Driving in the teeming Greek capital may seem daunting, but navigating the tangle of ancient monuments and modern streets by car can add an element of adventure to your trip and be a timesaver too, allowing you to go at your own pace and make your own discoveries.
If you can avoid the morning and evening rush hours you may actually find driving around the capital a pleasant experience, but don’t pause and stare too long or you’ll risk unleashing an orchestra of angry horns behind you. In general, you’re should park first and look at a monument after. With a car, you can manage to take in all of the following sights in the space of a single leisurely morning or afternoon.
The Acropolis from Areopagus Hill
Improbable as it may seem you used to be to able drive pretty close to the base of the Acropolis but for the best view today just head over to the quiet neighborhood of Thisseo and park as close as you can to the craggy rock of Areopagus Hill (it’s pretty easy during the day and best of all there are no parking meters). Climb up the stairs for the best “up close” view of the Acropolis and Parthenon from anywhere in the city. Snap your selfie and then zip over to the next amazing view.
Athens from Mount Lycabettus
While you could take the winding footpath some 900 feet to the top of Mount Lycabettus or the funicular, both can get a bit crowded so opt for a pleasant drive instead, just follow the winding road behind the hill until you come to a big parking lot. From there, you can enjoy a panorama of Athens to the sea or walk a short way up to the summit.
Kallimarmaro Marble Stadium
The Kallimarmaro marble stadium is one of the most iconic ancient sites of Athens. But instead of stopping on the always-busy Leoforos Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue which passes by the open, front end of the site, turn right on Eratosthenous Street and make your way to Archimedous Street, which is directly behind the stadium. Find a place to park; the neighborhood, called Pagrati, is not touristy so parking should be easy and then approach the stadium from the “closed” back end. You will be rewarded with spectacular views, and you’ll be glad to see there’s no admission fee on this side.
Temple of Olympian Zeus from your car window
The Temple of Olympian Zeus is something of an underdog among Greek ruins, partly because though Greek in inception it was Roman in completion. The cluster of colossal remaining columns still draws groups of ogling tourists which you could once easily avoid by driving right past them on Vasilissis Olgas Avenue, but now that section is part of the Great Walk; a plan to pedestrianize parts of downtown Athens that has so far met with mixed success and cars can no longer go there. But you can still get an eyeful from Ardittou street, with the Parthenon in the background, or from Vasilissis Amalias which straddles the National Garden and the Hellenic Parliament. That busy byway also affords a nice view of Hadrian’s Arch.
