Athens ~ A Weekend in the Paradise of Gods

48 hours in Athens, Greece? Is it possible to see the city in only one weekend?

Yes, Weekend Traveler, it is!

I had learned all about Greece in high school history, and my mind has always had a picture of beaches, white buildings, and the Parthenon when I conjured up a view of Athens. Was my image of this old, old city correct? Would it actually be as amazing as I had always thought?

My friend and I decided to go see! We hopped on a Pegasus flight from Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul on a Friday afternoon, and by 20:00 that evening, we were wandering the streets of Athens, backpacks in tow.

Rudyard Kipling said that "The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it". Athens smells of the salty Mediterranean sea, cars pouring down the many streets, the floral fragrance from the many squares and parks, and yummy food being cooked at the restaurants and cafes that crowd the squares and pedestrian streets. My kind of city.

I was initially skeptical as to how much we would actually see of Athens in such a short time-span, deciding to focus on only a few things instead of chasing after an impossible list. In the end, we saw much more than I had expected, and also had the benefit of taking a relaxing pace, putting our faces to the sun, and feeling the sea breeze in our hair. Here is how we filled our 48 hours with the paradise of Athens.

1. On Friday night, after checking in to our Airbnb that sat high above a fruit market, we set off for the square by Monastiraki Metro Station and then, crossing it, headed into the Plaka. This area was full of shops, cafes, and artists displaying their homemade jewelry along the pedestrian-only streets. The area was alive and vibrant, and we excitedly walked the streets and gazed up at the lit Acropolis high above us.
2. On Saturday morning, the church bells woke us up (although my friend and I both thought the noise was the other person's cellphone alarm going off). We packed up our beach bags and headed to Syntagma Square, situated a short walk from Monastiraki Metro Station and directly in front of the Parliament Building, where we got onto the tram (1. 40 euro a ticket) and headed to the coast. We got off about 3 stops after reaching beach row, hung out on a pebble beach, wandered around the docks and stared at the beautiful boats and view, and then hung out at another free beach. We found a supermarket and grabbed snacks to keep us sustained for our active beach life (aka laying in the sun, occasional dips to cool off, and lots of reading). Unfortunately, we didn't apply enough sunscreen, and the Grecian sun left its mark on us. Reminder to apply, reapply, and reapply again! Sunscreen and water is a must in Athens.
3. After the beach, we went back to drop off our bags at our room and then headed to the Acropolis. Although we reached the Acropolis ticket booth at 18:30, and it closes at 20:00, we still decided to enter and pay the 20 euro ticket price. This was a great idea, as the sun was just right for great pictures and views from the Parthenon! Word of advice: Take a large water bottle with you to the Acropolis, as there are not any places to buy water. It gets pretty hot and dry up there in the sun!
4. After looking down from the Acropolis, we headed towards the old area above the Plaka, where the white-washed buildings and stairways were exactly what I always pictured of Greece. It was like stepping into a movie.
5. On Sunday, we wandered through the Athens Flea Market, which is right next to Monastiraki Square as well. Lots of laughs and pictures were to be had at the flea market, as we perused the numerous stalls. We saw everything from stacks of books and dvds, to old furniture and motor scooters and countless silver spoons.
6. After the Flea Market, we walked to the National Gardens, situated next to the Parliament Building. The gardens were a beautiful and shady place to wander and relax in the shade, and all the flowers smell wonderful. It was fun to take a break on a bench, chat, and watch the many children go running by as they explored the gardens with their families.

Another piece of transport advice: Look at taking the X-9# buses to and from the airport. They are cheaper than taking the train (about 5-6 euro versus 9-10 euro).

This trip to Athens, Greece was full of history, beauty, and relaxing views of the sea. Because of its close proximity to Istanbul, the rich history and the amazing beaches, I would have taken this trip long ago (and many times over) if I had known it was going to be so memorable.

Enjoy your trip to Athens, and comment below with your favorite aspects of the city!

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