Seize Your Someday with our amazing deals for the whole family!
Save an extra 10% or more on select hotels with Member Discounts
Access exclusive hotel deals, only with the Travelocity app
There is always a beginning. There is always a start to the rise of empires, movements, cultures, and life stories. Whether you’re looking for a trip as the beginning of a new chapter of your life or simply the beginning of a grand European vacation, visit the place that started it all: Athens, Greece.
As the birthplace of philosophy, the Olympics, and the concept of a republic, Athens was the sparkplug that made the whole world glow. And while it may be known for its ancient history, it’s anything but old and quiet. With a lively nightlife and sizzling street cart scene, there’s something both deliciously modern and wholly refined about the city. It’s time to visit it for yourself. Book an Athens all-inclusive hotel such as the Mare Nostrum Hotel Club Thalassoand roam around the city like the ancient Greeks once did.
Some of the major attractions in Athens include the Parthenon, the famous hilltop temple overlooking the city; Ancient Agora, the former marketplace and hub of political discussion; and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the largest temple in Athens that took seven centuries to complete. Other top attractions include the National Archaeological Museum, the Erechtheion, and Panathenaic Stadium.
Island hopping to neighboring isles is another top activity, including the island of Santorini, with its famous white, square houses on the cliffs.
In a debate worthy of Plato and Socrates, how to get from Athens to Santorini has waged countless conversations. Plane is the fastest method, and will take around 40 minutes from start to finish. Taking a ferry is the alternative option, with the Blue Star ferry taking about eight hours to arrive, and the Hellenic Seaways taking about five hours (with choppier waters at higher speeds). If you have time and want a view, take the boat. If you want to hurry up to start relaxing on the beach faster, a window seat on a jet plane is in order.
With most of the major sites located outside, you’ll want to pay attention to the time of year you’re traveling. Summers are hot, with little shade as you walk around the monuments. However, most attractions are open late, so if you want to enjoy your all-inclusive hotel near Athens (such as the magnificent Amarilia Hotel) until sundown, you can still catch most of the attractions during the late afternoon and dusk hours. In fact, Athens is a night owl as a whole. Most clubs are filled until around 2 a.m., with most street cart vendors open long into the wee hours of the morning.
Give yourself a chance to start at the beginning. Find yourself meandering past the ruins of one of the greatest eras the world has ever seen. Whether you’re here for your own beginning or merely want to examine life at its onset, booking an all-inclusive hotel in Athens and enjoying the culture is a must.
