Christmas time is here at LAST! (ok, almost.) The characteristic Christmas decorations have already found their way to Athens' street lights and wait patiently to be lit up once more. Christmas trees are becoming more and more numerous behind closed windows and hot chocolates viennois take their rightful place on top of the crowded tables of the various street cafés. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Here are some tips on what to do in Athens to make it even more so!
Being in a foreign country can be pretty intimidating. Even if you have come prepared, you can find yourself unsure of what to do next and how to explore the city’s secrets. Especially at night, it can get even more challenging without the welcoming sun leading your way. That is where we come in. In this post, we will show you 5 things to do in Athens at night, in order for you to take back home, along with your overflowing suitcase and fashionable tan, the best of memories.
Brunch in Athens
Are you a brunch enthusiast? Do you live and breathe for just-the-perfect-insta-story of your stylish & delish eggs benedict or maple syrup pancakes? If the answer is yes, you came to the right city! Athens, like many other metropolises in the world, has succumbed to the brunch fever and is not likely to let go anytime soon! Whether you are looking for a typical brunch or something with a Greek influence in it, we have done the research for you! These are the 5 places to brunch in Athens at the moment.
Athens. An enigmatic European capital that somehow has all the attributes of genteel-by-comparison Paris and Rome and also a healthy dose of chaotic charm, which quite honestly, at times is redolent of Beirut. As a city break destination, Athens -in our bias opinion!- is perfect and yet sadly many visitors see only but a modicum of what she has to offer. In this post, we aim to give you a few pearls of wisdom with which to arm yourself with before visiting our beguiling city of Athens.
Temporarily situated outside of the city centre (due to the renovation and expansion work done to the permanent building) and somewhat tricky to locate, the National Glyptotheque and a selection of the National Gallery's masterpieces lie hidden for the curious and persistent to discover. In fact, few Athenians know that, albeit limited, the Glyptotheque selection boasts works done by Rodin, Magritte, Calatrava and our very own talented but tormented by psychological illness, Yannoulis Chalepas. Art lovers can immerse themselves in a time travel through Greek sculpture from the early 19th century up to today's postmodernism movement while viewing pieces of neoclassical work and those forms related to realism and abstract art.
The only bad news about visiting Athens is that time will fly but, to paraphrase a wiser soul, the good news is that you are the pilot. You could spend a lifetime and it wouldn’t be enough to discover all that Αθήνα has to offer but that’s no reason to despair if you’ve only 48 hrs in our plucky, charm ridden city. Yes of course, there is the ivory coloured, definitely-cannot-miss-it wonder that is the Acropolis to visit. However, that is certainly not all that you have time for. From colourful markets to quirky neighbourhoods, outstanding eateries and an eclectic nightlife scene, Athens is, as she ever was, a city of warmth, vibrancy and indefatigable character.
Nestled on the edge between the busy commercial area of Kallithea and the bay of Faliro, stands a cutting edge, architectural homage to the symbiotic connection between nature and man. It is a demonstration of vision and philanthropy gifted to the Athenian people by a man who used his wealth to enrich the lives of others. The Stavros Niarchos Centre is beloved by many of the city’s people and, whilst largely unknown by tourists, it is absolutely worth the time taken to visit. By day or night, it is a truly breath-taking experience. A testimony to what can be achieved when those enterprising men and women of a nation acknowledge the responsibilities of great wealth, it recognises that education and culture act as the imperative back bone of any advanced society.
The Acropolis Museum in Athens is a beautifully designed exhibition of Athens’ greatest archaeological finds, magnificently displayed at the foot of the Acropolis itself. It is certainly not to be missed. However, what many visitors do not get the chance to discover, are a good number of other museums in Athens, each with their own fascinating collections, often housed in architecturally opulent buildings. In our on-going quest to help you discover Athens like a local, here are 3 + 1 museums we believe are absolutely worth taking the time to explore.
