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Athens Travel Guide: Best of Plaka & Acropolis
The Acropolis, without making a day of it
The following morning was our Acropolis day. We had booked a mid morning entry, which worked well for us. It meant we could have a relaxed start but still visit before the heat of the afternoon, and we had the rest of the day to enjoy rather than feeling that we needed to fit another major attraction around it.
Seeing the Acropolis in person never quite feels like something you can prepare for. The scale, the position above the city and the sense of history are extraordinary. Even with children, I think it is one of those experiences that deserves time and attention.
We followed the visit with the Acropolis Museum, which provided a welcome change of pace after being outside. By lunchtime, we had earned a proper meal. Koukaki was a natural choice, and we spent a long lunch there before wandering again through the historic centre.
This was one of the things I enjoyed most about the trip. We had done the main sightseeing, but the afternoon was deliberately unstructured. We looked around the shops, stopped when something caught our attention and eventually made our way back to the hotel. There was no sense that we were missing something.
Wandering through Plaka
Plaka is exactly the kind of place where it pays to put the map away for a while. The streets climb gently towards the Acropolis, with neoclassical buildings, small shops and tavernas appearing around corners. From there, we wandered into Anafiotika, a tiny cluster of whitewashed houses tucked beneath the Acropolis.
It feels completely removed from the city around it.
There is something particularly charming about finding a little piece of the Cyclades in the middle of Athens, and it was one of those moments that reminded me why I prefer travelling with some space in the itinerary. Had we been rushing from one attraction to the next, we might easily have walked straight past it.
We eventually made our way towards Monastiraki, taking in the atmosphere of the historic centre before heading back towards Plaka. By evening, we were ready to sit down properly and eat.
Athens at sunset
Later that evening, we headed to The Dolli for sunset drinks and dinner. The hotel occupies a beautiful historic neoclassical mansion, with its original character alongside contemporary interiors. The rooftop has one of the best views of the Acropolis, which rises above the surrounding rooftops.
Having spent the morning at the Acropolis, it was a nice way to finish the day, this time seeing it from a completely different perspective. As the light faded, the Acropolis was illuminated and became even more striking against the evening sky
Finding the right Sani experience
The beauty of Sani is that there is no single "best" hotel. The right choice depends on your family, your stage of life and how you like to spend your holidays.
This is where my role comes in. Through my Sani Ambassador status, my relationship with the Sani team, the experience of helping many clients plan their stays, and of course my own personal experience, I offer guidance beyond simply recommending the resort itself. Understanding the subtle differences between each hotel is what allows me to match clients with the experience that feels right for them.
A different side of Athens
For our third day, we deliberately changed the pace.
We started around Syntagma and the National Garden before making our way towards the coast. Lunch at 91 Athens Riviera gave us an entirely different perspective on Athens. It is easy to think of the city purely in terms of ancient monuments and historic neighbourhoods, but the coastline changes the mood completely.
Suddenly the day felt less like a city break and more like a summer holiday.
That contrast is one of the reasons I would happily recommend Athens for a few nights rather than simply treating it as a stopover. You can spend one day surrounded by ancient history and the next beside the sea, and you can do both without travelling particularly far.
We spent the afternoon around the Riviera before returning to Plaka for dinner.
Athens: A Few Days in the City Before the Islands
I have always liked the idea of Athens as the beginning of a Greek holiday.
There is something rather wonderful about arriving in a city where thousands of years of history sit alongside excellent restaurants, rooftop bars and the sort of streets where you can happily lose half an hour simply wandering. Then, when you have had your fill of the city, you can head towards the coast or on to an island and relax and unwind.
Having recently spent a few days in Athens with my family, I was reminded just how well the city lends itself to this kind of break.
We stayed in Plaka, which I think is particularly well suited to a short stay. It meant that on our first morning we did not have to rush anywhere. After a late arrival, a late breakfast followed. We wandered out into the streets and stopped for lunch before really deciding what we wanted to do with the afternoon.
That is how I like to approach Athens. There is plenty that deserves a place in the diary, but I would resist the temptation to fill every hour.
The luxury of doing less
Perhaps my biggest takeaway from the trip was that Athens does not need to be complicated.
There is a temptation with a city like this to try to fit everything in. The Acropolis, the Parthenon, museums, markets, Syntagma, the stadium, the different neighbourhoods, restaurants and rooftops. You could quite easily fill every hour, but I think Athens is better when you leave some of it to chance.
Have the Acropolis day. Make time for the museum. Choose a couple of restaurants you really want to try. Then leave some space around them. Walk through Plaka without necessarily knowing where you are going. Stop for lunch, go back to the hotel for an hour, watch the sunset.
For us, travelling with the children, that balance made all the difference. However I would give the same advice for couples or friends visiting for a few days.
Athens before the islands
I left Athens thinking that it deserves more than a hurried night at the beginning or end of a Greek island holiday.
Three or four nights would give you enough time to see the essential sights without turning the trip into an itinerary of early starts and constant sightseeing. If you are travelling in the warmer months, the opportunity to spend some time on the Riviera adds another dimension altogether.
After the energy of Athens, stepping onto a ferry or taking a short flight towards the Aegean feels like a natural progression. The pace changes, the landscape changes and the holiday takes on a completely different rhythm. That combination is one I particularly like. A few days of history, food and city life, followed by the sea.
Athens reminded me that sometimes the best city breaks are not about how much you manage to see, but about how naturally everything fits together. For a Greek holiday, I think that is a rather good place to start.
Beyond the beach
One of the reasons I continue to recommend Sani is that the experience extends far beyond the pool and beach.
For those who enjoy being active, there is an impressive choice of activities including the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy, Chelsea Football Academy and Bear Grylls Survival Academy, alongside sailing, watersports, hiking, cycling, diving and the treetop adventure park.
Younger guests can enjoy the excellent kids clubs and Ozone Teen Club, while parents have plenty of opportunities to relax in one of the five spas, enjoy the beaches or simply slow the pace.
Dining is a significant highlight. With more than 25 restaurants across the resort and marina, there is genuine variety throughout your stay, from relaxed lunches by the sea to memorable evening meals overlooking the marina. The Dine Around programme also allows guests to experience different restaurants across the resort, making each evening feel different.
When to upgrade
The Sani Suite Collection
For families looking for more space, additional privacy and enhanced service, the Sani Suite Collection is worth considering. Available across selected one, two and three bedroom suites, residences and villas, the collection includes a number of additional benefits designed to make your stay feel even more bespoke. These include dedicated concierge support, priority reservations for dining and experiences, enhanced in room amenities, upgraded toiletries, laundry service, exclusive beach experiences and complimentary airport transfers.
For families travelling together in peak weeks, celebrating a special occasion or simply wanting more space during their holiday, these additional touches can make a noticeable difference.
