“It takes a lifetime for someone to discover Greece, but it only takes an instant to fall in love with her.”
Henry Miller
Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, known also as Hellas, is a country located in Southeast Europe. Athens, the nation’s capital, is its largest city, followed by Thessaloniki.
Day 1: Acropolis:-
The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a rocky above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. During ancient times it was known also more properly as Cecropia, after the legendary serpent-man, Cecrops, the supposed first Athenian king. It is also declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Acropolis Museum: The Acropolis Museum is an archeological museum focused on the findings of the archeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built to house every artefact found on the rock and on the surrounding slopes, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. It is a 3 min walk from Theatre of Dionysus.
The Parthenon: It is a former temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the goddess Athena, whom the Athens considered their patron. Construction began in 447BC when the Athenian Empire was at the peak of its power. It was completed in 438BC, although decorations of the building continued till 432 BC.its decorative sculptures are considered some of the high points of Greek art.The Parthenon is regarded as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece, Athenian democracy and Western civilisation, and one of the world’s greatest cultural monuments.
The Erechtheum is an Ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens in Greece which was dedicated to both Athena & Poseidon.
Plaka: In the shadow of the Acropolis and it’s ancient temples, hillside Plaka has a village feel, with narrow cobblestone streets lined with tiny shops selling jewellery, clothes and local ceramics. Sidewalk cafes and family -run tavernas stay open until late, and Cine Paris shows classic movies al fresco. Nearby, the whitewashed homes of the Anafiotika neighbourhood give the small enclave a Greek island vibe.
Syntagma Square: It is the central square of Athens.The square is named after the Constitution that Otto ,the first King of Greece ,was obliged to grant after a popular and military uprising on 3rd September 1843. It is located in front of the 19th Century old Royale Palace , housing Greek Parliament since 1934.It is the most important square of modern Athens from both a historical and social point of view, at the heart of commercial activity and Greek politics.
Ancient Agora of Athens: The ancient Agora of Athens (also called the Classical Agora) is the best known example of an Ancient Greek agora, located to the northeast of the Acropolis and bounded by the hill of the Areopagus and on the west by the hill known as the Agoraios Kolonos, also called Market Hill.
Day 2: National Archaeological Museum and Cape Sounion:-
National Archaeological Museum, Athens : The National Archeological Museum in Athens houses some of the most important artefacts from a variety of archeological locations around Greece from prehistory to late antiquity. It is situated in the Exarcheia area in Central Athens between Epirus Street, Bouboulinas Street and Tositsas Street.
Cape Sounion: It is the promontory at the southernmost tip of the Attic peninsula, 8 kilometres south of the town of Lavrio and 70 kilometres southeast of Athens. Cape Sounion is noted for its Temple of Poseidon, one of the major monuments of the Golden Age of Athens. Its remains are perched on the headland, surrounded on three sides by the sea.
Day 3:- Archaeological Site of Olympia:-
Olympia is a small town in Elis on the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece, famous for the nearby archeological site of the same name, which was a major Panhellenic religious sanctuary of Ancient Greece, where the ancient Olympic Games were held Despite the name, it is nowhere near Mount Olympus in northern Greece, where the Twelve Olympians, the major deities of Ancient Greek religion, were believed to live. The Olympic Games were held every four years throughout Classical antiquity, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. Temple of Zeus survives only as stones on the ground. The site is a major tourist attraction, and has two museums, one devoted to the ancient and modern games.
Day 4: Meteora and Delphi:-
- Meteora: It is a rock formation in central Greece hosting one of the largest and most precipitously built complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries, second in importance only to Mount Athos. The six monasteries are built on immense natural pillars and hill like rounded boulders that dominate the local area. This place is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
- Delphi: It is formerly known as Pytho and is the ancient sanctuary that grew rich as seat of Pythia, the oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world. The ancient Greeks considered the centre of the world. The ancient Greeks considered the centre of the world to be in Delphi, marked by the stone monument known as the omphalos (navel). It is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in having had a great influence in the ancient world.
In short these places are the must visits when you visit this ancient city but as I always mention that exploring never knows any limits, just walk down through the streets and enter any place you which interests you the most.
You may enjoy contemporary Greek art or you may stroll Grand Promenade or you may take in an Amphitheater concerts or an open air movies. You may enjoy swimming too at Athens Riviera beaches if you have a rest day at your hand.
- Where to stay at Athens: There are so many boutique hotels as well as budget hotels so it depends upon the choice of the traveller where to stay. My suggestions are to stay near any of the metro stations which will help you to reach those place in a convenient way unless and until you have the conducted trips arranged by the respective hotels where you may stay.
- Gastronomical affair: Steeped in history and lapped by the Mediterranean Sea, Greece is home to some of the finest ingredients in the world. Sample them in a traditional Greek dish along with a glass of ouzo. So don’t leave Greece without trying….
- Taramasalata
- Olives & olive oil
- Dolmades
- Moussaka
- Grilled meat
- Fresh fish
- Courgette balls
- Feta & cheeses
- Honey & baklava
So, our next destination is to reach beautiful Santorini…
Day 5: Santorini:-
- Ferries depart from the Piraeus ferry port located 20 minutes by train outside of Central Athens, and arrive in Santorini at the Athinios ferry port, 15 minutes from the town of Fira. The best ferry between Athens and Santorini is the Blue Star. It’s the most stable comfortable ride but it takes almost 8 hrs.
- Another way of transport is to search for direct flight from Athens to Santorini. It will take 45 minutes to reach there. I think the second one is more convenient to reach quickly and easily to spend more time at the beautiful island in spite of spending or wasting too much time on the sea by ferry service.
Now we reached Santorini which is one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. The whitewashed, cubiform houses of its 2 principle towns, Fira and Oia, cling to cliffs above an underwater caldera. They overlook the sea, small islands to the west and beaches up of black, red and white lava pebbles.
- Where to stay there: There are almost 1,400,000 hotels could be booked by online reservations. Here is also many boutique hotels and guest houses….the choices are individualised. All these places are looking as beautiful as heaven.
Places to visit there at one day conducted trip and this is the best way to explore such beautiful island. Explore Santorini on a full day sightseeing tour by bus. Learn about the island’s history and visit traditional villages. Stop at volcanic beaches and experience an Oia Sunset.
- Akrotiri excavation site: Guided tour in this Minoan Bronze Age settlement buried by volcanic ash in the 17th century BC.
- Emporio village: Explore this quaint village with hilltop windmills, fortified medieval castles and centuries-old churches.
- Perissa Beach: Enjoy free time for lunch and a swim at the island’s most popular black sand beach. Apart from Iceland you can enjoy black sand beach here.
- Santorini Winery: Tour a traditional winery and taste Santorini’s distinctive wines.
- Profitis Ilias: Visit the island’s highest peak admire views from the agricultural plains to the hilltop village of Oia.
- Oia sunset: Enjoy free time to experience sunset at the most -photographed place in Greece.
You may also enjoy Santorini island Bus tour and Caldera Sunset Cruise which will take almost 12 hours.
Hope, this will help you to explore such beautiful places. So, keep exploring, keep travelling!
