Walks and hikes you DO NOT want to MISS in Athens
Athens has some banging views, scenery and walks that simply MUST be done. Stay out of the midday sunshine however as it's pretty exhausting doing these in the middle of the day, especially in summer. But fear not, these walks and hikes can all be done by beginners and are not hectic in the slightest!
“If you're visiting Athens in the summer months, be sure to get your walks in early in the morning or in the evenings. If you go in the middle of the day you will COOK.”
Philopappos Hill
This is a must do when in Athens. It’s an easy walk/hike that took 20 minutes to get to the top. The start of the trail isn’t too far from the Acropolis itself, but the walk takes you far enough away to give you a perfect ‘hidden’ look at the site.
Despite visiting at the end of August, the walk was very quiet when I completed it. I think I only saw 3 people the whole time, and so it can be very secluded and peaceful.
If you look away from the Acropolis you’ll see the rest of Athens which is an equally cool view!
This is free to access and is an easy thing to add to one of your days in Athens, if it’s not already in your schedule!
Lycabettus Hill
You can actually see Lycabettus Hill from the Acropolis, and let me tell you that the views of Acropolis from Lycabettus Hill are STUNNING. To get to Lycabettus Hill, you’ll need to get a funicular/cable car and so bring cash with you as they do not take card [this cost around £6 return]. Head to ‘Ploutarchou 62’ to catch the cable car and begin your journey! The cable car runs every 30 minutes, takes around 3 minutes to get to the top, and runs until around 1am for those who want to spend the evening up there!
We actually ate dinner at ‘Orizontes’ at the top of Lycabettus Hill and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Dinner was at 6:30pm and we were there whilst the sun was setting and it was so amazing. The views were 10/10 and the food and drink at the restaurant was also great, I’d definitely recommend it.
“I could have stayed up there forever, the views from sunset to night time were so epic.”
If you don’t want to eat at the restaurant, you can also bring your own food and beers to the top and chill in the viewing area to watch the sunset. People are also up there selling beers and so bring more cash in case you get thirsty. It does get busy so be sure to get up there in enough time to find a spot before the sun sets.
National Garden
The National Garden is located right next to the Panathenaic Stadium, and is free to enter. There are a few cafe’s located on the outskirts of the perimeter, and it is a great place to park up and relax after some exploring.
There are beautiful trees. (around 7,000 of them to be exact!), flowers and lakes inside to wander around, and considering it’s in the centre of Athens it’s very peaceful and tranquil.
Athens has SO many things to see and do aside from these walks. Check out our top sights in Athens here: tOP SIGHTS ATHENS