Ash4Sej’s Greek Odyssey 2019
As our flight was early on a Friday morning from London Gatwick, we decided to stay the night before at an airport hotel. I’m glad we did, as it meant that we could start our holiday early and have a leisurely ten minute walk to the terminal (rather than rushing to the airport and getting stressed out like we usually do!) TIP: If you do stay the night at Gatwick airport, and love Indian food, then I highly recommend Jai Ho (263 Balcombe Rd) which is part of The Coppingham Arms - the food is delicious!
We stayed at the New Hotel, a modern, stylish boutique hotel located in the historic Plaka district. The hotel gets its name from the owners having dismantled all the fixtures and fittings from the hotel which previously occupied the site, and re-purposed and re-used every item somewhere in the building of the New Hotel. I thought that was genius. The hotel has a rooftop terrace bar and restaurant where you can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the city whilst sipping your favourite tipple. The Sunday brunch here is very popular too. TIP: If you are celebrating a special occasion and to stay somewhere unique, I would recommend staying in the penthouse suite which has direct views of the Acropolis from both beds (one inside and one outside on your private terrace!)
After checking in, we headed up the hill on which the Acropolis sits, to get a sense of the city from above. It was an easy 10-15 minute walk from our hotel and despite the 27C temperature, it was really worth seeing the city sprawled out in front of us with the Acropolis behind. In front of the Greek Parliament in Syntagma Square, a special army unit protects the Monument of the Unknown Soldier. We stumbled across the guard being changed, and it was undoubtedly one of the oddest, and most elaborate, military ceremonies we’ve ever witnessed!
Using public transport to get to, and around, Athens is very easy. The airport serving Athens is outside of the city itself. On landing, we simply hopped aboard the X95 - a public express bus which leaves from just outside Arrivals – and 50 minutes later were dropped off in Syntagma Square, in the city’s bustling centre. And all for just €6 each. During our four day city break, we actually got out of the city twice, to explore the Athenian Riviera and used public transportation on both occasions. First, we headed to Cape Sounion to see the Temple of Poseidon, and a couple of days later discovered the delightful suburb of Glyfada which has a blue flag beach by jumping on the A3.
The Temple of Poseidon is located on the southern-most-tip of the Attica peninsula along the Athenian Riviera, and dates back to 5th Century BC. This place is simply stunning not just for the ancient beauty of the temple itself, but the breath-taking 180 views of the Aegean Sea around it. TIP: I highly recommend visiting this place. Journey time from central Athens (Syntagma Square) is c. 1 hour by public transport one way. A round trip costs 8 euros by bus and entrance fees are 8 euros too. As well as incredible views of the Aegean Sea and the Temple of Poseidon, this most southerly point of mainland Greece is famed for its jaw-dropping sunsets. We couldn’t stay for sunset, but there is a lively cafe, the Naos Café, located just a couple of hundred metres from the Temple of Poseidon where we had lunch and a carafe of local wine. After our lovely lunch at the Naos Café, Ash and I perched ourselves with a coffee in hand and soaked up natural and ancient beauty that surrounded us. It was a beautiful day and not one which we wanted to end! In this shot you can see the Temple of Poseidon in the distance.
In Greece, Easter is celebrated a week after when we celebrate it in the UK as the country follow the Orthodox Christian tradition. On Saturday evening we saw families from all around coming together services at churches across the city carrying with them candles to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. This was really special to witness, and that night we even joined the service at the Church of Agioi Anargyroi Holy Metohi Panagiou Tafou at the top of the Plaka.
The Temple of Olympian Zeus, is a magnificent temple is the largest in Greece. Its construction began in the 6th century BC and was dedicated to Zeus, head of the Olympian gods. Originally the temple had 104 columns but only 14 remain today, but it’s still well worth a visit. Entrance to it is included if you buy the Acropolis (500m away) combo ticket. Another must is going to the top of Mount Lycabettus (277m), the highest point in Athens and the ideal spot if you are seeking panoramic views, looking for a romantic setting, or wanting to watch the sunset. There are multiple paths up to the summit, but whichever way you go up the views will not disappoint. At the top, there are a couple of eateries as well as the chapel of St George.
On our last day in Athens, we made it to the top of the Acropolis, where you will find the Parthenon, probably one of the most iconic sites in Greece. The temple was built 437 BC and dedicated to the Goddess Athena. Even with scaffolding, I was in complete awe of the temple and how nearly 2,500 later it is still standing. This was a befitting way to end our Greek Odyssey. TIP: The Acropolis Museum is definitely worth a visit. Holding many of the artefacts that were once housed in the Parthenon and surrounding buildings, it’s a treasure trove of antiquity.
For me, what made Athens a really great weekend break was that as well so much to explore in the city itself, there was also a lot to see and do along the Athenian Riviera - especially the pristine, beautiful Blue Flag beaches. Getting my feet wet in Glyfada at the Balux Café House Project (entry €5 per person) to enjoy the beach there, was well worth it! Glyfada is an upmarket suburb where you will find Athenians enjoying family time, great food, top tunes and stunning sunsets.
I look forward to coming back soon!