ATHENS GREECE

- 1 CITY WALK - MONUMENTS - 2 GUIDED TOUR, POTTERY, FOOD - 3 PRACTICAL INFORMATION - 4 BODY CARE

3-day stay

CITY WALK

1. MONUMENTS & MUSEUMS

* DAY 1 - A visit to Athens, the cradle of democracy, inevitably begins with a visit to the Acropolis and a detour to its dedicated museum. Greece Athens
At the origin of Neolithic dwellings, the Acropolis evolved into a citadel and then a sacred place for Athena and other gods. During the fifth century BC, two exceptional monuments were erected, the Parthenon and the statue of Athena Parthenos by Phidias, as well as the temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion, all preceded by the Propylaea.

Reading the panels inside the museum give a glimpse into the long and painful process of awarding power to the people, democracy, since the founding of Athens in 750 BC. It also allows us to grasp the meaning of the monuments as elements of cohesion especially during the Panathenaea. They reflect a different conception of the city from that of Sparta, a great rival and nevertheless a model for a number of Athenian citizens according to the nationalgeographic.fr.

The tour continues with the Museum of Cycladic Art exhibiting 3000 artefacts from the Cyclades, ancient Greece and ancient Cyprus. These marble figurines, marble and clay vases, as well as bronze tools are testimonies of civilizations from the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean. That collection is a dive into the history of peoples from the prehistoric, 4th millenium BC, to the early Byzantine period, approximately the 6th century AD. Thus the links with Anatolia and the "Kilia idols" are discovered. Cycladic art has also been a source of inspiration for modern artists such as Brâncuși, Modigliani, Moore, Picasso, etc. And the museum's very good restaurant allows you to taste the local contemporary gastronomy.

Quite close, in the Pangrati district, the Goulandris Foundation is worth a visit with a simply extraordinary first floor between a self-portrait by Cézanne, a dancer by Degas, a cathedral by Monet... This is an admirable synthesis composed of a few masterpieces.

* DAY 2 - A little further on, is the National Museum of Archaeology with some master-pieces such as the Poseidon of Melos, the Jockey of Artemision, the frescoes of Akrotiri or the mask of Agamemnon. In between, you can stop at the Kora bakery which makes very good, and very expensive, "pains au chocolat" with sourdough. It will be just before climbing, on foot, the Lycabettus hill to clear one's conscience. Greece Athens

The hill opposite, Filopappos also offers an extraordinary view of the Acropolis, especially during sunrise in spring. On the way down, a stop at Takis is a must, to complete with a coffee at Dive, an establishment that roasts its own beans in the room with its huge bay windows.
Crossing the center, via Ermou street and the adjacent ones, will allow you to discover Ergon, both a restaurant and a mini-supermarket composed mainly of authentic Greek products.

* DAY 3 - Athens is also a succession of beaches in the Saronic Gulf that will take you to Lake Vouliagmeni (“sunken” in Greek), a flooded limestone cave fed by underground mineral currents that stay a constant 24° C. The site is accessible by public transport such as the temple of Poseidon at cape Sounion overlooking the Aegean Sea, an emblematic place to enjoy the sunset. On the way, a stop at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation with an impressive panorama leading to the question of the existence of an urban master plan for the city.

- Next : 2 GUIDED TOUR, POTTERY, FOOD - 3 PRACTICAL INFORMATION - 4 BODY CARE

ART
Acropolis museum

The Acropolis museum's new archeological journey

Ancient Athens 3D

ART
Acropolis hill
Parthenon, Erechtheion, Temple of Athena Nike, Propylaea

Acropolis virtual tour

ART
Museum of cycladic art
An exceptional museum and restaurant

B & E Goulandris Foundation
Must seen, 1st floor

2. GUIDED TOUR, POTTERY and FOOD

* Guided tour & Food - To discover Athens, there is nothing better than a guide like AlternativeAthens, to try. And for everyday life, the city is full of small supermarkets like Xorio or Synallois. There is also plenty of establishments where you can buy takeaway meals such as Baldo, fresh pasta made on site, or Pea's for vegans (Koukaki district).
Athens is attracting more and more tourists and is gradually losing its authenticity. Some are nevertheless trying to resist by offering a traditional but modernized version of everyday bakeries such as Koulouri, Takis or Mama Psomi (Koukaki district). And that's good, even vital to avoid planetary standardization.

Culture, it is also and above all, an identity, a language to be preserved from the consequent dilution of globalization. For a real experience, an immersion, thisisathens.org with a local and if you like reading, archaelogy of the city of Athens.

* Pottery class - To bring back a personal memory, perhaps a little inspired by everything you have seen, a pottery class will allow you to do so. Myrto Danai Kollia from the Pyroga Ceramic Studio will patiently share her knowledge and artistic inspiration with you during a workshop. A good way to express yourself in a district, Ano Petralona, not yet spoiled by mass tourism. This neighborhood is adjacent to Kerameikos, the potters' quarter of the city located there because of the abundance of clay mud carried over by the Eridanos River. It is also the necropolis of Athens.
But saturation is lurking, especially in the middle of summer in a city characterized by sprawling constructions.

- 3 PRACTICAL INFORMATION - 4 BODY CARE

FOOD
Bakeries
The 8 most exceptional bakeries in Athens

From fresh healthy bread to delicious pastries,
All you need is there.

FOOD
Ergon House
Greek Food Experience

Authenticity is everything.
Gastronomic cultural heritage

Open every day

FOOD
Organic food
. Kampos Biomarket
. Xorio
Organic food stores in the city center to eat healthy

SUSTAINABLE ATHENS
(dreamed urban metamorphosis)

Of course, more green spaces to cool Athens' vast man-made area would be essential to counteract the urban "heat island effect". In summer, the Acropolis is now closed during the hottest hours of the day.
Thus, shouldn't the pre-emption of space be a necessity to conserve or recreate, green spaces, green belts in return ? Parks, gardens and sustainable landscape (London) can also be masterpieces of art. At the same time, it's a good way to remember and show the interdependence between humankind and nature, their harmonious coexistence.
Ongoing efforts could therefore be strengthened.

In parallel, trying to turn as many buildings as possible into passive house, including reducing air conditioning negative effects, should also be a priority in the very short term. Greening facades, especially those in main squares and avenues, is an effective option (minus 4° C). This significantly improves the living environment.
For a cooler and more pleasant city to live in, planting trees in squares and main boulevards to shade them and take advantage of evopotranspiration (minus 4° C) is also at the top of the list.
The question is not to love plants, but to survive for humanity in urban settings and, by the way, "Save Athens".

To water all this "greening", resources may not be so scarce. Separating grey and black water in a few Greece Athens innovative buildings would constitute an inexhaustible source, in situ, like in San Francisco. The possibility of removing the concrete cover from at least one of Athens' three hidden rivers, Ilissos to create a 1.5 km long park, had also been mentioned. The sacred river of which Plato wrote, where Socrates and Phaedrus came for their philosophical walks, could once again become ours. And it doesn't mean the end of all car lanes. The other two rivers are Kifissos and Eridanos tributary of Ilissos. Open-air rivers with small parks on their banks are usually a blessing in large urbanized cities. In addition, the water could be easier to monitor, Geomythiki.

What about a general and life-saving move towards a sustainable city ? It means more space for above-ground public transport with low-floor buses, on-demand transit, numerous bike lanes and pedestrian walkways. And of course good multi-modal connexions, transit connectivity beyond downtown in addition to the widespread of subway elevators.
The Netherlands understood this very early on and proved that it was the solution. A comparison between Amsterdam and Athens shows what should have been done decades ago. Not to mention the metamorphosis of Paris, hard to believe, into a friendly cycling city and European champion of children's mobility in a relatively short time.
Transformation is also a matter of citizen mobilization, from the bottom up, as "Paris en selle" has proven.
Choosing to cycle, walk, take public transport and renovate a building might not be a sacrifice but a way of survival.
Sustainable city means also green and blue corridors plus a more efficient use of ressources.

Saving water, to avoid drought, up to fifteen pourcent (or more) could also be possible with a general change of faucet aerators as well as showerheads improvements, especially in hotels, accompagnied by a communication "Save water, save Athens" (and your money).

Will the cost of change really outweigh the impacts of inaction despite the changes underway ?
The situation could become unbearable very quickly. It will not be in anyone's interest at least not most of the common people.

Tourism may also be better regulated to avoid negative effects. Not always more tourists, but rather better tourists with more interaction with the population, who could be ambassadors of the city. Why not offer an hour of discovery with a local for every visit to Athens ?

A necessary metamorphosis, including the locals, to be ready for global warming, sudden floods and adapted to everyone, especially in summer, should be made. Like Rome and London. Perhaps the cradle of Western democracy and knowledge deserves a future that lives up to its prestigious heritage ? A new Athens. Time is clocking.

3. PRACTICAL INFORMATION

. Subway - Tramway - Timetables to the airport : stasy.gr/en/
. Public transport service in Attica : oasa.gr/en/oasa-network/
. Walk and cycle route planner : map.bikecitizens.net
. Weather forecast : meteo.gr/index-en.cfm
. Before travelling to Greece : visitgreece.gr
. The official Athens guide : thisisathens.org (eat and drink, see and do, what's on, plan your trip)
. Travel guide Athens pdf (visitgreece.gr/media-kit/travel-guides/) : issuu.com
. The official Greece guide : visitgreece.gr

4. ATHENS - BODY CARE

BODY CARE
Apivita
Bee world
Store experience.
All you need is there.

BODY CARE
Monastiriakokelari
Handmade olive oil soap
Cosmetic - Herbs
Pasta - Apiculture
Authentic monastic products

SHOPPING

Plaka
Cute little streets with souvenirs shops and restaurants.
Open every day

Emmanuel Boutinard - 2025

- 1 CITY WALK - MONUMENTS - 2 FOOD - 3 PRACTICAL INFORMATION - 4 BODY CARE

ATHENS - PORTFOLIO

Emmanuel Boutinard

Athens Highlights

Greece Athens

Une visite d'Athènes, berceau de la démocratie, débute immanquablement par la visite de l' Acropole et un détour préalable par son musée dédié. Quelques maquettes dans le hall permettent de se rendre compte de l'évolution du site. Et la lecture des panneaux donne un aperçu de l'émergence progressive de ce concept attribuant le pouvoir au peuple. Le processus semble avoir été long et douloureux. Cela permet également de saisir la signification des monuments, leur rôle. Eléments de cohésion, ils reflètent une conception de la cité différente de celle de Sparte, la grande rivale et néanmoins modèle pour un certain nombre de citoyens, nationalgeographic.fr.

La visite se poursuit avec le musée de l'art cycladique. Se découvrent ainsi les liens avec l' Anatolie et les "idoles Kilia". Le très bon restaurant du musée permet de goûter à la gastronomie locale.
Assez proche, dans le quartier Pangrati, la fondation Goulandris mérite le détour avec un premier étage tout simplement extraordinaire entre un autoportrait de Cézanne, une danseuse de Degas, une cathédrale de Monet... Se trouve là une synthèse admirable composée de quelques chefs d'oeuvre.
Un peu plus loin, le musée national d'archéologie.
Entre les deux, vous pourrez vous arrêter à la boulangerie Kora qui réalise de très bons, et très chers, pains au chocolat avec du levain. Ce sera juste avant de gravir, à pied, la colline Lycabettus pour se donner bonne conscience. Greece Athens

La colline d'en face, Filopappos offre également un point de vue hors du commun sur l'Acropole en particulier lors du lever du soleil au printemps. En redescendant, un arrêt chez Takis s'impose à compléter avec un café chez Dive, un établissement qui torréfie lui-même ses grains dans la salle aux immenses baies vitrées. Se promener dans le centre, rues Ermou et adjacentes, permettra de flâner chez Ergon, à la fois brasserie et mini-supermarché avec des produits en priorité grecs.

Athènes, c'est également une succession de plages dans le golfe saronique qui vous mèneront jusqu'au lac Vouliagmeni accessible en transport en commun. Au passage, un arrêt à la fondation Stavros Niarchos avec un panorama impressionnant conduisant à s'interroger sur l'existence d'un plan directeur urbain pour la ville.

Pour découvrir Athènes, rien de mieux qu'un guide comme AlternativeAthens, à tester. Et pour le quotidien, la ville regorge de petits supermarchés et d'établissements où acheter des plats à emporter comme chez Baldo, pâtes fraîches réalisées sur place.
Athènes attire de plus en plus de touristes et perd peu à peu son authenticité. Certains essaient néanmoins de résister en proposant une version traditionnelle mais modernisée d'établissements du quotidien, tavernes ou boulangeries tels Koulouri, Takis. Et c'est tant mieux, voire vital pour éviter l'uniformisation planétaire. La culture, ce n'est pas seulement des monuments, c'est aussi et surtout des spécificités, une identité, une langue à préserver de la dilution consécutive de la globalisation.

Cette affluence, porteuse de richesses matérielles n'est cependant pas le meilleur atout pour une réelle expérience, une immersion malgré les efforts comme ceux de thisisathens.org with a local. La saturation guette, plus particulièrement en plein été, à éviter, dans une ville caractérisée par des constructions tentaculaires.
Dans cet îlot de chaleur urbain, les espaces verts sont, très, trop peu nombreux. La vue depuis le mont Lycabettus est à ce titre édifiante. Certes le climat est aride mais cela n'empêche pas les arbres de pousser. Une réflexion semble d'ailleurs en cours pour supprimer la couverture en béton de certaines rivières d'Athènes, Kifisos, Ilisos (bis) et Eridanos, son affluent.
Plus d'espaces verts s'avéreraient indispensables. Et la ressource en eau n'est peut-être pas si rare. Séparer dans quelques bâtiments innovants eaux grises et noires constituerait une source inépuisable, in situ, pour une multiplication de la végétalisation. Accessoirement, ces végétaux lors de la photosynthèse produisent l'oxygène indispensable à la survie de l'espèce "homo sapiens".
Certes, la concurrence avec la pollution atmosphérique des dizaines de milliers de véhicules sera forte.
Vers une alternative avec davantage de transports en commun en surface et quelques coulées vertes ?
Emmanuel Boutinard - 2025