Best Spots in Athens for The Unhurried Travellers
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For a relaxed pace
From the classic Erechtheion and Kalamakia O Elvis, to lesser-known spots worth adding to your trip.
★ 4.8 · 2,454 reviews
Stop at the Erechtheion, the most unusual temple on the Acropolis. Look closely at the six Caryatids holding up its porch and the uneven design that sets it apart from the Parthenon.
★ 4.6 · 4,320 reviews
Join the queue at Kalamakia O Elvis, the open-grill souvlaki stop near Monastiraki Square. Grab skewers of smoky lamb or pork and eat them on a stool among the crowd.
★ 4.7 · 40,936 reviews
Wander the Ancient Agora, where Athenians once traded, debated and voted. Stroll among the ruins, admire the Temple of Hephaestus and browse the artefacts inside the Stoa of Attalos.
★ 4.7 · 4,648 reviews
Watch the ceremonial guards at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, right in front of the Hellenic Parliament. Arrive on the hour to see the Changing of the Guard, then take in the cenotaph's carved details.
★ 4.7 · 14,372 reviews
Pull up a table at Karamanlidika, where a counter of cured meats and cheeses anchors a cosy farmhouse-style room. Share charcuterie and Greek plates in a spot that Athens diners keep recommending.
★ 4.7 · 2,727 reviews
Discover GB Roof Garden, the rooftop address where Athens' skyline and the Acropolis take centre stage. Settle in for refined Mediterranean plates or cocktails as the ancient hill lights up after dark.
★ 4.7 · 46,699 reviews
Walk into the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first modern Olympics took place in 1896. Climb the marble tiers for views over the arena and follow the audio guide around the track.
★ 4.3 · 31,707 reviews
Step into Little Kook, a fairytale cafe in the heart of Athens where the decor feels lifted from a storybook. Settle in with a sweet or savoury crêpe, a cake or a coffee, and take in the whimsical details.
★ 4.4 · 10,221 reviews
Step into Tavern Klimataria, a stone-walled Athens classic with live Greek music. Share home-style dishes in a warm, vibrant room that reviewers say captures traditional Athens.
★ 4.4 · 6,467 reviews
Find Avli Taverne down a Monastiraki side street, where a line at the door leads to a backyard taverna. Order saganaki, Greek salad and other traditional plates in a relaxed, unpretentious setting.
★ 4.4 · 2,952 reviews
Stop by Souvlaki O Kostas, a long-running Athens counter that keeps its menu short and its prices low. Order pork souvlaki or beef kalamaki and eat them in the park next door.
★ 4.6 · 5,192 reviews
Treat yourself to Varoulko Seaside, Lefteris Lazarou's seafood restaurant on the Piraeus waterfront. Enjoy beautifully plated seafood dishes, each explained by attentive staff, over an unhurried lunch or dinner.
★ 4.7 · 3,544 reviews
Stop at Lefteris O Politis, the souvlaki counter that has been grilling since 1951. Eat a skewer with fresh tomato and onion amid the lively lunchtime crowd.
★ 4.6 · 8,124 reviews
Discover Ama Lachei, a former school turned garden restaurant where locals and visitors share the courtyard. Order a spread of modern Greek meze and mains and linger under the open sky.
★ 4.5 · 8,907 reviews
Discover The Clumsies, an award-winning multi-room cocktail bar in the heart of Athens. Order inventive cocktails at the bar, pair them with classic pub fare and linger in its warm, quirky rooms.
★ 4.8 · 1,143 reviews
Step through the Propylaea, the ancient gateway that has opened onto the Acropolis for over two thousand years. Walk between its Doric columns and marble steps, taking in the scale of the entrance before you reach the Parthenon.
★ 4.6 · 4,874 reviews
Discover Brettos, a Plaka institution lined with hundreds of glowing bottles. Taste Greek spirits like mastika and rakomelo, or order a creative cocktail in its dimly lit, colourful room.
★ 4.4 · 941 reviews
Discover Taratsa Athens Rooftop, a stylish terrace with a direct line of sight to the Acropolis. Order a drink and a few dishes as the Parthenon glows at sunset.
★ 4.5 · 9,186 reviews
Discover Ristorante Atlantikos, the Athens seafood address visitors keep calling their best meal in the city. Share grilled calamari, crisp fried cod and steamed mussels over a leisurely lunch or late dinner.
★ 4.5 · 9,295 reviews
Slip into Lake Vouliagmeni, a calm brackish lake tucked between hills on the Athenian Riviera. Swim in its mineral-rich water, feel small fish nibble at your feet, and unwind on the lakeside deck.
★ 4.7 · 1,457 reviews
Discover CTC Urban Gastronomy, the Michelin-starred Athens restaurant known for its blind tasting menu. Surrender the choices to the kitchen and work through a surprise-led dinner in a trendy, design-minded room.
★ 4.5 · 4,718 reviews
Sit down at Opos Palia, a lively Athens restaurant with street-side tables and traditional Greek cooking. Dig into sofrito, braised beef and crisp sardines as the neighbourhood passes by.
★ 4.6 · 4,637 reviews
Pull up a chair at Mavro Provato of Press Café, a restaurant Athens regulars keep returning to. Order the lamb and relax at an outdoor table.
★ 4.3 · 3,213 reviews
Pull up a seat at Diporto, an old-school Athens taverna that locals treat as their own. Take whatever the kitchen brings and eat simple, traditional Greek food without frills.
★ 4.6 · 629 reviews
Climb to Makris, a rooftop restaurant that looks straight at the Acropolis. Linger over creative plates and inventive cocktails as the evening light shifts.
★ 4.4 · 712 reviews
Experience Delta, the two-Michelin-star dinner address in Athens. Work through an inventive multi-course menu and a cocktail pairing in an evening that feels carefully staged.
★ 4.5 · 9,579 reviews
Stop by Lukumades for a plate of Greek honey donuts in the middle of Athens' shopping streets. Pick a creative flavour such as pistachio, pair it with coffee or tea, and share if you can.
★ 4.7 · 6,708 reviews
Start the day at Picky Brunch & Specialty Coffee, a perennial favourite among Athens brunch seekers. Choose between eggs Benedict with smoked salmon or a white omelette, paired with a carefully made coffee.
★ 4.4 · 32,033 reviews
Stand beneath the towering columns of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, once among the largest temples in Greece. Walk the grounds to judge the scale of the Corinthian shafts, with the Acropolis visible in the distance.
★ 4.8 · 13,088 reviews
Walk up to the Temple of Hephaestus, the most complete ancient temple in Greece. Circle its Doric columns and carved friezes above the Agora, and compare the view with the Acropolis across the way.
Athens · 🏛️ Landmark
Erechtheion
15 min
Athens · 🍽️ Food
Kalamakia O Elvis
1h
Ancient Agora of Athens
1h30
Monument to the Unknown Soldier
Karamanlidika
1h15
GB Roof Garden
Panathenaic Stadium
45 min
Athens · ☕ Coffeebreak
Little Kook
Tavern Klimataria
Avli Taverne
SOUVLAKI O KOSTAS
30 min
Varoulko Seaside Restaurant
1h45
Lefteris O Politis (est. 1951)
Ama Lachei
Athens · 🍸 Drinks
The Clumsies
Propylaea
Brettos
Taratsa Athens Rooftop
Ristorante Atlantikos
Athens · 🌳 Nature
Vouliagmeni Lake
2h30
CTC Urban Gastronomy
Opos Palia
Mavro Provato of Press Café
Diporto
Makris Athens Restaurant
2h
Delta Restaurant
Lukumades
Athens · 🥐 Breakfast
Picky Brunch & Specialty Coffee
Temple of Olympian Zeus
Temple of Hephaestus
