If you’re planning a trip to Greece, chances are you’re dreaming of the islands first.
Me too.
For years, Athens was simply where I landed, grabbed a coffee, and rushed to catch a ferry somewhere with whitewashed houses and impossibly blue water.
Then, slowly, Athens became part of the trip.
It happened over long lunches, late dinners, aimless walks through Plaka, and one too many “let’s explore this street” detours that somehow ended at midnight.
Now, I never come to Greece without spending a few days in Athens first.
Because the islands may steal your heart, but Athens teaches you how to be in Greece: walk slower, order dessert, and sit outside long after the bill arrives because nobody seems particularly interested in rushing anywhere.
In a world obsessed with efficiency, Athens remains gloriously inefficient in all the best ways.
And that’s exactly why I love it.
I start every trip exactly the same way: coffee in hand and a walk to Syntagma Square to watch the changing of the guard.
I’ve seen it countless times and it never gets old.
Maybe it’s the uniforms. Maybe it’s the ceremony. Maybe it’s simply because this is the exact moment I realize I’ve arrived in Greece.
From there, wander through the National Gardens and continue on to the Panathenaic Stadium.
Don’t rush.
In Athens, the point is almost never the destination.
Yes, you absolutely have to see it. The Acropolis.
Everyone will tell you to go first thing in the morning, and that’s good advice. But I also love going later in the day when the golden light begins to hit the marble and the city seems to glow beneath you.
There are very few moments in travel that live up to the hype.
This is one of them.
This is Greece, so lunch should take an unreasonable amount of time.
Order one thing more than you intended.
Then another.
Stay longer than planned.
Nobody here is checking their watch.
Karamanlidika for one of the best local spots in the city.
Some of my favorite memories in Athens have happened when I was completely lost.
Wander through Plaka. Peek into little shops. Buy something like an evil eye necklace for someone in your life that may need it. (or to keep near you throughout the year.)
Take pictures of the flowers climbing over old stone walls.
Honestly, Athens encourages these sort of moments.
This city becomes magical at night.
The Acropolis lights up. The streets fill with people. Dinner doesn’t really begin until later. (9pm is the earliest.)
I have spent some of my favorite evenings in Athens sitting outside, ordering plate after plate of food and talking long after everyone around us has left.
Those are the moments I remember.
Not the itinerary.
The feeling.
Pharoah is a great dinner spot we love. A Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded wine bar and restaurant with woodfire cooking that is undeniable.
Nobody gets a medal for waking up at 6 a.m. on vacation.
Caffeine Dealer for a proper freddo.
Sit outside.
Watch the city wake up.
The Greeks take coffee seriously, and frankly, I think they’re onto something.
Athens is one of Europe’s great cultural cities.
Visit the Acropolis Museum, the Museum of Cycladic Art, or simply spend an hour wandering through a museum shop convincing yourself that you need another coffee table book. The Hyper Hypo Bookstore is sooo good. I wanted to sleep there.
I recommend these lunches depending on your mood:
For a chic lunch: Nolan.
For a hidden local find: Stoa Allios.
This is one of Athens’ best-kept secrets.
Thirty minutes from the city and suddenly you’re swimming in the sea.
The Athens Riviera feels like an island without requiring you to pack another bag.
Which, after a lifetime of overpacking, I deeply appreciate.
The Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens is a beautiful hotel with excellent dinner options.
Fresh fish. Greek salad. A glass of wine.
Sunset.
Repeat.
If I’m staying in the center of Athens, I love the Hotel Grande Bretagne. The rooftop view alone is worth checking in for. Next door to is the boutique brother/sister hotel called the King George. It’s smaller, more modern, great bar. And then next door to it is NJV Athens which is less pricey and great for young adults sharing rooms.
For something intimate and beautifully designed, I love The Dolli at Acropolis.
My new discovery just 40 min away from the Athens airport is Cape Sounio. A fabulous resort on the beach overlooking Poseidon’s Temple. It’s perfect for families as the rooms are designed like little homes, so there is privacy and also luxury. The food is exceptional as well. I have been meaning to visit here for some time as my dear friend Vicky Vlachonis helped curate their wellness spa, which we all experienced. Starting with the stunningly large jacuzzi at the entrance perfect for post treatment relaxation and you get a direct view of the Temple. The treatments range from acupunture to hot stone massages, all kicked off with a shot of Saint Supply Olive Oil. It’s a perfect retreat that has something for everyone. It will definitely be a stop on our next visit.
The sea is beautiful, the pace slows instantly, and somehow every meal tastes better there.
If there’s one snack you absolutely have to eat in Athens, it’s a warm tiropita (Greek cheese pie). Flaky, buttery pastry wrapped around a rich, salty feta filling—it might just become your favorite breakfast, lunch, or afternoon pick-me-up.
My favorite is Ariston, a tiny bakery just steps from Syntagma Square that has been serving its legendary tyropita kourou for more than a century. It’s one of those places Athenians have loved for generations, and after one bite, you’ll understand why.
Order it warm, grab a coffee, and enjoy it while wandering the streets of Athens. Sometimes the simplest meals become the ones you remember most.
Skip the fast fashion and leave room in your suitcase. Athens is one of the best places to invest in a beautifully made linen dress you’ll wear for years.
My favorites are Kourbela for understated elegance and modern silhouettes, Haris Cotton for classic Greek linen staples, and Parthenis for timeless designer pieces that feel effortlessly sophisticated.
There’s something about buying a linen dress in Greece that makes it feel like more than just another purchase. Long after your trip is over, you’ll put it on and be reminded of sun-soaked afternoons, freddo coffees, and wandering the streets of Athens.
Forget the typical souvenirs. These are the pieces I always look for when I’m in Greece—beautiful, timeless, and guaranteed to remind you of your trip long after you’ve unpacked.
Handmade Jewelry
Greece has an incredible tradition of jewelry making, from delicate gold pieces inspired by ancient designs to modern sculptural earrings and cuffs. Whether you shop in Kolonaki or one of the island boutiques, you’ll find pieces that feel both contemporary and deeply rooted in Greek history.
Linen Tablecloths & Napkins
One of my favorite things to bring home. A beautiful linen tablecloth instantly transforms an everyday dinner into something that feels like you’re back on a terrace overlooking the Aegean. Look for natural linen with simple stripes or hand embroidery that only gets softer with time.
Ceramics
Handmade serving bowls, olive oil cruets, espresso cups, and platters are some of my favorite finds. They don’t have to match perfectly—that’s part of the charm.
Leather Sandals
The perfect Greek souvenir. Handmade leather sandals are comfortable, beautifully crafted, and somehow only get better the more you wear them.
Olive Oil & Sea Salt
If you have room in your suitcase, bring home a bottle of excellent extra virgin olive oil or a tin of flaky Greek sea salt. They’re simple luxuries you’ll use every day.
A Woven Basket
I never seem to leave Greece without one. Perfect for the beach while you’re there and equally useful for farmers’ markets or weekends at home.
The best souvenirs are the ones that quietly become part of your everyday life. A linen tablecloth you’ll use for Sunday dinners, a pair of gold earrings you reach for every summer, or a ceramic bowl that reminds you of a long lunch in the Greek sun. Those are the things worth bringing home.
Vintage Greek Textiles
If you come across a vintage handwoven linen, embroidered table runner, or antique textile in a market or small boutique, don't hesitate. These one-of-a-kind pieces are rich with history and craftsmanship, and they make beautiful additions to your home—draped over a table, layered on a bed, or turned into pillow covers. They're the kind of treasures that become family heirlooms and tell a story long after your trip is over.
The islands are extraordinary.
But Athens gives you context.
It teaches you how Greeks live. How they eat. How they gather. How they linger.
And perhaps most importantly, it reminds you that not every beautiful thing needs to be rushed.
Every summer, I leave Greece promising myself I’ll bring a little of that feeling home.
Sometimes I manage it.
Sometimes I don’t.
But for two perfect days in Athens, I remember exactly the kind of life I want to live: one with longer lunches, slower mornings, and just enough room for one more coffee.
xx-Sasha
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