Dionysos Zonar's is across from the entrance to the Acropolis. You obviously pay for the view, but it was far less than we would have paid for a similar view, food and service in the US. This was the answer from the hotel concierge when I asked where to go for an impressive business lunch. His other suggestion was the restaurant on the top of Lycabettus Hill, which I'd actually been to in 2006 and liked. Both places get critiques about the view being better than the food, but I didn't find that to be the case. Strofi also has an awesome Parthenon view and great food - reserve in advance for the rooftop. Obviously there are a million and one other places to eat that are much cheaper and still delicious because Greek food just IS delicious (and the economic crisis has really lowered prices), but these would all be good for romantic, special dinners.
Other than the obvious - Acropolis, New Acropolis Museum, Temple of Zeus, Plaka - one activity you could look at is this hammam: hammam.gr/en/ I did it the day I arrived, and it felt SO good after that long flight to be pampered and massaged. Definitely something you could do alone on your first day!
A note on Varoulko: Do NOT walk there at night. We live in NYC and are not easily scared (walked down unlit alleys in Marrakech recently without any fear) but this was walk terrifying. Luckily the restaurant felt like a tranquil oasis with its rooftop tables overlooking the Acropolis.
We only had 2 days in Athens, which we thought was more than enough time to see the main sights.
Post by emilyinchile on Jan 28, 2014 11:17:59 GMT -5
Aww, don't be nervous! The good thing is that taxis are all flat-rate from the airport to the center of Athens (35 Euro as of last May), so there's no stress in trying to make sure you don't get scammed.
The Hilton is pretty nice and walkable to the Acropolis and other main touristy areas without being in the thick of things. I'm sure there are nicer/more boutique places even closer though. For this trip, I would choose a hotel where you won't mind just hanging out, if budget allows. I like Athens, but 6 days is really more than enough to see the sights, so you might end up wanting the option to spend more time in your room or in hotel common areas.
Post by lightbulbsun on Feb 3, 2014 16:05:19 GMT -5
I stayed in the Plaka area, by Monastiraki square, and it was super convenient to everything. I was told not to go north of there at night, though.
I loved everything I ate there, but I really enjoyed the frozen greek yogurt. It's available like soft serve and you can add toppings to it.
The outdoor attractions generally close around 3pm, so get out early for sightseeing. They started blowing whistles and shooing people out of ancient Agora around 2:40. Make sure you check what times/days the museums are open before you go.
There are also some cool beaches if you want to get away from the city center for a while. You can take the train (the subway is really good - they redid it a few years ago for the Olympics).