Athens Overnight

Just one night in ATHENS? 360°Hotel on Monastariki Square is a great place to stay if you want to see and do the most during the short time you have in this fascinating ancient city.

Standing in the center of Monastiraki square and doing a 360° turn you will see and experience everything from the flea market with it’s jumble of shops to the ruins of the Agora marketplace just a stone’s throw away. Mixed into this vibrant setting is the famous kebob shop,the smell of bakeries, a dynamic mix of eras and cultures and the very history of Athens itself radiating from the Acropolis perched high on the hillside.

Location location location is a familiar quip in real estate and it certainly applies here if you want to get the most out of the fascinating ancient city of Athens with only a one night stopover for business or before heading to the Greek islands or a villa in the Peloponnese region. The 360° hotel is walking distance from the Acropolis, the Roman Agora, the popular shopping area of Ermou Street and Old Town. And just steps away you will find the Monastiraki flea market, which is in full force on Sundays. I bought this hat at the market as soon as we arrived.

If flying into Athens from the east coast, you’ll probably arrive 9:30 or 10:30 am. Once you’re settled, head out to the first restaurant to the right of the square for lunch, which has a choice of 5 wonderful Greek salads and the best fried potatoes dipped in feta cheese. Served in oblong pieces, cooked crisp yet light and so tender and tasty on the inside that there’s bound to be agreement that they are the best fried potatoes you’ve ever eaten in life.

After lunch is a great time to explore the flea market and Old Town, taking photos of ruins along the way. There are some really cool shops and on Sundays people bring tables and rugs to sell all kinds of stuff from junk to antiques, fake to real. And for tourists, there are lots of things you can buy to show you’ve been to Greece.

After a short nap to replenish from the days activities, head up to the hotel’s rooftop restaurant that boasts panoramic views of the city and great sunsets. Spend the evening dining on sumptuous food that stretches and tickles your palates, especially the eel served with Ladolemono-Greek style olive oil and lemon dressing. Try the Greek liquor Mastiha and get a tatse of why this had been a tradition since ancient times. With stunning views of the Acropolis lit up at night, a happening bar scene and funky rhythm and blues playing, three hours can go by with little notice of anything else except how wonderful it is to be there.

Breakfast, an elaborate buffet with eggs cooked to order, fresh squeezed orange juice and a morning view of the Acropolis, is included in your hotel stay. After breakfast, take just a 20 minute walk to the Acropolis; along the way you’ll pass street musicians and all kinds of merchandise.

In the late morning and afternoon you can spend your time in awe exploring the ancient ruins of the Acropolis, the Parthenon and the temple of Athena. Climbing the steps can be daunting, but the walk back in time and the views are simply amazing. If you’re not pressed for time you can tour the Acropolis museum as well.

So Athens in less than 15 hours? Yes, you can leave satisfied that you’ve gotten in as much or more than you could have hoped for in such a short period of time.

And 360° hotel, what a delightful surprise!

You can book 360° hotel through booking.com with no payment upfront and can cancel up to 3 days before your trip. Only 20 minutes from the airport, take a taxi versus renting a car as there’s no parking on the square.