We arrived in Piraeus for overnight stay in Athens.
This is my first visit to Greek mainland.
Mykonos and Santorini were two islands that I have been in Greece previously.
We have booked a tour organized by our travel agency for the first day in Athens.
It was panoramic tour includes lunch in a restaurant at Plaka.
I was overwhelmed when I realized that more than a couple of people in the tour bus have walkers and wheelchairs includes motorized one.
Not so many of stops and walks involved in this tour and that must be the reason.
Spring weather in southern Europe was still unpredictable but we managed to keep ourselves dry for the most of the day.
Half day tour finished as we finished our lunch around 2pm.
Instead of returning to Piraeus with tour bus where our ship docked, we decided to remain in the city of Athens and go back to the ship after dinner.
We went back to Acropolis and walked up the hill top to experience the Parthenon.
View of whole city from the top was impressive as well as ancient ruins.
Souvenir shops at Plaka area have many interesting copies of ancient Greek treasures.
We spent whole afternoon walking around coble stoned street of old town.
It was already dark when we were approached by one of sales rep. from restaurants in Plaka area.
Menu actually looked quite good so we decided to give it a try.
We were happy with our orders of Saganaki, souvlaki and dolmades which were all tasty.
1.40 Euro was all it takes to come back to Piraeus by train from Monastiraki square station, Athens.
It was cold, wet and windy night in Piraeus when we had to walk back to the ship.
On our second day in Piraeus, we took Hop on hop off bus tour of Athens right in front of the pier which was very convenient.
There are always new things to discover around the corner of Plaka near Acropolis in tourists ‘eyes.
We went inside the department store Attica on Syntagma square to avoid the rain for an hour.
We went to the big local market Varvakios and saw freshest veges, fruits, olives, sweets and seafood as well as hundreds of skinned lambs with heads on hanging both sides of the market.
We also had really nice baklava and coffee in a café of Omonia square and check out antique market in Thession.
For lunch, we had authentic souvlaki in a casual restaurant called Bouloukos at the market.
They were really good as it advertises itself as the best kebab in Athens on window.
I was very happy to leave Athens with statue of Leonidas and Hercules which were my favorites of all.
This is my first visit to Greek mainland.
Mykonos and Santorini were two islands that I have been in Greece previously.
We have booked a tour organized by our travel agency for the first day in Athens.
It was panoramic tour includes lunch in a restaurant at Plaka.
I was overwhelmed when I realized that more than a couple of people in the tour bus have walkers and wheelchairs includes motorized one.
Not so many of stops and walks involved in this tour and that must be the reason.
Spring weather in southern Europe was still unpredictable but we managed to keep ourselves dry for the most of the day.
Half day tour finished as we finished our lunch around 2pm.
Instead of returning to Piraeus with tour bus where our ship docked, we decided to remain in the city of Athens and go back to the ship after dinner.
We went back to Acropolis and walked up the hill top to experience the Parthenon.
View of whole city from the top was impressive as well as ancient ruins.
Souvenir shops at Plaka area have many interesting copies of ancient Greek treasures.
We spent whole afternoon walking around coble stoned street of old town.
It was already dark when we were approached by one of sales rep. from restaurants in Plaka area.
Menu actually looked quite good so we decided to give it a try.
We were happy with our orders of Saganaki, souvlaki and dolmades which were all tasty.
1.40 Euro was all it takes to come back to Piraeus by train from Monastiraki square station, Athens.
It was cold, wet and windy night in Piraeus when we had to walk back to the ship.
On our second day in Piraeus, we took Hop on hop off bus tour of Athens right in front of the pier which was very convenient.
There are always new things to discover around the corner of Plaka near Acropolis in tourists ‘eyes.
We went inside the department store Attica on Syntagma square to avoid the rain for an hour.
We went to the big local market Varvakios and saw freshest veges, fruits, olives, sweets and seafood as well as hundreds of skinned lambs with heads on hanging both sides of the market.
We also had really nice baklava and coffee in a café of Omonia square and check out antique market in Thession.
For lunch, we had authentic souvlaki in a casual restaurant called Bouloukos at the market.
They were really good as it advertises itself as the best kebab in Athens on window.
I was very happy to leave Athens with statue of Leonidas and Hercules which were my favorites of all.
Syntagma square. Greek parliament where two guards stand and change their shift every hour.
Academy of Arts building on busy street of Panepistimiou
University building on Panepistimiou
A Greek Orthodox monk
Appetizer for tour lunch at the restaurant Hermion taverna. Mousaka, cheese and spinach burek
Ruins at Plaka
A street of full of cafes and restaurants in Plaka
Souvenir shops in Plaka
Handrian’s Arch
Parthenon on Acropolis
Odeum of Herodes Atticus
Through Propyaea into Parthenon
Erechtheion, Old Temple of Athena
The Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena
In front of Parthenon
Temple of Athena Nike
The residence for Greek Prime Minister on Irodou Attikou behind the parliament
Guards changing ceremony in front of the Greek President’s residence on Irodou Attikou
The original Olympic stadium Panathenaic was built in 1896
Ellen, Barbie and Greg are ready to run in front of the stadium
Zapion Exhibition and Congress Hall
Assorted Greek Baklavas displayed in a café on Omonia square
Hephaistos Temple near Thession
Seafood in Varvakios market
One of hundreds of butcher shops in Varvakios market
Delicious souvlaki in Bouloukos restaurant at the market
Greek sweets Halva
So happy you posted about your trip to Greece! It is great help for me. You made superb plan. Informative post!
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