Athens

The capital and largest city of Greece, Athens, is a must see if you’re into history. Even if you aren’t, the monuments here have a power and energy to them that can’t be described, but rather felt. The city is believed to be one of the oldest cities in the world, with history dating back over 3,400 years. The very first modern day Olympics was hosted here in 1896, and was ‘brought home’ more recently in 2004.

Many ancient monuments and artwork call Athens home; the Acropolis, a UNESCO world heritage site is one of the most well known, for obvious reasons. The Acropolis is an ancient citadel situated on a hilly outcrop above the city. Most notably, it is home to the Parthenon, Old Temple of Athena, Temple of Athena Nike, and just down the hill, two theatres including the Theatre of Dionysus Eleuthereus. Significant damage was done to the monuments in 1687 during the Morean war, when gunpowder stored in the Parthenon was struck by a cannonball and subsequently blew up. Restoration of some of these monuments has taken place, and as it seems with all restoration projects, is constantly ongoing.

When visiting the Acropolis hill and its historical monuments, there is always the option of taking a guided tour, or alternatively doing a self guided tour. The best time of day to head up is arguably first thing in the morning when the gates open - not only will you avoid crowds (as much as you can anyway), but you will also avoid the heat of the day, especially if travelling in high season in the summer when temperatures in Greece can be scorching hot. You can also pre-purchase tickets online beforehand to save yourself time waiting in lines. Another tip for entering the monument if you aren’t doing a guided tour is to use the ‘secondary’ entrance if you will. Most people don’t even know that this entrance exists, and will guarantee you seeing the two theatres that many don’t ever venture towards. This entrance has GPS coordinates of 37°58’10.9”N 23°43’45.1”E if you put them into Google, and you will save yourself a ton of time and hassle with not having to battle the crowds or tour groups at this side. The walk up to the Parthenon is relatively easy, though I would suggest wearing running shoes as opposed to flip flops as the rocks can be quite slippery if wet!

Grab your ticket and marvel at the history that lies at your feet and within the towering pillars above you. The power in the columns is unforgettable and something truly unique. To finish off your day, grab a drink at one of the neighbouring restaurants with a rooftop in the area and admire the view of the Acropolis by night. The Parthenon lights up like a Christmas tree and is an amazing site to see.