Thanksgiving In Athens
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The Acropolis from Rooftop 360
Thanksgiving might be my favorite holiday and man did I miss the amazing meal that’s always prepared at my Mom’s place back in New York. Despite this, in 2021 we decided to take a short vacation at a strange time and to be honest will probably do it again!
This is before we were travel therapists, we had recently moved to Texas and were saving for a house and wedding, so money was tight! We intended on having our first Thanksgiving away from our families and hosting ourselves in our tiny apartment, but about 6-8 weeks before Alex found a flight deal, flying to Athens, Greece for ~ $350 per person, round trip. Now I’m not one to make rash decisions, but this felt too good to be true and Alex had never been to Europe!
Little did we know that our quick 5 days in Athens would be one of the most memorable experiences we’ve had to date.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect much out of British Airways Thanksgiving dinner that day, and let’s just say it barely met expectations. Leaving the FOMO of Thanksgiving behind, we arrived in Athens. A city full of history, culture and amazing food and wine. The other thing it’s known for, crowds, were nowhere to be found.
During our short stay, we went to the Parthenon without waiting in line, never waited for a table anywhere and explored the city on foot to the tune of a marathon of walking in just a few days.
The only downside: Some of our day trips got cancelled due to not enough signups. So, if you plan to go, be prepared to possibly pay for some private or semi private tours for things you really want to do!
Sunset over Cape Sounion
Our Top 5 Must See’s In Athens:
1) The Acropolis of Athens/ Parthenon : In the center of the city, you can’t miss it. By booking this self guided ticket in advance it may cut down your wait time. You can also opt for a guided tour, but for things like this that’s not usually our style!
2) Cape Sounion and Temple of Poseidon : This tour includes a beautiful ride down the coastline about an hour or so, to the ancient Temple of Poseidon. Take the afternoon tour to experiences one of the most beautiful sunts you’ve ever seen with ancient Greek ruins in the foreground.
3) Athens Free Walking Tour. Free Walking Tours are a great way to see a new city and this one in Athens is well worth your time. You’ll likely even get more recommendations and find some places you would like to come back to for more time!
4) Full Day Trip to Corinth Canal, Nafplio, Epidaurus and Mycenae: This was our tour that got cancelled and we were unable to rebook. However we know it would have been a great day full of history and beautiful ancient sites. It’s at the top of my list for next time!
5) Panathenaic Stadium: The first modern olympic stadium. It holds torches of each of the previous olympiads and as a track and field nerd, it’s just plain cool! A unique shape, for any other past T&F athletes, could you imagine running the 200 or 400m there?!
Exploring the Panathenaic Stadium
Our Top 5 Foodie Stops:
1) Loukoumades. Okay not one place, but if you have never had this Greek dessert, you’ve been missing out. Find these deep fried dough balls, with toppings of your choice, and enjoy them as often as you can!
2) Avli Psiri : A Greek Taverna nestled in a courtyard. It may be hard to find, but you won’t find many tourists once you are inside. An authentic Greek meal, in a quaint atmosphere and possibly even a friendly cat or two joining you!
3) Wine with Eleni : Wine lovers, this is one of our favorite wine tastings we’ve done in the entire world. Eleni will educate you on the wines of Greece and specifically the unique wines of Mount Athos. If you go in the off season, make sure to send her a message to find out if/when she will be open when you are in town!
4) Taverna Saita: In the Plaka neighborhood, just next to the acropolis. Alex’s favorite meal in Athens. If you sit outside, it’s a bit of a busier street, but nonetheless one of the most authentic Tavernas around!
5) 360 Cocktail Bar : You may wait a while, and the food and drink prices will be a bit higher than elsewhere, but the views of the Acropolis are unmatched. Try to go after dark if you can for the best views!
Whether you go over Thanksgiving or some other time, we really think Athens is a great offseason travel destination. Although you may not desire to follow it up with Greek Islands certain seasons, the rich history and culture along with the amazing food are best enjoyed with less heat and fewer crowds. I hope you found this helpful and enjoy your trip!
