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Planning first trip to Athens for 2023

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knicks_fan87

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My wife and I want to go to Greece for the first time. We were going to stick with the Athens area and use it for a home base. We both want to see a lot of the history things in the city and in the area, like the Parthenon.

We also might want to go to Marathon, maybe Delphi. Are any of these places within driving distance of Athens?

Also, we love the beach. Do you have any area beaches to recommend or maybe even a day excursion on a ferry that isn't too far from Athens?
 
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I think its great you are staying around the Athens area. Too often people try to cram so much into their trip, they don't get to experience the laid back lifestyle. A couple of suggestions:
Epidaurus - Ancient theater that is still in use today. Its within driving distance, but you might want to secure an airbnb nearby and enjoy a local beach.
Sounion - Ancient temple of Poseidon. Best known for its sunsets and worth the drive. On you way back, stop at Aperanto Galazio restaurant in Varkiza for a seafood dinner on the beach.
Beaches - The southern suburbs have some good beaches and can be accessed via tram or bus [Alimos, Glyfada, Voula]. As an alternative, you can take the ferry to Hydra and they there are numerous options to go to more secluded beaches via private boats.] Almost all beaches are organized with umbrellas and chairs available for rental.
Numismatic [Coin] Museum in Athens - Their courtyard is one of the best coffee places in Athens. Also on Thursday evenings they have live music for 5 euro per person. Check their facebook page, but its a great evening with a bottle of wine and some music.
Acropolis - Your first view of the Acropolis should be at night from a rooftop bar. When you visit, I would suggest hiring a personal guide. You'll get a lot more from the experience.

Most of all, take time to enjoy leisurely coffees, seaside walks, etc. Kalo Taxidi
 
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Sandyrigo said:
I think its great you are staying around the Athens area. Too often people try to cram so much into their trip, they don't get to experience the laid back lifestyle. A couple of suggestions:
Epidaurus - Ancient theater that is still in use today. Its within driving distance, but you might want to secure an airbnb nearby and enjoy a local beach.
Sounion - Ancient temple of Poseidon. Best known for its sunsets and worth the drive. On you way back, stop at Aperanto Galazio restaurant in Varkiza for a seafood dinner on the beach.
Beaches - The southern suburbs have some good beaches and can be accessed via tram or bus [Alimos, Glyfada, Voula]. As an alternative, you can take the ferry to Hydra and they there are numerous options to go to more secluded beaches via private boats.] Almost all beaches are organized with umbrellas and chairs available for rental.
Numismatic [Coin] Museum in Athens - Their courtyard is one of the best coffee places in Athens. Also on Thursday evenings they have live music for 5 euro per person. Check their facebook page, but its a great evening with a bottle of wine and some music.
Acropolis - Your first view of the Acropolis should be at night from a rooftop bar. When you visit, I would suggest hiring a personal guide. You'll get a lot more from the experience.

Most of all, take time to enjoy leisurely coffees, seaside walks, etc. Kalo Taxidi
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I have gotten the impression that people often try to do too much when they are in Greece. I have experienced the same feeling when I've taken other trips. Cruises with nonstop itineraries, planning a trip myself and trying to do too much - I want to feel refreshed when I vacation, and that I really got to know an area.

That being said, this is an excellent list. Thank you so much for weighing in! I have hard that the beaches near Athens are great and definitely worth visiting. I have some friends that visited Hydra, too, and said we should really make it a point to go, even if it is just for the day. I love the idea of gazing at the Acropolis from a rooftop bar! Do you have any to recommend?
 
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Some other things to do in Athens:

The Obvious:
Acropolis and its museum
National Archaeological Museum
Roman and Greek Agoras
A lazy walk around Filopapou hill for a great view of the Acropolis and also Socrates prison and Pnix (the birthplace of democracy) all for free

The not so obvious:
You MUST see a show at Odeon of Herodes Atticus - see my pics of some shows I have been to: Odeon Shows
Also, if you want to experience some alternative inner city suburbs in Athens try Gazi, Psyrri, Thiseio, Koukaki and Exarcheia.
Exarcheia is my favourite and I have written a mini guide to the places I like and visit regularly here: Exarcheia Guide
Some venues have closed down or have changed from when I wrote this so always check availability on Google Maps - eg Cats and Monsters is no longer around unfortunately.

Visit the islands. The ferries from Pireeas will take you to islands from 1/2hr to over 4hrs away but most common islands can be visited within 4hr ferry trip. The ferries these days are big and stable and not the drama they used to be.

Most of all, enjoy! Hopefully I will also be there in 2023.
 
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Everyone made some fantastic contributions! I am wondering if it might make sense for you to take a guided tour of some of the spots in the surrounded area that are further away, like Marathon. It might be an easy way to stay focused and if you have a knowledgeable guide you'll get more out of the experience.
 
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Greece is considered the cradle of Western civilization and is visited by tourists. I am so fond of Greek mythology that I wanted to visit it myself. Also attracted by the azure sea, golden beaches, white houses, and the scent of strong coffee and pine plants. Before leaving for my chosen strange, I went to https://www.beachluxuryvacations.com/30a-beach-houses-vacation-rentals, which provided me with such a beautiful house on the seashore that the view from his window mesmerized me. The unique atmosphere of Greece has created an unforgettable vacation that I want to repeat.
 
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knicks_fan87 said:
I have gotten the impression that people often try to do too much when they are in Greece. I have experienced the same feeling when I've taken other trips. Cruises with nonstop itineraries, planning a trip myself and trying to do too much - I want to feel refreshed when I vacation, and that I really got to know an area.

That being said, this is an excellent list. Thank you so much for weighing in! I have hard that the beaches near Athens are great and definitely worth visiting. I have some friends that visited Hydra, too, and said we should really make it a point to go, even if it is just for the day. I love the idea of gazing at the Acropolis from a rooftop bar! Do you have any to recommend?
Click to expand...
My favorite rooftop bar is the Grand Bretagne Hotel in Syntagma Square. It is a bit upper class and expensive, but the service is outstanding. For a more casual option, I would recommend the A for Athens Hotel, which is right next to Monastiraki Metro Station.

Enjoy!
 
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k_tsoukalas said:
Everyone made some fantastic contributions! I am wondering if it might make sense for you to take a guided tour of some of the spots in the surrounded area that are further away, like Marathon. It might be an easy way to stay focused and if you have a knowledgeable guide you'll get more out of the experience.
Click to expand...
I've done guided day tours of Epidaurus and Delphi, when I've entertained guests. They were actually great experiences and included lunch. Also, a nice option is a day cruise that includes Hydra, Poros and Aegina.
 
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I appreciate everyone's feedback - thank you so much. You've all given me a lot to think about.
 
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