Athens and the Attican Countryside, Greece - Journee Edition
Did you know Athens is a really cool city?! I had no idea 😂 It’s filled with history (obviously) but tons of cute trendy neighborhoods, restaurants and stores.
We booked a surprise trip with Journee and found out we were going to Athens! And honestly, If Journee didn’t send us there - I’m not sure if we would have ever visited. The Greek islands are all so beautiful that visiting a city never seemed appealing - however we was proven wrong. The city is filled with so much ancient history that is intertwined to present day trendy neighborhoods. The streets are filled with cute shops, tasty food and beautiful architecture. Athens is definitely a cheaper European city so I would highly suggest adding it onto your European travel list for a quick 4 day stop.
Here is a list of some of our favorite things about Athens. We only had 4 days so this is definitely not an exhaustive list. There are also plenty of museums to visit and even Hammam spas for some R&R.
First starting off with neighborhoods:
Koukaki - Cute up and coming. This was where our Airbnb was. Within walking distance to the Acropolis (15 minutes).
Plaka - next to the acropolis, old town cobble stone. More touristy shops but when you get further into the neighborhood you get cute modern trendy shops and restaurants.
Psyri - Trendy restaurants, shops, cafes. Tons of street art.
Monastiraki - Walkable shopping and cafe streets. Cute stores mixed with brand names like H&M and Zara.
Restaurants + Bars:
Ipitou the bar: Outdoor bar tucked on a cute street. Great local vibes and amazing drinks! They had non-alcoholic options and also gave the table free popcorn :)
Kiki de Gréce: We didn’t go to this wine bar but it was right next-door to Ipitou and was really cute.
Dirty Manh: Greek street food. AMAZING. Best pork gyro we had.
Lukumades: Fried dough balls covered in honey. I think they are a modern take on a greek dessert.
Moma Cafe @momarest (Andrianou 29): Cute spot on a walkable street. What I loved was their bathrooms were built above ancient ruins so they have a glass floor for you to see the artifacts that are below you.
Wild Souls: A store and restaurant dedicated to nut butters, honeys and jams. Loved the overall design and aesthetic of the brand.
Pink Flamingo: Dim Sum restaurant in a small little nook of a restaurant. I loved their udon noodles - wasn’t amazing but was good.
Birdman: - Japanese restaurant that we didn’t get to eat at but was very popular and looked delicious. Would recommend that over Pink Flamingo if you can get a table.
Tarantino Burgers: if you are craving a burger or veggie burger this spot is really fun and tasty
F by Φ cafe: cute shop cafe mix. Great for coffee or smoothies
The Ark: beach club down at the Athenian Riviera. More expensive but cute decor and was interesting to see the Athenian coast.
Shops:
September: Cute girly shop filled with clothing and accessories designed by Greek locals.
Ode to Socks: A brand that is more than just socks! Comfy sweatshirts, socks and accessories.
King Kong Vintage: Fun vintage store filled with tons of colorful 80s pieces.
💡 Did you know? It took 9 years to build the Acropolis and a further 8 years to decorate it. This was back in the 5th centruy BC. Historians estimate it would take over a 100 years to rebuild something like this today, and we have te advantage of technology. Amazing!
Things to do:
Tour of the Acropolis with @anda - The most wonderful tour guide. So knowledgeable and was able to answer all of our questions about the acropolis and Athens. You can book with Crispy Local.
Dinner at a Chef’s house - This was booked with Eat With. We had an amazing experience and it was such a fun way to meet locals and eat local!
Tour to Temple of Poseidon - We went with Ammon Express which was an amazing tour company that has eco-friendly and budget friendly standards that they share and practice. It was great to see how this company changed to better suit the environment.