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Portugal

DOURO VALLEY TOURS FROM PORTO WITH THE OTHER SIDE PORTO

douro valley tour portugal
By | On December 03,18 | 0 Comment

I visited Porto Portugal in September 2018 solo and only had two full days in my nine day itinerary traveling around Portugal. I knew I had to get to the Douro Valley for one of these days and knew I wanted to take one of the best day trips from Porto. As a wine and vineyard lover, this wasn’t negotiable. Even though I wish I had more days in the city of Porto, spending a full day in the Douro Valley was amazing and I would do it again. This was an amazing tour to compliment my food tour in Porto I did the day previously. Bottom line: You cannot visit Porto without visiting the Douro Valley.

Disclosure: This Douro Valley Tour from Porto guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

The Douro Valley is the countryside of Porto in North Portugal where you can find wineries and vineyards galore. There are an insane number of wineries, and the countryside is beautiful with the Douro River running through it. I knew I wanted to get as much out of as possible with only one day in the Douro Valley, so after a lot of research on the best Douro Valley tours from Porto, I found The Other Side, a company that runs various Porto and vineyard tours. I booked their Douro & Vineyards Tour and was excited to try all of the famous port wine.  There are a bunch of different Porto tour companies offering day trips from Porto to the Douro Valley but I liked The Other Side’s offerings the best! I’ll talk about a full travel guide to Porto in another guide, but this one is all Douro Valley Wine Tour related. Keep reading to see all of the details that you will get on a Douro Valley Tour, including how to book the tour, each of the wineries and locations you will visit (including a beautiful boat ride), as well as the pros and cons to this Douro Valley Wine Tour.

The Other Side Douro Valley Wine Tour Tips

  • Going to the Douro Valley is the absolute best and most popular Porto day trip and I highly recommend going when you are in this region as this UNESCO world heritage area cannot be missed.
  • The Other Side has a bunch of different tours around the city of Porto, but this guide is referring specifically to their Douro & Vineyards Tour.
  • The tour is the entire day and includes pick-up and drop-off from your hotel in Porto as well as private guide. The group is less than 15 people so it feels almost private, even though it is not.
  • Getting from Porto to Douro Valley is no easy feat. There is a LOT of time in a small van and the roads in the Douro Valley are extremely windy on cliffs. If you get car sickness this might not be the trip for you, or make sure you take a lot of Dramamine with you. I don’t get car sick but even I was a bit nauseous during one of the trips between vineyards after drinking wine! Wine + curved roads are not a good combination.
  • I went solo on the trip, and my one negative of the Douro Valley Tour was that it was almost all 50+ year olds. Honestly not a big deal at all, but as a 27 year old, it would have been nice to have someone younger to converse with and be more on the same page with, or know in advance this is the usual age! It was very slow moving.
  • There is a one-hour boat ride down the Douro River that is not included in the price. It is an extra 10 euros. Don’t miss this boat ride. The Douro River boat ride is beautiful and totally worth the extra price to see the views from a different perspective.
  • The cost of the entire trip (minus the boat ride) is 95 euros and includes a feast of a lunch that is amazing as well as all the tastings. The lunch is located in the famous town of Pinhão in the Douro Valley which also is known for its stunning train station.
  • For more information on traveling to Portugal head to my Portugal travel guide here and for a food tour in Porto head here. 

FULL DOURO VALLEY TOUR ITINERARY WITH THE OTHER SIDE PORTO

Our Douro Valley tour began with a pick-up at everyones individual hotel. They email you the night before and tell you what time they will be picking you up. It really is a great perk (especially when you are solo) to get picked up at your own hotel! Getting from Porto to Douro Valley is no easy feat as it’s about a two hour drive to get there (mostly on highway until you arrive), but mostly everyone slept on the way so it didn’t feel that bad.

Douro Valley Tour Stop #1: Boat Dam

We made a quick pit stop to break up the drive on our way to the Douro Valley to watch a boat get lifted above a dam to continue into the Douro Valley. It was actually really cool! I have personally never seen a boat get lifted like that. There are a bunch of boat tours that go all the way from Porto to the Douro Valley vineyards (this takes much longer, naturally) and this is the way they get there, since the Douro River passes through Porto. This was just a quick 10 minute pit stop to stretch our legs and was also our first glimpse into the Douro Valley views.

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Douro Valley Tour Stop #2: Pinhão Train Station

Our next stop was to Pinhão. Pinhão is one of the biggest towns in the Douro Valley. We had a quick bathroom and coffee pit stop at the famous Pinhão train station which is known for its tiled walls and exterior. Personally I didn’t think it was as beautiful and stunning as the Porto São Bento Train Station but it was still cool to see! We also were able to head to a cafe across the street for a bite and coffee as we were pretty hungry after driving for 2 hours! We only stayed here for about a half hour.

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Douro Valley Tour Stop #3: Douro River Boat Tour

Next, we drove all the way down to the bottom of Pinhão to the river for our boat tour. While this was optional, everyone on our tour opted to take the boat tour (right move!). This was my favorite part of the tour. We spent an hour on the boat going up and down the Douro River and it is absolutely stunning. I loved seeing the views of all the vineyards surrounding the Douro River from a different perspective than from the top of the hills. It was extremely relaxing and serene during this calm boat ride. They even let me steer the boat for a few minutes (I didn’t do much!).

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Douro Valley Tour Stop #4: Winery 1: D’Origem (Casal de Loivos)

The first winery we visited was D’Origem. This has to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. It was up on a massive hill (which provided lots of curved roads up and around cliffs), but the view at the top was worth it. You look down along the Douro Valley and Douro River and it is absolutely stunning. There are floor to ceiling windows and a patio overlooking the valley and I could stare at the view all day. I love looking at vineyards in different regions and this might be my favorite vineyard area ever. We tried a white, red and rosé here and all of them were great. We also got a quick tour (pre-tasting) on how the winery used to be run back in the days and you can see how old and family-run and bred it is.

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Douro Valley Tour Stop #5: Lunch!

After the first winery and lots of tastings, we definitely worked up an appetite. We made our way down the curvy roads again, and back into Pinhão and headed to lunch for a big Northern Portugal feast. There were tons of courses and meal options for everyone and we were definitely full and ready for more wine (there was also free wine at lunch, in typical wine tour fashion).

Related Post: Porto Food Tour Guide

Douro Valley Tour Stop #6: Winery 2: Quinta Do Portal

Our last and final stop was to the second winery which was a bit farther from lunch and was a LOT of curvy roads uphill. But, again, at the top it provided stunning views over the Douro Valley. Here we toured the winery and the different rooms for the different types of wines (white, red and port all get stored in different temperatures and lights). Afterwards we tried one of each. I liked this winery and getting to walk through some of the vineyards and seeing the grapevines!

  • quinta do portal douro valley
  • quinta do portal portugal

This was the end of our long tour and after lots of wine, I was ready for the two hour ride home to sleep it off. The trip and Douro Valley was so beautiful and I can’t wait to go back and visit more Douro Valley wine regions and tours in the future.

Find out more about all of these Douro Valley wineries by clicking their names!

Related Post: Portugal Travel Guide

Final notes on The Other Side Porto Douro Valley Tour: Highly recommend! The tour was on time, organized and really gave a taste of the Douro Valley wine region and the wines it is known for! They took us to beautiful wineries and viewpoints  so you can get the true Douro Valley wineries experience. I would recommend The Other Side to anyone visiting Porto Portugal and wanting a Porto day trip to Douro Valley! You can book your tour right here! They also have a ton of other tour options around the Douro Valley and Porto so I highly recommend checking out their tour options.

*Thanks to The Other Side for inviting me on their Douro & Vineyards Tour to learn about all that the Douro Valley has to offer and visit its amazing wineries as well as  and making this blog post possible! While I did receive this tour as a gift, my review and experience with The Other Side is, as always, 100% personal and honest*

Other Porto Portugal Travel Tips

How To Get To Porto

Porto is the second biggest city to Lisbon and there are plenty of international flights (though not as many as Lisbon). You can fly direct from NYC and many other cities around Europe. You can also take a quick 2.5 hour train from Lisbon to get here. I was in Lisbon first so I took the train there. The train was insanely easy, clean and honestly a pleasure to take and travel through the Portugal countryside. You can book your train tickets here: Portugal Train Tickets. I went from Lisbon Santa Apolónia station to Porto Campanhã station, so that it was a direct train with no transfers. Book online ahead of time to get a cheaper price than booking at the station. The train only cost 25 euros. For the airport, the Porto International Airport is only a 15 minute drive from the center of Porto. You can learn more about visiting Portugal and getting around the country in my Portugal country travel guide here.

Where To Stay in Porto Portugal

There are a TON of hostels and hotels in Porto for any budget – take your pick! I LOVED the area I stayed in and I definitely recommend staying right near Livraria Lello, it’s the best nightlife area and right in the center of the city so it is walking distance to every single imaginable spot that is on your list of things to do in Porto!

Search Porto hotels on Booking.com by clicking here or searching below. Find more hotel reviews on TripAdvisor here!

AIRBNB Porto: Many people also choose to stay in Airbnb in Porto because it is insanely affordable! I personally chose the hotel route for safety precautions since I was solo, but I would definitely recommend Airbnb if I were with friends! They’re definitely cheaper than the hotels around the city. Also, if you use my Airbnb link you get $40 off your first stay!

Porto Travel Tips

  • PACKING FOR PORTO: Porto’s weather is perfect. I went in the beginning of September and it was a nice high 70s. It was very sunny so don’t forget sunscreen. For all of my travel/packing essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here!
  • TRAVEL INSURANCE: When visiting Porto, I highly recommend getting travel insurance. You never know what may happen to your flights, a death/personal emergency in your family, or an accident happening while traveling (think: getting mugged, falling while hiking and spraining your ankle, literally any accident than can happen ANYWHERE!). World Nomads makes it super easy and I never leave for a trip without getting their insurance. Most importantly it’s extremely affordable: get your World Nomads travel insurance before your trip here!
  • UBER: Uber is insanely cheap in Portugal around the entire country. I’m still not over it. Sure, I come from NYC with astronomical prices, but I have used Uber in plenty of countries and nothing compares to the prices in Portugal. You could go on a 20 minute drive and it would be 2 euros. It’s insane. Take Uber in Portugal!

Related Post: What To Do In London On Your Own Guide

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Now you can see how much of a MUST visiting the Douro Valley from Porto is right!? Looking for what to expect before visiting Portugal? Check out my Visit Portugal Travel Blog guide for more tips. Looking for an epic food tour in Porto? Head to my Porto Food Tour with Taste Porto review!

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rachel shulman

About The Author

Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.

Greece

BEST THINGS TO DO IN SANTORINI GREECE

By | On April 30,18 | 0 Comment

Santorini surpasses Mykonos and any other place I have ever been on its beauty and I have never seen anything like it. The cities are on huge cliffs and the views are absolutely breathtaking. Keep reading to find out what to do in Santorini Greece!

Disclosure: This “Best Things To Do In Santorini Greece” post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

Santorini Travel Tips

  • SANTORINI PACKING: Looking for what to pack for Santorini? For all of my travel/packing essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon here for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here!
  • TRAVEL INSURANCE: When visiting Santorini, I highly recommend getting travel insurance. You never know what may happen to your flights, a death/personal emergency in your family, or an accident happening while traveling (think: getting mugged, falling while hiking and spraining your ankle, literally any accident than can happen ANYWHERE!). World Nomads makes it super easy and I never leave for a trip without getting their insurance. Most importantly it’s extremely affordable: get your World Nomads travel insurance before your trip here!

How To Get To Santorini

Like Mykonos, we took a 2 hour ferry to Santorini which was quick, easy and cheap ($55). This ferry had an open deck and not assigned seating and the views were gorgeous! There are also plenty of Athens to Santorini flights and even flights from other select European countries.

BEST THINGS TO DO IN SANTORINI GREECE

The two main towns are Fira (Thira) and Oia (pronounced ee-ah). Fira is more residential with many hotels and where I suggest staying. Oia is the sunset town, and stunning. Of course there are plenty of gorgeous villas here as well, but not as much to do.

Santorini Beaches

There are many gorgeous beaches in Santorini, which make for great day trips. You can take busses to pretty much anywhere on the island from Fira. I suggest Perissa or Kamari beaches which are both black sand beaches.

Santorini Wine Tours

Santorini has great wine and the Santo Wine Tours is supposed to be amazing. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time for this and when we tried to make a last minute reservation they were all booked. You must make a reservation in advance.

Day Trip to Oia

If staying in Fira, take an entire afternoon trip to Oia. You can take a bus here from Fira, which takes about 30 minutes and costs 1.6 Euros. It has the cutest little town, all along the water, with stunning views on top of the cliffs. The little alleys are lined with cute Greek stores for all your tourist souvenirs. There are so many gorgeous churches to look at and stunning white buildings with blue tops. And of course, the sunset. Oia is equivalent to the words Santorini sunsets. THIS IS THE SPOT TO WATCH THE SANTORINI SUNSET.  People line up for the best sunset views at least 2 hours before the sunset. I wish I was kidding. Make your way to the top point of Oia and you will see everyone standing and the beautiful view. Post up there until after the sunset and just watch the stunning beauty.

  • TIP: Instead of trying to get a dinner with a sunset view (unlikely), have dinner AFTER the sunset. It will be empty as everyone will have left and you will still get to enjoy the amazing food and views at night.

santorini sunsets oia

Hike Fira to Oia

There is an amazing hike from Fira to Oia that you can alternatively do to get there. The hike takes about 3-4 hours and provides stunning views. Highly suggested if you have extra days there and love to be active.

Spend A Day In Fira

Fira is a bustling town with lots of shops, views restaurants and activities. You can spend hours in these streets shopping for anything you want, eating the best Greek food and riding donkeys. Fira also has a stunning sunset, so make sure to post up here on your other nights!

Santorini Donkey Ride

Many Greeks get around Santorini on donkeys and you will always find tourists riding them up and down at the edge of Fira to the water. It is 5 Euros to ride them either up or down (one way) and is definitely an experience you must not miss. There is also a cute little dock and boats area when you get to the bottom so definitely plan to walk around a bit at the bottom of Santorini!

  • TIP: Ride the donkeys DOWN the hill and take the cable car back up. Riding the donkeys up the hill hurts wildly due to the bumps and steps.

Fish Eating In Santorini

While highly ticklish, my feet were definitely smoother and cleaner afterwards! Fish eating is a fun activity when you want to cool down or relax in Santorini! You will see many places around Fira that offer this service – choose the cheapest one for a little real-life spa service.

santorini fish eating

Santorini Restaurants

Typical Greek food, here are some recommendations in Fira I loved!

  • Idol Santorini: Great breakfast and sunset view
  • Aris Santorini: Greek food with an amazing view
  • Our Corner: Amazing crepe place for the morning! On the main street in Fira on the way into town.

Where To Party In Santorini

The Santorini nightlife isn’t as magical as it is in Mykonos but there is still plenty to do! Some fun bars in Santorini are:

Where To Stay In Santorini

I highly, highly suggest staying at hotels in Fira over Oia as there is much more to do! We stayed in Fira about a 2 minute walk from town. The hotel was called Golden Star Santorini and it was a perfect location and perfect budget hotel. The rooms were small but great for two people and they had a gorgeous pool in the back with stunning views of the ocean. Highly recommended Golden Star, you can book by clicking here! Read reviews on Golden Star on TripAdvisor here!

AIRBNB Santorini: There are also so many cute apartments in Santorini with extra nice hosts. They are generally cheaper than hotels so if you like the Airbnb route instead of hotels I definitely recommend it. Also, if you use my Airbnb link you get $40 off your first stay!

     
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Did I miss what to do in Santorini that you loved? Let me know in the comments for my next visit! Head here if you are looking for my Mykonos Greece guide or here for my Athens Greece guide! Don’t forget to check out my full Greece travel guide here!

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Iceland

ONE DAY IN REYKJAVIK: THINGS TO DO IN REYKJAVIK ICELAND

one day in reykjavik
By | On March 01,18 | 12 Comments

You really only need one day in Reykjavik, Iceland if you do it right and pair it with a full Iceland trip. Reykjavik is a really great and cute little town to walk around on the water and on the main street (Laugaveger). There are some must-hit tourist attractions, and of course plenty of Northern Lights tours for nighttime which I highly suggest if visiting from September-March. In my 6 Day Iceland Road Trip Itinerary, you can see that I recommend ending your trip with Reykjavik for a day and a half. Keep reading to see the all of the best things to do in Reykjavik Iceland. 

Disclosure: This One Day in Reykjavik guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

Reykjavik Travel Tips

ICELAND PACKING TIPS: Iceland is pretty cold year-round! Make sure you’re prepared with my favorite winter travel items and travel gear! You also NEED hiking boots – it is a necessity if you want to do any of the glacier hikes – they don’t let you go without them. Buy the ones I use here. For all of my travel/packing essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon here for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here.

ONE DAY IN REYKJAVIK: TOP THINGS TO DO IN REYKJAVIK ICELAND

I visited Reykjavik in the fall so these mostly apply to the best things to do in Reykjavik in September, but I gave some other springtime options at the bottom of the list! Check out what to do in downtown Reykjavik in a day.

best things to do in Reykjavik, reykjavik church

Hallgrimskirkja

Reykjavik’s famous church, Hallgrimskirkja is what you see in all of the pictures and postcards of Reykjavik. It is stunning architecture and the view from the top gives you panoramas of the entire city and ocean. Taking the elevator up to the top is an absolute must and this is the highlight of the best things to do in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Harpa Concert Hall

Harpa Concert Hall is a famous concert hall built with interesting architecture right on the waterfront in downtown Reykjavik. Definitely go here to see a show if you have more than just one night in Reykjavik.

best things to do in Reykjavik, sun voyager

Sun Voyager

Another one of the best things to do see in Reykjavik is the famous Sun Voyager statue and walking around the Reykjavik waterfront; it is gorgeous.

Old Town District

Walk around the Reykjavik Old Town District, which is laid out around Lake Tjornin, a beautiful lake in the middle of the city. Downtown Reykjavik is the prettiest area and you should walk around for a while.

Kolaportio

Head to Reykjavik’s main buzzing flea market to shop around for some Icelandic goods! Opens at 11AM.

Laugavegar Street

This is the main street in downtown Reykjavik and stretches pretty long. It has all the best shopping on it for anything you may want or need. We basically spent at least 5 hours walking up and down this street a few times because there are so many places to go.

best things to do in Reykjavik, helicopter iceland rachelReykjavik Helicopter Tour

 

I highly, highly suggest doing a helicopter tour while in Iceland. Reykjavik helicopters are one of the best things to do in Reykjavik, Iceland. The terrain is so drastic and gorgeous in Iceland that just walking around doesn’t do it justice. This helicopter tour was definitely a highlight of our trip to Reykjavik. The main helicopter tour company is Nordurflug and they provide a few different tour options. We opted for the Geothermal Tour and we loved it! You go to a secluded, inaccessible area and witness the geothermal activity and lava fields on top of volcanoes. I am positive that all the different options are great, just pick one that caters to your interests. This was our favorite activity and I highly suggest it during your day in Reykjavik!  The helicopter tours leave from the local Reykjavik airport.

 

Other things to see in Reykjavik if you have more time and depending on the season: Whale Watching Boat Tour, National Museum of Iceland, Grotta Lighthouse and The Culture House Museum. 

Click on any of the activity titles above to learn more!

 

Best Reykjavik Restaurants

Iceland isn’t known for its food scene but it does have some good new culinary options popping up. Some of the foods that Iceland is known for that you should try: Puffin and Shark!

Breakfast in Reykjavik

  • Eldur and Is: Crepes & coffee (also good for ice cream)
  • Mokka – Oldest coffeehouse in Iceland
  • Stofan – Cute and cozy cafe
  • Baejarins Beztu Pylsur – Best hot dog in the world. It is a hot dog stand and is the most famous food in Iceland. Everyone famous has come here when they visited, must go

Dinner in Reykjavik

BARS IN REYKJAVIK

WHERE TO STAY IN REYKJAVIK

There are a range of luxury and regular Reykjavik hotels to stay at for all budgets. For mid to high-end, I suggest the Fosshotel Reykjavik; my family loved it and it is in the middle of the city. I also suggest the IcelandAir brand hotels around Reykjavik (IcelandAir Reykjavik Marina or IcelandAir Reykjavik Natura) and around the entire country are high-end and recommended. Click on the hotel names above to learn more and book quickly! Hotels in Iceland sell out fast. Check out reviews for any Reykjavik hotel on TripAdvisor here.

AIRBNB Reykjavik: There are also so many cute apartments in downtown Reykjavik with extra nice hosts that I highly recommend for a group or for mid-range places. They are generally cheaper than hotels so if you like the Airbnb route instead of hotels I definitely recommend it in Reykjavik, especially since you’ll likely be out of the accommodation the whole day anyway. Some of them even come with the rental car. Also, if you use my Airbnb link here you get $40 off your first stay!

OTHER THINGS TO DO IN REYKJAVIK: NORTHERN LIGHTS TOURS

If you are visiting Reykjavik during September-March, you are trying to see the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), and you should do anything in your power to do so. Clearly this is what everyone comes to see in Reykjavik. In the countryside hotels it is much easier to see them, but with the lights of Reykjavik, you need to go outside of the city. A bunch of different companies offer Northern Lights tours in Reykjavik where they take you driving for a few hours and stop at secluded dark locations to (hopefully) watch. The Auroras are never guaranteed, but all of the companies decide at 6PM the day of if they are going to proceed (depending on the forecast) and if they don’t, you can reschedule for another night for free.

You can also decide to do them the day of if you only have one day in Reykjavik and can’t reschedule. Any of these companies are reputable. Click the links to find out more and book!

TIP: Download the iPhone app called “NorthernLights”. I swear it will be the best .99 cents you ever spend. You cannot photograph the northern lights on your regular phone camera. Someone told me about the app when we were on the tour and the pictures were amazing. Read here for more tips to photograph the Northern Lights.

 

 

 

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Did I miss one of the best things to do in Reykjavik Iceland that you loved? Let me know in the comments for my next visit and check out my full Iceland Travel Blog here or my 6 Day Iceland Road Trip Itinerary here. 

Some emails suck. Mine don’t. Sign up to be the first to see my new travel itineraries and secret insider travel tips and hacks only my email subscribers get! I promise I will never spam you!

rachel shulman

About The Author

Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.

Greece

WHAT TO DO IN ATHENS GREECE

what to do in athens greece
By | On March 24,17 | 2 Comments

 

You only really need one day in Athens to hit the famous ruins and museums. The city was built around all of the ruins and it is awesome. Look up while you’re strolling the streets of the city and you can see the Acropolis on top of hill! Keep reading to see what to do in Athens, Greece!

Disclosure: This “What To Do In Athens” post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

Athens Travel Tips

athens things to do acropolis top of hill athens

How To Get To Athens Greece

Generally you will fly into Athens airport (ATH) which is a big hub in Europe itself. The main Greek airline is Aegean Airlines. To get to the city center from the airport, there are three options:

  • Metro: Easiest and most efficient. Line 3 goes directly into the city center. The metro leaves directly from the airport, runs every 30 minutes, 7 days a week, and takes 40 minutes to get to the main city. Cost: 8 Euros.
  • Bus: There is an express bus route that connects directly to the city center and airport 7 days a week. Little more complex than the metro as there are four different lines, so make sure you have the correct one. The bus takes around 60 minutes to the city center, but is dependent on traffic. Cost: 5 Euros.
  • Cab: A cab will be the most private way into the city, but will cost you 35 Euros from 5AM-midnight and 50 Euros from midnight-5AM and will take about an hour. It is also dependent on traffic.

 

WHAT TO DO IN ATHENS GREECE

what to do in athens athens ruins

Known for the unbelievable archaeological sites all around the city, Athens is truly a remarkable site. I personally think one day is enough in this city to cover the main sites and you will get a feel for Athens life.

TIP: Watch out for gypsies, especially around the main sites, they are all over the city.

TIP: Buy the 12 Euro pass which gives entrance to ALL of the sites and is good for four days. The only place it does not include is the Acropolis Museum, which was an awesome museum so I do suggest adding a trip there. If you have a student ID, this pass will be even cheaper and it is so worth it for ALL of the sites. You can buy this ticket at any of the site’s kiosks. All places are within walking distance of each other.

TIP: All archaeological sites are closed on Sundays and they all close around 3PM on other days besides the Acropolis which is open until 7PM. All sites open at 8 AM.

what to do in athens athens ruins

Main Sites To See In Athens:

  • Acropolis: Most well-known archaeological site in the world; a must-see. On top of the big hill in the middle of the city and visible anywhere in the city. Leave at least 1-2 hours to explore.
  • Acropolis Museum: Not included in the sites package, but one of my must-sees. Such a well-done museum to help give historic perspective. I suggest going here after visiting the Acropolis. It is located on the bottom of the slope. There is also a cafe here for lunch which has amazing views of the Acropolis from the outdoor tables.
  • Ancient Agora: A well-preserved temple and should definitely be visited.
  • Olympia Zeus: One of the largest ancient temples in the world.
  • Library of Hadrian: Has an awesome museum in it, make sure to leave about an hour to visit here.

Other noteworthy archaeological sites: Kerameikos, Roman Agora, North and South slope of Acropolis, Agora Museum and the Kerameikos Museum.

Non-Archaeological Spots: Evzones Changing of the Guard, Zappeion Gardens, National Gardens, Athens Flee Market, walk around Syntagma Square and Omonia Square is pretty too!

 

Where To Eat In Athens

Greek salad and gyros are what you think of when you hear Greek food and it did not disappoint. While there are not so many noteworthy restaurants in Athens (as opposed to Santorini and Mykonos) there are some good areas to eat and things to try!

All around Syntagma Square there are tons of street stands and little shops with amazing gyros and little greek salads. Make sure to eat lots of Feta cheese – it’s amazing. A good vegetarian option is Avocado, in Syntagma Square. Also Fisherman’s Taverna which is near the Acropolis as well as Strofi Tavern Athens which has unreal views of the Acropolis. There are tons of restaurants and they will all have amazing Greek food, so try out your favorites!
what to do in athens greek salads

 

Where To Stay In Athens

I suggest staying in Syntagma Square if you want to be in the most central, crowded area of the city. However, we stayed in Omonia Square, a 5 minute walk from Syntagma Square, and it was perfectly great! We stayed at the cutest little hotel called Hotel Cosmopolit and it was perfect. It was extremely clean, the rooms were a decent size for two people, and the breakfast was included daily and had a large selection. The staff was beyond nice and helped us getting around the city. I would highly recommend Hotel Cosmopolit and the price is great for budget travelers.

AIRBNB Athens: There are also so many apartments with Airbnb options in Athens. They are generally cheaper than hotels so if you like the Airbnb route instead of hotels I definitely recommend it. Also, if you use my Airbnb link you get $40 off your first stay!

 

Where To Party In Athens

Unfortunately we did not go out in Athens as we had a very early flight the next day and were tired after touring the city all day! However, Athens has a lively nightlife and some well-known DJs often. I suggest going out around the Gazi area which is fun at night!

 

Other Helpful Tips When Visiting Athens: The Athens Ports

Athens is obviously the main Greece hub and is the gateway to all of the hundreds of Greek islands. There are three main ports to access the islands:

  • Piraeus: Main, largest port. Only port accessible by metro. Serves most Greek islands.
    • Metro: The green metro line takes 25 minutes and goes through Omonia Square (costs 1.4 Euros).
    • Bus: There is no direct bus to Piraeus port.
    • Cab: A cab will take about 30 minutes from the center and will cost around 20 euros.
  • Rafina: Second largest port & closest to the airport. Provides access to some Cyclades islands (Tinos, Mykonos and Syros) as well as Evia and Andros.
    • Bus: From the city center, which takes 70 minutes (costs 2.4 Euros). I recommend this route.
    • Cab: Takes 85 minutes and costs about 50 Euros.
  • Lavrio: Smallest Athens port and serves Eastern-Aegean islands and a few Cyclades islands.
    • Bus: From the city center, which will take about 2 hours (costs 4.9 Euros).
    • Cab: Takes 85 minutes and costs 65 euros.

If you are visiting Athens for longer than a day check out this longer Athens itinerary.

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Did I miss what to do in Athens that you loved? Let me know in the comments for my next visit! If you are looking for my full Greece Travel Guide head here or head here for my Mykonos Greece guide or here for my Santorini Greece Guide!