greek National Opera, but as the plans proceeded, it was decided that a new building should be constructed, one that would co-host both institutions. In 2008, the prestigious task was undertaken by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, while the construction process began in 2012 and was completed in 2016.The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center is located in Palaio Faliro, a civic and old-school neighborhood of Athens. Its grounds host three different projects; the National Library, the Greek National Opera and the Stavros Niarchos Park.
Nightlife
City ZenThe mood in this rooftop bar close Monastiraki Square represents its name. City Zen is a simple, casual cafe-bar. The laid-back atmosphere is set by music that shifts from techno to lounge and pop depending on the moment of day. Guests can choose from classic cocktail favorites or choose one of the seasonal drink specials, while a light menu features a variety of easy Mediterranean salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes. Not much else is required to impress here with its pronounced perspective of the Acropolis.
Couleur LocaleSimply finding the way up to this 3rd-floor rooftop bar is part of the experience. Couleur Locale is sort of hidden in the backstreets of Monastiraki – reachable via an elevator located in a nondescript arcade. But once you step out onto its wooden terrace, strewn with retro touches, the Acropolis seems like it's just within reach. Relax with the view and an Instagram-worthy drink such as the After Beach, a mix of Greek liqueurs including mastiha and kitron from Naxos island.
BiosThis multi-level construction is a cultural escape in Gazi's nightlife district of Athens. It houses a theater, an art gallery, and a café-bar on the rooftop that provides cocktails with exciting ingredients (ice-cream cocktail, anyone?). Its separate urban industrial look matches the neighborhood's former identity as Athens ' gasworks centre; the panorama here is focused on Gazi's historic gasworks tower (and, of course, the Acropolis).
The ZillersThis modern boutique hotel in Plaka neighbourhood's Mitropoleos Square is named after Ernst Ziller, the German architect who beautified much of Athens in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It has an equally modern rooftop terrace offering a direct view of the Acropolis, while the bar space is set among walls laced with hanging gardens. Creative cocktails are inspired by celebrities of Ziller's time – such as the Queen Amalia which mixes mescal, grapefruit soda and vermouth. Apart from excellent nibbles, there's a full dinner menu with Greek dishes like squid-ink trahanas (pasta with fresh cuttlefish and Florina pepper cream).
Daytrips
CycladesThink Cyclades and you might imagine lengthy ferry rides and believe you'd need at least a week to make the journey worth it. So that's not the case. There's only one Cycladic island from Athens for an hour. And it's as beautiful as the remainder. Kea (or Tzia, as it is known among locals) is a 60-minute boat ride from Lavrio, a low-key port not far from Athens airport, and less than an hour by coach or vehicle from the city centre.While fairly fashionable and upscale, Kea is quietly so. Its proximity to the capital has drawn many affluent Athenians to build summer houses that are mostly discreetly camouflaged in the hills. The only evidence of the presence of the high and mighty are the yachts and sailboats you'll spot while leaning out of your car window to catch a glimpse of a secluded beach, or in the quaint little harbour of Vourkari.
Aegina
Visiting Aegina looking for hip restaurants and nightlife in the style of Mykonos is missing the mark entirely. The greatest suit of this hospitable island is its casual charisma. The largest Saronic Gulf Island, at 85 sq km, Aegina's two most trumpeted assets are its pistachios, cultivated in orchards all over the lush interior, and the remarkably intact Temple of Aphaia, a Doric marvel atop a pine-crested mountain.Worlds away from the heated whirl of Athens, yet close enough to be a daily commute, Aegina's picturesque harbour offers a welcome change of gear with its cruisy café scene and crumbling neoclassical mansions. Since most day-trippers and long-weekenders are Greeks, Aegina is still pleasantly old school in its covered fish market and backstreet ouzeri, where seafood meze are often accompanied with live music.
Hiking the Mount YmittosSometimes the best-kept secrets are hidden in plain sight. Mount Ymittos forms the natural eastern boundary of Athens. Here, the dense city grid suddenly gives way to a tree-covered slope dotted with monasteries. This is the 'Aesthetic Forest of Kesariani,' a protected nature reserve that is only a 15- to 20-minute cab ride from downtown Athens. As a long-time resident of Athens, I was unaware of this gem for years. But then two things happened: I got a dog (Brigitte), and moved to the nearby suburb of Pangrati. Brigitte and I went exploring and happily discovered this forest and its many paths.
