If you’re one of those people who has a world map with pins on the places you want to visit, you know you have a fairly large pin placed over Greece. The country that history made, Greece is the architect of most of our greatest myths and stories.

I wish I could say our plan to visit Athens was driven by our need to visit this amazing historical site; instead it was one of convenience, but every part of it was worth it.

Athens may seem like an unassuming city but when you start looking through the nooks and crannies, you will find yourself immersed in a whole new world, unlike anything you could ever have imagined.

Accommodation

I don’t often recommend this but I would strongly advise you to stay at a four or five-star hotel. Greece’s economy is in the doldrums and it can be a bit hard to trust people there. We stayed at the InterContinental Hotel and they took excellent care of us.

Also, try not to stay too close to the city center. This may not seem like a wise idea but the city center, especially Syntagma Square, includes popular spots for demonstrations, and thus, is not entirely safe.

Transport

Athens is lovely to walk around but you do have to be careful about pickpockets. We were in the city for an incredibly short time so we didn’t travel around much but if you are there for longer, be warned that transportation system tends to be easily disrupted by the constant demonstrations.

Having said that, the metro stations are a wonder as they are all archaeological dig sites. You won’t see such historic stations anywhere else in the world. Provided you can get into them in the first place!

Most importantly, have a backup plan and perhaps even add an extra day or two to your trip. The demonstrations we ran into during our visit were incredibly disruptive and we lost precious time on an already curtailed trip. It’s best to be completely prepared with contingencies just in case you can’t be somewhere because of strikes.

Attractions

This is Athens, there are attractions under your feet. Literally. Those grates you’re standing on? Look at them carefully and you will see ancient ruins a few meters away below your feet. It’s breath-taking.

There are several museums to visit but the one you absolutely cannot miss is the Acropolis Museum. Situated over an active dig site, the Acropolis Museum is home to some of the most stunning statues, pots and relics this side of the Cairo Museum. You can also learn about the beautiful Parthenon and the Museum’s life-long work in restoring it.

The must-sees within the museum are the five columns of Athena’s temple in the Parthenon. The sheer size is astounding but it’s the detail of the columns that will mesmerize you.

Whatever you do, don’t skip the last floor which has restored sections of the Parthenon on display. The level of destruction is distressing but the work that is being put into getting it all back together is impressive.

After the Museum, head to the actual Acropolis and the Parthenon situated at the very tip. You must wear a comfortable pair of shoes that have good grip. The way to the Parthenon is not easy; a combination of stairs and slopes lead you to the top and the higher you get, the more slippery the path. We visited in winter when the crowds were minimal and the experience was hairy despite it; the summer rush makes the area even more dangerous.

Once you get to the top, of course, you will know it was a worthwhile endeavor. The Parthenon is a site to behold. Enormous, even more so than you can imagine, the Parthenon looms over the city, a silent guardian, disheveled and bruised but not beaten.

Alongside it is Athena’s temple. Little is left of this once-grand structure including the base of the 13-foot statue of the goddess and protector of the city. The loss you feel at these vanished treasures is overwhelming but we can take solace in the fact that we have these beautiful ruins to look at.

The Acropolis has several other interesting areas to check out, including a theater and the Odeon of Herodotus. We were short on time and couldn’t see these sites, but they are worth visiting.

Another museum you have to visit is the Archaeological Museum. Smaller than the Acropolis, it is packed with statues and trinkets from the past. Be warned though, this museum is incredibly humid, so dress accordingly and drink plenty of water.

There are numerous statues and archaeological sites to see in Athens and it is impossible to list them all. Do try and get into the site for the Hadrian Arch and Temple of Zeus. We had the incredible misfortune of visiting on a day when the strike had caused the area to be shut down early. But even from the outside, the Arch and Temple are magnificent.

A site we almost overlooked was the Ancient Agora. Now just a collection of ruins, the Agora was a bustling marketplace all those years ago. It is an enormous site and has a beauty about it that captivates you. It had been on my list of places to visit but we thought we had run out of time when we finally stumbled upon it. I wish I could have seen all of it but alas, it was not to be.

At the center of the Agora is the Temple of Hephaestus, famous for being the most intact of all the ancient temples. A short climb up some steep steps and you find yourself in front of a beautiful structure, paralleling the magnificence of the Parthenon. You can walk around the outside of the temple and, from the back, peak inside to see what remains. Quite the experience!

Experiences

If you’re travelling to Athens in winter, stop by at Syntagma Square during Christmas time. It is beautiful!

One of the first things we did in Athens was to take a day trip to Delphi, the site where the Oracle of Delphi sat. The journey is a long and picturesque one but you will be glad when you reach.

Once again, good walking shoes with strong grips are essential. Delphi is a massive area and you can only get to the top via steep, slippery stairs. At the halfway point is the stunning Altar of Apollo. The size of the columns will strike you dumb and if you happen to go during the afternoon, you will find yourself marveling at the sun shining through them.

Above the Altar is the ancient theater and then, the stadium. The climb is an incredible one and do remember you have to come back down the slippery steps, so decide wisely whether or not you want to go on. If you do make it to the top, you will be well pleased at the beautiful sights.

Take a detour to the Delphi museum before leaving. It isn’t the largest but it has some stunning statues including a marvelous sphinx.

On the way out, try and see if you can catch a glimpse of the old gymnasium. It’s hard to see through all the foliage (you don’t want to fall off the cliff) but it is stunning.

A temple that wasn’t on our list until we arrived in Athens was the Temple of Poseidon. Situated a couple of hours outside of the city, the Temple has a magnificent view and is the very definition of picture-postcard perfect.

The journey there is almost as beautiful; you travel beside the gorgeous blue sea. It’s so beautiful, in fact, that we had to stop the car so we could get out and take pictures. No time for a swim, unfortunately.

The magnificence of the Poseidon Temple is obvious as you approach it from the road. The walk up to it is surprisingly easy and they’ve made it very accessible as well.

I know everyone talks about the grandeur and scale of the Parthenon, but to me, the Poseidon Temple was the highlight of my Athens trip. There is something spectacular about this temple that captivates you completely. We walked slowly around it, drinking in every column. We could have been done there in half an hour but we couldn’t tear ourselves away.

The view is also stunning. Surrounded by water, the temple seems to shine in the midst of blue skies and bluer seas. We had the excellent fortune of being at the temple at sunset. That picture-postcard view I was talking about, this is it. The sun frames the temple in orange light and the sight had everyone standing out in the freezing cold, completely enamored. It’s a sight I hope never to forget.

If you have the time, try and do more daytrips to other temples outside Athens. And, if you’re going in spring or summer, you could also include day trips to the beautiful island of Santorini.

Shopping

We intended to buy a lot of miniature statues of our favorite Greek gods and we accomplished that task with ease.

There’s plenty to buy in terms of souvenirs but for an authentic slice of Greece, buy olives. Seriously, you won’t get such divine olives anywhere else. Buy as many as you can! And while you’re at it, bring some olive oil home with you, as well. With olives this good, the oil is hard to resist.

The evil eye is a popular buy in Turkey and Greece, so if you haven’t already, you should probably get some evil eye jewelry or wall decorations.

The owl is the symbol of the Goddess Athena and you will end up buying a small owl whether you intended to or not. Fortunately, at home, we already love owls, so our Athena owl was an addition to our growing collection.

Of course, Ouzo is the drink of choice for our Grecian friends so make some space in your suitcase for it.

Food

The first thing I had in Athens was the spinach pie, spanakopita, and it’s one of my favorites. Oh, and did I tell you that I hate spinach? Spanakopita can turn you into a spinach fan, it’s that good.

Despite my best efforts, I didn’t get around to having a gyro but I suggest you have this as it is the top food to eat while in Athens.

Tzatziki is another must-eat but I admit, this was a bit hit and miss. It really depended on where one was. Not all the Tzatziki we encountered was tasty.

The Greek Dolma is a delicacy and much-loved by tourists. Despite not loving vine leaves, I did enjoy the dolmas I had. And yes, the Indian dolma is derived from the Greek one.

The other meals you must try are the souvlaki and moussaka. You can’t leave Athens without having them. Also, have all the seafood. Seriously, all of it. I have never had such perfectly grilled, fresh seafood. It is heaven on a plate.

Alongside all the seafood you will be having, eat all the olives. I cannot stress the importance of enjoying the olives in Greece. I despised olives before I visited Greece but I couldn’t get enough of them while I was there. They are truly out of this world.

For dessert, definitely try the panacotta, a delicacy in Greece, and the baklava. A surprise favorite for us was the halwas which is similar to a chocolate Sandesh. We probably had too many of those.

Our trip to Athens definitely had its ups and downs what with daily demonstrations and strikes. But when things ran smoothly, we were left in awe as we walked among the gods and the temples that paid them homage. For any history buff, Athens is definitely the place to be.

Ronita Mohan is a freelance writer based in the UAE

If you’re one of those people who has a world map with pins on the places you want to visit, you know you have a fairly large pin placed over Greece. The country that history made, Greece is the architect of most of our greatest myths and stories.

I wish I could say our plan to