1. Like all the best cities in the world, Athens has  a museum district. 10 Quirky Things to Do in Athens . See the best of Athens like a true local. It's a real city, a living city, a characterful city. Know that most of the things to do … Yes, Athens is an impressive historic city, but you know what else it is? Greek mezze never tasted so good. Can Nostalgia Save Oregon’s Beloved Psychedelic Theme Park? Greek architect Ioannis Vikelas designed the building and it's a quiet and contemplative place to recharge from the exterior bustle of Athens. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Uncover hidden gems and unusual things to do in Athens, the home of democracy and modern heart of Greece. This being Greece, of course, it contains some ruins but it also offers great food and an open air cinema during the summer. There are so many unique activities in Athens. Skip the tourist traps & discover Athens’s hidden gems. Central Athens can feel chaotic. Venture beyond the Parthenon and the Plaka district and discover an Athens that is feisty, uncompromising and full of hidden surprises. Plus, another side that shows the houses stacked like staggered shoeboxes on the hills and the hubbub of city life in Greece. Athens may be the definition of a college town, but it's absolutely worth a visit for anyone -- student or not. See our ultimate guide to food in Athens and check out the philosophy tour of Athens: why do we pursue happiness? Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Although it’s not one of the best beaches in Greece, it’s still a great place to relax and enjoy the sea. Among the cool things to do in Athens at night is the Dinner In The Sky In Athens. Technically part of Plaka, Anafiotika feels like a different world and is easily one of the best hidden gems in Athens. I consider the center of Athens to be one of the coolest places in the world and today you’ll discover why; here are the top cool things to do in Athens to experience the Greek capital in an alternative, modern way that will make you feel cooler than a polar bear’s toenails! The museum is located in the heart of Downtown Athens, Alabama and hosts a vast collection of artefacts spanning eras from the Revolutionary War until the present day. Thank you for sharing and for giving more ideas. Private Trip: Immersive Art and Otherworldly Landscapes of Santa Fe, Culinary Naples: Producers, Purveyors, and Pizzaioli, Living Between Cultures: Storytelling With Justine Abigail Yu, A Lockpicking Practicum With Schuyler Towne, The Secret of Seattle's Disappearing Hill, Why an Alaskan Hospital Added Reindeer Pot Pie and Seal Soup to Its Menu, Meet the Rats That Wear Protective Poison Armor. As the oldest distillery in Athens, it comes stocked with all the homemade, mysterious flavours you should be afraid of. This glorious hotel drips in cream and gold and, as the name suggests, there's a rooftop terrace that overlooks the Acropolis. Put on a pair of comfortable shoes and head to the Varvakios Agora to experience the raucous splendour of Athens' major fresh food market. This ancient Greek place of assembly and marketplace is being revealed layer by layer below the modern Athens cityscape. The menu is creative, combining syringes of olive oil with leaf-wrapped minced langoustine. Check out the burgeoning wine bars in the area around Electra for a mix of hipster cool and cosy vibes. Psirri – in memory of Loukanikos. Wanderlog, a vacation and road trip planner. And how did they manage to … You can really, literally, find some hidden gems. Tucked up right beside the waterfront, this fresh and modern restaurant has the friendliest service of all the Michelin-starred places I've ever visited. What better way to take in the views of Athens than to dine above the city itself. Did you enjoy this article on hidden gems in Athens? Filthy infrastructure has long been a site of artistry and civic pride. The oldest cemetery of modern-day Athens blends the modern and ancient worlds. Cheers! If you are of the athletic type, there are several things you can try during your stay in the Greek capital. Quintessentially cool. So I definitely love to visit someday. They're driven by a passion for their city and for meeting other people. Definitely visit during the day – at night, you’ll miss most of the street art. Rock Climbing See how high you can take the fun with a rock climbing trip. It hails from the Greek Islands of Cyclades in the Aegean sea and the most striking feature involves the prehistoric figures and figurines, particularly of women. Find a little piece of the 11th century alive and well in the heart of Athens. But: trust us, if you pick the right spots in Athens, watching the sun go down while sipping on a beer is one of the most unique things to do in Athens, which is why many locals also consider it one of the best things to do on a date while the weather still permits it (and locals know! It's completely unique and utterly off the tourist path but without a guide, you'd easily miss it. When it comes to unusual things to do in Athens, it's hard to beat this unique and off the beaten path spot. I'd dismissed it as far too touristy but my local guide found spots that showed how wrong I was. 2000-year-old computer demonstrates remarkable engineering and astronomical precision. From thousands of years ago. Back in the day, Plato and Socrates would teach outdoors. The best things to do in Athens? Tagged: free, things to do, Athens, Greece, Family, Romantic, Friends, Holiday, archeological sites, Benaki Museum, Top Picks. And then I have watched a drama set in Greece, I fell in love with it more. One of the most popular Athens Greece things to do is to go to an open-air cinema and watch a movie with traditional Greek snacks in hand, homemade spoon sweets, gourmet Greek fish roe (avgotaraho), wine, and fiery tsipouro. 2020 Might Be a Year Best Looked at From Above, These Coded Wine Glasses Were Used for Treasonous Toasts, How a Blacksmith in Jordan Created His Own Sign Language, In Naples, Praying With Skulls Is an Ancient Tradition, Inside a Domed Pyramid With Astounding Acoustics and a History of Miracles, We Shouldn’t Have Been Surprised to Find a Sculpture of Hermes in a Sewer, The Makeshift Mosques of Athens Are About to Disappear. Clustered into the steep hills beside the Acropolis, it is almost impossible to describe to you how this area can be hidden and yet so close to the country's main attraction. The ancient city of Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Quite literally. The Nicholas P. Goulandris Foundation Museum of Cycladic Art houses ancient art in a modern setting. The 11 best things to do in Athens right now Heads up! If you only have a short weekend to take in the sights, make the most of it and these ideas will get you started. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in January. ). It also offers a magnificent floodlit view of the Acropolis... Sip your drink beneath the brightly coloured glass of Brettos in Plaka. Marking its territory with the first ever human civilization it is called as a cradle of western civilization and Birthplace of democracy. Please click below to consent to the use of this technology while browsing our site. They were only included if I thought you'd enjoyed them! Going to the beach is one of the lesser-known things to do in Athens as most people think you have to go to the islands to enjoy some beach time. After all, Daniel Day Lewis and Juliette Binoche have both dined on the Grand Balcon (though not together, as far as I know.). Fun & Games activities in Athens. In the vibrant capital of Greece, you can have the time of your life without costing you any extra money. Here are 7 Awesome Things to do in Athens, Greece 1. Now this is where the hidden gems of Athens can be found! Free Things to Do in Athens this Summer Date 07 February 2020. It's easy to access in Plaka and a beautiful hidden gem in Athens. If the clouds or cool rain have decided to move in, or if you're yearning for a break from traditional Greek tastes, check out the glittering lights and sushi selection at the Galaxy Bar, Hilton Athens. {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}, Be The Change: Steps to Take for a Better World, Hidden Gems and Unusual Things to do in Athens: The Cradle of Democracy. How do you do that? Discover military uniforms, weaponry and medals, and listen to quotes and stories from people who lived through it all. These crumbling columns are the tangible memory of a civilisation that gave us more than we can sometimes comprehend: the basis of democracy, the spirit of the Olympics and even the word alphabet itself. It is also eerily, spectacularly beautiful. More Things to do in Southeastern Ohio. Standing high above Athens for more than 2500 years and considered one of the greatest architectural wonders in the world, you cannot come to Greece and not visit the historical centre of Athens. Marietta, Ohio: a River Town Steeped in History. It's the well-heeled part of the city, a kind of Sloane Square with sunshine. Now, I can’t vouch for that, but do watch your belongings. Beyond the Ruins: Unusual Things To Do in Athens Though no visit to Athens would be complete without a visit to the city's ancient architecture, Athens has far more to offer than ruins|© zoroasto / Getty Images You’ve climbed Acropolis Hill, marvelled at the glory of the ancient Odeon of Herodes Atticus, and enjoyed that all-important gyros. Now, plenty of places in Athens overlook the Acropolis but this one lives right up close ... and it serves a delicious pomegranate sorbet! Hope you get to visit – and get to enjoy! eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'insidethetravellab_com-leader-3','ezslot_12',111,'0','0'])); If you bring your passport with you to the National Library, you can enter the reading room and, well, read! Plus, some of the best places for coffee - and later on wine. Great! Atlas Obscura and our trusted partners use technology such as cookies on our website to personalise ads, support social media features, and analyse our traffic. The Best Villas in Mykonos Town According to Experts Kinglike ConciergeScenic and Read more here... Hi, I'm Abi, a doctor turned writer who's worked with Lonely Planet, the BBC, UNESCO and more. 9+1 Unique Things to Do in Athens. It's a unique way to spend an evening and my hidden gem for this is dinner at the Electra Rooftop Garden Hotel. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. If you're looking for a really unique way to discover the hidden gems of Athens, then meet up with a local. Athens, Greece First Cemetery of Athens The oldest cemetery of modern-day Athens blends the modern and ancient worlds. Athens Institute for Contemporary Art, Athens, Georgia This masterpiece based its architecture on the Parthenon itself and uses a range of multimedia exhibits to bring the stones you see to life. A Gyro shop in the middle of the Acropolis rush will cost you about $3 for a nice budget lunch. Unique Lodging Options in Southeastern Ohio . Usually interested exhibitions run on a regular basis, music is jazz/soul, coffee's great, drinks are clean and cheap and you rarely meet tourists. Fun Things To Do in Athens. Particularly when you realise how many of them have fine cafes and restaurants cloistered away at the back... A tour with DiscoverGreekCulture.com provides access to museum exhibitseval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'insidethetravellab_com-leader-4','ezslot_17',110,'0','0'])); The Benaki Museum is something of an institution in Greece, taking its exhibits and its ethos to the airport and to the beach resorts of the south. Covered Bridges in Vinton County. © 2020 Atlas Obscura. 1: Stock up on icons where the priests go shopping. It's one of my favourite unusual things to do in Athens. Driving Experiences Give your walking shoes a break and jump on these great driving experiences on offer. Formerly the Royal Garden, it covers 38 acres and runs behind the Greek parliament. NEW excels at serving fresh, organic mediterranean cuisine and the sculptures made from recycled furniture make a nice twist for the eye. Check out the oh-so-peppery fresh virgin olive oil at the NEW Hotel Restaurant. Having a drink of this famous Greek liquor with friends is one of the most fun things to do in Athens. From ancient history to delicious lamb gyros, your local host will be able to show you all the exciting things to do in Athens. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. Pick up an audio guide to translate and immerse yourself in stories of power and pomp through different currencies. Take a Tour of UGA’s Historic North Campus We have reviews of the best places to see in Athens. It's a calm and beautiful spot, a world away from central Athens with only 20 minutes spent behind the wheel. Explore the ghost cities, abandoned industrial buildings, and mountain villages scattered throughout the rugged region of Peloponnese in search of a truer, more contradictory Greece. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). And, boy, do they know the places to go. Back in the day, Plato and Socrates would teach outdoors. But when the sun shines and the orange blossom flutters, then a stroll through the National Garden can revive the soul. This offal soup is a classic Greek hangover cure. Athens is home to one of the most famous sites in the world – the Acropolis. Ping pong your way along Vasilissis Sofias Avenue up to Syntagma Square and around to Panepistimiou Street and the holy trinity of learning: the University of Athens, the Academy and the National Library. Winner will be selected at random on 01/01/2021. Blissful. Find the best local sights, things to do & tours recommended by Athens locals. One of the most unusual things to do in Athens, is to head back to school. Cine Paris is also a great place where one can catch fascinating views of the Acropolis. If you don't plan to stay at the hotel, you can still head there on Sunday for a brunch with a view. When it comes to finding hidden gems in Athens, it's not a cliche. Right next to the massive cathedral of Athens is the Little Metropolis. See the unusual side of Athens with a local guide in Athens. Handmade arts and crafts with the artists still in situ. Stemming from the private fortune of the Benakis family, the museum also focuses on state-of-the-art restoration programmes and widespread education. But even the humble cherry tomato tastes better here than elsewhere. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in Athens, Georgia on Tripadvisor: See 3,224 traveler reviews and photos of Athens tourist attractions. touch the ruins of Plato's former academy. Well, programme This Is My Athens connects you with local  volunteers who help you to discover, well, anything you want! And students would often be in the nude. In your haste to see Athens' hidden gems, don't miss her unique classics: Yes, everyone goes there, but there's a good reason for that! Erm. The place is like nothing else in Athens. In particular, look for the Peloponnese road trip itinerary and guide to things to do in Kalamata. I almost don't want to tell you about it! The Zoumboulakis Galleries bring private collections of contemporary art to 21st century Greece in a cool and brilliantly white, airy gallery setting. This is the reason I decided to write down 5+1 cool things to do in Athens (hidden gems!) The Greek capital will soon open an official place of worship for the city's 200,000 Muslims. If you look closely, you can even recognized parts that don’t really belong there. The church from the 12th-century has been built with the marble of ancient temples, which makes it pretty unique. See. One of Athens' hidden gems is its seafront. 2. Start with our collection of beautiful and unusual things to do in Greece and then delve deeper into the Greek archives. beautiful and unusual things to do in Greece, The Surprising Thing You Need to Know About Philosophy in Athens, The Athens Food Guide: What You Need to Know About Where to Eat in Greece, Luxury Villas in Mykonos Town: A Greek Hot Spot. Head to Piraeus, and take your time strolling along the seafront, watching the waves kiss the shore and local children chase their shadows. Please log in again. If you go to Athens though, I do hope you’ll get to see a UGA football game. This still-functioning church from the byzantine era shimmers its gold through the gloom. Depending on your energy and enthusiasm, you may be able to fly around each of these museums by mid afternoon. Walk past hawkers and hampers filled with plump prawns, jostle between the crowd to buy fresh fish and hanging entrails, and then find some slow-paced solace amid the spice mountains outside.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'insidethetravellab_com-banner-1','ezslot_13',128,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'insidethetravellab_com-banner-1','ezslot_14',128,'0','1'])); I'm no stranger to a hotel with a view but the sixth floor at the St George Lycabettus somehow defies the laws of physics.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'insidethetravellab_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_6',129,'0','0'])); Pine so close you could touch it on the one side and a glimmering, shimmering Acropolis on the other. Head over here if you want to find out what it's all about and to touch the ruins of Plato's former academy. An ancient octagonal weather station named for the eight Greek gods of wind. Oh and Athens beyond Acropolis has so much to offer! My pleasure! 17 Quirky Things to do in Southeastern Ohio . Disclosure - some of these activities were hosted by the places mentioned, but not all were. It's often described as a multi-purpose cultural space, with themed exhibitions and events aiming to bring together a community of art lovers in Athens. You can walk to central Syntagma Square in 20-30 minutes depending on shoe speed and shoe comfort or, of course, ask the concierge for a taxi into town. This Greek dish maintains an old fisherman's tradition of preserving one's catch in bottles of seawater. Here's our inside guide to finding unusual things to do in Athens, based on advice from locals. Unlike other unusual Athens places, Metaxourgheio has a bit of a reputation for being seedy. This mystical orb covered in strange symbols is thought to have been used in ancient Greek magical rituals. If you feel you’ve been there, done that and are craving some unique things to do, we have some ideas. But I suppose it would carry a little more dignity to talk about the art first. Chances are, though, that it's best to limit yourself to one or two. To learn more or withdraw consent, please visit our cookie policy. But it does require a little effort to uncover the best it has to offer. Fast food. I know it must be exciting, I’ve heard all about it for years! A tour of the street art Street art is abundant in Athens and you don’t need to search hard to find interesting pieces. Lycabettus Hill is one of the highest points in Athens, within Kolonaki. Bookmark these unique and unusual things to do in Athens for your trip to Greece. Take your own towel and umbrella if you want one, as there are none available there. A sharp sculpture made of thousands of pieces of jagged glass. You can even visit Plato's former academy.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'insidethetravellab_com-box-4','ezslot_20',155,'0','0'])); Tasty and unusual things to do in Athens (involves finding stuffed vine leaves among other things!). From thousands of years ago. Granted, there are other aspects we may be glad the world has forgotten (like exercising naked in the gymnasium, I'd say) but still. Highly recommended. It's completely unique and utterly off the tourist path but without a guide, you'd easily miss it. Things to do in Athens (Top 25) Athens is an ancient city of the world and the capital city of the Greece, Europe. Numismatic Museum - the museum of coins! And finally, the view of the coast and the Saronic Islands. The Acropolis Museum also has a sun and shade soaked terrace that serves super strong Greek coffee, Throw yourself completely into the spirit of ancient Greece by following up the Acropolis with the dazzlingly modern Acropolis Museum. Sky in Athens hold some of these museums by mid afternoon cosy vibes Greek dish maintains an fisherman... Sloane Square with sunshine and a beautiful hidden gem in Athens drink beneath the brightly coloured glass Brettos... 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