Athens is the most popular city in Greece, and for a lot of travelers it’s where a Greek island cruise begins. My friend Kelly from Fabulous Adventures Travel and I have been to Greece several times. On one trip we literally touched down and got on a ship, so that one doesn’t count. But the time before that, we spent a few days in Athens and had the best time, even though we completely messed up the Acropolis. Here’s how it happened, where we stayed, and what I’d tell you before you go.
Book a Private Driver, Starting at the Airport
Kelly and I flew in separately. I was already in Europe, and she was coming in from the States. When I booked our hotel, it asked whether we wanted a car to pick us up at the airport, and it suggested a company called Premium Athens Transfer. They also do private drivers, so I booked one for sightseeing too.
For those of you who don’t know me that well, I like a good private driver, because I don’t like a lot of people. I want to do what we want to do and be done with it. I don’t want to sit on a bus for hours with a ton of people, waiting for somebody to go to the bathroom. I’d rather wait for my friends to go to the bathroom. The airport pickup was easy, and we each had a great driver who talked to us the whole way.
One thing to know: our driver’s price didn’t include any tickets, so we bought those ourselves. That may have changed since. And just so you know, we have no affiliation with them, and nobody is giving me a kickback. They’re simply who we used.
Our Day Seeing Everything in Athens
Kelly arrived the next day, and we hit the ground running. (She does that to me. I always complain about her doing it to me on Virgin, but I do it to her in actual destinations. I just realized that.) We told our driver we wanted to see everything, and he showed us literally everything:
The stadium where they held the Olympics. We spent a lot of time there, sitting in the king and queen’s chairs, because we should, and watching everyone else run around the track. It was actually really cool.
The Temple of Zeus.
A hilltop that overlooks the entire city.
The changing of the guard.
That might seem like nothing, but it’s really a lot for one day.
Good to know (checked October 2026): the marble Panathenaic Stadium hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. The changing of the guard takes place every hour at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Syntagma Square, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus is a short walk from the Acropolis.
Claiming first place at the Panathenaic Stadium, home of the 1896 Olympics.
How We Messed Up the Acropolis
Here’s the part where we messed up. We had Acropolis tickets through an organized visit, and our driver dropped us at the Acropolis. We had no idea how it worked. We thought you just went to the Acropolis and got your tickets. That is not it. We were supposed to meet a travel agency outside and walk in together. Instead, we wandered around with tons and tons of people, with lines everywhere, trying to figure out where to go. So guess what? We never saw the inside of the Acropolis, and guess what else? We have to go back.
Learn from us: if your Acropolis entry comes through a tour or an agency, find out exactly where and when you’re meeting them before you arrive.
Good to know (checked October 2026): the Acropolis uses timed-entry tickets, sold on the official Hellenic Heritage site (tickets.hh.gr) and through tour companies. Book as far ahead as you can, especially in summer, when the timed slots sell out and the ticket office lines get long.
Where We Stayed: COCO-MAT Athens BC
We stayed at COCO-MAT Athens BC, and it was phenomenal. There are a couple of COCO-MAT hotels in Athens, so make sure you book the BC. It’s called that because there are actual ancient ruins inside the hotel. They built around them, blocked them off and put up a plaque about them, and you can see them. It was so cool.
The location is phenomenal. It’s very close to the Acropolis and to an amazing shopping area. The hotel itself is clean and very IKEA in style, the rooms were phenomenal, and there’s a gorgeous atrium in the middle. Breakfast was included, and it was even available the morning I arrived at 8:30 a.m., before check-in. They had bikes and umbrellas you could use, a spa (I had a massage one morning), a fitness center and a pool upstairs. We had dinner there too, and the food was really good. The staff was phenomenal. We talked to everybody, so they knew who we were and kept telling us where to go. One tip from that: when you walk out of the hotel, the good stuff is to the right.
About That Rooftop
The hotel had a gorgeous rooftop restaurant and bar, with the pool, overlooking the Acropolis. The first night, I sat there staring at it, thinking, “This is life.” It was absolutely beautiful. But apparently it was taken away because of the building’s height. I honestly don’t know how you take away a rooftop bar that’s already there. So don’t expect that rooftop. Even without it, I’d 100% stay at this hotel for the location. Find another rooftop bar. Trust me, there are plenty of them.
Good to know (checked October 2026): Greece’s highest administrative court ruled that the hotel’s top floors were too tall and blocked views of the Acropolis, and the Culture Ministry sealed off those floors in April 2024 ahead of an ordered demolition. Ask the hotel what’s open when you book.
A rooftop toast with the Acropolis behind us.
What We Ate and Drank
The first night, before Kelly arrived, I had a Greek salad, because I am massively in love with Greek salad. I’m still dreaming about that one. I had tons of other Greek salads that were amazing too, but that one was special because it was the first.
The next night, we had dinner on the hotel’s rooftop, and it was the most lovely dinner because of the view. You don’t need to stay there for that, though. There are a lot of places in Athens to eat dinner on a rooftop overlooking the Acropolis.
We also ate at a restaurant in the shopping area near the hotel, where a woman got so mad at the owner about something that they were yelling back and forth, in Greek, right over our table. We had no idea what was happening. It was pretty insane, but the food was unreal.
And try the ouzo. It’s like black licorice. It’s good, but, you know, not really. You should still try it. It’s Greek.
Shopping Near the Acropolis
On our last day, we had nothing scheduled, so we shopped and ate on the street on that hill. The shopping area near the hotel goes on for miles. You can find literally anything you want there, and you could get lost in it. Honestly, we kind of did. I found a dress I had to have.
Hotels I Recommend in Athens
COCO-MAT Athens BC, for the location, the staff and the ruins inside (just don’t count on the rooftop).
Athens Gate Hotel.
A classic Greek salad. Eat all the food.
My Tips for Athens Before a Cruise
If you’re cruising from Athens, go in a couple of days early. It helps you adjust to the time change, and you actually get to see everything. The port isn’t far from the city center. (Arriving early is one of my biggest rules for any cruise. I explain why in my guide to cruise mistakes to avoid.)
Book your Acropolis entry ahead and know your meeting point. Eat all the food. And try the ouzo at least once.
Good to know (checked October 2026): most Athens cruises sail from Piraeus, about 12 kilometers (7 miles) southwest of central Athens. Allow extra time for traffic on embarkation day.
If Athens is the start of a Greek islands trip, my Celestyal Cruises review covers one of my favorite ways to see Greece by sea, and my Croatia yacht vacation guide shows what island hopping by yacht is like. Before you go, read what nobody tells Americans about Europe.
Want to hear the whole story? Watch our Athens episode. And if you’d like to book Athens, a cruise from Athens or around the Greek Isles, or even a yacht, my team at Fabulous Adventures Travel and I do it all. We’d love to help.
