Athens Tour | Wonder

Athens Tour | 3 Days Guide

Athens is such a wonderful place that surely deserves a thorough visit and at least a week to go to all the interesting places in the city. Nevertheless, many people go to Athens as a starting point in their voyage to the islands or to Greece's main land, having few days to enjoy it. This 3 Days Guide gives you some suggestions on the places you can't miss even if you don't have that much time. In the links you can find further information and tips on the specific place or attraction. Hope you'll find it useful!

On Day One, you will probably arrive around noon, and after check in your hotel you can go to Syntagma Square, watch the Evzoni guards and have a light meal on the square. From there to Monastiraki is a short walk and if you like antiques you can find really interesting stores. Just across the street you'll find the Ancient Agora and take your time to visit the temple and Museum. You can stay for dinner at Monastiraki where you can find lots of lovely restaurants with nice terraces and great atmosphere.

On Day 2 you start early and go to the Acropolis in the morning. Then you descend to Plaka and visit the neighborhood were you can make some shopping and have lunch. From there you cross the Arch of Hadrian and visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Just a short walk away you can find the National Gardens with all its beautiful trees and plants.

On Day 3, reserve the morning to visit the New Acropolis Museum with all its interesting exhibits  just before checking out and continue your voyage.

Athens Chronicles | Vintage Photos

The Swiss photographer Fred Boissonnas (1858 -1946) traveled all across Greece for about thirty years, extensively photographing the country and its people.

The vast collection left by the artist portrays a reality that is partially missing and constitutes an interesting document at various levels.

The admiration and affection he felt for this country are apparent on his compositions, especially those in which the human element is central.

All images in this post were found in this site where you can still find pictures of several other locations in Greece captured by Boissonnas lenses.

Athens Chronicles | The City of Hadrian

Coming from Plaka, we cross the Avenue Vasilissis Amalias, and find ourselves in front of the Arch of Hadrian. The Athenians built this arch in honor of the Emperor Hadrian (117-123 AD) that crossed it at the inauguration of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. This arch marks the separation between the ancient city of Athens and the new district of the city created by Hadrian.

Beyond the arch, we find the park where you can visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus, whose construction was completed by order of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, a great admirer of Hellenistic culture. Monumental and impressive, the temple dedicated to Zeus had 104 columns in Corinthian style with 17 meters of height and 2 meters in diameter. Of the 104 original columns, only 15 remain standing today, lying the 16th to the ground. It is still, however, an impressive site and a must-visit in the city of Athens.

Food Chronicles | GB Roof Garden Restaurant (Athens)

There are restaurants where we get delighted with the food (the Roof Garden is one of those) and there are restaurants where also the soul gets enchanted (in the Roof Garden this also happens!). The restaurant at the top of the Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens is one of those places that make you  want to come back, not only because of the gastronomic experience and the impeccable service, but also  due to the great ambience and breathtaking views.

In the three nights we stayed in Athens we had dinner on the Roof Garden and all the dishes chosen were delicious. The tender meats, the freshest fish and sea fruits, pasta and risotto cooked to perfection. The desserts were a delight and the recommended wines never disillusioned.

Now imagine such a positive experience with the city of Athens and, particularly, the Acropolis as a backdrop. It is, quite simply, breathtaking.

The menu, from Chef Asterios Koustoudis, has drawn inspiration from the Mediterranean cuisine that he reinterprets with a note of modernity, combining ingredients of the highest quality with the most rigorous technique. The proud presented dishes can be harmonized with a selection of wines (under the direction of sommelier Evangelos Psofidis) where the major wine regions of the world are represented. The wine list of the GB Roof Garden Restaurant earned the “Best Award of Excellence 2015” attributed  by the prestigious magazine Wine Spectator, award conquered for the past three years.

Notwithstanding all that has been said, the figures in the Menu are perfectly fair and even if you are not a guest at the Grande Bretagne, if you are visiting Athens  the Roof Garden is most certainly the place to go.

(All the photos above are courtesy of Hotel Grand Bretagne)


GB Roof Garden
at Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Str. Vasileos Georgia A, 1
Syntagma Square, Athens
105 64, Greece
Phone: +30 210 3330000

Athens Chronicles | The New Acropolis Museum

A visit to the Acropolis is only complete with a passage for this new, modern museum. Coming down from the Acropolis to Dionysiou  Aeropagitou Street, a beautiful avenue that is exclusively for pedestrians, linking the major archaeological sites on that side of town, you arrive quickly to the New Acropolis Museum which is just 300 meters from the Acropolis.

By itself, the building is impressive when seen from the outside. The interior architecture as well as the concept that underlies the entire exhibition make your visit a truly unforgettable experience. Made of glass and illuminated by natural light, the museum, opened in 2009, was built on top of ancient excavations, which are still visible to visitors through glass floors.

With over 14,000 square meters de exhibition space, its permanent collection features findings from excavations in the Acropolis and the surrounding areas, as well as statues and sculptures rescued from the original location and that at the Museum are in a protected location.

Particularly impressive is the way chosen  to expose the original Parthenon sculptures. Displayed  in several floors, in a structure with the actual size of the original building, the sculptures from the fries, metopes and pediments are exposed to the public. The parts that are exposed in other museums are here replaced by models made from the original to give an accurate picture of its original grandeur.

(All the photos are courtesy of the New Acropolis Museum)



It is certainly a place to visit and you must reserve 2-3 hours to be able to observe the entire exhibition calmly.

Opening Hours and Ticket Prices:
8am to 8pm from April to October (except Monday closing at 4pm)
9am to 5pm from November to March (except Friday, Saturday and Sunday closing at 8pm)
Last entry 30 minutes before closing

Adults € 5 / Children up to 5 years (not US) or up to 18 (US) free

Athens Chronicles | Plaka

Plaka is an old and typical Athenian neighborhood, built in the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis. Its labyrinthine streets, some in steps, the pastel colors and flowers in the windows give it charm while the numerous restaurants and terraces and the movement of people gives an animation that captivates the traveler.

Two main roads, lined with olive trees, cycle through this neighborhood and access to the main points of interest. Starting from Monastiraki by Apostolou Pavlo Street, one crosses Plaka to the entrance of the archaeological site of the Acropolis. From this entry we are in the Street Diousiou Aeropagitou, where we can find the New Acropolis Museum, that can be crossed  to Vasilissis Amalias Avenue, across from the Arch of Hadrian. In its various cross streets one can find small restaurants with nice terraces and live music.

In this charming neighborhood can be found archaeological sites (such as the well-known Tower of the Winds) near typical taverns, flower stalls and souvenir shops, food or crafts. In addition, the views of the Acropolis and the Parthenon are a constant.This is, also,  the favorite area of the Athenians for their night outings in the center of the city.

On the northeast side, lies the picturesque district of Anafiotika. The whitewashed houses, the winding streets, small yards, cats and  pots of basil and geraniums, lead us, in the blink of an eye, from the center of Athens to an island of the Cyclades.

Athens Chronicles | The Acropolis

Visible from most of the city, with its white marble monuments shining in the sun, the Acropolis is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world and one of the places to visit in Athens.

The Acropolis was inhabited by humans since the Neolithic until the end of the sixth century BC, when the Oracle of Delphos declared that this was the territory of the gods. After the destruction caused by the Persian invasions, Pericles established an ambitious reconstruction plan and transformed the Acropolis into a city of temples, designed by the best architects, built with the richer materials and adorned by the best sculptors and artists. The destruction and looting, as well as the ravages of time, have long reduced the splendor of the ancient Acropolis, but the restoration programs initiated several years ago still continue and many of the original sculptures were taken to the Acropolis Museum, being replaced by replicas.

We reached the Acropolis, coming from Monastiraki and crossing the Plaka district. If you want to visit other places you should check at the ticket office on the possibility of buying conjoint tickets that are more economical and are valid for several days. Needless to say, particularly for a visit in the summer, it is mandatory to wear comfortable shoes, light clothes, sunglasses and preferably a hat. And don’t forget the sun screen and a couple bottles of water.

The city view is truly breathtaking and the feeling of being in a place with so much history is disturbing. An additional visit to the fantastic New Acropolis Museum helps you to know the evolution of human occupation of the site and the buildings that existed there.

Opening Hours and Prices:
8am – 8pm April to October
8am – 5pm November to March
Last entry 30min before closing

Adults 12€ / Children free
Free admission first Sunday of the month from November to March.

The Wanderer's Gallery | Athens

Athens Chronicles | Ancient Agora

Heart of ancient Athens and center of public life of the Athenians during antiquity, the Ancient Agora is located northwest of the Acropolis on the base of the hill. The Agora was the administrative, judicial, commercial and city’s business center, it was also the place where stemmed theatrical performances and sporting events.

It is exciting to think that, wile strolling around its grounds, we step on the same ground that men like Socrates or Plato stepped. In that sense, this was one of the places visited that touched me the most. Most of the buildings are destroyed, but you can still see their bases. There are colossal statues and pieces of columns scattered over the ground, as well as olive and pine trees that allow you to rest quietly in the shade.

On one of the highest points of Agora we can find the temple of Hephaestus, god of fire and metal, that there was worshiped alongside the goddess Athena, guardian of the city. This temple is one of the best preserved and certainly deserves a visit.

On the opposite side, closer to Monastiraki, is the Stoa of Attalos, which houses the Museum of the Ancient Agora. The Stoa is a kind of covered walkway that was rebuilt in the last century and that allows us to understand the scale of the original buildings. The museum’s collection includes pieces of clay, bronze and glass, sculptures, coins, as well as Turkish and Byzantine pottery. Though small, the museum is interesting and well organized.

Opening Hours and Ticket Prices:
8:30 to 19:30 from April to October (except Mondays,when it opens at 11:00)
8:00 to 15:00 November to March
Last entry 30 minutes before closing

Adults 4 € / Children 2 €