Athens is so cool with so much freaking history. & the Greeks are SO NICE. I highly encourage you to visit Athens (and Santorini, of course) so you can engulf yourself in the wonders. In this post I’ll tell you were those wonders are!
The Acropolis (probably obviously) should be your number one spot. The Acropolis is an ancient citadel on a hill which has the famous Parthenon sitting on top. The Parthenon does not stand by itself, other important buildings like the Erechtheion, a temple dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon is also nearby. (All of these important buildings were built on a hill so they can stay protected from enemies.)
Admission to the Acropolis also includes admission to the Agora, The Museum of Agora, Temple of Zeus + more. (You kind of get a packet of tickets.)
It’s incredible how humungous the Parthenon is. Once a temple dedicated to Athenia, this UNESCO site is the greatest piece of artwork from Greek Antiquity. Definitely worth seeing up close but unfortunately it’s under heavy construction. Renovations for the Parthenon will continue for about the next decade or so.
(I am so impressed with this photo that our dear friend Sean took of us. I’m floored that we are the only ones in the frame. I also love this picture because it is classic Keith. He is constantly consuming world history and loves to share it. ::sigh:: love him.) 
There are a handful of feral dogs & cats roaming Athens, specifically around the Acropolis and the Plaka (the Plaka is described further below). It’s always a treat to run into animals in general so it was fun to see this fluffy dog. He seemed to follow the employees around so I believe they’ve taken on the role to take care of the animals. He also has tags on his collar, so it gives me the impression he is being tracked.
The Theatre of Dionysus showcases the remains of Athens largest theatre (it could seat 15,000 people!) dedicated to the god of plays and wine. It’s located on the hillside on your walk up to the Acropolis.
At the base of the Acropolis is the Ancient Agora of Athens, which is basically the remains of the town square. To the left you can see the Temple of Hephaestus and the long building on the right is the Stoa of Attalos. The Stoa of Attalos is definitely a modern building built in the 1950s and funded by the Rockerfellers. (The original was destroyed.) 
^^Getting closer to the Temple of Hephaestus & in the Agora.^^
In the Stoa of Attalos is the Museum of Ancient Agora. This museum (which is included in your admission) houses many artifacts from Ancient Greece + some stolen artifacts from the Byzantine Empire.
The Temple of Hephaestus is especially fascinating because it is largely well preserved. It’s cool to see what it really could have looked like when it was first built, instead of ruins.
It is highly likely that you’ve seen the Temple of Zeus in the Disney film, Hercules. Well, they probably accurately animated the Zeus statue because these pillars are HUUGE. It is a sight to be seen. 
The Panathenaic Stadium is where the first modern Olympics was hosted in 1896. (The stadium was built on the location where the ancient stadium stood.) You can get a good view of the stadium from the entrance. We opted to not pay admission because of our travel budget, but I’d definitely be interested in a tour of the stadium next time we’re in Athens. It’s also currently in use for events so maybe you’d be interested in one of the events?! 
I don’t know about this dude. He was just walking around at a park near the stadium. Hopefully he just stays in the park and doesn’t go out into traffic but nonetheless, doesn’t he seem cool? Just thought I’d share 🙂
The Plaka is the neighborhood comprising of homes and businesses at the foot of the Acropolis. Most of the restaurants and shops are at the base and homes go up the hill. The neighborhood of homes is lined with white stairs and are painted white to keep everything cool. We didn’t take photos of The Plaka for some reason, but here’s a little video Rick Steve did featuring it. 
The National Archaeological Museum is also in Athens & was on our itinerary but they were unfortunately closed when we were there. There you can see the Mask of Agamemnon & many other pieces of art and archeology.
I can’t wait to return to Athens. I absolutely love this city and Greece. Not only does it have so much to offer in regard to history and sights, it’s full of some of the best people in the world.
Oh, & it also has a lot of yummy vegan food there, too. So look out for the next post featuring vegan options in Athens!
– Christina
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