Two days o
Two days of exploring Athens like this can save you nearly €100.
There's not much to do in Athens, but the itinerary is pretty straightforward. I've planned it for you. Ticket prices and routes for the main attractions are in Figure 2.
Day 1: Red Route, Day 2: Blue Route.
If you're really short on time, just do it on Day 1.
There are also plenty of souvenir shops along the way, so you can shop without wasting time.
There are actually only four key attractions:
❶ Acropolis: Be sure to buy tickets in advance and enter at your scheduled time.
❷ Acropolis Museum: It's recommended to buy tickets in advance and visit before the Acropolis.
❸ Panathenaic Stadium: Purchase tickets on-site.
❹ Sunset: 📍 Lycabettus Hill or 📍 Philopappos It's best to visit at least one of the hills.
The other attractions are really random, especially since most entrance fees are too expensive and not worth it.
◼️About the Acropolis🏛️
▪️Once inside the Acropolis, there are several key areas: the Theatre of Herodes Atticus, the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, the Parthenon, and the Theatre of Dionysus.
▪️But don't get hung up on the route; just follow the flow. It's like visiting the Gate of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the Hall of Martial Valor at the Forbidden City (which is roughly the same size), and then passing by the Imperial Gardens on your way out.
▪️It's recommended to enter about two hours before closing time. Only ruins remain on the hill, so you should mainly enjoy the exterior and use your imagination to create what you see in the museum.
◼️About the Acropolis Museum🏢
▪️It's recommended to enter before 10 AM. Visit it before visiting the Acropolis.
▪️You can scan the museum's guidebooks and watch some related films beforehand. The main idea is that these sculptures, stelae, columns, and so on were once placed in various buildings and locations on the Acropolis.
▪️For example, the Parthenon's pediment (the triangular area above the main entrance) features carvings depicting the birth of Athena on one side and the conflict between Athena and Poseidon on the other. The stories behind these carvings are quite fascinating.
◼️About the Stadium🏟️
▪️Built 2,500 years ago, it was also the site of the first and 2004 Athens Olympics. It's quite interesting, as detailed in the previous note.
▪️I recommend going for a run 🏃🏻; the 10 euro entrance fee is well worth it.
◼️About the Sunset🌅
▪️Philopappos Hill⛰️Philopappos Hill: You can walk down the hill from the Acropolis. You'll pass Socrates' prison on the way. Both are free.
▪️Lycabettus Hill: It's a bit far from the Acropolis. There's no entrance fee, but the cable car is 10 euros one way and 13 euros round trip. You can also walk up the hill, which takes about 20 minutes each way. There's a small platform at the top, so it can get crowded if there are a lot of people.
▪️If you have to choose between the two, I personally recommend the former. It's more cost-effective and less hassle-free, but if you have time, you can do both.
#athens #greece