Greece has always held a high spot on my list of places to visit! From my school days learning Greek mythology to exploring works by famous Greek writers and philosophers, I’ve dreamt about this trip for years. And let’s not neglect the food—Greek restaurants have long been favorites of mine!

 

Our flight landed in Athens at 1 AM. Unsure about the city’s safety, we initially thought we should take a taxi. But as we noticed travelers queuing for the bus, we changed our minds and decided to join them. Once we hopped off the bus in the city center, all our worries vanished. Even at 2 AM, the city bustled with life and felt incredibly safe, with a lively crowd of young clubgoers still out and about.

 

The next morning, we slept in to recover from the long day of travel. Feeling rested, we were eager to enjoy a late breakfast. Our first meal consisted of a spinach and cheese pie paired with Greek coffee. Hard to top a crumbly filo crust pastry – savory or sweet! Greek coffee, similar to Turkish coffee, comes served with fine grounds in the cup. You must sip carefully to avoid stirring up the sediment and ending up with a mouthful of sludge. After a couple of cups, I finally grasped the art of proper drinking techniques! 😄

 

Exploring the streets of Athens is an adventure! A new cluster of lively bars, cafes, and restaurants appears at nearly every corner and alleyway. I noticed many friendly stray cats dotting the city, likely helping keep the rat population low—we didn’t see a single rat, so it seems they are doing their job in between long naps in the sun. These cats seem to blend into the community; some shop owners even leave out food and water for them.

 

And in a city this large, the gastronomic options are endless! You can find a diverse range of cuisines from around the world. Here are just a few of the delightful dishes we enjoyed:

• Kolokithokeftedes – Fried zucchini fritters.
• Birria tacos – I couldn’t resist some great birria; finding good Mexican food in Portugal can be a challenge!
• Dolmadas – Stuffed grape leaves.
• Souvlaki – Grilled meat skewers.
• Gyros – Either on a plate with fries or wrapped in pita, this street food quickly became my favorite for a quick bite!
• Loukomadies – Freshly made doughnuts traditionally served with honey and crushed pistachios.
• Moussaka – A lasagna-like dish with mashed potatoes, ground beef, and eggplant.
• Hanum Bourek – A baklava-like dessert filled with baked custard.

 

And here’s a quick list of our favorite craft beer bars:

• Barley Cargo – They hosted a fantastic tap takeover event featuring rare winter offerings from Belgium. Not cheap, but worth it for beer enthusiasts!
• Tale of Ales – A local hangout offering great craft beers from Athens and other Greek breweries.
• Strange Brew – A small brewery with a modest tap list, yet their beers were delightful.
• Beer Time – A bit more touristy, but they offered an excellent selection of Greek craft beer.

 

One day, we spent hours wandering around the Plaka neighborhood and climbing the hills surrounding the Acropolis. Philopappos Hill served as the perfect spot for stunning 360-degree views of the city and the sea! Climbing those hills definitely worked up quite a thirst, but thankfully, a few blocks down from the south side of the hill lies Strange Brew Taproom & Bottleshop. 🍻

 

The next day, we set off on an e-bike city tour. Since Athens lacks much cycling infrastructure, having a guide made the experience much smoother. Our guide led us on a charming route, though we sometimes struggled to navigate around large crowds of pedestrians. We explored numerous landmarks and truly enjoyed discovering the city by bicycle!

 

One of our must-see attractions was an archaeology museum. The two main options were the Acropolis Museum and the National Archaeological Museum. We chose the latter based on a local tour guide’s recommendation. They explained that while the Acropolis Museum focuses solely on artifacts from the Athens Acropolis site, the National Museum houses treasures from digs all over Greece. They also mentioned that the antiquities at the National Museum are generally better preserved and of higher quality. Since we only visited one, we can’t compare, but we left feeling very satisfied and educated.

 

The next morning, we woke up early to walk across town and catch the tour bus to Meteora. As we left the touristy Syntagma neighborhood, a more gritty atmosphere surrounded us, and graffiti lined the streets. Yet, it still felt completely safe. After a four-hour bus ride, we finally arrived in Meteora—a mind-blowingly beautiful place! The towering sandstone rock formations commanded our attention, with picturesque Greek Orthodox monasteries perched on some of the cliffs. It astonished me that humans managed to construct such elaborate structures atop sheer cliffs.

 

In earlier times, people relied on woven rope baskets and pulleys for access. The monks used the basket and pulley system to haul supplies and themselves up and down from the monastery. They replaced the rope only after it broke. On a few occasions, the rope broke with a monk inside, causing a fatal fall. They accepted this as God’s will. Only recently have they carved winding staircases into the rock or added electricity!

 

I really appreciated the Byzantine-style paintings, especially when they didn’t depict hell or death. The art definitely has an eye-catching quality reminiscent of anime! Yet, the standout feature of Meteora remains the breathtaking natural beauty of the region!

 

After dinner that night, Emi experienced food poisoning. Unfortunately, that’s one of the risks of traveling and dining out regularly, even sticking to more upscale restaurants! Luckily, she felt strong enough to rise the next morning and slowly began to feel better in the afternoon.

 

We embarked on a hike through the main cluster of rock formations, which turned out to be my favorite part of this vacation! The sun shone, warming us on a cool morning. As I walked, I took care to look around in every direction, eager not to miss a single stunning view! The landscape was simply incredible.

 

In Athens, we discovered an attraction that certainly qualifies as sensory overload. I’m not sure “attraction” even properly describes it, but let’s go with it! Little Kook encompasses a gift shop, café, and restaurant. This place dazzles visitors with decorations everywhere—inside and out. It feels as if every resident of Athens tossed out their holiday decorations, and Little Kook gladly displayed them all! I couldn’t even imagine their daily electricity bill! But, you know what? It’s incredibly cool; even Ebenezer Scrooge would find himself entranced by Christmas spirit while strolling down that alley! They redecorate the entire area (equivalent to one side of a city block) for Easter, Halloween, and various summer themes, like Alice in Wonderland or Snow White. Quite the kooky experience! 😄 Definitely worth checking out, but it’s best to visit earlier in the day; we found the evening crowds too overwhelming to navigate.

 

On our final day in Athens, we explored the legendary Acropolis and Pantheon. Walking along the same paths the ancient Greeks once traversed for the Panathenaic Festival gave me chills! While time and conflicts have left their mark on this historical site, it remains a marvel to experience its remains and witness ongoing efforts to restore and preserve it for future generations.

 

We flew back early the next morning and set out to catch the bus to the airport at 3 AM. The city buzzed with energy, even at that early hour—mostly bar and club-goers grabbing late-night snacks before heading home! It felt like déjà vu from our arrival a week ago. Athens truly is a city that never sleeps! 😄

 

To summarize, I can’t help but share how welcoming the people were. Maybe it’s the charm of the big city that makes it so accommodating for tourists. Visiting in December is fantastic! Sure, you won’t be island hopping or lounging on beaches, but the city is much less crowded. You can explore monuments without the usual hustle and bustle, plus enjoy offseason pricing on museums and tours. The winter weather is lovely—sunny and just a bit chilly in the mornings and evenings. It’s a touch colder in Meteora and the climate can be more unpredictable but this time of year you can book last minute or reschedule.

 

Well, that’s it for now! We’re planning to pause travel for a bit as we prepare our plans and wallets for our two-week visit this March along the west coast of the United States to reconnect with family and friends. This trip marks our two-year anniversary since moving to Braga, Portugal! Bye for now…