While traveling on budget, you'd want to maximise your money's worth and if you're time-pressed, you'd want to do as much as you can at the shorter period of time. I was both - broke-ass college student on exchange, with 5 days off in the week to explore Greece. Wanting more time to be spent in Santorini, I dedicated 24hours for Athens and I got to see almost everything the city had to offer. It was pretty exhausting, but we're young and we've got energy but no money to spare. Read on to see what we did in 24h!
Getting around
Traveling Athens is extremely easy - all of the points of attractions that you'd want to see are located in a tidy circle that you can tour in literally a day. There are many ways to do it - from guided walking tour, to free and easy tourist bus pass. B and I prefer to walk - it saves money allows us to see the city and soak in the atmosphere.
- Acropolis
Probably Greek's most treasured remnant from the past, the Acropolis is an ancient citadel perched atop a rocky elevated hill in Athens. While the Acropolis houses the Parthenon, it also comprises the ruins of Propylaea and Erechtheum - also temples to Athena and Poseidon, and the Dionysian theatre.
2. Open-Air Cinema
We were done exploring the Acropolis at around 11.30 and passed by a quaint open-air cinema. For a small fee of €8, we can watch a newly released movie, or a classic for a more old-school vibe and experience, out in the open. You can bring your own food and drinks, and your dog too. Screenings are at night and as we were too tired to go back we had to give this a miss :<
3. Plaka
Undoubtedly my favourite place in Athens, Plaka is a breath of fresh air - a lovely change from the dusty mess that is Athens. Plaka is a pedestrian-only neighbourhood full of restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops and surprisingly houses an expensive residential area.
4. Temple of Zeus the Temple of Zeus, or more like "the surviving 15 out of the 200 pillars of the Temple of Zeus" is just across the road off Plaka.
5. Hadrian's Arch Built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian to separate the old and new Athens, this arch is right behind the Temple of Zeus.
6. The first Olympic Stadium
Just a few blocks from the Zeus Temple lies the birthplace of Olympic games. This was one of the places that imposed an entrance fee of €3 on students. I didn't enter and still could see the whole place clearly from outside. It's worth paying if you want a photo on the stand and have a feel of what it's like to be competing in a Greek Olympics Arena.
7. National Garden & Zappion
8. Parliament
We were very lucky to see how this city where democracy was born lives up to its name. At the parliament square we witnessed a group of people demonstrating for the independence of Biafra, apparently a secessionist country now part of Nigeria. Pretty cool stuff we don't get to see elsewhere.
We also unexpectedly got to see the changing of guard at the parliament square. It was quite a funny performance - the way the soldier walked was unique, unlike what I'm used to see back home.
9. Monasthiraki Market
We dropped by the quirkly Monasthiraki Market afterwards. My friends warned me that this market is pickpocket-infested - thankfully I didn't encounter any. All I found were quirkly shops, poseidon and a super yummy juice shop.
10. Athens Train Station
A city's public transport is a reflection of how well the city is run and managed. This was the train station at Monasthiraki.
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