My First Day in Athens: Gods, Hills, and the Magic of the Acropolis

Arrival in the City

The trip started with a bit of disbelief. My first attempt had been canceled, and even during boarding, it felt like something could still go wrong. But I made it. And it was easier than I imagined.

From the airport, I took metro line 3 straight to the city center. Tickets can be bought at the machines or the counter, and everyone at the airport spoke English with no issues. After about 40 minutes, I arrived at Monastiraki station, right in the heart of Athens.

I stayed in a very well-located hostel, with female-only dorms, privacy curtains, and even earplugs. The hostel was in the Monastiraki neighborhood, just a 15-minute walk from the Acropolis. That evening, I had dinner nearby and went to rest, ready for the big day ahead.

Touring the Acropolis

I booked the tour in advance through GetYourGuide (67€, entrance + guide) and I highly recommend it.

As we entered the archaeological site of the Acropolis, our first stop was the Sanctuary of Dionysus and the Theater of Dionysus, considered the birthplace of Western theater. Dionysus, the god of wine, celebration, and the arts, was worshipped here through rituals and dramatic performances, the very beginning of what we now know as theater.

Next, we visited the Sanctuary of Asclepius, the god of medicine, whose symbol was a serpent wrapped around a staff , the origin of today’s medical symbol. Legend has it that Asclepius was banished for bringing the dead back to life, which angered the gods and disrupted the balance between mortality and immortality.

Climbing higher, we reached the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a Roman theater still in use today for open-air performances, especially during the Athens Festival.

Then, the grand moment: we entered the Acropolis through the Propylaea, the ceremonial gateway. At the top stands the majestic Parthenon, a temple dedicated to Athena Parthenos, protector of the city. Beside it is the Erechtheion, famous for its Caryatids , sculpted female figures that serve as columns.

From up there, the view is surreal. All of Athens unfolds before your eyes. The ancient and modern cities coexist under the same sun. It’s a place of dense energy that hums in silence.

The Acropolis Museum

After lunch, I visited the Acropolis Museum (20€ entry). Even without a guide, there was plenty of explanatory content, and every second was worth it. Inside, I saw original pieces from the Acropolis , statues, columns, metopes, and friezes from the Parthenon. There were statues of gods like Aphrodite, Artemis, and Hermes, all carefully preserved.

The museum itself was built above ancient ruins, visible beneath your feet through the glass floor, the old city literally beneath you.

Sunset with the Gods

Later in the afternoon, I met up with two Colombian friends and we climbed the Areopagus Hill, an ancient sacred rock where the city council used to meet. Legend says that Apollo was once judged there by the gods, and that Saint Paul preached to the Athenians from that very spot.

From up there, the view of the Acropolis is stunning. We watched the sunset with a local beer in hand and a lump in our throats. As night fell, the Acropolis lit up, glowing above the city like something suspended in time. It was a spiritual moment, a connection with the city, with the myths, with myself.

I ended the day with a lovely dinner overlooking the Acropolis, sipping on a local beer and enjoying a delicious Moussaka, a traditional Greek dish made with eggplant, ground meat, and creamy béchamel.

Thanks for reading this far! See you in the next post!

With love,

Leticia Estrela