When you look up you see the gods looking down on you from the majestic Acropolis. This hill is still very impressive, but is unfortunately shown so often in school and on TV that its greatness isn't a surprise anymore. Look for the nice details, such as Poseidon’s trident marks in a rock where he donated a spring to the city of Athens in an effort to become patron god of this city-state. The best view of the Acropolis is from the Filopappos Hill, from where you can look down on vast Athens while relaxing on a rock in a park-like environment.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to get around is on foot. The most interesting things are pretty near to each other, all surrounding the heart of Ancient Athens.
Wear sensible shoes, especially not too heavy because of the blistering heat in this smog-filled town. It is wise to carry a bottle of water with you.

It is always said traffic in Athens is hell. That’s correct. Although leaving Athens went pretty smoothly it was mainly because we read the map very carefully before setting off. Don’t linger, don’t hesitate and know up front where you want to go to and you’ll be fine. Stay on your toes, though!

You can make a reservation by e-mail, info@consolas.gr, but we found it was cheaper to just drop by. Check out Hotel Dioskouros

Arxaion Gefsis, which means ‘Ancient Tastes’, tries to make you relive ancient times. This means there aren’t any glasses, just earthenware cups, dinner is served on earthenware plates and you can’t get a fork, you have to manage with just a knife and a spoon. In the spacious garden the tables are made of solid wood, as are the chairs and the staff walks around in flowing red tunics. But this is just the start of it.

‘Modern’ ingredients like potatoes, rice, corn or coffee are not used. If the Ancient Greeks were not familiar with something, you will not find it on the menu. Fortunately great Ancient Greek writers, doctors and thinkers like Aristophanes, Hippocrates and Plato handed down a few ideas for some historically sound dishes. For starters there are a few wonderful and copious salads and I recommend the black creased olives with goat cheese. The main courses are surprisingly rich and original. For example you can have stuffed slices of pork, filled with plums in dark juice accompanied by artichokes and fresh mashed peas or pork pancetta with sweet and sour sauce from honey, thyme, vinegar and mashed chickpeas. I had the second and it was exquisite. The Ancient Greeks appear to have had a much more refined cuisine than their modern counterparts.

The restaurant is a treat, at least the food is, but they should have stopped at the menu, tables and dinner-set. The robes of the staff and the decorations are a bit over the top, not to say simply tacky. There is something like too much of a good thing.

Check out Arxeion Gefsis

The restaurant doesn’t have a menu. The jolly waiter just stops by with a large tray full of Mezedes, the Greek equivalent of the Spanish Tapas. You just pick and point and you get the tastiest Greek snacks, like dolmades, squid or little sausages, which are sprinkled with liquor and lit at your table. Dinner is accompanied by a bottle of water and a carafe wine. The later isn't too good, but you can't expect everything for this price.
Regularly with live traditional, that is real traditional, music.

Take your time when you are going to pay your respects to Pallas Athena. Stroll around the foot of the hill, through the Plaka. Take a route no one else is taking. There are lots of picturesque small stepped alleys leading to the summit. Often you will be rewarded with a magnificent vista on this glistering rock.

Before turning left towards the entrance, turn right and climb the very slippery and steep steps towards the Areopagus hill. Here you have a beautiful view on the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora at your feet and on vast modern Athens. On this hill the Persians made camp when besieging Athens in 480 B.C. and here the Apostle Paul preached to the people of Athens.

After buying a ticket, students half price, you start your final ascend. First you pass the still used theatre of Herodes Atticus, then, suddenly you are there. The small Temple of Athena Nike, currently in scaffolding, at first blocks your view, but as you make the turn the blinding white marble Propylaia, the majestic entrance to this holy hill, appears. As you walk up the steps the impressive grandeur is humbling. It is hard to imagine how impressive it must have been when it was unscathed.

When clearing the gate I realized all the pictures I had seen didn’t do the Acropolis, and especially the Parthenon, justice. I imagined it to be grand but it appeared to be huge! When walking around the Parthenon I suddenly understood why the Greeks hate the Turkish so much. You have to be a real idiot to store gunpowder in such an impressive en enchanting building. Moreover, you have to be a real jerk to let it explode!

The west side of the Parthenon is the most impressive. The tympanum on this side depicted the battle between Poseidon, god of the Sea, and Pallas Athena for the patronage of the city. When standing on the south side of the Acropolis you have a nice view of the Stoa of Eumenes, Pyraeus and the wonderful Filopappos hill.

Another gem on the Acropolis is the Erechteion with the exquisite Caryatids. This temple, dedicated to multiple gods, is built on the holy grounds where Poseidon and Athena fought their battle. The first donated a spring to the city by striking the ground with his trident. You can still see the marks where he did so. The second donated an olive tree. On the west side of the temple you’ll find one planted on the same spot, allegedly.

To be short: this place is enchanting.