The Travel Junky

Greece has been one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. It’s so rich with culture and history that the one week I spent there was unsatisfying to my soul. When planning your trip to Greece it would be wise to research the various places you may want to visit and then improvise when you’re there if you have to.

The city is bounded on three sides by Mt Hymettos, Mt Parnitha and Mt Pendeli. While inside Athens are twelve hills seven are prominent which include the Acropolis, Areopagus, Hill of Philopappus, Observatory Hill (Muses Hill), Pnyx, Lycabettus, Tourkovounia (Anchesmus), with the Acropolis being the most prominent. These hills provide a refuge from the noise and commotion of the crowded city streets, offering amazing views down to Saronic Gulf, Athens’ boundary with the Aegean Sea on its southern side.

Places to see:

Plaka
First stop on the list is the district of Plaka. It is the most popular and picturesque area of Athens, expanded to the North and East of the Acropolis. A colorful area, with the atmosphere of an island’s village in its old and narrow streets and alleys, it is ideal for pleasant walks at any time of day.

The district of Plaka is a gloriously exotic labyrinth of alleys, winding streets and stairs lined with 19th century neo-classical houses and mansions. This is the old working-class district of Athens but is now one of the most rewarding areas of the city for exploring. The district has been carefully and sensitively renovated and is now one of the most expensive areas to live.

Plaka district is almost completely walking zone and contains the famous flea market around Monastiraki Square, ancient sites and small museums of traditional and popular culture.
Most buildings of Plaka are old aristocratic residencies. During the 19th century the area attracted many affluent Athenian families, which left behind marvelous neoclassical mansions. Today, most of them are restored accommodating museums, restaurants or shops.

The area is ideal for an outdoor lunch or dinner, offering a plethora of traditional taverns and restaurants which will surely satisfy all those eager for the fine Mediterranean tastes of the Greek cuisine.

Furthermore, visitors of Plaka can enjoy special nights of authentic local entertainment thanks to live Greek folk or popular music groups performing at many of the restaurants.

The Acropolis
The word “Acropolis” means city by the edge, and there are many acropolises all over Greece. They were always situated on a high spot, and were often used as a place for shelter and defence against various enemies. The one in Athens is the best known of them all, and is therefore often referred to as “The Acropolis”. Towering over the capital, its is a very impressive sight, and walking around on its grounds, it gives the visitor a feeling of awe and a true sense of the greatness of the ancient Greeks.

Mykonos
This is the Ibiza of Greece. A beautiful island in the Cyclades, which looks just like the postcards: white little houses with flowers and blue windows and doors, hand painted streets, windmills, pigeon keepers, chimneys, lots of little churches and wonderful restaurants and cafes.

Many of the Greek “jetsetters” either have a house here or visit every summer, and the nightlife is very developed. You will see a lot of eccentrics especially at night time. Even though it is a party-island, it is not as loud as for example Ios and Kos, so you can get sleep at night.

Mykonos has a reputation for being a summer resort for mainly gay men, which is not entirely true. The gay audience is present, but it is also a glamorous place for the rich and famous, which is painfully clear to whoever has a look at the prices on the menus.

Parthenon
The Parthenon (a must see for people that want a cultured experience) is a temple of the Greek goddess Athena, built in the 5th century BC on the Athenian Acropolis. It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece, generally considered to be the culmination of the development of the Doric order. Its decorative sculptures are considered one of the high points of Greek art. The Parthenon is regarded as an enduring symbol of ancient Greece and of Athenian democracy, and is one of the world’s greatest cultural monuments. The Greek Ministry of Culture is currently carrying out a program of restoration and reconstruction

View Pictures after the jump!