8 Best Day Trips from Athens

David

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Athens is a city with a rich history, filled with ancient landmarks like the Acropolis and Agoura. Despite Greece’s economic difficulties, Athens still has modern attractions to explore. It also serves as a starting point for trips outside the city, such as visits to the Temple of Poseidon or the islands of the Saronic Gulf.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the top day trips from Athens.

8. Epidaurus

In the municipality of Epidaurus, there is a magnificent open-air theater that is the main attraction. It is surrounded by beautiful hills and has 14,000 seats. This theater was built in the 4th century B.C and is still considered one of the best places for dramatic performances due to its amazing acoustics.

Additionally, Epidaurus is famous for the Temple of Asklepios. This temple was located north of the theater and was one of the most renowned healing centers in ancient times. Patients seeking healing would spend the night in a large sleeping hall, hoping to have dreams where the healing god would visit them.

The temple complex also had Greek baths, rooms for physicians, and a large gymnasium.

7. Nafplio

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Nafplio is a charming village in southern Greece, just a two-hour drive from Athens. It is located in the beautiful Peloponnese region. The village has narrow streets and elegant Venetian houses, making it a visually pleasing destination. It is situated on a hill that reaches into the Argolic Gulf, offering amazing views of the harbor and town.

Apart from the stunning vistas, there are notable Venetian fortresses to explore. One of them is the Boúrtzi castle, a small 15th-century fortress situated on a tiny island in the bay. Another fortress, called Palamídhi, is larger and was built in the 18th century.

It is remarkably well-preserved and provides the best example of its kind in Greece. You can reach Palamídhi by car or by climbing 999 steep stone steps to the top.

6. Aegina

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Aegina is a popular destination for both locals and tourists because it is close to Athens. Visitors can easily travel to Aegina from Piraeus on hydrofoil ferries that only take 40 minutes. Aside from its beautiful beaches and pistachio orchards, Aegina is also known for its important ruins.

These ruins demonstrate the island’s wealth and significance as a maritime power during the 7th and 6th centuries B.C. One of the most remarkable ruins is the Temple of Aphaea, which was admired by artists in the 19th century for its beauty, comparable to the Parthenon in Athens.

The Aegina Archaeological Museum displays artifacts excavated from this site.

5. Hydra

The island of Hydra is known for its untouched beauty and provides a peaceful escape from the busy life in Athens. Cars are not allowed on Hydra, making it an ideal place to unwind and find tranquility. Walking is the main way to get around, with occasional donkey rides available.

The charming mansions along the waterfront, dating back to the 18th-century, are the main attractions on the island. Taking a leisurely stroll and admiring the stunning architecture is a popular sightseeing activity.

Hydra has been an artist community since the 1960s, and its narrow stone streets are filled with studios, galleries, craft shops, and bars.

4. Cape Sounion

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Cape Sounion is a popular place to visit near Athens. It is a short drive away from the capital. The Temple of Poseidon is on top of the headland at the tip of the Attica peninsula. It was built in the 5th century to honor the god of the sea.

Many tourists have been visiting the Greek temple since 1810, when Lord Byron carved his name on one of the 15 columns. The best time to visit is at sunset, when the temple looks golden in the sunlight.

3. Delphi

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The ancient site of Delphi has been famous for many years as a place where oracles received messages from the gods and shared their wisdom. Situated on Mount Parnassus, northwest of Athens, Delphi is a large site that includes a theater and stadium where the Pythian Games were held every four years.

When visitors come to the oracle, they walk along a paved path surrounded by fragments of monuments, statues, and administrative buildings with inscriptions. The Delphi Archaeological Museum, located nearby, showcases a great collection of bronze artifacts, sculptures, friezes, and pottery that have been excavated from the site.

It takes about 3 hours to reach Delphi by bus from Athens, so many people choose to take an organized trip.

2. Mycenae

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At ancient Mycenae, located southwest of Athens, you can feel as though the characters from Homer’s tales of the Trojan War have come to life. The ruins of a hilltop citadel, which was once the home of the legendary Agamemnon and his wife Clytemnestra during the Bronze Age, were first discovered by German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann in 1874.

Although the golden treasures have been taken to the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, visitors can still have the opportunity to walk through the famous Lion’s Gate, explore the royal tholos tombs – enormous stone structures shaped like beehives that were constructed between 1500 and 1650 B.C.

Additionally, they can also climb into the site’s secret cistern.

1. Ancient Corinth

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The ancient city of Corinth is located on a narrow strip of land that connects the Peloponnesus to mainland Greece. Excavations have been taking place in Corinth since 1892. The city was thriving for a long time before it was destroyed by the Romans in 146 B.C., but it rose again when Julius Caesar ordered its reconstruction a hundred years later.

The archaeological discoveries at the site cover various periods of history, ranging from beautiful ancient Greek pottery to colorful Roman mosaics. Some of the highlights of the site include the remains of a temple dedicated to Apollo, which dates back to the 6th century B.C., and the Bema platform where St.

Paul delivered a speech to the Roman governor in 52 A.D.

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