Flights from Tauranga to Athens

What are the best restaurants and cafes in Athens?

Chelsea Hotel Bar & Cafe

Chelsea Hotel is a trendy cafe and bar to visit once you’ve settled in from your flights to Athens. Located in the Pagrati neighbourhood, it’s pet-friendly and you'll often find a dog or two lying at the feet of their owners.

TAF (The Art Foundation)

For artists buying return flights to Athens, TAF is one of the best spots in the city to grab a cup of coffee. Hidden down the narrow streets of Monastiraki, the cafe is located inside a renovated building from 1870. As well as the good menu, there's also an on-site gallery that shows work from local contemporary artists.

Stylites

Stylites is a beautiful cafe with a vintage flair. It's decorated with typewriters, old lamps, clocks and music boxes. Traditional Greek coffee is served from vintage cups, and you can nibble on homemade tarts and cakes. If you're looking to buy tickets to Athens over Christmas, Stylites transforms into a festive wonderland.

Little Kook

Little Kook is one of the most extravagant coffee shops in Athens. There's a green dragon standing at the entrance, the servers dress up in costumes, and the menu is full of fantastical dishes. It's a must-visit if you're booking cheap flights to Athens for the whole family!

How much time should I spend in Athens?

When deciding how much time you want to devote to the Greek capital, it all depends on your interests. History buffs booking return flights to Athens could easily spend several days in the city; even up to five days if you’re set on visiting as many of the ancient sites and museums as you can. An itinerary of five days in Athens also allows for day trips to nearby ruins and archaeological sites. Those in pursuit of Greece’s gastronomy greats could spend a similar amount of time in Athens, joining market and food tours, signing up for cooking classes, and tracking down the city’s best servings of dolmades, moussaka, and baklava. Those planning on using tickets to Athens and Athens International Airport (ATH) as a springboard to the Greek Islands from Athens International Airport (ATH) shouldn’t neglect spending time in the capital completely. If in doubt, a day or two will give you a taste of everything the city offers.

What are Athens’ most famous landmarks and monuments?

The Acropolis of Athens

If you're short on time, make the most of your visit by exploring the Acropolis of Athens as soon as your flights to Athens arrive at Athens International Airport (ATH). This site is emblematic of Athens and ancient Greek history, and is one of the most visited landmarks in Greece. The Acropolis’ most famous sight is the Parthenon. The top tip for visiting the Acropolis is to get here as soon as it opens at 8am. This means you’ll be ahead of the tourist buses, which usually begin to arrive from 9am onwards. An early start is especially useful if you want a photo in front of the Parthenon without too many other people in your shot. If you're not an early-riser or your flights to Athens arrive in the morning, come here for sunset. The views over Athens are incredible! Single tickets for the Acropolis cost 20 EUR ($34.40 NZD), and you can also get a multi-site ticket for EUR 30 ($51.60 NZD) which is valid for three days. The ticket includes access to the Acropolis, Hadrian's Library, the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora, Archaeological Site of Lykeion, Kerameikos and the Olympieion.

Ancient Agora of Athens

The Ancient Agora is one of the top attractions for travellers buying flights to Athens. It was once the political hub of Athens, and is also where Socrates died while imprisoned. Visitors can visit the Museum of Ancient Agora to learn more about the site's history and see ancient artefacts. Other highlights you can visit on the grounds include the Temple of Hephaestus and Athena. Keep in mind that entrance to the Ancient Agora is included in the multi-site ticket, or you can buy a single ticket for EUR 8 ($13.76 NZD).

Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum contains one of the world’s best collections of ancient Greek art. It’s one of the best things to do for lovers of history exploring Greece with return flights to Athens. Located below the Acropolis hilltop, it flaunts 14,000 square metres of exhibition space. If you want to explore it all, give yourself at least half a day and buy a skip-the-line ticket to avoid having to join the queue.

Temple of Olympian Zeus

The Temple of Olympian Zeus may not have the profile that some of Athens’ other ruins enjoy, but it makes a worthy addition to the sightseeing itinerary of any traveller with an airfare to Athens. Plus, entrance is included on the multi-site tickets! It was once the largest temple in ancient Greece, however all that stands today are 15 enormous marble columns and Hadrian’s Arch. Entrance without the multi-site ticket is EUR 6 ($10.32 NZD).