10 Brilliant Reasons Why Athens Deserves a Place on Your Travel List

Athens is one of those cities where it’s almost impossible to separate the past from the present.

Ancient temples rise above busy neighbourhoods, archaeological sites appear between cafés and shops, and rooftop bars look directly towards monuments that have stood for thousands of years. But Greece’s capital has far more to offer than its extraordinary history.

There’s a thriving food scene, colourful neighbourhoods, markets, museums, nightlife and, perhaps more surprisingly, a coastline of beaches and beach clubs within easy reach of the centre.

Whether you’re planning a weekend city break, adding a few days in Athens before travelling to the Greek islands or simply wondering whether the Greek capital deserves a place on your travel list, here are 10 reasons to visit Athens.

1. The Acropolis Really Is Extraordinary

There are some world-famous landmarks that somehow feel smaller or less impressive when you finally see them in person.

The Acropolis isn’t one of them.

Rising above Athens on its limestone hill, the ancient citadel dominates the city and provides an almost constant reminder of just how much history surrounds you.

Its most famous monument is, of course, the Parthenon. Constructed during the fifth century BCE and dedicated to the goddess Athena, it remains one of the defining symbols of Ancient Greece.

Walking up to the Acropolis also gives you increasingly impressive views across modern Athens, making the climb part of the experience.

Allow yourself time rather than treating it as somewhere to rush around simply because it’s on the sightseeing list.

2. History Is Everywhere

The Acropolis may command most of the attention, but Athens isn’t a city with one historic attraction.

The Ancient Agora was once at the centre of public life in ancient Athens, while the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Roman Agora and Panathenaic Stadium provide further glimpses into different periods of the city’s history.

Then there are the museums.

The Acropolis Museum is an obvious starting point, particularly if you’re visiting the archaeological site itself, while the National Archaeological Museum houses one of the world’s most significant collections of ancient Greek artefacts.

You could easily build an entire Athens break around its history alone.

Thankfully, you don’t have to.

3. You Can Lose Hours in Plaka

Sitting beneath the Acropolis, Plaka is one of the oldest and most atmospheric parts of Athens.

Its narrow streets wind between neoclassical buildings, little shops, restaurants and cafés, with flashes of bougainvillea bringing colour to seemingly every other corner.

Yes, it’s popular with visitors — but there’s a reason for that.

This is somewhere to explore slowly rather than simply walk through on the way to another attraction. Stop for coffee, wander the side streets and find somewhere for lunch without worrying too much about what’s next on the itinerary.

Nearby Anafiotika is particularly intriguing, with tiny whitewashed houses and lanes that feel more reminiscent of a Greek island than a European capital.

4. The Food Alone Is Worth the Journey

Greek food tastes particularly good when you’re eating it in Greece.

Athens gives you everything from simple neighbourhood tavernas to contemporary restaurants reworking traditional Greek ingredients and some seriously sophisticated fine dining.

Start with the classics: freshly made tzatziki, grilled meats, feta, stuffed vine leaves, aubergine, seafood and a proper Greek salad drenched in excellent olive oil.

Then keep exploring.

Athens’ modern restaurant scene extends far beyond the dishes most of us associate with a Greek holiday, with chefs making excellent use of the country’s seafood, vegetables, cheeses, herbs and olive oils.

And if you’ve only ever eaten supermarket tomatoes at home, a ripe Greek tomato might be something of a revelation.

5. Monastiraki Is Brilliant for Wandering

For a livelier side of the city, head towards Monastiraki.

The neighbourhood is packed with shops, street sellers, cafés and restaurants, with its famous flea market adding to the organised chaos.

It’s particularly good when you don’t have an itinerary.

Wander, browse, stop for something to eat and then wander some more.

You’ll also find plenty of reminders of the city’s past scattered among modern Athens, including the remains of Hadrian’s Library and the nearby Ancient Agora.

That’s one of the great pleasures of Athens: you can set off in search of lunch and accidentally encounter something that’s been standing for the best part of two millennia.

6. Athens Does Rooftop Bars Exceptionally Well

Few cities have a backdrop quite like this one.

Athens is packed with rooftop bars and restaurants, many positioned to take advantage of views towards the Acropolis.

Go around sunset and watch the colour of the city change as daylight fades. Stay after dark and the illuminated Parthenon becomes the focal point of the skyline.

It’s one of those experiences that sounds potentially touristy until you’re actually sitting there with a drink looking across at the Acropolis.

Then you understand why everybody does it.

7. Athens Has Beaches

This is the part that can surprise first-time visitors.

Athens isn’t simply a city-break destination. Head south from the centre and you reach the Athens Riviera, a stretch of coastline running through areas including Palaio Faliro, Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni.

Here you’ll find beaches, waterfront restaurants, marinas and beach clubs overlooking the Aegean.

That means you can spend the morning exploring ancient ruins and the afternoon beside the sea — something relatively few European capitals can offer.

It’s also particularly appealing if you’re staying in Athens for more than a couple of days and want a break from sightseeing.

8. The City Has a Completely Different Side After Dark

Athens doesn’t quietly shut down once the archaeological sites close.

Dinner tends to happen later than many British visitors are accustomed to, and neighbourhoods across the city stay lively well into the evening.

Psyrri is particularly popular for bars and restaurants, while areas such as Gazi offer a more nightlife-focused experience.

Alternatively, keep things simple: find a pavement table, order dinner and watch Athens carry on around you.

Warm evenings and a strong culture of eating and socialising outdoors mean there’s little pressure to rush anywhere.

9. It’s a Brilliant Starting Point for More of Greece

Athens works perfectly well as a standalone city break, but its location makes it an excellent beginning or end to a longer Greek holiday.

Piraeus provides ferry connections to numerous Greek islands, while domestic flights open up even more possibilities.

You don’t necessarily have to travel far, either.

Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon make a popular excursion from Athens, while nearby islands in the Saronic Gulf can offer an entirely different experience without requiring you to travel halfway across Greece.

If you’re joining a cruise from Piraeus, spending a night or two in Athens beforehand also turns a necessary journey into another part of the holiday.

10. Athens Gives You Several Holidays in One

This may ultimately be the best reason to visit Athens.

It’s simultaneously a historic city break, a food destination, a cultural escape and a potential beach holiday.

You can stand beside one of the world’s most important ancient monuments in the morning, eat grilled seafood for lunch, spend the afternoon beside the Aegean and be back in the city for cocktails overlooking the illuminated Acropolis that evening.

Few destinations combine those experiences quite so easily.

And despite the weight of its history, Athens doesn’t feel like a city preserved purely for visitors.

It’s busy, occasionally chaotic, contemporary and very much alive.

Where We Stayed: xenodocheio Milos

During Crave’s visit to Athens, writer Sandy Cadiz-Smith stayed at xenodocheio Milos, a five-star boutique hotel in central Athens overlooking the Old Parliament House.

Its location proved particularly useful for exploring the city on foot, with many of central Athens’ best-known neighbourhoods and attractions within easy reach.

Sandy stayed in an Executive City Room, which she found spacious and contemporary, with high ceilings, large windows, a marble bathroom and views towards the historic Old Parliament House.

The hotel is also home to estiatorio Milos, where seafood takes centre stage. During the stay, dinner included ceviche, anchovies, lobster, Greek salad, aubergine, greens, risotto and grilled fish prepared at the table.

After several hours exploring the Acropolis on foot, the hotel’s spa also provided a very welcome opportunity to recover before dinner.

For travellers looking for a luxury base in the heart of Athens, it offers the advantage of combining a central location with a high-end hotel and restaurant experience under one roof.

So, Is Athens Worth Visiting?

Absolutely — and it’s worth looking beyond the Acropolis when you go.

The ancient sites are extraordinary and deserve their reputation, but Athens becomes much more interesting when you give yourself enough time to experience the modern city surrounding them.

Wander through Plaka and Monastiraki. Eat extremely well. Find a rooftop for sunset. Spend an afternoon on the Athens Riviera. And, of course, climb up to the Acropolis and see the Parthenon at least once.

Athens has spent thousands of years evolving.

That’s precisely what makes it such a fascinating place to visit now.

Original Athens visit and hotel experience by Sandy Cadiz-Smith. This feature has subsequently been expanded and updated by Crave Magazine.

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