Getting to and from our apartment as we go out to visit the Acropolis & Parthenon, we walk through Plaka, the oldest neighbourhood of Athens, Psirri and Kato Petralona with the main hub being Monastiraki Square where there’s a metro station. We never ventured onto the underground, taxis are easy to hail at fixed prices and it’s pretty easy to get around on foot.
The main door to the apartment lobby didn’t look very inviting when we first arrived with graffiti, locked up vacant shops and motorbikes parked on the pavement. The neighbourhood doesn’t feel at all dodgy though with plenty of shops, cafes and bars with a very friendly feel . . . Once inside there’s a lift to the fifth floor then climb to the rooftop studio – which certainly exceeded our expectations for a very well appointed apartment as well as the large terrace and views across to the Acropolis. Great value at €300 for four nights.
We came across many interesting buildings, alleyways, shops, cafes and squares as we wandered the streets in the warm sunshine. The 11th century Agios Nikolaos Ragava Byzantine church was a particularly interesting find. Like many churches dating from this period it has lovely cloisonné masonry and incorporates marble columns as well as remains of other ancient buildings in the walls.