Athens – Day 2: Museums, Old Streets & Panoramic Views

This post is part of our Europe Travel Series. In my previous posts, I shared our experiences in Istanbul and Cappadocia. If you’d like to follow our journey from the beginning, you can start reading the series here.

If you’d like to read about our Athens experience, you can begin here.

The National Archaeological Museum of Athens is one of the most important museums in the world, showcasing Greece’s rich ancient history through an extraordinary collection of artifacts spanning thousands of years.

On our second day in Athens, we started our morning early and arrived at the National Archaeological Museum around 7:45 AM. The museum was scheduled to open at 8:00 AM, and we were thrilled to be among the very first visitors to step inside. Being there right at opening time gave us a wonderful opportunity to explore the galleries peacefully, before the crowds arrived, and truly appreciate the incredible treasures of ancient Greece.

  

The museum is very well organized across three levels, with each hall showcasing its most important artifacts and discoveries. This layout made it easy to explore at a relaxed pace without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. We slowly went through the highlights and enjoyed a calm, uninterrupted experience.

One of the most famous highlights is the Mask of Agamemnon, a striking gold funeral mask from the Mycenaean civilization, believed to date back to the 16th century BCE. It gives a powerful glimpse into early royal burial customs.

Another major attraction is the Antikythera Mechanism, often called the world’s first analog computer. This ancient bronze device was used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses, showing how advanced ancient Greek scientific knowledge was.

The museum also houses impressive classical sculptures, including statues of gods and athletes that reflect the beauty ideals of ancient Greece. Works such as bronze statues and marble figures from the Classical and Hellenistic periods highlight the mastery of Greek art and anatomy.

We had breakfast at the museum cafe—spinach pie and a cream-filled simi bagel—which made for a simple but nice start before continuing our visit.

There are also beautifully preserved vases, pottery, and frescoes, which depict scenes from mythology and daily life, helping visitors understand how ancient Greeks lived, believed, and expressed themselves artistically.

By around 1:30 PM, we wrapped up at the museum and headed out for lunch at a Mezze restaurant in Athens, where the food was fresh and really enjoyable.

After lunch, we explored the Monastiraki and Plaka areas again, walking through their lively streets filled with shops, cafés, and everyday city energy. We also passed the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, an important 19th-century Greek Orthodox landmark known for its architecture and cultural significance in the city.

From there, we made our way up to Anafiotika, a hidden Cycladic-style neighborhood built by island workers from Anafi in the 19th century. With its narrow whitewashed alleys, blue accents, and quiet atmosphere, it felt like a small Aegean village tucked right under the Acropolis. The higher paths also offered stunning panoramic views of Athens, with the city stretching out below and the Acropolis rising above it all.

Later in the day, we visited the National Garden and watched the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Syntagma Square, a traditional and carefully choreographed display that reflects Greek ceremonial heritage.

It was another long but fulfilling day. In just two days, we were able to explore many of Athens’ most important historical landmarks and experience the city’s incredible past.

After returning to our Airbnb, we packed our bags as we would be checking out the next morning. Our time in Athens had come to an end, and we were ready to continue our journey to two more important historical sites in Greece, each with its own fascinating story. You can read those details here