What to see, do and where to stay in Athens

09 Mar 2022

The Greek capital offers world-famous historic sites, a thriving contemporary art scene and charming neighbourhoods packed with pavement cafes, markets and rooftop bars. With new flights from the UK starting in April, there’s never been a better time for your clients to explore, says Siobhan Grogan

Acropolis, Athens

SEE

National gallery

Founded in 1900, the National Gallery is the country’s most important museum with a collection of more than 20,000 paintings and sculptures. It reopened last year after an almost decade-long renovation and has doubled in size, with a new shop and restaurant with panoramic views of Athens. Visitors can expect work from Greek artists including Georgios Jakobides and Nikiforos Lytras alongside masterpieces by Picasso, Matisse and Rodin.

nationalgallery.gr/en

Anafiotika

While every visitor heads straight to the Acropolis, few linger on its northern slopes to enjoy the Cycladic village of Anafiotika. It was built in the 19th century by stonemasons hailing from the tiny island of Anafi, who were brought to Athens by King Otto to work on his palace. Advise clients to wear comfortable shoes then roam the tiny uphill streets and uneven staircases lined with whitewashed bougainvillea-draped cottages.

The Elemis spa at xenodocheio Milos

STAY

xenodocheio Milos

Clients will be within walking distance of the capital’s must-see sights at this new hotel located in downtown Athens, opposite Old Parliament. The luxury boutique property, which opened in January, is the first hotel from global Greek restaurant chain Estiatorio Milos. Its 43 contemporary rooms offer plush marble bathrooms, sleek minimal interiors and an unmissable room service menu from the acclaimed restaurant itself. Prices start from £310 per night.
xenodocheiomilos.com

Brown Acropol

Retro chic abounds at this design hotel inspired by 1960s glamour, which opened last summer. Close to the city’s best restaurants and museums in Omonia Square, the hotel has a hip lobby cocktail bar; an intimate spa, plus a fantastic rooftop sundeck with hammocks, an open-air bar and three hot tubs overlooking the Acropolis. Suggest bagging a spot early for the best sunset views. Three nights’ B&B is priced from £379pp in April, based on two sharing, including flights from Manchester.

jet2holidays.com

Santikos Collection's The NEST restaurant serves dishes including pancakes with fresh fruit

EXPERIENCE

Go island-hopping

Clients who want the best of both worlds will love the Santikos Collection’s new City & Island Package, launched late last year. They’ll spend three nights at The Alex overlooking bobbing fishing boats in the charming harbour of Microlimano in Piraeus, just 15 minutes from the bustling centre of Athens. Recommend dinner at the hotel’s rooftop restaurant NEST for boat-fresh seafood and unmissable desserts.
Clients can also sample Greek island life with an included one-day cruise to enjoy the sandy beaches and waterfront tavernas of Aegina, Poros and Hydra.

Book it: Santikos Collection’s three-night City & Island Package is priced from 240pp based on two sharing. santikoscollection.com/thealex

Taste local delicacies

Suggest clients take a Viator walking tour of Athens’ liveliest neighbourhoods to sample the city’s most delicious dishes including traditional souvlaki wrapped in warm pitta bread from a street food stall; a boat-shaped Greek pizza called peinirli; and flaky baklava and phyllo custard pie. Recommend a stroll though bohemian Psyrri neighbourhood afterwards to explore quirky bars, vivid street art and cafes with live Greek music.

Book it: Viator’s Small-Group Evening Food Walk is priced from £55.29pp.
travelagents.viator.com

Explore ancient history

Clients can step back in time to tour the ancient wonders of Athens and Delphi on an Olympic Holidays group tour. Visits include the Panathenaic stadium and the fascinating Acropolis Museum, now including the marble fragment from the Parthenon recently returned from Italy.

Remind clients to take the path to the right of the museum’s entrance to see the astonishing ruins of an ancient Athenian neighbourhood, discovered during building works. The following day, clients will travel on to Delphi and the slopes of Mount Parnassus to marvel at the Temple of Apollo, before continuing to the Meteora monasteries, used in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only.

Book it: Olympic Holidays’ four-night Let’s Get Classical tour is priced from £489pp in April, based on two sharing three-star accommodation and including flights and coach travel.

olympicholidays.com