Greek Island hopping

We were lucky enough to spend a day in Europe’s oldest capital city before our dreamy summer holiday Greek island hopping.  

Athens, a city full of culture and history and the birthplace of modern democracy, architecture and philosophy. We would highly recommend adding a night or two as a pre or post cruise stay to fully experience all that the city has to offer.

A short metro or taxi from Piraeus, the cruise port for Athens, you will find yourself in the heart of the city, here are our top things to see and do. 

The Acropolis 

It goes without saying that one of the best things to see in Athens is The Acropolis. A well-preserved ancient site that sits on top of one of the seven hills of Athens and includes sites such as the Theatre of Dionysus, Mars Hill, The Propylaea and the most famous The Parthenon. We bought our tickets with an accompanying guided tour but there are many different options available. It really was a wonder to see in person and by far my favourite thing we did in Athens, being immersed in the history was very special. Anyone visiting The Acropolis should be aware that it is busy, we went early and still had to join a long queue to get in, however it was 100% worth it.  

Try the local delicacies 

Athens also has some great food options from savoury to sweet. We did a three hour food tour which took us to the best local shops to try Gyros, Souvlaki, Spanakopita (spinach pie) and Loukoumades (a donut like desert coated in honey) and lots of incredible dishes from a real Greek Taverna. We were also able to try traditional Greek coffee made in a Briki and served unfiltered, we loved the coffee culture in Athens and enjoyed chatting with the locals for hours over a cup. There are many tours like this in the city and most will take you to the famous Athens Central Market and local shops and restaurants. They're a great way to learn more about the city from a local’s perspective and get the best recommendations to visit again. 

Rooftop bars 

After a busy day or sight seeing we were grateful to relax at a rooftop bar overlooking The Acropolis and the old town of Athens as the sun set on our day in the city. We relaxed and took in the beautiful view, allowing us to reflect on our incredible time before embarking on our cruise. There are many great rooftop bars in the city. We went to MS Roof Garden and really enjoyed ourselves. It's a great way to escape from the bustling city whilst still providing a friendly atmosphere.