Athens – Controlled Chaos

Many cities can claim to be old, aging, but few can be said to be still walking the same streets as the ancients. And in many ways, as we walk to the streets of Athens, you really can feel the millions of feet that have trodden the same path…perhaps not on exactly the same piece of bitumen, but you know what I mean. There are so many things to see and do in Athens, that they simply cannot all be listed. But I am hoping to give a tasty selection which will entice any traveller to the home of the many gods of our modern day. The city itself can be bustling, so just remember to breathe and enjoy the sights.

The Acropolis

Listed in my book as one of the 3 million Wonders of the World, the Acropolis is astounding not just for its size, but for the view it gives onto the rest of Athens. You can also see the Gates of Zeus, to the east of the Acropolis, where in 2007, the first meeting occurred of the Followers of Zeus, for a thousand years. The religion or sect was banned in Greece when polytheism was outlawed. The climb to this great monument is not so tiring, but if you are doing it during summer, it would be best in the morning, as the sun can be quite crushing in Athens. The Acropolis is not just the Parthenon, which is the major building structure you see in all the photos. There are a range of garden type areas to walk through with various stone relics. Here you can wander the stones as if you were an ancient philosopher, decry Sophocles or have your epiphany like Archimedes, and proclaim ‘Eureka!’. However, as he was in the bath at the time, it may not be so wise…

Wonders of Ancient Greece - Acropolis and Parthenon

National Gardens of Athens

Located at the border of four popular suburbs of Athens, this jewel in the midst of the city is easy to find, and can lead you to a variety of locations once you are done.
The gardens are located at the edge of Plaka, Acropolis, Thission, Monastiraki, and Psiri. It was designed primarily by the wife of King Otto, Amalia, to complement the new palace. Intended to hold plants and trees from all over the world, it maintains a rainforest feel right in the middle of the city. The area includes two large duck ponds which accommodate a massive brood of Daffys, which can be quite aggressive about their feeding times. As you walk the paths, beware! As they seem to have found a haven, and will go for anyone who has even a whiff of breadcrumbs about them.

Changing of the guard and batteries in Athens

As you exit the gardens, there are various ways to go. One of the more interesting is to go out to Irodou Atikou street, and to the left are the Evzones – the group that guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Evzones are soldiers who previously have guarded the Royal Palace, who are chosen for their height and character. They were founded in 1824, and in 1863 became the elite force of Greece. They are also the soldiers who wear those little pompoms on their feel and the cute dress skirt kilts. They look too sweet to be soldiers.
If you like museums, stay on this street and you will come to Vassilias Sophias street where there is the Benaki Museum. Continuing up the hill you will hit Kokonaki Square. If you take a right on Vassilias Sophias street, the Byzantine Museum and the War Museum are right next to each other, which offer really old pieces from…surprising Byzantium era; and really quite scary war pieces from Greek campaigns.

The Metro

Now you should be warned, the Metro of Athens or Attica Metro, is not just a set of railway stations, it is a beautifully designed and wonderfully curated museum that just happens to house the city’s public transport inside it. This all began when the city was preparing for the Olympics of 2004. During the construction of two new rail lines, over 30, 000 artefacts were found on 70,000 square metres. The archaeologists initially worked in front of and then eventually alongside of excavators for a total of 6 years. They uncovered ancients streets, houses, workshops, cemeteries, kilns, aqueducts, drains, foundry pits and sewage tunnels, which allowed a new insight into ancient topography of the city. The stations which hold the majority of the relics discovered are Syntagma, Evangelismos, Academia and the University of Athens, where one can see skeletons, old pottery items, grave stones and even a 2,000 year old beehive! These stations are also fantastically designed, and a real treat as a change from many of the main city stations which are crowded with advertising and rushing hordes. So it is great if you can take the time to wander through these stations, rather than dash for the next train. It may have taken Athens a long time to get their metro going, but at least they got it right!

Monastiraki Flea Market

Sundays are awash with locals at Monastariki, which is a flea market located between Plaka and Syntagma stations. These markets are full of almost anything you could want and not need. From antiques to souvenirs, there is choice aplenty. However, to really get the feel of the area, it would be a good idea to stroll around the area of Psiri, which has a history of being part of the underworld back in the 19th century, and is now the home of a jumping nightlife after dark. Psiri was also the area Lord Byron lived in while in Athens, and where he wrote ‘Maid of Athens’ about Theresa Makris, a girl who lived next to his boarding house.

Don't leave Athens without trying a souflaki!

During the day, Psiri is an almost quiet semi-industrial area, however, after 6pm is when the tables and chairs come onto the footpath, and the lights come out. There are dozens of places to choose from for good and cheap meals, often accompanied by traditional guitarists, and a bit of a dance later on.

And just as a final note, while you are in the city, try to look up at the tops of the houses – many of them will appear unfinished. This, I am told, is due to the fact that if the building has no top floor, you don’t have to pay some taxes. Maybe this is true, but it will certainly give you a sense of Greek style! Don’t forget to sample all the feta you can, and the fabulous olive oil, I drool as I think of all the fantastic food there. So dig in, fill up, and enjoy what there is in one on my favourite cities!

-Kathleen McDowall

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Athens tours & things to do in Athens, from Athens walking tours to Athens sightseeing and dinner show. Or take a day trip from Athens on a cultural tour to Delphi or Olympia.