I often romanticise what it would have been like somewhat 2000 years ago. How life was carried out, societal beliefs and values, and prosperities. I can’t imagine you were inundated with as much noise as we are today, your mind could wander easily. Boredom and solidarity were encouraged, and intricate craftsmanship was valued over mass-produced products. 

When you walk through Athens, you’re enveloped by the past, its ghostly but prominent presence surrounds you. The juxtaposition between ancient, modern, and new is in perfect harmony. Albeit at times Athens is an urban jungle, full of colourful, often provocative graffiti, it lines the streets as far as the eye can gaze. As much as it floods the city, it would not be Athens without this modern inscription. There are so many areas of Athens to explore that are not limited to Monastiraki and Plaka. Each of them possesses its own characteristics, charm, or edge.

I love that from almost any corner of the city, you’re granted a glimpse of Athens’ past life. Sitting high and mighty, a reminder of a rich but complicated history. I love the Periptoro (market shop) that you stumble across in all corners of the city. I love the smell of freshly baked pastries and Greek pies in the morning as you start your commute. It feels like a warm embrace, a reminder that this is Greece. Its aroma so distinctive. 

Maybe these feelings and words of love and appreciation come easier because I am often more estranged from Greece than I’d like to be.  Or maybe, it’s a newfound appreciation that has developed from experiencing other cultures along the way. Athens should be more than a passing by, or 2-day buffer before your Greek Island hopping around Paros, Naxos, and beyond. It deserves your attention, your love, and your exploration.

When you travel to Greece, and Athens especially, expect the chaos. Embrace the madness, the grunge, the personality. It’s better than resisting (I also feel the Athenians are much nicer when it’s not peak season). Embrace the people watching (or should I say… staring), and explore the capital city of Greece for longer and further. You will be pleasantly surprised with its gastronomy and culture.

Travel Athens

It’s hard not to be overly caffeinated and suffocated by smoke in the city (cigarettes that is). You won’t be able to keep track of coffee shops or pastry shops here, a business that is in such high demand (but one that is definitely in our favour). Athenians don’t sleep, what is sleep? Dozing off too early? Don’t be alarmed, just head over to your local shop for a coffee at 10 pm. (My favourite is The Underdog in Thissio Athens). This accessibility is probably the thing I love the most.

When you travel to Greece, and Athens, you don’t feel a sense of urgency, or the need to cram all your errands within a 1-hour window, especially after work. You can take your time, catch up with friends, and seize the moments. More often than not, life’s little pleasures are right at your front door. There is also a plethora of must-see attractions in Athens, you will not get bored (and I can confirm this after residing in the city for 3 weeks).

Each site, museum, and neighbourhood exhibits a unique flavour. Take the National Museum of Contemporary Art Αthens (ΕΜΣΤ), it is a long rectangular building and its entrance is completely engulfed in red. As you ascend the floors, it feels like you’re inside an infinity mirror. The escalators are positioned in a steady incline, there is no zig-zagging, just a gradual progression that allows you to gaze from floor to floor, like a voyeur. It’s a site to be seen in itself and, one of the most provocative contemporary museums I’ve been to. *Its current focus is, what if women ruled the world?*

If you’re someone like me, you’re often putting yourself in the shoes of our predecessors, how they moved in the world, how they lived, and what they endured. For this reason, visiting the Ancient Agora Of Athens invites you into that world. The Agora was the centre of Athens during ancient times, and the focus of political and social activities. I felt this presence as we explored the site, I could picture the bustling of people as they went about their day, whether they were shopping, seekers of justice, or royalty. As you move through in parallel to the Stoa Of Attalos, you have a direct sit line of the Acropolis and it’s enough to make your knees weak.

It is the best place to visit in Athens.

“Athens, The Eye Of Greece, Mother Of Arts And Eloquence.”

John Milton

You don’t always need a travel guide to Athens (well… maybe only mine), it’s enough to possess a curiosity for the city and explore areas of Athens that align with what makes you tick and overjoy with excitement.

Why don’t we explore these areas in Athens more, shall we?

Areas Of Athens

Have you visited Athens before? Have you dug deeper into the outskirts of Plaka and Monastiraki? It’s okay if you haven’t, it will be a great incentive to book your next European holiday to the Greek capital city and travel Athens in a way you hadn’t previously dreamt of. These are some of my favourite areas of Athens:

Thissio / Petralona

Thissio has to be without a doubt one of the most underrated little towns with the most pristine views of the Acropolis of Athens. As you wander through the streets, you’ll catch a glimpse of the high and mighty marble wonder, almost hypnotising you in the process. There’s no doubt that it can be a little overpriced and touristy in this area, but it definitely shouldn’t deter you from wandering around, exploring the neo-classic homes, and browsing through the quaint markets that line the walkway. Thissio Athens also has the BEST specialty coffee store/brunch spot which is The Underdog. It’s a win-win in my opinion.

Petralona Athens is ANOTHER underrated neighbourhood of Athens. Its streets are lined with exuberant and institutional restaurants. It’s swarming with locals, you won’t find many tourists here unless they’re vetting out a classic like Taverna Oikonomou (which is brilliantly mouthwatering). Take your pick with old-school tavernas, a range of all-day bars, and outdoor cinemas, or stroll through one of the coolest streets in the world, Troon (Τρώων) Street, while you take in the true Athenian style of residential buildings ‘The polykatoikía‘, and nods to the art deco era.

Acropolis / Koukaki

I don’t remember ever taking the time to walk through the neighbourhood of Acropolis Athens. I feel it’s quite easy to bypass this once you’ve visited the Acropolis Museum and decided you’ll take your third coffee break back at the steps of Plaka. This time around, I made sure we really felt what the vibe in each part of town felt like. When you’re not pressed for time or trying to fit in all the top places to visit in Athens Greece, you can leisurely stroll through the streets, zig-zagging and eavesdropping in every corner.

The neighbourhood of Acropolis has become one of the trendiest neighbourhoods and a true testament to the harmonious blend of modern and neo-classic architecture that lines its streets. If you wander further down Erecthiou Street (or Adjacent streets) you’ll reach the neighbourhood of Koukaki.

Koukaki Athens is fairly interesting. It is free-flowing, easygoing, a little grungy and quite inclusive. It is lined with artisan stores, eateries and talented independent jewellery makers. Who doesn’t love anything that shines and shimmers right? (Moloko was absolutely stunning.) Zig Zag your way in between Dimitrakopoulou and Veikou Street whilst trying your best not to stop at every store or shopfront like “Ahhh… Oohh” because that’s what I did. We all know how impossible it is to be everywhere and see everything when you’re not a living and breathing Athenian. Side note: We had an EPIC brunch at Hippy Hippo and I really feel that you should go.

Exarchia

A neighbourhood often overlooked by tourists, Exarchia Athens is a graphically colourful and raw area. I would describe it as a little bit of the black sheep in the Athenian family. By no means do I feel this is a bad thing, it’s honestly the most alive and authentic area in the capital city of Greece. It has a vibrant street art culture, and lively cafes and bars that radiate an energy that is so distinctively ‘Athenian’.

We based ourselves here for 3 weeks and it never ceased to amaze me. Each time you walked the streets you’d stumble across awesome vintage stores, independent designers and jewellery makers, some of the BEST Natural Wine bars, and food venues that pride themselves on quality produce. It’s an eclectic jungle, a mix between indie and modern wave venues, and some institutional classics… totally unpretentious. I won’t spoil it all because you can expect an extended spiel on one of my favourite neighbourhoods. A must-visit, go in with an open mind and embrace it.

Kolonaki

Kolonaki Athens is often characterised as the glamorised, high-end neighbourhood that is home to luxury boutiques and services, trendy cafes and restaurants, and the sound of high heels clacking on the pavement. If you perceive to be an important someone, then I guess you’re expected to be seen in Kolonaki (This is a joke… kind of). I absolutely love Kolonaki, it’s a polished neighbourhood that has well-kept residential apartments, clean walkways, great shopping, more health-focused food spots, and specialty grocers and delis (I go crazy for some out-of-this-world olive oil and condiments).

Beneath its glamorous exterior, Kolonaki is enveloped by a rich history and cultural significance. It is nestled at the foot of Lycabettus Hill, where it was said that inhabitants preferred to reside as it was nostalgic to how they used to live in the mountains. It’s gone through a whirlwind of changes, often deemed dethroned as the Queen of the city, yet somehow maintaining and recreating its presence in the city of Athens and which Athenians still associate as the place to go shopping and socialise. Come one, come all, and sip your ‘Kafedaki’ (Coffee) in style (but don’t forget to rock your Sunday best while doing so!)

Pangrati

Pangrati is a little breath of fresh air amid the chaotic neighbourhoods. It feels relaxed, and open, and has enough distance from the centre without being too far that estranges it. This is one of the areas of Athens where you can feel the buzz of the local everyday life, a quaint and dynamic neighbourhood that is full of beautiful high-end restaurants, time-tested tavernas, jazz clubs, and the ‘Steki’ (The local spot/hangout).

The Panethenaic Stadium (a must in this travel guide to Athens) is the epicentre, the bordering phenomenon between Pangrati and Metz, where its grandeur speaks for the presence of the surrounding stomping grounds. It’s a timestamp, but so eloquently exists in this modern world. It is said that Pangrati has long been home to the Athenian Intellectuals, but has now seen an influx of a hippier crowd (noticeable with the restaurants, coffee and bar culture). I don’t know about you but I think I’ll start at Foyer Espresso for a Freddo Espresso, and conclude at Odeon, the local Steki, for a melodic night of Jazz tunes.

Keramikos

While it may not be the crowd favourite… yet, Keramikos Athens has been up and coming for a little while, with a rich culinary landscape and an artistic scene sweeping the neighbourhood. Since its gentrification, some of the city’s hottest spots have popped up and parked themselves in the neighbourhood, and while you can still see the graffiti-lined walls, the overall grit and roughness have been polished up. There’s a plethora of vibrant bars that come alive at dusk and a diverse range of food offerings. Korova is one of my favourites which is an all-day bar that has an incredible modern food offering and a slight spin-off of traditional Greek food.

You can also find a beautiful organic food store Sto Vathos Kipos (Bathos Kipos) which has a generous selection of Greek-made products and homegrown produce (such a score). Kermaikos provides a different, yet equally satisfying, introduction to the different areas of Athens, and how each behaves at all hours of the day. If you’re looking to dive deep into a slightly more diverse culture and aren’t afraid to leave the centre bubble, then Keramikos is worth a shot!

This Is The City Of Athens Greece

To travel Athens means to take the path less traveled. It’s about discovering what area of Athens makes you tick, how it influences you, or challenges you. Seeing the capital city of Greece from a different vantage point, and in this case from different areas in Athens, puts the city on the map for being one of the most dynamic, urban areas. It will show you why it deserves the same significance as its floating counterparts that seem to get all the attention.

I have the Athens travel bug (or maybe it’s the Greece travel bug… either or) and I hope to guide you and further expose the diversity of this neo-city through its food, neighbourhoods and attractions. From peering down from Lycabettus Hill or looking up from beneath the Acropolis, Athens will afford you the most unforgettable encounters.

Is Athens worth visiting? Ab-so-lutely! Don’t second guess it. Pick a month (when it isn’t scorching hot) and dive deep into this ancient rabbit hole.

Unravel the rich tapestry in these areas of Athens and get a taste of the flavours, music and culture that is Greece!