Last spring, the very next day after arriving in Bucharest from Rome, we got on a plane to go on a family trip to Athens. While it was Mathieu’s first time visiting Greece, I was returning for the ninth or tenth time. However, it was my first visit to Athens.
I was very curious to see the capital and discover more of Greece’s history. At the same time, I was wondering if Athens resembled the rest of Greece or if it was completely different. Read on and come on a family trip to Athens with me!
How we ended up going on a family trip to Athens
Mathieu and I ended up going on a trip to Athens because my parents were planning the trip. I heard them talking about it early in the planning and I asked if the two of us could join them. Of course, the answer was yes, and my dad started looking for an apartment where we’d all stay comfortably.
My dad handled most of the planning of this vacation. It was very refreshing to just go on a trip and enjoy it, considering the amount of research and planning went into our travels to Italy.
Getting to Athens from the Airport
While we had left right after our Rome holiday, our flight for our family trip to Athens arrived late in the afternoon. At our destination, a private driver was waiting for us. Nothing fancy, though. The owner of our apartment had recommended him and for four people it was actually more convenient than taking the train or a taxi.
The traffic was quite heavy in our opinion. However, our driver, Kostas, said it was pretty OK for that hour of the day. It took us around an hour to get from the airport to the apartment, located in the heart of Athens. Luckily, Kostas was very friendly, talkative, funny, and full of useful travel tips, so we found the drive quite entertaining!
Where to stay in Athens
The apartment my father chose was a bit larger than necessary: it had three bedrooms, though it was only the four of us, sleeping in pairs. However, the value for money was much better when comparing it to two-bedroom apartments in areas which were farther away from the center of Athens.
Our air-conditioned apartment in Athens also had a large living room, a fully-equipped kitchen, and two bathrooms. The two bathrooms were a must to not waste a lot of time waiting around while getting ready for going out or for going to bed.
The owners were a lovely couple. They waited for us to arrive, greeted us, and gave us a tour of the apartment. Then they spent some time giving us useful travel advice: where to eat nearby and the best neighborhoods to dine in Athens, where to shop for souvenirs, and what we shouldn’t miss visiting.
We truly enjoyed our stay here and felt right at home, so we couldn’t recommend this more: this is the best place to stay in Athens!
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First dinner in Athens: Pita Gyros & Souvlaki
After the owners left and we chose our bedrooms, it was already dinner time. We were quite tired, so we only went to a nearby restaurant which the owners recommended earlier. And we weren’t that hungry either, so the pita Gyros and Souvlaki we chose were perfect. I had been longing for a Gyros for so long! It wasn’t the best, but after such a long break it hit the spot!
After a satisfying dinner, we turned in early. Our family trip to Athens was truly beginning the next day, with a visit to the famous Acropolis!
Mirela Letailleur is a Romanian travel blogger living in the South of France. She writes on The Travel Bunny travel blog about affordable travel in Europe, creator of unique free travel guides, local travel expert. Problem solver. Wannabe coffee guru.
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