How to spend your first weekend in Athens

Athens is one of the most thrilling cities in the world, whether you’re in town for work or play. Its history spans more than 3,000 years, and the cityscape includes ancient ruins alongside contemporary glass towers. There are so many things to do in Athens that you could live here for a year and not get around to it all.

When you stay in a furnished apartment, it’s easy to hit the ground running and explore. Blueground’s apartments are laid out by interior designers and have comfortable work-from-home setups and fully equipped kitchens. Even better, we include high-tech extras like Bluetooth speakers and smart appliances to fuel your lifestyle.

One of the best aspects of living in a furnished Blueground apartment is that you can get out and see Athens right away, rather than spending days shopping for a shower curtain or setting up your Wi-Fi. Here are just a few ideas for how to spend your first weekend in Athens.

Friday: Dinner and a movie

It’s easy to cook a simple, delicious meal in your Blueground apartment, thanks to your fully equipped kitchen. Whip up a simple pasta dinner or a stir fry to get your feel for the space. Of course, you could always order in! You can use eFood to find restaurants throughout Athens that will deliver to your new place.

After dinner, camp out in front of your new Smart TV to experience Athens on the small screen. You may have already seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding — actress and comedian Nia Vardalos’s breakout story of an awkward woman who falls in love and changes her life — which is, regrettably, not set in Greece. Now check out My Life in Ruins, a 2009 movie that stars Vardalos as a fish-out-of-water American professor who becomes an Athens tour guide.

Given the plot, it’s no surprise that the film features many famous locations throughout Athens, including the Acropolis.

Saturday: Ancient wonders

Whether or not you watched My Life in Ruins last night, nothing beats seeing the Acropolis in person. If you want to beat the crowds, it’s best to get up early. After all, this is arguably the most important ancient site in all of Greece!

Set on a hill overlooking the city, the Acropolis is the setting for 21 of the ancient buildings in Athens, including the Parthenon. Allow yourself at least a few hours to explore, take selfies, and pick up a souvenir or two.

You could also consider hiring a local guide or downloading an English-language audio tour to make your experience that much richer.

Sunday: Contemporary art

After you’ve had your breakfast and coffee, head to the Benaki Museum, located in a converted mansion at the edge of the gorgeous National Garden (also worth a visit!). You can marvel at artworks from Ancient Greece to the present, including some notable oil paintings by El Greco. Please note that the museum requires vaccination or a Covid-19 recovery certificate for entry.

If you worked up an appetite while you were visiting the museum, head to nearby Epireia for a great meal. This charming local restaurant landed on our radar thanks to a Blueground guest. Try the healthy and delicious quinoa salad or a hearty wild boar burger.

At Blueground, we want all of our guests to feel at home as soon as they arrive, whether they stay with us for a month, a year, or even longer. Our turnkey apartments in Athens and our major cities in Europe, the Middle East, and North America have everything our guests need to cater for themselves. Find out more about the Blueground experience.