When you’re heading to the Greek Isles, you’re probably going to be flying through Athens first, so you might as well make the most of it! If you haven’t checked out my first post yet on how to start planning a trip to Greece, you can find that here. I recommend giving yourself at least 48 hours in Athens to recover from your jet lag, visit the Acropolis, and even take a day trip to a few of the smaller neighboring islands. Here’s what I suggest:

• Arrival to Athens: 
  • It will likely be afternoon or early evening by the time you arrive in Athens, especially if you’re flying from the US or anywhere else outside of Europe. Check into your hotel, like the Philippos Hotel Athens , that is centrally located in easy walking distance from the Acropolis, and start exploring! Wander through the Plaka, the oldest neighborhood in Athens, and enjoy some chicken souvlaki for dinner and maybe even some frozen Greek yogurt for dessert.
  • After this, you’ll probably be exhausted and ready for bed after a long day of travel. Rest up so you can get an early start for your day tomorrow!

    

• Day One: 
  • Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then get an early start to see the historic sights of Athens. It’s nice to do a guided tour that can show you around the Acropolis and point out details about the Parthenon that you wouldn’t have otherwise known.
  • After you hike up to the Acropolis and explore its stunning historical sights, visit the adjacent Acropolis Museum to see artifacts from the Greek Bronze Age through Byzantine Greece.
  • Since you’ll likely have only gotten a small taste of the Plaka on your first night here, wander through more of these cobblestone streets, discovering everything from handmade jewelry shops, to outdoor cafes, to archeological sites. You could spend days exploring here, and you’ll be sure to find a spot for dinner with great people-watching, one of my favorite things to do in a city.

• Day 2: On your second day in Athens, you’ll head out on a day-long cruise to the nearby islands of Hydra, Aegina, and Poros. This is a great way to see several of the smaller islands while relaxing on the sea and enjoying lovely views.
  • Your first stop is Hydra, a historic island that to this day does not allow cars or motorcycles.
  • • Do as the locals do and explore this small island by foot or even by donkey! Where else will you find donkeys and horses carrying bottled water and other supplies to cafes and restaurants?

• • Next, you’ll visit Poros, an island in the southern part of the Saronic Gulf.
  • • Make the most of the scenery here by climbing to the top of the clock tower hill to enjoy the lovely views.

• • Last but not least, you’ll visit Aegina, my favorite of these three small islands.
  • • Stroll along the port of Aegina, check out the adorable small shops and fruit stands here, and take in the seaside views. I loved sitting at an outdoor cafe and enjoying some cocktails while watching ships go in and out of the port. Pretty much perfection in my book!

I hope this 48-hour guide to Athens is helpful for you! I had heard that we shouldn’t spend any time at all here, but I wholeheartedly disagree and found that this city has so much to offer. Have you been to Greece yet, and if not, is it on your bucket list?