One Night in Athens Tour

Our Local Expert Says:

Best view of the Parthenon! The second floor cafe is the perfect place to sit under a shady veranda and have a drink or light meal, all while gazing at one of the ancient world's greatest structures. The food highlights Greek products and the museum is proud of the low prices on the menu.

Description:

The New Acropolis Museum was conceived in 1979 in an overall effort to persuade the British Museum to return the famous marbles of the Parthenon. After changing decisions on locations and architects, on top of the discovery of an ancient settlement on the winning site, the museum was completed in June of 2009. It is considered one of the top ten museums of Europe and is unique in that all of its contents are specific to the site of the sacred rock of the Acropolis. How to deal with the ancient ruins underneath? Prop it up on columns and lay down a clear floor, giving visual access throughout the museum.

A must see.

Description:

Opposite the Acropolis are three hilltops. All three hilltops offer panoramic views of the Parthenon and surroundings. On clear days you can see as far as the sea. As you walk up Philopappou hill note St. Loubardiaris to your right. This chapel was built under Ottoman occupation and restored in the mid 50s by well-known Greek architect Dimitrios Pikionis. At the summit of Philopappou hill is a monument erected in memory of Roman benefactor Philopappos. Pnyx hill is where the Athenian Assembly gathered in the 5th century – in open air! Arios Pagos hill is where the ancient parliament went to session. The closest metro station is Acropolis.

Description:

The narrow streets around Avissynias Square are filled with small shops selling a huge variety of goods. These range from vintage furniture, vinyl long-play records, secondhand clothes, bizarre earrings and hand-made rugs to sandals, antiques, books and musical instruments. Sunday mornings are especially busy here. Across Monastiraki Square is another row of shops on Pandrossou Street. These are more tourist-oriented and sell a huge variety of souvenirs, artefacts, clothes and jewels. Just a stone's throw away is Athinas Street with its stores selling all manner of inexpensive tools.

Our Local Expert Says:

New cool and casual bar in Gazi. In the summer the pedestrian walk in front of this bar gets crowded with a fun young crowd enjoying pop-rock music. (Keramikos metro)

Description:

Hoxton flaunts its industrial design setting. Couches line the walls of this dimly lit bar while modern art and rock music create a cool ambience. Hoxton is one of many bars that has opened in Gazi. It is fun to explore this up-and-coming neighborhood.

Description:

The by-product of a Greek/Turkish union who lived in New York City for fifteen years before returning to the ancestral home of his grandfather, a refugee from Smyrna in 1922,  is a universally pleasing, mellow, and thoroughly Eastern bar and culture club in lively Gazi. A roof garden, eclectic soundtrack, regular art and photography exhibitions as well as a cozy atmosphere are bringing devoted fans back night after night. It now hosts the "People of Micrasia" Cultural Association which aims to keep the Micrasian culture alive.

Description:

The construction work undertaken on the city's metro system during the 1990s brought an unprecedented number of archaeological finds to light. Some of these finds can be seen at the metro station on Syntagma Square. The exhibits include ancient grave stones, an aqueduct from the 5th century BC, pottery, a 2,000-year old beehive and a mosaic from the 5th century AD. Most interesting is the geological cross-section on display, with each layer of earth representing a different historical period. An example of this would be the grave containing a skeleton from the 4th century BC lying a few meters below a 16th-century cistern.

Description:

In front of the Parliament building in Syntagma Square, the "Evzones," an elite section of of the Greek regular army, stand guard in front of a symbolic tomb representing those who died for Greece in battle.
Dressed in their red caps and fustanellas (traditional mountain costume worn by the irregular fighters in the Greek Revolution) they make an impressive sight against the marble tomb. The ceremony to change posts takes place each hour. They work with the same partner for their entire length of service to perfect their slow, choreographed movements together.

On the half hour, you can catch them in a similar "dance" while they're permitted to stretch. Beyond that, you shouldn't see them so much as swat a fly.

Description:

In a narrow, gutter-width bar, just in the gateway of cultured Kolonaki, the atmosphere is as smokey-voiced and bedroom-eyed as Tallulah Bankhead in a prohibition era  speakeasy. Athens might be an unlikely place for such a hangout, but the whiskey bar, Low Profile, is where you go to find the same faces night after night drinking high grade scotch and malt whiskey to the accompanying tunes of US imports like Johnny Cash, J.J. Cale, Billie Holiday and a whole wide assortment of other lesser-known legends.

The prices reflect good taste and an unoccupied stool or chair is a rarity. It is one bar out of hundreds choosing to ignore the smoking ban made official in January 2010. We say this as a way to tell you it might not be for everyone, but it doesn't stop eclectic, intelligent crowds from amassing nightly in search of high grade alcohol and top rate music.

Description:

Cassandra Wagstaffe, creator of Cafe Boheme, is an English girl who fell in love with Athens many years ago. Now she's brought the warm, pub tradition from her native country to the stylish zone of Kolonaki, adding her own feminine touch and acting as hostess to dozens of regulars and visitors, nightly.

The kitchen is her pride and joy with a menu that changes according to seasonally available products and based on Mediterranean cuisine. She also puts her signiature on creative martinis, like the Mastica and Ginger-tini. Local D.J's give the evening a more festive atmosphere, and on weekends or Jazz Wednesdays it can be tough to snag a table in this popular joint. Make a reservation two days ahead if you count on a good seat.

Description:

Rock'N'Roll has been the place to be seen after hours for the last two decades. The same company owning the popular Balthazar has made it what it is by offering friendly service, good burgers, and better cocktails, but all of that is only to be had if you look good enough to get past the front door. Dressing smartly, if not consulting a stylist, is recommended.

Description:

From first glance, the little white 19th century church of St. George looks like a castle from a fairytale  perched atop Lykavittos, the highest point of the city. Lykavittos one of the most treasured green spaces of Athens, woven with paths used by the residents of underlying Kolonaki for jogging and dog-walking. A modern funicular provides access for those who prefer to climb up to the top without huffing and puffing, but all appreciate the dazzling cityscape of Athens spread out below and one of the best views of the Acropolis. Just before the large parking lot of the Lykavittus Theater (still used for rock concerts and a festival) near the cave and shrine of Agii Isidori, there are a couple of benches along the ledge for contemplating. More often they're used by amorous couples on a clear night.

The church is very popular for weddings, so road access could be tough on Saturdays. The funicular operates 365 days a year, 19 hours a day and costs 6 Euros round trip. It goes through the hill and lets out just under restaurant Orizantes, frequented by many tourists who have read of the extraordinary view of the dining room. There is an adjacent cafe with lighter fare as well as a cantina on the theatre parking lot with sandwiches and soft drinks.