I’d been waiting for this trip since I unwrapped an Athens guide book on Christmas morning.

It’s been a while since I collected so many photos I love from one place I’ve visited. Covid obviously hasn’t helped but thank goodness the world is finally opening back up again. We’re all free to indulge in our wanderlust once more. I wanted to share a few details from this trip with my mum and give all these photos a home. The meaning behind my mum’s gift was to create memories in the present so it only feels right to celebrate them.

We spent three nights in Athens, staying at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in the centre of the city. I didn't take many photos of the hotel but I can’t recommend it as a base enough. The view of the acropolis from the rooftop pool and restaurant alone makes it worth the stay. The first day was spent wandering around, getting used to the unusual sights, sounds and smells a new city has to offer and to find our bearings whilst also recovering from the early morning flight. Then it was time for an early night ready for our first full day.

After a delicious breakfast at the hotel we headed straight for the acropolis. It took 30 minutes to get there but the walk was beautiful. We stretched it out even further by getting distracted by all the pretty backstreets on the way but there was no rush. Athens is ancient and you can feel the history at every turn. In the name of slow travel we planned just one thing each day so we had plenty of time to explore at our own pace and allow the day to unfold spontaneously. This meant we got to see the parts of the city we wanted to the most without trying to do too much and being tied to a rigid itinerary. Day one was all about taking in the temples and theatres of the acropolis then wandering the pretty Greek streets of the old town areas of Plaka and Anafiotika on the way back down.

We racked up a satisfying 16,000 steps on day one but each one was worth it. Athens is definitely a place for walkers and wanderers but there seemed to be lots of options available for people who aren’t able bodied too so don’t let this put you off. By 6pm we were back at the hotel freshly showered in our robes and we spent the rest of the evening relaxing. There was so much we wanted to do while we were there but one place in particular appealed to us for our last full day… the sea of course!

Athens is one of those unicorn cities that lies close to the sea and so you can enjoy both city and beach on one trip. The Athenian riviera popped up every time I searched potential itineraries on Pinterest and it was only a 25 minute taxi ride from our hotel. By 11am we were on our way.

Our drop off point was Lake Vouliagmeni but sadly it was closed for construction until the summer. Disappointing yes as the waters are supposed to be warm here but I still managed to get a few snaps from the outside looking in. If you are in the area when it’s open I’d recommend a visit as it looked breathtaking. Luckily the lake is right by the sea so we cut our loses and set off to wander around the bay taking in as many little coves and beaches as possible. The best one we found was right opposite Lake Vouliagmeni and as usual this was the one packed with locals, the best measure to go by.

There was so much to see along this bit of coastline. The beaches are typically Greek and breathtaking but it also has a tourist friendly path that runs by the side of the sea for miles. Along it you’ll find endless restaurants with sea views and benches to sit and ponder on. We found ourselves bustling between three different restaurants before settling on where we’d have dinner that evening because there was so much choice. Finding a taxi home was easy too with many of them waiting around local hotels or streets.

Mum and I both agreed we made the right decision to head for the coast and I’d encourage you not to let the taxi journey put you off. I felt like I’d had two holidays in two days with the variety on offer.

Greece is one of my favourite places to visit and Athens certainly didn’t disappoint. I’d like to think I’ll be back one day to do everything I didn’t get chance to do this time around. I love how you can use Athens as a base for island hopping too with most of the Greek islands being in easy reach by the ferries that leave the port. Hydra has been high on my to visit list for years and this is where I would’ve headed next given the chance. Still, home beckoned and by 6pm the following evening we were back on British soil. Until next time…

If you’d like to bring these photos to life and haven’t watched my Athens vlog yet you can see it here on my YouTube channel.