A Week-Long Guide to Exploring Athens and Neighboring Greek Islands.
Depending on whether your flight arrives in the morning, spend your first two or three days in Athens. I typically stay in the Plaka neighborhood near Hadrian’s Library. You can snap photos of this ancient ruin right outside your door without spending money on a ticket. It’s highly recommended to get an Athens City Pass, which covers a single entry to the Acropolis along with five other archaeological sites—it’ll save you a good deal of money.
Day 1: Try to hit the Acropolis and the Parthenon as early in the morning as possible. The sun gets incredibly intense, and there are no trees or shade at the top. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes that can handle rocky, uneven paths. For stunning night photography, shoot from the base of the hill. If you're a history buff, the Acropolis Museum is an absolute must-visit. However, avoid dining in this immediate area, as prices tend to be inflated. Make your way down the hill to the Ancient Agora; its museum is housed inside the Stoa of Attalos. If you still have energy, check out the incredibly well-preserved Temple of Hephaestus nearby. Spend your evening wandering the boutique shops in Plaka—this is also a great spot for dinner, where you'll find generous portion sizes.
Day 2: Hop on the metro to the Panathenaic Stadium. If you're up for it, you can also swing by Hadrian’s Gate and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Head back towards the Roman Agora and stroll over to Monastiraki Square, home to several churches and museums, as well as Ermou, the city’s primary shopping street. If you happen to be there on a Sunday, don't miss the local flea market.
Days 3 to 5 (or 6): Catch a ferry to Santorini. You can either stay for a day or two, or just spend a half-day exploring before hopping to other islands like Naxos, Mykonos, Crete, or Ios. While I find Santorini undeniably breathtaking, it is quite crowded and pricey—the same goes for Mykonos—but they are definitely prime spots for Instagram-worthy photos. If you're all about sun and sand, consider basing yourself on one of the less crowded islands and taking day-trip ferries for some island hopping.
Day 6 or 7: Head back to Athens. Make your way to Syntagma Square to catch the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Just ahead to your left is the main commercial pedestrian street. To the right and behind the square is the luxury shopping district and the massive six-story Attica department store, which carries all the major European and American brands. A quick shopping tip: ask the sales associate for a tourist shopping card. They’ll log your items, tag them with a matching number, and send them to the main checkout counter. This allows you to keep browsing hands-free, pay for everything at once, and process your tax refund form together (passport required) to claim your 10% VAT refund. At the airport, get your form stamped by customs (located near the airline counters—they might need to inspect your purchases, so don’t check your luggage right away). Once you're through security, present your stamped form to collect your refund. Note that the tax refund rate for luxury brands like LV is 12%. At the end of the pedestrian street lies Plaka, teeming with dining options. Nearby, you can wander through the Anafiotika neighborhood; it's mostly a local residential area with very few tourists, but its charming whitewashed houses will make you feel like you're still out on the Greek islands.
Day 7 or 8: Fly home. Spending your final night in Athens is the best way to ensure you don't miss your flight.