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PORTUGAL: PORTO FOOD TOUR WITH TASTE PORTO

taste porto food tour porto portugal
By | On October 21,18 | 4 Comments

I visited Porto Portugal in September 2018 solo during my nine day trip to Portugal and only had two full days to make the most of the beautiful city. As a foodie, I knew I had to indulge in some traditional Porto food and I love a good food tour so I found the best Porto Food Tour with Taste Porto to help.

Disclosure: This Food Tour in Porto Portugal guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

After a short amount of research, I learned that Taste Porto was the best of the best in Porto food tours and I had to take part. Taste Porto is one of the most popular and well-known food tours in Porto and I can highly recommend. I’ll talk about a full travel guide to Porto in another guide, but this one is all Porto food related. Taste Porto food tour will allow you to try all of the best food in Porto in an efficient way. Keep reading to see all of the details that you will get on a Taste Porto food tour, including how to book the tour, each of the foods (and wines) you will try (and there are a lot), as well as the pros and cons to this food tour in Porto.

Taste Porto Food Tour Tips

  • Taste Porto has two different tours: Downtown food tour and Vintage food tour. I chose the Downtown tour due to my food restrictions but both are highly suggested and amazing. I loved the downtown one and the different types of foods (and wines) native to Porto we were able to try.
  • I chose the afternoon session and I’m glad I did because a lot of the food was heavy and not really what I would want in the morning. Also, Taste Porto is basically a Porto food AND wine tour, so be ready to drink (but it’s not mandatory!).
  • DO NOT EAT BEFORE THE TOUR!!!! Like within two hours of the tour. You are going to eat so much and so many different flavors. You want to be able to experience it all!!!! Definitely come with an empty stomach.
  • Dietary Restrictions: Taste Porto will accommodate all of your food and dietary restrictions, as they did for me (since I don’t eat shellfish or pork), just make sure you tell them far before the tour. They had special meals waiting for me and it was perfect. Don’t not go on this tour just because you can’t eat some of the foods because they will accommodate you!
  • My one and ONLY negative of the Taste Porto food tour was that it was all 50+ year olds. Honestly not a big deal at all, but as a 27 year old, it would have been nice to have someone younger to converse with similarly! My tour guide, Maria, was about my age so I talked to her most of the time. I did love that everyone was from different countries (we had some Aussies and Canadians on our tour), I just wish they were a little closer to my age!
  • Maria was an amazing tour guide so if you have any possibility of requesting a tour guide or can switch tours to be with her – go!!! She is so knowledgable and insanely passionate about the Porto food scene and will also give you recommendations on nightlife, things to do, day trips and more after your tour.
taste porto food tour porto portugal

FULL PORTO FOOD TOUR WITH TASTE PORTO

Our tour began at a meeting spot smack in the center of the city, which was perfect because I got to hit some of the spots I wanted to see in Porto on the way to the tour. In addition, we walked by a ton of the main things to see in Porto while on the tour so it was like a double tour in one 🙂 You can also see some of the amazing Porto street art during your walk as well!

Taste Porto Food Tour Stop #1: Loja Dos Pastéis de Chaves

Our first stop is known for their amazing sweet and savory pastries. These come from the city of Chaves in Northern Portugal (hence the name) and are different than your average pastry. We tried some meat pastries, and while I’m used to sweet pastries, these were amazing! They were so flaky and light that it was the perfect intro snack into this tour.

  • pasteis de chaves
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  • taste porto first stop

Taste Porto Food Tour Stop #2: Bolhao Market

Our second tour brought us to the *temporary* famous Mercado do Bolhāo in Porto (also know as Bolhao Market Porto and the main food market in Porto). They are currently re-doing the original and will be open in 2019, hopefully. It was unfortunate we couldn’t see the real market, as it is supposed to be a true Porto experience, but they set up the temporary market to look like it, but it just doesn’t have the same feel. It still displays how much the Portuguese workers love what they do and the produce they are selling. Each of the stand owners have their own story and their produce has been in their family for generations.

We went to Store #9: Bolhao Wine House and had traditional Portuguese sardines with Moscatel do Douro wine and then a sweet treat made by the Grandma of the stand. This was my first time trying sardines and I was so nervous but they were SO good and now I am obsessed with sardines. The wine was INSANELY sweet, almost too sweet to drink. I think this was my favorite stop on the tour as I love visiting local markets in every city.

  • temporary bolhao
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  • bolhao market taste porto
  • port wine porto portugal
  • taste porto bolhao
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  • bolhao market porto

Related Post: Douro Valley Tour From Porto Guide

Taste Porto Food Tour Stop #3: Flor Dos Congregados

The third stop was to a fancy Porto restaurant that actually looked like a hole in the wall. It only opened for us and they don’t accept reservations at night time. There are maybe 6 tables in the whole restaurant but fills up with lines out the door. This restaurant is family owned and one of the best known secrets in Porto. I loved the vibes inside with the underground walls. While I couldn’t have their famous pork loin or cured ham sandwich like the rest of the group, I can attest for the veggie soup I had as well as the sparkling Portuguese wine! The other guests said it was some of the best pork they ever had so I can confidently say this was THEIR favorite stop on the tour. It was my favorite for restaurant vibes.

  • taste porto food tour
  • taste porto tour

Taste Porto Food Tour Stop #4: Café Guarany

Cafe Guarany was my least favorite stop on this tour. Not because it wasn’t a beautiful, old cafe that served amazing coffee (it did), it just wasn’t food and I really wanted to enjoy six food options. However, the coffee was amazing and Cafe Guarany is one of the oldest cafes in the city and most well-known for serving some of the best coffee in all of Porto, or as they call it, cimbalino.

cafe guarany porto portugal

Related Post: Food In Tel Aviv Israel Guide

Taste Porto Food Tour Stop #5: Leitaria da Quinta do Paco

The fifth stop on the Porto food tour was at Leitaria da Quinta do Paco and was my FAVORITE food of the tour! This spot is known for their delicious éclairs that were really out of this world. I have never had such fluffy, light amazing desserts and I don’t even like cream or frosting. These were so good and the whipped cream on top was 100% necessary. Definitely add this place to your list if you don’t make it on a tour.

  • porto pastries
  • porto dessert

Related Post: Portugal Travel Guide

Taste Porto Food Tour Stop #6: All In Porto

Our last stop was the most fun, I’ll admit, and was full of wines, cheeses and meats. Since I couldn’t eat the meats they also gave me Mackerel which was also delicious! They went into detail about which cheese, jam and wine to pair together and the combinations were amazing! I love cheese especially with homemade wine and I loved tasting these Portuguese pairings. All of the meats, cheeses and wines at All In Porto are from different producers around Portugal.

  • porto all in porto
  • porto wine store
  • porto wines
  • taste porto wines

Find out more about all of these Porto food spots by clicking their names!

Final notes on Taste Porto Food Tour: Highly recommend! The tour was completely organized and provided a deep look into the special cuisines of Porto, not just what you see in the tourist spots. They took us to real, local spots so you can get the true traditional Porto food experience. I would recommend Taste Porto to anyone visiting Porto Portugal! You can book your tour right here!

*Thanks to Taste Porto for inviting me on their Downtown tour to learn about all that the Porto food scene has to offer and making this blog post possible! While I did receive this tour as a gift, my review and experience with Taste Porto is, as always, 100% personal and honest*

Other Porto Travel Tips

 

How To Get To Porto

Porto is the next biggest city to Lisbon and Porto and they have plenty of international flights (though not as many as Lisbon). You can fly direct from NYC and to many other cities around Europe. You can also take a quick 2.5 hour train from Lisbon to get here. I was in Lisbon first so I took the train there and then flew directly back to NYC from Porto. The train was insanely easy, clean and honestly a pleasure to take and travel through the Portugal countryside. You can book your train tickets here: Portugal Train Tickets. I went from Lisbon Santa Apolónia station to Porto Campanhã station, so that it was a direct train with no transfers. Book online ahead of time to get a cheaper price than booking at the station. The train only cost 25 euros. For the airport, the Porto International Airport is only a 15 minute drive from the center of Porto. You can learn more about visiting Portugal and getting around the country in my Portugal country travel guide here.

Related Post: Tel Aviv Local Travel Guide

Where To Stay in Porto Portugal

There are a TON of hostels and hotels in Porto for any budget – take your pick! I LOVED the area I stayed in and I definitely recommend staying right near Livraria Lello, it’s the best nightlife area and right in the center of the city so it is walking distance to every single imaginable spot that is on your list of things to do in Porto! You will not need Ubers at all if you stay in this area. 

Search Porto hotels on Booking.com by clicking here or searching below. Find more hotel reviews on TripAdvisor here!

AIRBNB Porto: Many people also choose to stay in Airbnb in Porto because it is insanely affordable! I personally chose the hotel route for safety precautions since I was solo, but I would definitely recommend Airbnb if I were with friends! They’re definitely cheaper than the hotels around the city. Also, if you use my Airbnb link you get $40 off your first stay!

Porto Travel Tips

  • PACKING FOR PORTO: Porto’s weather is beyond amazing. I went in the beginning of September and it was a nice high 70s. It was very sunny so don’t forget sunscreen. For all of my travel/packing essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here!
  • TRAVEL INSURANCE: When visiting Porto, I highly recommend getting travel insurance. You never know what may happen to your flights, a death/personal emergency in your family, or an accident happening while traveling (think: getting mugged, falling while hiking and spraining your ankle, literally any accident than can happen ANYWHERE!). World Nomads makes it super easy and I never leave for a trip without getting their insurance. Most importantly it’s extremely affordable: get your World Nomads travel insurance before your trip here!
  • UBER: Uber is insanely cheap in Portugal around the entire country. I’m still not over it. Sure, I come from NYC with astronomical prices, but I have used Uber in plenty of countries and nothing compares to the prices in Portugal. You could go on a 20 minute drive and it would be 2 euros. It’s insane. Take Uber in Portugal!
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Don’t you want to do a food tour in Porto now!? Let me know in the comments! Looking for what to expect before visiting Portugal? Check out my Visit Portugal Travel Blog guide for more tips and my Douro Valley from Porto Tour guide here.

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rachel shulman

About The Author

Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.

Greece

BEST THINGS TO DO IN SANTORINI GREECE

By | On April 30,18 | 0 Comment

Santorini surpasses Mykonos and any other place I have ever been on its beauty and I have never seen anything like it. The cities are on huge cliffs and the views are absolutely breathtaking. Keep reading to find out what to do in Santorini Greece!

Disclosure: This “Best Things To Do In Santorini Greece” post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

Santorini Travel Tips

  • SANTORINI PACKING: Looking for what to pack for Santorini? For all of my travel/packing essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon here for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here!
  • TRAVEL INSURANCE: When visiting Santorini, I highly recommend getting travel insurance. You never know what may happen to your flights, a death/personal emergency in your family, or an accident happening while traveling (think: getting mugged, falling while hiking and spraining your ankle, literally any accident than can happen ANYWHERE!). World Nomads makes it super easy and I never leave for a trip without getting their insurance. Most importantly it’s extremely affordable: get your World Nomads travel insurance before your trip here!

How To Get To Santorini

Like Mykonos, we took a 2 hour ferry to Santorini which was quick, easy and cheap ($55). This ferry had an open deck and not assigned seating and the views were gorgeous! There are also plenty of Athens to Santorini flights and even flights from other select European countries.

BEST THINGS TO DO IN SANTORINI GREECE

The two main towns are Fira (Thira) and Oia (pronounced ee-ah). Fira is more residential with many hotels and where I suggest staying. Oia is the sunset town, and stunning. Of course there are plenty of gorgeous villas here as well, but not as much to do.

Santorini Beaches

There are many gorgeous beaches in Santorini, which make for great day trips. You can take busses to pretty much anywhere on the island from Fira. I suggest Perissa or Kamari beaches which are both black sand beaches.

Santorini Wine Tours

Santorini has great wine and the Santo Wine Tours is supposed to be amazing. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time for this and when we tried to make a last minute reservation they were all booked. You must make a reservation in advance.

Day Trip to Oia

If staying in Fira, take an entire afternoon trip to Oia. You can take a bus here from Fira, which takes about 30 minutes and costs 1.6 Euros. It has the cutest little town, all along the water, with stunning views on top of the cliffs. The little alleys are lined with cute Greek stores for all your tourist souvenirs. There are so many gorgeous churches to look at and stunning white buildings with blue tops. And of course, the sunset. Oia is equivalent to the words Santorini sunsets. THIS IS THE SPOT TO WATCH THE SANTORINI SUNSET.  People line up for the best sunset views at least 2 hours before the sunset. I wish I was kidding. Make your way to the top point of Oia and you will see everyone standing and the beautiful view. Post up there until after the sunset and just watch the stunning beauty.

  • TIP: Instead of trying to get a dinner with a sunset view (unlikely), have dinner AFTER the sunset. It will be empty as everyone will have left and you will still get to enjoy the amazing food and views at night.

santorini sunsets oia

Hike Fira to Oia

There is an amazing hike from Fira to Oia that you can alternatively do to get there. The hike takes about 3-4 hours and provides stunning views. Highly suggested if you have extra days there and love to be active.

Spend A Day In Fira

Fira is a bustling town with lots of shops, views restaurants and activities. You can spend hours in these streets shopping for anything you want, eating the best Greek food and riding donkeys. Fira also has a stunning sunset, so make sure to post up here on your other nights!

Santorini Donkey Ride

Many Greeks get around Santorini on donkeys and you will always find tourists riding them up and down at the edge of Fira to the water. It is 5 Euros to ride them either up or down (one way) and is definitely an experience you must not miss. There is also a cute little dock and boats area when you get to the bottom so definitely plan to walk around a bit at the bottom of Santorini!

  • TIP: Ride the donkeys DOWN the hill and take the cable car back up. Riding the donkeys up the hill hurts wildly due to the bumps and steps.

Fish Eating In Santorini

While highly ticklish, my feet were definitely smoother and cleaner afterwards! Fish eating is a fun activity when you want to cool down or relax in Santorini! You will see many places around Fira that offer this service – choose the cheapest one for a little real-life spa service.

santorini fish eating

Santorini Restaurants

Typical Greek food, here are some recommendations in Fira I loved!

  • Idol Santorini: Great breakfast and sunset view
  • Aris Santorini: Greek food with an amazing view
  • Our Corner: Amazing crepe place for the morning! On the main street in Fira on the way into town.

Where To Party In Santorini

The Santorini nightlife isn’t as magical as it is in Mykonos but there is still plenty to do! Some fun bars in Santorini are:

Where To Stay In Santorini

I highly, highly suggest staying at hotels in Fira over Oia as there is much more to do! We stayed in Fira about a 2 minute walk from town. The hotel was called Golden Star Santorini and it was a perfect location and perfect budget hotel. The rooms were small but great for two people and they had a gorgeous pool in the back with stunning views of the ocean. Highly recommended Golden Star, you can book by clicking here! Read reviews on Golden Star on TripAdvisor here!

AIRBNB Santorini: There are also so many cute apartments in Santorini with extra nice hosts. They are generally cheaper than hotels so if you like the Airbnb route instead of hotels I definitely recommend it. Also, if you use my Airbnb link you get $40 off your first stay!

     
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Did I miss what to do in Santorini that you loved? Let me know in the comments for my next visit! Head here if you are looking for my Mykonos Greece guide or here for my Athens Greece guide! Don’t forget to check out my full Greece travel guide here!

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Iceland

ONE DAY IN REYKJAVIK: THINGS TO DO IN REYKJAVIK ICELAND

one day in reykjavik
By | On March 01,18 | 12 Comments

You really only need one day in Reykjavik, Iceland if you do it right and pair it with a full Iceland trip. Reykjavik is a really great and cute little town to walk around on the water and on the main street (Laugaveger). There are some must-hit tourist attractions, and of course plenty of Northern Lights tours for nighttime which I highly suggest if visiting from September-March. In my 6 Day Iceland Road Trip Itinerary, you can see that I recommend ending your trip with Reykjavik for a day and a half. Keep reading to see the all of the best things to do in Reykjavik Iceland. 

Disclosure: This One Day in Reykjavik guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

Reykjavik Travel Tips

ICELAND PACKING TIPS: Iceland is pretty cold year-round! Make sure you’re prepared with my favorite winter travel items and travel gear! You also NEED hiking boots – it is a necessity if you want to do any of the glacier hikes – they don’t let you go without them. Buy the ones I use here. For all of my travel/packing essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon here for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here.

ONE DAY IN REYKJAVIK: TOP THINGS TO DO IN REYKJAVIK ICELAND

I visited Reykjavik in the fall so these mostly apply to the best things to do in Reykjavik in September, but I gave some other springtime options at the bottom of the list! Check out what to do in downtown Reykjavik in a day.

best things to do in Reykjavik, reykjavik church

Hallgrimskirkja

Reykjavik’s famous church, Hallgrimskirkja is what you see in all of the pictures and postcards of Reykjavik. It is stunning architecture and the view from the top gives you panoramas of the entire city and ocean. Taking the elevator up to the top is an absolute must and this is the highlight of the best things to do in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Harpa Concert Hall

Harpa Concert Hall is a famous concert hall built with interesting architecture right on the waterfront in downtown Reykjavik. Definitely go here to see a show if you have more than just one night in Reykjavik.

best things to do in Reykjavik, sun voyager

Sun Voyager

Another one of the best things to do see in Reykjavik is the famous Sun Voyager statue and walking around the Reykjavik waterfront; it is gorgeous.

Old Town District

Walk around the Reykjavik Old Town District, which is laid out around Lake Tjornin, a beautiful lake in the middle of the city. Downtown Reykjavik is the prettiest area and you should walk around for a while.

Kolaportio

Head to Reykjavik’s main buzzing flea market to shop around for some Icelandic goods! Opens at 11AM.

Laugavegar Street

This is the main street in downtown Reykjavik and stretches pretty long. It has all the best shopping on it for anything you may want or need. We basically spent at least 5 hours walking up and down this street a few times because there are so many places to go.

best things to do in Reykjavik, helicopter iceland rachelReykjavik Helicopter Tour

 

I highly, highly suggest doing a helicopter tour while in Iceland. Reykjavik helicopters are one of the best things to do in Reykjavik, Iceland. The terrain is so drastic and gorgeous in Iceland that just walking around doesn’t do it justice. This helicopter tour was definitely a highlight of our trip to Reykjavik. The main helicopter tour company is Nordurflug and they provide a few different tour options. We opted for the Geothermal Tour and we loved it! You go to a secluded, inaccessible area and witness the geothermal activity and lava fields on top of volcanoes. I am positive that all the different options are great, just pick one that caters to your interests. This was our favorite activity and I highly suggest it during your day in Reykjavik!  The helicopter tours leave from the local Reykjavik airport.

 

Other things to see in Reykjavik if you have more time and depending on the season: Whale Watching Boat Tour, National Museum of Iceland, Grotta Lighthouse and The Culture House Museum. 

Click on any of the activity titles above to learn more!

 

Best Reykjavik Restaurants

Iceland isn’t known for its food scene but it does have some good new culinary options popping up. Some of the foods that Iceland is known for that you should try: Puffin and Shark!

Breakfast in Reykjavik

  • Eldur and Is: Crepes & coffee (also good for ice cream)
  • Mokka – Oldest coffeehouse in Iceland
  • Stofan – Cute and cozy cafe
  • Baejarins Beztu Pylsur – Best hot dog in the world. It is a hot dog stand and is the most famous food in Iceland. Everyone famous has come here when they visited, must go

Dinner in Reykjavik

BARS IN REYKJAVIK

WHERE TO STAY IN REYKJAVIK

There are a range of luxury and regular Reykjavik hotels to stay at for all budgets. For mid to high-end, I suggest the Fosshotel Reykjavik; my family loved it and it is in the middle of the city. I also suggest the IcelandAir brand hotels around Reykjavik (IcelandAir Reykjavik Marina or IcelandAir Reykjavik Natura) and around the entire country are high-end and recommended. Click on the hotel names above to learn more and book quickly! Hotels in Iceland sell out fast. Check out reviews for any Reykjavik hotel on TripAdvisor here.

AIRBNB Reykjavik: There are also so many cute apartments in downtown Reykjavik with extra nice hosts that I highly recommend for a group or for mid-range places. They are generally cheaper than hotels so if you like the Airbnb route instead of hotels I definitely recommend it in Reykjavik, especially since you’ll likely be out of the accommodation the whole day anyway. Some of them even come with the rental car. Also, if you use my Airbnb link here you get $40 off your first stay!

OTHER THINGS TO DO IN REYKJAVIK: NORTHERN LIGHTS TOURS

If you are visiting Reykjavik during September-March, you are trying to see the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), and you should do anything in your power to do so. Clearly this is what everyone comes to see in Reykjavik. In the countryside hotels it is much easier to see them, but with the lights of Reykjavik, you need to go outside of the city. A bunch of different companies offer Northern Lights tours in Reykjavik where they take you driving for a few hours and stop at secluded dark locations to (hopefully) watch. The Auroras are never guaranteed, but all of the companies decide at 6PM the day of if they are going to proceed (depending on the forecast) and if they don’t, you can reschedule for another night for free.

You can also decide to do them the day of if you only have one day in Reykjavik and can’t reschedule. Any of these companies are reputable. Click the links to find out more and book!

TIP: Download the iPhone app called “NorthernLights”. I swear it will be the best .99 cents you ever spend. You cannot photograph the northern lights on your regular phone camera. Someone told me about the app when we were on the tour and the pictures were amazing. Read here for more tips to photograph the Northern Lights.

 

 

 

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Did I miss one of the best things to do in Reykjavik Iceland that you loved? Let me know in the comments for my next visit and check out my full Iceland Travel Blog here or my 6 Day Iceland Road Trip Itinerary here. 

Some emails suck. Mine don’t. Sign up to be the first to see my new travel itineraries and secret insider travel tips and hacks only my email subscribers get! I promise I will never spam you!

rachel shulman

About The Author

Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.

Greece

WHAT TO DO IN ATHENS GREECE

what to do in athens greece
By | On March 24,17 | 2 Comments

 

You only really need one day in Athens to hit the famous ruins and museums. The city was built around all of the ruins and it is awesome. Look up while you’re strolling the streets of the city and you can see the Acropolis on top of hill! Keep reading to see what to do in Athens, Greece!

Disclosure: This “What To Do In Athens” post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

Athens Travel Tips

athens things to do acropolis top of hill athens

How To Get To Athens Greece

Generally you will fly into Athens airport (ATH) which is a big hub in Europe itself. The main Greek airline is Aegean Airlines. To get to the city center from the airport, there are three options:

  • Metro: Easiest and most efficient. Line 3 goes directly into the city center. The metro leaves directly from the airport, runs every 30 minutes, 7 days a week, and takes 40 minutes to get to the main city. Cost: 8 Euros.
  • Bus: There is an express bus route that connects directly to the city center and airport 7 days a week. Little more complex than the metro as there are four different lines, so make sure you have the correct one. The bus takes around 60 minutes to the city center, but is dependent on traffic. Cost: 5 Euros.
  • Cab: A cab will be the most private way into the city, but will cost you 35 Euros from 5AM-midnight and 50 Euros from midnight-5AM and will take about an hour. It is also dependent on traffic.

 

WHAT TO DO IN ATHENS GREECE

what to do in athens athens ruins

Known for the unbelievable archaeological sites all around the city, Athens is truly a remarkable site. I personally think one day is enough in this city to cover the main sites and you will get a feel for Athens life.

TIP: Watch out for gypsies, especially around the main sites, they are all over the city.

TIP: Buy the 12 Euro pass which gives entrance to ALL of the sites and is good for four days. The only place it does not include is the Acropolis Museum, which was an awesome museum so I do suggest adding a trip there. If you have a student ID, this pass will be even cheaper and it is so worth it for ALL of the sites. You can buy this ticket at any of the site’s kiosks. All places are within walking distance of each other.

TIP: All archaeological sites are closed on Sundays and they all close around 3PM on other days besides the Acropolis which is open until 7PM. All sites open at 8 AM.

what to do in athens athens ruins

Main Sites To See In Athens:

  • Acropolis: Most well-known archaeological site in the world; a must-see. On top of the big hill in the middle of the city and visible anywhere in the city. Leave at least 1-2 hours to explore.
  • Acropolis Museum: Not included in the sites package, but one of my must-sees. Such a well-done museum to help give historic perspective. I suggest going here after visiting the Acropolis. It is located on the bottom of the slope. There is also a cafe here for lunch which has amazing views of the Acropolis from the outdoor tables.
  • Ancient Agora: A well-preserved temple and should definitely be visited.
  • Olympia Zeus: One of the largest ancient temples in the world.
  • Library of Hadrian: Has an awesome museum in it, make sure to leave about an hour to visit here.

Other noteworthy archaeological sites: Kerameikos, Roman Agora, North and South slope of Acropolis, Agora Museum and the Kerameikos Museum.

Non-Archaeological Spots: Evzones Changing of the Guard, Zappeion Gardens, National Gardens, Athens Flee Market, walk around Syntagma Square and Omonia Square is pretty too!

 

Where To Eat In Athens

Greek salad and gyros are what you think of when you hear Greek food and it did not disappoint. While there are not so many noteworthy restaurants in Athens (as opposed to Santorini and Mykonos) there are some good areas to eat and things to try!

All around Syntagma Square there are tons of street stands and little shops with amazing gyros and little greek salads. Make sure to eat lots of Feta cheese – it’s amazing. A good vegetarian option is Avocado, in Syntagma Square. Also Fisherman’s Taverna which is near the Acropolis as well as Strofi Tavern Athens which has unreal views of the Acropolis. There are tons of restaurants and they will all have amazing Greek food, so try out your favorites!
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Where To Stay In Athens

I suggest staying in Syntagma Square if you want to be in the most central, crowded area of the city. However, we stayed in Omonia Square, a 5 minute walk from Syntagma Square, and it was perfectly great! We stayed at the cutest little hotel called Hotel Cosmopolit and it was perfect. It was extremely clean, the rooms were a decent size for two people, and the breakfast was included daily and had a large selection. The staff was beyond nice and helped us getting around the city. I would highly recommend Hotel Cosmopolit and the price is great for budget travelers.

AIRBNB Athens: There are also so many apartments with Airbnb options in Athens. They are generally cheaper than hotels so if you like the Airbnb route instead of hotels I definitely recommend it. Also, if you use my Airbnb link you get $40 off your first stay!

 

Where To Party In Athens

Unfortunately we did not go out in Athens as we had a very early flight the next day and were tired after touring the city all day! However, Athens has a lively nightlife and some well-known DJs often. I suggest going out around the Gazi area which is fun at night!

 

Other Helpful Tips When Visiting Athens: The Athens Ports

Athens is obviously the main Greece hub and is the gateway to all of the hundreds of Greek islands. There are three main ports to access the islands:

  • Piraeus: Main, largest port. Only port accessible by metro. Serves most Greek islands.
    • Metro: The green metro line takes 25 minutes and goes through Omonia Square (costs 1.4 Euros).
    • Bus: There is no direct bus to Piraeus port.
    • Cab: A cab will take about 30 minutes from the center and will cost around 20 euros.
  • Rafina: Second largest port & closest to the airport. Provides access to some Cyclades islands (Tinos, Mykonos and Syros) as well as Evia and Andros.
    • Bus: From the city center, which takes 70 minutes (costs 2.4 Euros). I recommend this route.
    • Cab: Takes 85 minutes and costs about 50 Euros.
  • Lavrio: Smallest Athens port and serves Eastern-Aegean islands and a few Cyclades islands.
    • Bus: From the city center, which will take about 2 hours (costs 4.9 Euros).
    • Cab: Takes 85 minutes and costs 65 euros.

If you are visiting Athens for longer than a day check out this longer Athens itinerary.

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Did I miss what to do in Athens that you loved? Let me know in the comments for my next visit! If you are looking for my full Greece Travel Guide head here or head here for my Mykonos Greece guide or here for my Santorini Greece Guide!