City break to Athens with Dutch Transavia
A short holiday in Athens is a great idea for a weekend city break! The capital of Greece offers us a combination of ancient history, beautiful weather and delicious cuisine. What more do we need to take a break from everyday life… nothing!!!
We will fly to the Greek capital from several European cities, mainly from Amsterdam (Schiphol), but also from other airports in the Netherlands and France. The flight time for the route Amsterdam – Athens is approximately 3,5 hours. In the summer season (June-September) flights are carried out daily. When it comes to tickets, it is worth following the promotions that often appear on the carrier’s website. Then we can find tickets at very attractive prices, especially outside the peak of the tourist season.
What to see in Athens during a short stay
Even during a short stay, we can see the most important attractions of Athens. Here is a suggestion of the most important places 😉
Day 1: Ancient Athens
Start your sightseeing tour of Athens with the city’s most famous monument, the Parthenon atop the top of the Acropolis! It is best to go there in the morning, until there are crowds and too hot 😉 A perfect complement will be a visit to the modern Acropolis Museum, where priceless finds from the excavations are presented, and an additional attraction is the glazed floor enabling observation of archeological excavations located directly under the building. Then it is worth going to Ancient Agora, which was once the political and commercial center of the city. Today, we can admire the well-preserved temple of Hephaestus and the reconstructed portico of Attalos, inside of which there is currently a museum presenting the daily life of ancient Athens.
Day 2: Contemporary Athens and local life
On the second day of our stay, it is worth visiting two charming districts: Plaka and Monastiraki, which are located at the foot of the Acropolis. Here we can walk through narrow streets, relax in atmospheric taverns or buy souvenirs. While in Monastiraki, you should definitely visit the famous market full of various local goods. Another important place on the map of Athens is Syntagma Square – the heart of the modern city, where there is an impressive Parliament building and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Every hour we can admire here a change of guard made by guards in traditional outfits. History lovers should not miss the National Archeological Museum, considered one of the most important archeological museums in the world, where priceless exhibits have been collected from all over Greece. If there is still time and strength 😉 it is worth going to Likavitos hill. It is the highest point in Athens, with a panoramic view of the entire city, the Acropolis and the Aegean Sea.
Day 3: Surroundings and recent shopping
On the last day, it is worth going to the historic port of Athens – Piraeus, from which ferries depart to the Greek islands. Here we can go for a walk along the charming Mikrolimano marina, where in cozy taverns we can taste delicious seafood straight from the Aegean Sea. At the end of the Athens adventure, the perfect choice will be a visit to the Psiri district – an artistic part of the city, where among the colorful murals we can drink a cup of delicious, strong, Greek coffee 🙂 It is an ideal place for the last purchases of souvenirs and a moment of relaxation before returning home.
Greek cuisine – what to eat?
Greek cuisine is one of the main reasons why it is worth visiting Athens. As for me, it is one of the best cuisines I had the opportunity to try! And what do you have to try? Surely souvlaki and gyros, the most popular Greek fast-food dishes with yogurt sauce with cucumber and garlic – Tzatziki are delicious!!! Another dish is, of course, Moussaka, i.e. a casserole made of aubergines, minced meat and beszamel, and Choriatiki – a traditional Greek salad made of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, olives and feta cheese. And for dessert we recommend Baklave!
And so rested, full of sensations and I think that we can board Transavia’s plane and return to our homes…..
