The Best Thing To Do in Athens Greece

What makes this tour special is not just the distance or the elevation. It is the contrast. Lycabettus Hill and Philopappos Hill are both within the city of Athens, both offer extraordinary views, and both deserve to be on any list of unique things to do in Athens. But the experience of climbing each one is entirely different.

Lycabettus is the raw one. 277 metres, the highest point in the city. My route takes you up the rugged western face through pine forest and exposed rock — steep, physical, and genuinely wild for a hill surrounded by four million people. Views build as you climb. By the summit you can see three mountain ranges, the Saronic Gulf islands, and on a clear morning, the Peloponnese.

Philopappos is different in every way. Lower, greener, ancient. It sits directly across from the Acropolis and gives you a face-to-face view of the Parthenon that most people say is the best they've seen. Ancient olive trees on the slopes. The Pnyx — where democracy was born — right next door. Contemplative where Lycabettus was adrenaline.

That contrast is the whole point. High and low. Wild and civilised. Panoramic and intimate. Together, the two hills give you Athens from every angle. It's why people who do this walking experience consistently say it was the highlight of their trip.

The walk between the two hills is part of the experience, not just a transfer. You will pass through some of Athens' most interesting neighbourhoods, areas that most tourists never see because they stick to the Plaka and Monastiraki circuit. George uses this section to show you a different side of the city. Real Athens, the one that locals actually live in.

This is also the recovery section. After the intensity of the Lycabettus climb, the flat walk through the city gives your legs a chance to reset before the second ascent. George sets a relaxed pace here. There are stops for water, for photos, for quick stories about the streets you are passing through. It is a natural breather built into the tour.

For anyone interested in off-the-beaten-path Athens, this middle section is full of discoveries. Street art, neighbourhood tavernas, quiet squares with old men playing backgammon under plane trees. These are the things to do in Athens Greece that never make the top ten lists, but they are often what people remember most vividly.

This is the most physically demanding of the three tours. It covers 7.5km with 300m of elevation gain across approximately 12,000 steps over 2.5 hours. The terrain includes steep rocky trails, loose gravel, and some light scrambling on the Lycabettus ascent. Philopappos is gentler but still involves sustained uphill walking.

You do not need to be a serious hiker or an athlete. But you should be someone who exercises regularly and is comfortable walking for extended periods. If you go to the gym a few times a week, do regular walks or runs, or generally stay active, you will handle it. George has taken walkers aged 18 to 65 on this route and they have all completed it.but they were all reasonably fit.

This tour is particularly well-suited to couples and small groups of friends who enjoy being active together. It is also a favourite of solo travellers who want to push themselves and meet like-minded people. If you are the kind of person who would rather earn your view than take a bus to it, this is the experience for you.