Stay : One week in Athens and surrounding areas
After three full days to explore the ground floor of the Greek capital, it is time to enjoy the proximity of the sea and the mountains.
Summary of the stay
Best time to go
6 days
€€ - Charm and comfort
Detail of the stay : One week in Athens and surrounding areas - 6 days
Day 1: The Acropolis
Steps: Athènes
The discovery of the city begins, inevitably, with a visit to the Acropolis Rock in the early morning. Disembark directly at the foot of this sacred site when leaving the metro station Acropolis. You have to climb a little to get to the Parthenon, so it is better to be well equipped. The visit lasts about 2 hours, during which you will discover the Propylae, the Erechtheion and its Caryatids, the blue gate, the sanctuary of Zeus Polias, the temple of Athena Nikè... Adjoining to the rock, the Ancient Agora can be visited immediately, especially as it is included in the ticket. Leave this site by the door of Adrianou Street, where, along the railway that leads to Piraeus, the terraces of cafés and some taverns welcome you for a quick lunch. In the afternoon, then walk to the Keramikos cemetery, an open-air museum and the opportunity for a pleasant stroll. In the late afternoon, since you are in the area, take the opportunity to take a trip to Gazi, the trendy and nightlife district, around the Keramikos metro station. Enjoy a cocktail on the terrace, before sitting at one of the many restaurants that have opened in these alleys. Night falls quickly in Greece, and bars are quickly taken over by night birds. It's up to you to decide if you want to continue the evening or go home to bed!
CIMETIÈRE DU CÉRAMIQUE - KERAMIKOS / ERECHTHÉION / PARTHÉNON / PORTE BEULE / PROPYLÉES / SANCTUAIRE DE ZEUS POLIAS / TEMPLE D'ATHÉNA NIKÈ / ACROPOLE / ANCIENNE AGORA
Day 2: Balad, museums and taverns
Steps: Athènes
Continue your discovery of ancient Greece by starting your day with the ultra modern museum of the Acropolis. On three floors, beautifully assembled, this giant glass and steel giant leaves the natural luminosity indispensable for the development of exposed marble sculptures. At the foot of the musée museum, a whole village was discovered. From the Acropolis Museum you can easily access Hadrian's gate and Olympiéion, passing through Syngrou Avenue. Then follow the walk towards the marble stadium, which can quickly admire the architecture in the passage or that we honour a deeper visit. Then comes the time to immerse itself with the freshness of the National Garden and, why not, stop on a shady bench or the café of the park, which serves some mezzés. The nearby Zappéion deserves a look. Right next to the hotel, its chic coffee is also a pleasant break.
Next to the Irodou Attikou street to join Parliament, you may have the chance to attend the Presidential guard, which is perfectly orchestrated. His armed soldiers, in satin and pompoms shoes, are always fun to look, especially that they keep, whatever happens, serious impeccable. Take a look at the Presidential Palace on your left, often surrounded by journalists and photographers. At the end of the street, the Benaki Museum displays its rich collections to discover another part of the history of Athens and Greece. You are in the heart of Kolonaki, the city's chic district. Upscale shops and restaurants will occupy the rest of your afternoon.
In the evening, a walk in the old Plaka is an enchantment. In the upper part of the old town you will find a little isolated and charming taverns.
MUSÉE BENAKI / OLYMPIÉION / ACROPOLE / JARDIN NATIONAL / STADE DE MARBRE (KALLIMARMARO) / PORTE D'HADRIEN
Day 3: Archaeological Museum and Mount Lycabette
Steps: Athènes
Visit the large esplanade of the city's Archaeological Museum. The visit lasts about 2-3 hours, or even more, depending on the fervour you want to put into it. The collections of this museum are extremely rich. The ideal would even be to go through it in several stages, with a guide. At the end of the visit, head towards the Exarcheia district by bypassing the Polytechnio. In the district square, several terraces of cafés await you, unless you wish to have lunch and, in this case, we recommend the organic restaurant Giantes, hidden on rue Valtetsiou. From there, it is easy to reach Kolonaki on foot, in a maze of very pleasant streets, sometimes commercial, sometimes framed by lively bars and restaurants. From Dexameni Square, continue the ascent. The streets turn into stairs and are covered with wood and foliage. Mount Lycabette is nearby! From Aristippou Street, it is possible to use the cable car to climb to the top, but the ascent on foot, in the shade of the trees, is also very pleasant. Before reaching the viewpoint, you will pass in front of the theatre where many outdoor concerts take place in summer. The summit is crowned by a very pretty white chapel and a panoramic restaurant. The view is magnificent over the whole city, as far as Piraeus and some islands. Dinner in the calm of Kolonaki.
Day 4: The Greek Riviera
Steps: Athènes, Glyfada, Vouliagmeni
Direction Glyfada and Vouliagmeni, the Greek Riviera! Equipped with swimsuits and light beach gear, take a tram to Syntagma, or drive down Syngrou Avenue. Choose between the comfort of a private beach like Asteras in Glyfada, its deckchairs and its Balux bar or the freedom of a public beach, on which you can lay your towel wherever you want. Lunch in the shopping centre of Glyfada before visiting the turtle protection centre, to play a round of golf, near the old airport. In the evening, the coast gathers its beach bars for a cocktail by the water, and its trendy clubs.
Day 5: Cape Sounion
Steps: Sounion - Sounio, Côte Sud, Porto Rafti
Take the direction of the south coast again, towards Cape Sounio. After Lagonissi, the curves become tighter and the coast wilder. Magnificent views of the sea. Below, you will see a thousand small coves where you can always take a quick dip before reaching the temple of Sounio. The place is splendid and deserted, magnetic and full of life. Then, rather than retrace your steps, we suggest you continue along the coast towards the port of Lavrio. In the fish market square, you will taste excellent mezzes from the sea. Freshness of the products guaranteed. Then take a walk along the waterfront, where sailboats of all sizes and fishermen's boats are moored. You can then head to Markopoulo and Porto Rafti for an afternoon on the beach. Unless you prefer to visit the site of Vravonas, a little further up the east coast.
Day 6: Corinth and Acrocorinth
Steps: Vouliagmeni
Start your day early to reach the site of the Acrocorinth, west of Athens. From afar, you can see its imposing rock with its characteristic shape. The visit is a country walk, in the middle of a preserved site where each stone tells the story. Bring good walking shoes, even if you drive up to the entrance of the fortifications (which is preferable). The old town of Corinth at the foot of the site is a nice place to spend an hour and have lunch, for example, in one of the taverns of the central square. Once you have regained your strength, take the road back to Loutraki. Don't forget to cross the Isthmus of Corinth and stop for a few minutes. In Loutraki, the walk along the seafront allows you to take the temperature of the spa, which is very lively in summer and on weekends. Casinos for some, thalasso for others, or simply relaxing on the beach... you have plenty to keep you busy. At the end of the afternoon, when the sun's rays are just beginning to fade, take the cornice to the archeological site of Heraion and the lake of Vouliagmeni, where hot springs have been gushing out for thousands of years.
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