Street in Athens
Anafiotika is a hidden neighborhood clinging to the north slope of the Acropolis rock, built in the 19th century by workers from the Cycladic island of Anafi who replicated their island architecture in the middle of Athens. Free. The whitewashed houses, blue shutters, and narrow staircases look like a Greek island village dropped onto a hillside above a capital city. Budget travelers find it by climbing through Plaka and suddenly feeling like they have left Athens entirely.
Practical
On foot
Free and low-cost routes that stop at Anafiotika.
The Acropolis Hill Circuit is a self-guided walk connecting the three hills around the Acropolis through pine forests and rocky paths. Free. It passes the site of the world's first democratic assembly and the most historically significant free walk in Europe.
Nearby
Other places worth the walk, and what each one costs.
The Acropolis is the sacred rock above Athens, crowned by the Parthenon and visible from almost everywhere in the city. Entry is paid, with a combo ticket covering multiple archaeological sites.
The Acropolis Museum is a modern glass museum at the foot of the Acropolis, housing the sculptures, friezes, and artifacts from the Parthenon and the other Acropolis buildings. Entry is paid.
The Ancient Agora was the civic and commercial heart of classical Athens, where Socrates argued and democracy was practiced daily. The site is included in the Acropolis combo ticket.
Areopagus Hill (Mars Hill) is a bare marble rock below the Acropolis entrance where the Athenian court met and where St Paul delivered his sermon to the Athenians. Free.
The Athens Central Market (Varvakios Agora) is a covered market on Athinas Street between Monastiraki and Omonia, with a meat hall, a fish hall, and surrounding streets of fruit, vegetable, and spice vendors. Free to browse.
The Benaki Museum of Greek Culture is a private museum spanning Greek history from the Neolithic era to the 20th century, housed in a neoclassical mansion on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue. Entry is paid.
Working out what Athens costs?
The whole of Athens