Guest Post: Athens in Winter: 10 Things To Do

About the author: Cal Bailey runs https://mountainleon.com/ – a travel blog Cal started after traveling the world for 2 years. If you are interested in learning more about him, make sure you visit his personal travel blog.

Greece is a land of passion and beauty and heat. It is a land of alabaster sand and fiery golden sunshine, of waters an unparalleled crystalline blue and of ancient olive-mantled hills which rise up from the seas in hushed and soulful tranquility. It is a land of days spent soaking in the brilliant sun and of evenings at the edge of the Mediterranean, watching the moonrise over the gentle waters. A trip to Greece is often thought of as the ultimate summer holiday, and very rightly so.

The mistake that people often make is to think of all this Greek perfection and to immediately disassociate the country with anything else––with anything not sunbathing and sailing and summery. But Greece is all of this and so much more! All that stunning scenery, that flawless seafood, that deep-rooted culture of passion and hospitality and laid-back relaxation. . . . None of that goes away the moment October rolls around. It’s all still there––just cheaper and more relaxed, less jam-packed with hordes of pale tourists scrambling madly to claim the very best spots for tanning. And yes, let’s be honest. It’s winter; it does also get colder. But that’s the thing! In Greece, “getting colder” often means dropping from a stifling 40 summer degrees to somewhere generally between 10 and 22. Actually far more comfortable, for many many people.

It might not be an ideal time for sunbathing––but all the beauty, the culture, the food, and the history still remain. And the pinnacle of all this, of course, is Athens. Athens is the capital of Greece and where so much of its color and richness comes together. Already a relatively affordable place, during the winter months prices drop even lower and––most blessedly––the crowds disappear, leaving completely free the entire city, in all its historical and cultural brilliance. The only ones sharing the city with you are generally the locals, which just enriches the entire experience. So here they are––the ten activities which every winter visitor to Athens simply cannot miss.

THE ACROPOLIS

Of all the wonders of Greece, the Athenian Acropolis is likely the hallmark destination, and one which any visitor would have to very deliberately avoid. To many this represents the pinnacle of Greek civilization and architecture, and––if one ignores the constant repair work being undertaken on one side––a stroll around the massive Parthenon is like a step into the ancient past. Aside from the colossal stone pillars the hilltop is rather barren, and can be extremely hot in summer. Visiting in winter is the perfect way to miss both the scorching temperatures and the crowds, and the view of the city is just as incredible as any other time of year!

THE PLAKA

Another iconic Athenian attraction, the Plaka––Athens’ historic ‘old town’––is another destination which is none diminished by winter (unless you love bulling your way through swarms of tourists and fighting off aggressive touts). Some of the shops do close down, but not nearly all; and those which remain are likely to offer the truer, more local experience anyway. Everything else is all the same. The narrow streets with all their quirky twists and turns; the little old buildings with their crowded exquisite quaintness; the locals and all their handcrafts. Be sure to climb a bit above the actual Plaka and up the hill a ways, to where the streets get really narrow and the houses take on a character all of their own, arched and domed and twisted never two the same. They also turn that delightful classic white, often accented with the same trademark blue as you would see on many of the islands. It is walking up there, among the flowers and the cobbles and the endless white––and accompanied by nobody but the armies of stray cats––that you feel you have truly stepped into another land.

HILL WALKING

While almost everybody sees the Acropolis, many people overlook the other hills of Athens, less renowned but worthy destinations in their own right. They are like islands of silence and serenity rising up from the chaotic sea that is the city’s narrow twisted streets. Scattered around the city, each offers a unique climb up––sometimes through sites of its own––and a striking view from the top. Common favorites include:

THE AREOPAGUS: Where Saint Paul first introduced Christianity to the Greeks at the altar to the “Unknown God.” Just below the Acropolis and offering a good view of much of the city as well.

THE HILL OF MUSES: Notable for a splendid view of the city, the Saronic gulf, and the Acropolis itself. It also has several key ruins of its own, including its crowning monument to Philopappos, the Shrine of the Muses, and Socrates’ supposed prison.

LYCABETTUS: Offers one of the most splendid views of the Attican Region, rising almost 300 meters above the rest of the city.

THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD

Taking place at yet another of the Tombs of the Unknown Soldier which seem to populate the world, this is another Athens favorite, and similarly unaffected by the change in seasons. The tradition is solemnly revered by the guards who partake, and the utter silence and rigid discipline displayed is a token to the history and significance of the event. Also, the bizarre slow-motion goose-stepping of the guards as can be quite an amusing sight, to those less interested in vast historical implications.

THE ACROPOLIS MUSEUM

One of the many benefits of visiting in winter is that from November to March, admission to all state-run sites is free on sundays; and this includes the museums as well. The Acropolis Museum has been long in construction and is likely at the top of this list, though many others are worth a visit as well. The Acropolis Museum houses many artifacts which were originally on the hill itself, and offers a rich glimpse into what life might have been like at that time.

NEW YEAR’S EVE

So many of the major cities in the world explode with joy and celebration whenever New Year’s rolls around. As an extremely festive capital of an extremely festive nation, Athens is no exception. There are parties all the time all throughout the year; on the final night however it is only magnified. Everyone is happy there are parties everywhere. Additionally, there are oftentimes free concerts (centered near the Syntagma) or live bar music as well. Traditionally, Greeks celebrate the final night with their families but then flood the bars after midnight, dancing until the sun rises. The annual fireworks display as seen from a hotel rooftop or one of the several hills is an unforgettable sight.

SKIING

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With the typical Greek aura of flawless sapphire waters and sunkissed beaches, it is difficult to imagine that there is snow  in Greece; but so it is. Just a few hours’ drive from Athens is Mount Parnassos, surrounded by clusters of tiny villages which offer surprisingly good ski resorts. This may be a satisfying alternative to the magnificent Alps, and all the tourists and prices which accompany

CHRISTMAS BAZAARS

All throughout the holiday season there is a series of interesting markets or bazaars which pop up only for this season, offering anything from traditional local products (including the inevitable Greek sandals) to hand-crafted jewelry to the standard touristic t-shirts or caps. These are somewhat familiar to the markets which run all year, but may offer more holiday-specific specialties such as traditional decorations and delicacies, and have a slightly less-permanent, bazaar-like feel.

FOOD

Museums, white-painted houses, and countless ginormous stone pillars can all perhaps grow old, visit after visit after visit. One of Greece’s highlights which never loses its allure however is of course its famous cuisine. Mouth-watering baking delicacies such as baklava, loukoumades, and ravani. . . . Incredible savory productions such as moussaka, tzatziki, and yemista. . . . Fresh-cooked seafood and matchless salads. . . .  And on and on and on. . . . all the finest of Greek food can be found in Athens in abundance, (and in winter, this is often accompanied by some of the finest live music anywhere in Europe).

DAY TRIPS

While there is still much to do in the city itself, one of the greatest things about Athens is its close proximity to so many other amazing places to visit. These include:

CORINTH: Another historical treasure complete with ancient ruins and seaside panoramas of its own.

DELPHI: Though a touch isolated up in the mountains, this is one of Greece’s most iconic historic sites, where it is said an ancient religious oracle lived and consulted Apollo for wisdom. Her influence is woven throughout many of the most famous myths and historic wars of Greece, as well as later Roman happenings. . . .

NAFPLIO: A seaside city offering music, nightlife, seafood, and an old and remarkably extensive castle with an incredible view overlooking the Argolic Gulf. Nafplio is the former capital of Greece and in my own personal opinion one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, in a small-town, picturesque, idyllic sort of way.

VARIOUS ISLANDS: Many, such as Hydra, Spetses, and Poros, are actually within a single day’s journey of Athens, and can be visited at quite a leisurely pace.

So there it is. While an unparalleled summer destination for the beaches, the weather, and the glittering gemlike islands, Greece truly has so much more to offer. During winter, flights are cheap (everything is cheap), life is slower, and all that stunning beauty and old historic magnificence is just as rich and vibrant as ever. A trip to this country––and specifically Athens, where it all comes to a peak––should never be overlooked, any time of year.

Have you ever been to Athens in winter? What are some of your favorite wintertime destinations, especially those that others may overlook? Comment below and share your insight!

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