6 Tips for Visiting the Acropolis
During my recent vacation to Greece with friends, we hired a great driver in Athens named Makis Dedes (email: limogr@otrenet.gr), and booked an amazing tour of the Acropolis from a guide named Laura (of Yasoo Greece). I learned so much from Laura – not only about the history of Greece, but also about the best way to visit this world-class site, and I thought I'd pass along a few tips if you're headed to Athens for some sightseeing.
1. Arrive early. Athens is a major stop on Mediterranean cruise routes, so by 8am, when the Acropolis opens, the tour buses are already pulling up and spewing out day-trippers by the hundreds. If you want an early morning start, be there and ready to enter precisely at 8am to stay ahead of the hordes.
2. Or arrive a whole lot later. The good news about cruise day-trippers, though, is that eventually they have to return to the port. This means that from about 5pm until the site closes at 8pm, there are far fewer people at the Acropolis. And depending on what time of year you go, you could have a great view of the sunset over Athens.
As far as reaching the site itself, we found that a good way to go was up the Filopappou (Philopappou) Hill on the southwest side. It's in the shade, and it's not too physically taxing. But the best part is that it's largely unused by the aforementioned hordes, and the views of the Acropolis itself as you approach are unparalleled.
3. Head indoors. Athens can be a furnace in the summer and is warm to mild all year round, which brings me to my next tip: The Acropolis Museum has some serious air conditioning. Obviously there are other highlights as well, such as walking on glass floors that show off the ruins of homes excavated during the construction of this seven-year-old museum; and getting up close and personal with Parthenon friezes, monuments and pediments. The details of these works are jaw-dropping, and the archaeological ability that brings history to light is humbling.
But honestly, that air conditioning was a welcome surprise, especially for just €5 ($6).
And if you want to take a load off, the museum's cafe has some pretty OK views, too. Whatever.
4. Have a game plan. As for a rough itinerary of a day spent sightseeing these ruins, it's best to go straight to the Acropolis, and then go see the museum. From there head to the Temple of Zeus, which you can do pretty quickly, and end with Lycabettus Hill, also known as the "Balcony of Athens" for its spectacular views not only of the Acropolis but of all of Athens and the Mediterranean, as well.
5. Be sure to visit the Panathenaic Stadium. Dating back to 140 AD, it has hosted various Olympic events and concerts since 1870. When we visited there was hardly anyone there, which made for some fun photo ops!
6. Don't miss the Herod Atticus Odeon at the Acropolis. It's quite a sight during the day, but it's not just a dusty old ruin; concerts and ancient-era dramas are still performed here, and I could only imagine what an experience that would be. The Hellenic Festival used the Odeon this summer as a venue for a performance of Jesus Christ Superstar and a concert by the China Philharmonic Orchestra. So make sure to check the listings while you're in town.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.