Post-Cruise Guide to Athens, Greece

We stayed at the Divani Palace Acropolis in an Acropolis View Room. This was our first view of the Acropolis – unlike many other historical sites that are outside of the city, or found below, the Acropolis sits atop the city and dominates the skyline.

Divani Palace is in the Koukaki/Acropoli neighborhood on the south slope of the Acropolis. Once known for the affluent homes of ancient Athens, this part of town is rich in historical finds. The hotel sits on top of Themistocles' wall, and a large portion of it is visible from the basement level next to the shop and business center.

The hotel boasts three restaurants and two bars. D bar off the lobby serves as one of the main access points to the pool. The bartender will gladly serve you food and drinks whether inside or outside in a lounge chair or poolside table. The courtyard where the pool is located gets a lot of shade from the surrounding buildings but still offers plenty of sunbathing opportunities. The main restaurant, Aspassia, serves traditional Greek and Mediterranean dishes as well as an American-style breakfast.

The real treat of this hotel is the rooftop bar and restaurant, Acropolis Secret. You get a full view of the Acropolis (which is lit throughout the night) from any seat in this restaurant. The food and service are outstanding, including heaters and blankets on colder nights. The food is more expensive than you will see in other local restaurants, but well worth the price.

Most of the major historic sites are located within an easy walk of the Acropolis. You should be able to see the most significant ones in a three-day stay, including:

• The Acropolis Museum: The museum is separate from the actual Acropolis, but offers stunning views. The museum houses the remaining statues and frieze from the Acropolis and surrounding neighborhood including the remaining four Caryatids.

• Theater of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. The Odeon is still a functioning performance venue featuring live theater and musical performances. We were able to catch Sting in concert at the nearly 1900-year old Odeon – truly a bucket-list opportunity. It is easy to do a self-guided tour of both of these sites before making the ascent to the top of the Acropolis.

• Acropolis: The hike to the Acropolis is a steep but manageable walk – the walkways and stairs are well maintained. The path enters the Acropolis from the temple of Athena Nike. Once inside, you can roam around the remaining buildings, including the Parthenon and the Erechtheion, featuring the stunning porch of the Caryatids.

• The Acropolis closes at sunset. I personally recommend being there at sunset – you’ll catch the lowering of the flag ceremony, and the view of the sunset over Athens is stunning. The setting sun shrouds the ancient temples in golden light.

• Arch of Hadrian: Constructed in 132 BC in recognition of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, the Arch sits on a main road and is easily accessible.

• Temple of Zeus: What remains of the temple is directly behind the Arch of Hadrian. There is a small fee to enter, but once inside you can get an up-close look at the columns, stones and components of this temple. Another section of Themistocles' wall is featured here as well.

• Plaka: Built on top of the ancient residential area of Athens, on the northeast slope of the Acropolis, Plaka is the oldest district in the city. It is now home to narrow streets lined with shops, restaurants and bars. It’s easy to spend a relaxing afternoon wandering the maze of streets and alleys, exploring shops and stopping for wine and snacks along the way.

There are several options to get from the port at Piraeus to Athens city center — cabs, arranging a private transfer, or tram. The stops for the hop-on/hop-off-style buses are at the port as well, but not as easy to manage if you have large luggage. Hotels will store your luggage, but if you are in a home rental that you cannot access early, there are plenty of luggage lockers/storage shops throughout the city center available for about five Euros, giving you the opportunity to explore the city right away.

Day trips

Mycenae/Epidarus/Napflion: This is a history buff’s dream tour. This takes you to the ancient theater of Epidarus, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as the Bronze Age city of Mycenae and the Treasury of Atreus. As an added bonus, many of these tours make a stop for lunch in the picturesque town of Napflion.

Lake Vouliagmeni: Located about 30 minutes south of Athens, the waters of Lake Vouliagmeni average in the 70s year round. There are lounge chairs and umbrellas available to rent, a full-service spa and a bar and restaurant specializing in locally caught seafood.

• Salute Bistro – Coffee, brunch, light bites and drinks are available all day at this cozy corner restaurant in the center of Athens. Like most restaurants, it offers indoor and outdoor table seating. This is our go-to spot as soon as we get to Athens. Its relaxing atmosphere is the perfect reset after disembarking.

• Fratti Bistro – Open from dinner to late-night drinks, Fratti is an Italian bistro that weaves in Greek staples and traditional comfort foods. Streetside (and on the street) tables as well as indoor seating are available.

• Thomas 1971 Tavern – In the heart of Koukaki, Thomas 1971 offers traditional Greek cuisine and seafood. They are known for their fresh wholemeal sourdough bread that is made in house throughout the day and served with pickles, olives and galeni cream cheese.

• Acropolis Secret – On the rooftop of the Divani Palace hotel, Acropolis Secret is open to the public, featuring upscale meat and seafood dishes and traditional Greek cuisine. They welcome all guests, whether you are looking for a meal or just dessert or cocktails.

• Wine Point – The place for wine lovers in Athens. Hidden on a side street in Plaka, Wine Point offers the best wine selection in the city and a menu that lets you create your own charcuterie selection. The owner is a wine expert – simply let her know what you like in a wine and she will find the right Greek wine to match your palate. There is also a wide selection of well-known varietals. Be sure to visit the wine cellar in the basement to see the true depth of their selection.

• Pulp – The closest thing to an American dive bar, Pulp offers Bavarian and Czech beers among a selection of popular beers from around the world. There’s always some good old American rock and roll coming over the speakers.

• Arcadia – Arcadia sits along the row of restaurants on a pedestrian street across from the Acropolis Museum and the Acropolis Metro station. They have a large seafood selection and pride themselves on traditional Greek cuisine. I recommend the Saganaki appetizer - grilled cheese in an olive crust, served with lime jam.