Athens, Greece: Worth Visiting? Absolutely. But One Day Was Plenty for Me.

When most people think of Greece, they picture whitewashed buildings, blue domes, crystal-clear water, and island hopping through paradise.

Athens?

Athens is a city.

A big, busy, crowded European city that just happens to have some of the most important ancient ruins in the world sitting right in the middle of it.

I recently spent about 10 hours exploring Athens with two of my girlfriends, and while I'm glad I went, I'll be honest, I wouldn't spend my entire Greek vacation there.

The Acropolis & Parthenon: Incredible...and Incredibly Crowded

Let's start with the highlight.

The Acropolis and the Parthenon are absolutely worth seeing.

Standing there looking at a structure that was built more than 2,000 years ago is pretty mind-blowing. It's one of those places that you've seen in books, movies, and history classes your entire life, and then suddenly you're standing right in front of it.

The views overlooking Athens are spectacular, and the engineering achievement alone is fascinating.

That said...

The crowds are INSANE.

If you don't time your visit carefully, prepare yourself for what feels like thousands of people all trying to enter at the exact same moment. There was plenty of pushing, shoving, waiting, and crowd congestion. It wasn't exactly the peaceful historical experience I had imagined.

(You can see the crowd situation in the video I posted on IG @thebossladyinvestor or TikTok @middleagedadventurechick.)

Once you get inside, though, it is absolutely worth it.

Wear Tennis Shoes. Seriously.

The walk up to the Acropolis is moderate.

Translation?

It's kind of hard.

The pathways are uneven, there is some incline, and you'll definitely be doing more walking than you expect. Bring water, wear comfortable tennis shoes, and don't underestimate the heat.

Sunscreen is a must.

A hat is also a very good idea. I wore a wide-brimmed hat I picked up in Paris a few years ago, and it was perfect for keeping the sun off my face while exploring.

If you're a major history enthusiast, or if someone in your group has mobility concerns, you may want to consider hiring a private guide. They'll provide transportation assistance, historical context, and help make the experience easier to navigate.

For our group, it wasn't necessary. We were three relatively fit women who were perfectly happy exploring on our own.

You can pre-purchase tickets here to skip the entry gate line (and to avoid trying to get a QR code to work that has it's own issues): Acropolis Tickets

The Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Is a Great Value

Since we only had one day in Athens, we wanted an easy way to see as much as possible.

We purchased tickets for the Hop-On Hop-Off bus for approximately €28 per person.

It gave us the flexibility to explore at our own pace and jump off whenever something looked interesting.

The entrance fee for the Acropolis itself was an additional €30 per person, so be sure to factor that into your budget.

Overall, I thought the bus was well worth the money.

Pre-purchase Hop-On Hop-Off bus tickets

The Temple of Zeus

Another major stop for many visiting Athens is the Temple of Zeus.

It's cool....but far less impressive than I anticipated.

It's historic.

But it's also heavily damaged. While you have to give credit to a culture preserving something for over 2500 YEARS...crazy...don't get too pumped for this one.

You can absolutely appreciate its significance, but don't plan on spending a huge amount of time there. Compared to the Acropolis, it's more of a quick stop than a main attraction.

Skip the Tourist Traps and Wander

One thing I noticed quickly was that many of the restaurants and cafés in the busiest tourist districts felt exactly that-touristy.

Lots of people.Lots of menus with photos.Lots of sales pitches.

Instead, we wandered down some of the side streets.

And honestly?

That ended up being my favorite part of Athens.

The narrow roads were everything you picture when you imagine Europe-charming, winding pathways, adorable little buildings, colorful flowers, hidden courtyards, and lots and lots of stairs.

We eventually stumbled upon a local restaurant tucked away from the crowds where we enjoyed one of our favorite meals of the trip.

A Greek Lunch Worth Remembering

After hours of walking, we settled into a shaded table and ordered a bottle of Greek rosé.

Dry.

Crisp.

Delicious.

Exactly what we needed.

We spent the afternoon people-watching and sharing plate after plate of traditional Greek appetizers.

Fresh bread with olive oil.

Tzatziki.

Pimiento cheese spread.

Babaganoush.

Everything was fresh, flavorful, and surprisingly affordable.

For me, this was Athens at its best.

Not fighting crowds.

Not rushing from monument to monument.

Just slowing down, enjoying local food, sipping wine, and watching everyday life unfold around us.

The restaurant name is written in Greek letters, English translation is Thespis (don't look for those letters though). You can find the menu and directions here: https://thespis.gr.

A Few Things to Know Before You Go

• There are cats everywhere.

• Wear good walking shoes.

• Bring water.

• Use sunscreen.

• Pack a hat.

• Expect crowds in the shopping districts.

• If multiple cruise ships are in port, the crowds increase significantly.

• There are some surprisingly good shopping deals if you're willing to browse.

  
  

Final Thoughts

Would I recommend Athens?

Absolutely.

It's one of those places that every traveler should experience at least once.

But for me, Athens is a one-to two-day destination, not a week-long vacation.

Unless you're a serious history buff who wants to spend days exploring museums, archaeological sites, and monuments, a day or two is probably enough.

Personally, I enjoyed people-watching, wandering the side streets, and finding authentic local food more than I enjoyed standing in line at the major attractions.

My advice?

Visit Athens.

See the Acropolis.

Marvel at the Parthenon.

Enjoy a glass of Greek wine.

Then spend the rest of your Greece adventure exploring the coastline and islands that make the country famous.

Trust me, you won't regret it.

To learn more about how I afford this fabulous life and get to travel the world, check out my books Becoming a Boss Lady Investor and Becoming a Boss Lady Real Estate Investor here on Amazon: Boss Lady Books