Athens, Greece - September 2025
- chrissihuf
- Oct 30, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 2
Brief History/Information
Athens, the largest city and the capital of Greece, is a vibrant city filled with history, culture, and excitement. It boasts a wealth of ancient ruins, colorful neighborhoods, and a lively atmosphere. This is usually the first stop in any Greece itinerary. The food is fantastic, the ruins are amazing and plentiful, and the crowds are seriously big! Make sure you have comfortable walking shoes and walking/hiking sticks because the walkways and streets are old, cobblestone, and uneven. In this guide, we will delve into the highlights of Athens, offering practical tips and local insights to maximize your visit.
Getting Around
Athens has an extensive public transportation network, including buses, trams, and a metro system. The metro is the fastest mode of transportation, with stations located near major attractions. Purchasing a multi-day pass for unlimited travel can save you time and money.
Cultural Etiquette
When visiting Athens, it’s good to respect local customs and traditions. In churches or monasteries, dress modestly, and be aware of any restrictions on photography. Take this trip as a sign to slow down! Service is slow... so slow down and enjoy; you have to ask for the check. Local places like Euros but will also take Mastercard and Visa, the American Express credit card is really only used in hotels.
Communicating in Athens
Although Greek is the official language, many Greeks, speak English very well. Learning a few phrases in Greek will enhance your visit, the locals will help you with pronunciation too.
What we did
Because taxis and Uber's were on strike, we took the subway to our hotel (Moxie Athens City). The subway was very easy to navigate. The Moxie Athens City is so very convenient to the subway as well as a quick 10 minute walk to Old Town (Acropolis). The best way to acclimate yourself to the time difference is to jump right in! After checking in, we walked to the Old Town to see what all the fuss of Athens is about. Well, this did not disappoint! Yes, it was crowded (September 2025) and hot but all manageable. Take some time to walk around and see what all the shops have to offer. Get a drink (Brettos Bar-oldest distillery in Athens) and a bite to eat (O Thanasis-amazing food and an amazing price). Then head back to hotel to get some rest.
Next day or two: Get up and attack Athens! This is where you can take your time and do all the sites. If time allows, make a reservation at a rooftop restaurant at night to get a great view of the Acropolis. We ate at MS Roof Garden, got there early to watch the sunset and the Acropolis light up, that was spectacular and made up for being jet-lagged and tired.
Places of Interest
The Acropolis (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Perched on a mountain cliff, this ancient citadel is home to several historic structures. The Parthenon, dedicated to the goddess Athena, is the most popular. This is where good walking/hiking shoes and sticks come in handy. I highly recommend getting a small group tour for the Acropolis, we went through Get Your Guide and had “Vasso” as our private guide, who is actually an archaeologist. Why get a tour guide?… tour guides know a lot more than you do, you don't have to fight the crowds to get in or read the signs, and they know the best places for the most beautiful pictures! Make reservations in advance to have dinner on a rooftop that overlooks the Acropolis for amazing night time views.
Plaka District
This is the heart of old town. It has charming streets and vibrant atmosphere it sits at the foot of the Acropolis, making it a perfect spot. Walking around without buying anything may be difficult for the shoppers, but it’s worth it… many shops sell the same items, so you can price things out.
Change of Guards
*Note: we ran out of time and did not have time to experience this.
Royal Palace of Athens that hosts the Parliament since 1934 and watch the famous changing of the presidential guards and the monument of the Unknown Soldier. Every hour on the hour, day and night. Walk up Vasilas Sofias Avenue to the edge of the National Gardens to watch the military parade. Arrive at Syntagma Square in front of the Parliament at least 30–40 minutes in advance
Walking Tour w/ Bar Crawl
BARS/RESTAURANTS/SITES
Stani amazing homemade yogurt for breakfast
The Clumsies we didn't make it here, but really wanted to go
7 Jokers we didn't make it here, but really wanted to go
Baba au rum we didn't make it here, but really wanted to go
O Thanasis the food was fantastic! Try the Saganaki (fried cheese) and anything else on the menu
Monastiraki this is the area where the Acropolis is
Temple of Hephaestus ruins
The Tavern of Psarras The oldest restaurant in Greece, operating since 1898, we didn't make it here, but really wanted to go
Erechtheion ruins
Herod Atticus Odeon ruins
Areopagus Hill ruins
Brettos Bar (oldest bar distillary in Athens)... they make their own Ouzo and Brandy
Panathenaic Stadium ruins
Jazz in Jazz we didn't make it here, but really wanted to go
Mount Lycabettus ruins
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