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Day One in Athens: Acropolis, Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion, Anafiotika, Plaka, Greek Folk Art Museum, Kolonak, and the Panathenaic Stadium

Home » Greece » Athens: Vacations--A One to Three Day Itinerary » Day One in Athens: Acropolis, Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion, Anafiotika, Plaka, Greek Folk Art Museum, Kolonak, and the Panathenaic Stadium

Spend your morning taking a tour of the Acropolis, Athens’ most remarkable legacy and the city’s most recognizable landmark. The Acropolis stands proudly on the ‘Sacred Rock’ of Athens. Take in the Parthenon, the most important monument on the Acropolis, sitting high on the hill above the city of Athens. The Parthenon was built between 447 B.C. and 438 B.C. for Athens’ patron goddess, Athena Parthenos. With its perfectly constructed pillars, the Parthenon remains a sight to behold. Other places of interest on the Acropolis include the Temple of Athena Nike, the earliest Ionic building on the Acropolis. This small temple of the Greeks’ goddess of victory displays gatherings of the gods and Greek battles against the Barbarians and the Boeotians. The Erechtheion is also a focal point of interest on the Acropolis. The Erechtheion is the second largest temple on the Acropolis and is distinctive in its structure with its renowned Porch of the Caraytis. The best time to tour the Acropolis is in the morning as there are less crowds as well as the weather is milder and not as hot.

In the afternoon, visit the Acropolis Museum to observe various sculptures and artifacts recovered on the site. Continue through Anafiotika, the closest thing one will come across to an island village on the mainland, and the Plaka, with its neoclassical houses. The Plaka, found at the base of the hill topped by the Acropolis, is an energetic neighborhood with many street vendors, restaurants, and shops selling traditional Greek commodities. It is comparable to many other ancient towns in Europe with its web of narrow, labyrinthine streets. Spend time in these popular neighborhoods exploring the chic boutiques and grab lunch at one of the great restaurants. The Vizantino is a popular choice with both tourists and locals alike. The area still maintains its charm despite its somewhat commercialization. Make sure you visit the Greek Folk Art Museum while in the area.

Enjoy a late afternoon snack in Kolonak, the exclusive shopping district in modern Athens, as you enjoy an ouzo on the slopes of Mt. Lycabettus at Prasini Tenta. Here you will find a picturesque view of the Acropolis and the sea. Stay until evening for a spectacular sunset.

In the evening dine in a local taverna near the Panathenaic Stadium, which is lighted at night. The Stadium is where the first Olympics of the modern era took place in 1896 and was used for the 2004 Olympic Games.

Next Page: Day Two: Agora, Hephaistion, Monastiraki, Temple of the Olympian Zeus, Syntagma Square, and Piraeus

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