12 Unique Things To Do in Athens

While Athens sleeps, hike to the highest point in the city and watch the sunrise paint the Acropolis gold. At 277 metres, Lycabettus Hill gives you a 360-degree panorama: the Aegean Sea, the mountains, and the entire city waking up below you. It feels cinematic, and you'll share the summit with maybe five other people instead of five hundred.

Tucked against the northern slopes of the Acropolis, Anafiotika is a tiny cluster of whitewashed houses with blue doors and bougainvillea-draped walls. Built in the 1840s by workers from the island of Anafi, it looks like it was teleported from Santorini. Narrow paths wind between maybe 40 remaining houses. Most tourists walk right below it without knowing it exists. It's one of Athens' most photogenic spots, and one that most people walk right past.

On the descent from Lycabettus summit, there's an unmarked lookout point that gives what many consider the most unique angle of the Acropolis in Athens. It's not signposted, not on Google Maps, and not mentioned in any guidebook. You need a local to show you where to step off the main path. George includes this on his Conquer Lycabettus experience, and it's consistently the moment guests reach for their cameras.

Athens has some of the most serious street art in Europe. The neighbourhoods of Psyrri, Exarchia, and Metaxourgeio feature enormous murals by internationally known artists: social commentary, surrealism, photorealism, and abstract work covering entire building facades. What started during the economic crisis as protest art has become a real cultural movement. Walk these streets with eyes up. Every corner reveals something new.

On the slopes of Lycabettus Hill, a dramatic rock formation known as Split Rock is a favourite spot for local climbers, and completely unknown to tourists. It's a massive boulder that appears to have been split in two by a giant's hand. George shows visitors this spot on his guided experiences, and most are amazed that something this dramatic exists just minutes from the city centre.

The Central Market on Athinas Street is Athens at its loudest and most real. Fishmongers shout over glistening catches, butchers carve whole lambs, and spice vendors weigh out saffron and oregano. The surrounding streets have fruit and vegetable stalls, olive oil shops, and tiny restaurants serving tripe soup to market workers at 6 AM. Loud, aromatic, slightly chaotic, and about as far from the tourist trail as you can get. Visit before 10 AM for the full experience.

While everyone crowds Areopagus Hill (Mars Hill) for sunset, those in the know head to Philopappos Hill just a few minutes further. At roughly the same elevation as the Acropolis, you get a face-to-face view as the Parthenon glows golden in the last light. Fewer people, better angles, more space to breathe. The Hills Climb takes you through this viewpoint.

The freddo espresso (a double shot of espresso, shaken with ice until frothy) is Athens' signature coffee. Invented in Greece, it's available in every café, but quality varies wildly. The best freddo espressos come from neighbourhood cafés in Koukaki, Pagrati, or Kolonaki, not the tourist spots in Monastiraki. Order a "freddo espresso sketo" (no sugar) or "me ligi" (a little sugar), sit facing the street, and don't rush. Coffee in Athens is a social act, not a caffeine delivery system. (Staying hydrated beyond coffee? Read our guide on Athens tap water.)