I can’t remember what their reasons were exactly but what I do recall is how emphatic everyone was in their opinion that it was not worth visiting. Something about the heat and the crowds, but whatever the reason we took their advice and went straight to Santorini after landing in Athens. And since then, I have always carried that negative view of Athens with me.
Our first stop before we boarded our ship was Athens. We were only there a short time (approx 30 hours) but I loved our time there and definitely could have stayed a couple more days. We put together a great itinerary; I would recommend everything we did. Save this in case you find yourself there either for a quick trip like ours or a longer stay.
Lastly, one of the best resources for Athens and Greece generally is the very enthusiastic, fun (& Greek!) editor of Town & Country (one of my favorite magazines), Stellene Volandes. She writes a lot about Greece in the magazine and on her Instagram account. She wrote A Snob’s Guide to Athens last summer which you should definitely check out if you’re planning a trip to Greece and plan on stopping in Athens – this is the only guide you’ll need as she covers everything!
STAY: Grande Hotel Bretagne – most incredible rooftop views and a beautiful spot for breakfast
EAT: The Old Tavern of Psaras (lunch) and Dionysos Zonars (this is truly not to be missed – it is a SPECTACULAR restaurant with the best nighttime view of the Acropolis)
DO: Private walking tour of the Acropolis and Athens by Bike tour of the city
SHOP: Head to Themis Z for beautiful clothes and tabletop
“I will speak instead of Athens, which took time for me to love but which I now approach with something close to worship.”
– Stellene Volandes, Editor-in-Chief, Town and Country Magazine
We checked into our hotel, Grande Hotel Bretagne, for one night before we boarded the ship
