We wouldn’t be ourselves if we hadn’t climbed at least one hill from where you can admire the panorama of Athens. We managed to do as many as four and after researching the topography of the terrain, there are probably no better ones than these four in Athens! Below you can find out more about 4 best viewpoints in Athens!
When it comes to which viewpoint in Athens is the proven one, we still can’t decide. As the saying goes – ladies first, so we’ll start with Aneta’s favorite.
Lycabettus Hill – 4 best viewpoints in Athens
Lycabettus Hill is Athens’ highest hill, 277 meters high, its shape is distinctive and easy to recognize from a distance. According to mythology, the mountain was created as a result of a rock dropped by Athena, which she brought from Pentelis on the way to the Acropolis. You can get to the top on foot in about 15 minutes, or by cable car for 5 euro one way and 7.5 euro return.
On the top there is observation deck, which is a brilliant place to admire the sunset, as well as the church of St. Gregory, restaurant and bar. On the other side of the hill there is an amphitheatre with the same name, unfortunately we didn’t manage to get there, but after seeing some photos we can say that it’s worth it! From the Lycabettus hill you can see a large part of Athens (a bit is covered by the Filopappou hill), as well as the Saronic Gulf and the hills on the Peloponnese peninsula.
You have to take our word for it that while admiring Athens from this hill you get the impression that the sea of white buildings doesn’t end. Goes all the way to the line of horizon from every side!
Filopappou Hill – 4 best viewpoints in Athens
Filopappou Hill is David’s favorite. The hill is located right next to the Acropolis and its view is definitely of the utmost importance. We went there for sunset and we recommend you get there a little earlier to choose the best spot – we noticed that at the very top it can get a little windy, and a bit lower there are quite comfortable, sheltered places which are great for admiring the sunset.
On the hill there is a park in which various interesting places are hidden, such as the prison of Socrates, the cave of the Deaf and the Philopappos monument. After dark, it’s worth being careful there, especially if you are going with photographic equipment, because we have heard that it can get dangerous. Luckily, nothing happened to us, apart from dogs barking at us fiercely (we walked sideways).
Acropolis of Athens – 4 best viewpoints in Athens
The biggest disadvantage of the Athenian Acropolis as a vantage point is that you cannot see the Acropolis from it. We admit that the Acropolis seen from a distance is a very grateful sight, and being at the very top, we can mainly admire the city. The Acropolis isn’t as high as Lycabettus, so you can’t see the scale of Athens as well.
We recommend it anyway, because the temple complex is in a class of its own, and you can also see the Lycabettus hill and its interesting shape. We went to the Acropolis in the morning and the light for photos was quite satisfactory at this time, but at sunset, we recommend watching the Acropolis from a distance, and not necessarily being there.
Areopagus Hill – 4 best viewpoints in Athens
Areopagus Hill is the lowest of all we have mentioned in this text and also the least phenomenal. It’s located very close to the Acropolis but doesn’t have a nice view on it. In the morning, at sunrise, the most favourable light fell on the city, so we focused on this part the most. If you have time and willingness, sunrise is a good time to go there and sunset even better, but we definitely recommend Lycabettus and Filopappos for sunset!
Athens was only quick stop on our way to Cyclades, where Syros was our first stop. You can read more about Syros here.
