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I recently spent a few amazing days in Athens, and I’m excited to share what I did! I hope you find this post helpful and get some inspiration for your own trip to this incredible city. Enjoy and happy travels!
Where I Stayed in Athens
I stayed at a hotel in Athens called Pan Hotel. It is ranked #39 out of 356 hotels on TripAdvisor. I thought the hotel was pretty nice. The room I had was fairly large compared to other hotels I’ve stayed at in Europe. The only negative was that the bathroom was quite small.
Acropolis of Athens
- 1) "Acropolis" means "high city" in Greek.
- 2) The Parthenon is its most famous temple, dedicated to the goddess Athena
- 3) It was built during the 5th century BCE, during Athens’ Golden Age
- 4) The Erechtheion features the famous Caryatids, sculpted female columns
- 5) It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987
The Roman Agora
- 1) Built in the 1st century BCE during Roman rule, funded by Julius Caesar and Augustus.
- 2) It served as the new commercial center of Athens, replacing the older Greek Agora.
- 3) The Gate of Athena Archegetis is its grand entrance, made of marble.
- 4) The site included shops, a marketplace, and public toilets (latrines).
- 5) It once housed the Tower of the Winds, an ancient weather station and water clock.
Ancient Agora of Athens
- 1) It was the heart of ancient Athenian life, used for politics, commerce, and gatherings.
- 2) Located northwest of the Acropolis, it dates back to the 6th century BCE.
- 3) The Stoa of Attalos, a restored colonnade, now houses the Agora Museum.
- 4) The Temple of Hephaestus is one of the best-preserved ancient temples in Greece.
- 5) Philosophers like Socrates and Plato walked and taught in the Agora.
- 1) Kerameikos was the ancient cemetery of Athens, used from the 12th century BCE.
- 2) It’s named after the potters’ quarter ("keramos" means pottery in Greek).
- 3) The site includes the Sacred Gate and Dipylon Gate, key entrances to ancient Athens.
- 4) Many beautiful funerary sculptures and monuments have been found here.
- 5) The Kerameikos Museum displays artifacts from the site, including grave markers and pottery.
Hadrian's Library
- 1) Built in 132 CE by Roman Emperor Hadrian to house books and serve as a cultural center.
- 2) It featured reading rooms, lecture halls, and a central courtyard with a pool.
- 3) The structure was made of luxurious materials like marble and adorned with columns.
- 4) It was damaged by invasions and later used as a church and housing in Byzantine times.
- 5) The impressive façade and some columns are still standing and can be visited today.
Panathenaic Stadium
- 1) It is the only stadium in the world made entirely of marble.
- 2) Originally built in the 4th century BCE for the Panathenaic Games.
- 3) Reconstructed in 1896 to host the first modern Olympic Games.
- 4) Known locally as Kallimarmaro, meaning "beautiful marble".
- 5) Today, it's used for ceremonial events and concerts, and is open to visitors.
Changing of the Guard in Athens
- 1) It takes place in front of the Hellenic Parliament at Syntagma Square.
- 2) The guards are called Evzones, part of the elite Presidential Guard.
- 3) They wear the traditional uniform, including the fustanella (pleated kilt) and tsarouchia (pom-pom shoes).
- 4) The main ceremonial change happens every Sunday at 11:00 AM with a full parade.
- 5) The Evzones stand motionless for an hour, changing with precision and slow movements.
Map
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