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Athens – What Else?

This is a series of blog entries from SkySurf.Travel’s first travel hiree, Romanna.

In the last article, I told you about the most touristic places in Athens. But there is more to see in the city and around!

The Panathenaic Stadium

It is one of the city’s most popular touristic attractions and one of Athen’s landmarks. Located on the site of an ancient stadium, is the Panathenaic Stadium; for many centuries the stadium hosted games in which nude male athletes competed in track events – athletics championships as we would call them today.

I have not entered the stadium. The ticket costs 5 euro, so I’ve decided not to go inside. There is also a small museum which shows previous Olympic torches, but if you are not interested in its history, it would be better to view it from the outside.

The Lycabettus Hill

Standing 277 meters above sea level, Lycabettus Hill is the highest point of Athens. A funicular or cliff railway can take you to the top of the hill. Lycabettus Hill is the best place to enjoy the sunset and see the lights of the Acropolis, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Panathenaic Stadium, and Ancient Agora. Reminded you will also be that Athens is surrounded by sea with spectacular views across the Aegean. The viewing platform in front of the Church provides sprawling views of Athens, stretching out to the city’s coastline.

The Church is a witness for the essence of the Hellenic culture, which has 360-degree views over all of Athens up to the Mediterranean sea; and the far mountains will carry you out to a completely different ambiance. The view is spectacular and is the highest point in Athens; it is worth the trip. In this magical place, I recommend you finish your acquaintance with Athens.

Athens new Cultural Center

Two years ago, in 2017 in the district of Kallithea, opened the new Greek National Opera and Library, situated in the south of Athens. Local guides never advise visiting this place. Maybe that is why there are almost no tourists.

These buildings are incredible! I came there twice – in the evening and during the day to enjoy the beauty of modern architecture in a different light. I think this place should be in the top-3 must-visit areas in Athens!

Besides the buildings, there is a park, garden, and a 400-meter sea-water canal, where you can sail, rent a kayak, or enjoy the coolness from water in the hot time.

The building projects are impressive – when you get to the top of the opera, you could look down – there are eight floors under you. And if you look to the left – there is a feeling you are on the same height as the city.

You remember, I told you all the books were taken from the national library in the city center? Now they are here!

Entrance to this place is free; you can quickly enter the library, get to the top of the opera, and have a coffee while enjoying the city view.

Food Market of Varvakios Agora

If you want to feel the soul of the city, you need to go to the market. Varvakios Agora is a great market where you can find meat and fish, see the real mood of locals and try some local food. There, some of the tavernas are open 24/7 where you can eat traditional food.

Weekend getaway to the mountains

After active sightseeing in the capital of Greece, my Couchsurfing host offered to move to the north of the mountains.

Highway Athens - Volos — Highway Athens – Volos

Our destination was Pelion mountain and its neighborhood. It took us 4 hours to get to the Volos city by a highway, and 1.5 more hours through narrow mountain serpentines.

If you are going to move by car, you need to be prepared to pay a fee for the toll road. There is no certain distance between payment points, and the amount is always different – from 1.20 euros to 4 euros. On our way, there were more than five payment points.

This region is popular during the winter because of skiing tracks. But in summer people are coming to enjoy the fresh air of mountains and to sunbathe in picturesque beaches.

Those days the weather was changeable, you can see it on the picture below – all the days I came to the same point over the Mylopotamos beach and took a picture. One day the sea was calm with amazing blue water, the next day there was a storm with huge waves, and on the third day calm again. Crazy nature!

Interesting fact, in this region there are tons of small villages. Some of them are touristic, and some are not. Every village has a small central square with an old platan tree.

All villages are different – smaller and bigger, with their style of buildings. But in all of them, there is an atmosphere of calmness. I enjoyed it so much!

Comparing to the prices in Athens, prices in this region are much lower. You could find local tavernas and try the most delicious traditional Greek food.

The average price for dinner to try 3-5 dishes is 15 euros per person. Usually, owners of tavernas are working there, and are happy to have a chat with you. I was surprised – every time they bring you complimentary wine, dessert, or fresh fruits.

To sum up, I want to say Greece is a unique country. Beautiful islands, stunning mountains, and noisy cities – such a contrast!

I am sure I will come back here more and more.

Hope you enjoyed it, it was my last article about the adventure of a lifetime!

With best wishes,

Romanna.

Previous post: What to See in Athens, Greece

Romanna’s trip to eight cities (five islands) in Europe cost a total of $815 (flights only). To build your own cheap multicity itinerary, visit SkySurf.Travel.

View more photos of Romanna’s European SkySurf.Travel adventure on Instagram

What to See in Athens, Greece

This is a series of blog entries from SkySurf.Travel’s first travel hiree, Romanna.

Welcome to Athens!

Today I will show you the essential places in the capital of Greece.

So, let’s start from the Syntagma square. The name Syntagma means Constitution. The square has a long history, and it seems that every major event in Greece was either mourned or celebrated here. It has held some of the most significant political pep-rallies ever seen on the planet.

Syntagma Square is back and better than ever. Well, maybe not better than ever. It was probably at its best in the early 1900s when no cars and buses were whizzing around it, and when towering trees shaded it. But with the re-routing of the traffic, the opening of the new metro, and the removal of the wooden billboard covered walls, Syntagma looks better then it has in many years. At the top of the square are two stairways and an elevator leading to the Syntagma Metro Station, one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world, with its museum of artifacts found at the construction site. There is also the Parliament Building, formerly the King’s Palace, built between 1836 and 1840 by King Otto and financed by his father Ludwig I of Bavaria.

Guarded by the elite soldiers Evzones, chosen for their height and strength, is the tomb of the unknown soldier and the Palace. They are like the guards at Buckingham Palace with the big furry hats and are treated the same way by tourists who come to take their pictures and see if they blink. Every so often they do a little march and dance to break the monotony of standing still all day. They occasionally do this small kick step with their slouchy shoes with the pom-poms. The pleated skirt, the foustanela, was worn by the Greek fighters of the 1821 revolution and today it serves as the official uniform of the Evzones. Otto established it as the formal court dress in the middle of the 19th century. At 6 pm, you can see the changing of the guard while dodging pigeons. If you have children, they will probably enjoy feeding them with the nuts sold there. On Sunday at 11 is a big ceremony for the changing of the guard with a marching band and a whole troop of Evzones. Syntagma Square is the most famous in Athens if not all of Greece. No matter where you have to go to Athens if you can find Syntagma Square, you can find your way.

National Library of Greece

The National Library of Greece is situated a 15-minute walk from the Syntagma square. The building itself is imposing and designed to mimic the ancient architecture. It is part of Hansen’s famous Athenian Neoclassical Trilogy of buildings that include the National University of Athens and the Academy of Athens.

It is a beautiful sight only spoiled by the view of dilapidated modern buildings across the street covered in graffiti. Established in 1888 was the library. Unfortunately, the historic building is no longer functioning as a library. Rendered from it were all the books. In the funds of this library were thousands of books in all languages of the world.

The Plaka district

We continue our acquaintance with the sights of Athens in the old Plaka district with the village of ruins and the view from Parthenon. The Plaka is the most previous section of Athens. Most of the streets have been closed to automobile traffic, though you should still keep a watchful eye for a speeding motorcycle or delivery truck. First of all, you need to get your bearings. The Plaka is under the Acropolis and stretches almost to Syntagma.

There are two main pedestrian streets which intersect at what is generally considered the center of the Plaka: Kydathineon and Adrianou. The Plaka is full of street musicians, flower sellers, photographers, and people who sell beads or will write your name on a grain of rice.

There is the Cine Paris in Plaka. The Cine Paris, the best outdoor movie theater in Athens. Of course, you haven’t come to Greece to go to the movies, but if you are not ready for a wild night out and want to sit back for entertainment, you are in for a treat. Almost all the movies are in English with Greek subtitles, and when you go inside, you will discover the theater is on the roof with a view of the Acropolis.

Whether you like hanging out watching people, shopping, eating, or wandering around, the Plaka is a great area to be in or near. From it, you can walk to all the desirable parts of central Athens.

If to say a few words about The Parthenon, dedicated by the Athenians to Athena Parthenos, the patron of their city, is the most magnificent creation of Athenian democracy at the height of its power. It is also the most elegant monument on the Acropolis in terms of both conception and execution, built between 447 and 438 BC. Conservation and restoration of the Parthenon took place in 1896-1900 and again in 1922-1933.

– Romanna

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Romanna’s trip to eight cities (five islands) in Europe cost a total of $815 (flights only). To build your own cheap multicity itinerary, visit SkySurf.Travel.

View more photos of Romanna’s European SkySurf.Travel adventure on Instagram

What to Expect from Athens, Greece

This is a series of blog entries from SkySurf.Travel’s first travel hiree, Romanna.

Athens is not just an ordinary capital; Classical Greece was born here, and the first prehistoric settlement arose here in the era of 3000 BC. Located in Central Greece, this famous city is on the plain of Attica, which is surrounded by the mountains of Parnihta, Egaleo, Pendeli, and Imito. The Gulf of the Aegean Sea washes the city. The climate in Athens is the Mediterranean, the summer here is hot and dry, the average temperature +25|+35 ° C, and the winter is relatively mild, windy +5|+15 ° C. Athens is a sunny city; it has about the 300 sunny days a year!

Restaurant terrace with sunlight - perfect place for dinner — Restaurant terrace with sunlight – perfect place for dinner

Athens includes the Old Town, central districts, suburbs and also the port of Piraeus. In this city, you can spend a month exploring in detail all the ancient monuments and ruins, charming neoclassical buildings in the historical center, and museums. If you decide to do this, please, keep in mind there are places, even in the very center of the city, where you will come in contact with street sellers. For example, it would be best if you avoid the Omonia quarter, filled with emigrants.

How to get to Athens?

Regional buses KTEL connect Athens with other cities of Greece. The bus park was recently renovated, which makes the journey pleasant and safe. Unlike other European countries, the Greek railway network has only two lanes of traffic. The first goes to the south to the Peloponnese, and the other one to the north, connecting Athens with Thessaloniki.

The port of Piraeus serves as a sea gate in Athens and serves many ferries. You can get to the port either by taxi or by subway, but then you will have a walk. There is a bus for cruise passengers from the terminal to the city.

I got to Athens by a ferry from Santorini, and it is an interesting story. My flight got postponed three times. And as it happened, I didn’t get to read the third e-mail. When I arrived at the airport and came to the check-in, I was told that I’m not flying this plane. So I had to buy a ticket for another flight 3 times more expensive or to buy a ferry ticket. I stayed in Santorini for one more night. By the way, my first ticket price was 43 $, but at the airport, I have been offered to buy a new one for 170 €. It turned out that many passengers fell for such kind of trick the same way as I did and that this is often practiced here by some airline companies. What I can add – just be careful with that.

Transport

A bicycle is always a good idea. There are more than 70 municipal bicycle rental points near the main attractions, underground stations, parks, and squares. The fee (5 €) is for the whole day of the rental. There is no hourly rate. You need to buy a plastic card in a kiosk, subway ticket office or cafe, and use it to unlock the rack to which the bicycle is fastened.

Also, you can catch a taxi at any given moment. Athenian yellow taxis take 1.20 € per landing and 0.60 € per km per day (at night – 1.20 €). The minimum fare is 3.10 €. When you are landing, it is essential to ensure that the driver activates the counter.

Public transport

The public transport system of Athens includes underground, trams, and buses. The underground works from 5:00 a.m. to midnight; this is a very convenient choice for travel. It has only three lines (it is impossible to get lost). Unchangeable travel fee – 1.40 €. There are fascinating museum stations that were uncovered during the construction of tracks. If to speak about trams, there are three tram lines which connect the center of Athens with the southern districts of the city.

The tram is more convenient for trips on the coast. Night buses are indispensable when returning from the “evil places” beyond midnight. Tickets for public transport valued at 1.40 € are valid for 90 minutes without restriction. There is also a 24 hour (4.50 €) and five days (9 €) pass. You can use them on all types of transport – buses, trolleybuses, underground and an EL. The exception is the route to the airport and the Express X80 line. They cost 4.50 €.

Car rental

Rental cars in Athens is popular and in demand, which is not surprising, given the fact of the low cost of this service. Economy class car in the capital of Greece will cost you only 25-30 EUR per day. And taking into account the Athenian parking lots, such cars will be more comfortable. Although the network of city parking lots is well developed, it is often difficult to find a place. Parking is paid by unique cards, which you can buy in kiosks, cafes, and shops.

Traffic in the city is intense. In the morning and evening rush hours, the whole center is in a traffic jam.

Where to stay

Athens is one of the most specific megacities of the world, and the place where you live may have a significant impact on the impressions you will leave with. The specificity of Athens is not only about the rich historical heritage. The city is divided into clusters, which are very strikingly different from each other. Prices for accommodation aren’t enormous. Even in the center of the city, you can find establishments offering a bed for 12 € per person. In hostels, rooms for 1-6 people are available. Of course, private apartments or a room in the hotel will be more expensive. Prices are different, and they start from 30 to 300|450 € per night. It depends on additional amenities. In Athens, my choice again fell on the Couchsurfing.

Want to know more about Athens?

Follow the blog updates!

– Romanna

Previous post: 10 Best Things to Do in Santorini, Greece

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Romanna’s trip to eight cities (five islands) in Europe cost a total of $815 (flights only). To build your own cheap multicity itinerary, visit SkySurf.Travel.

View more photos of Romanna’s European SkySurf.Travel adventure on Instagram