Visit Athens
Climb through the layers of Athens from a metro station displaying excavated finds to the Acropolis rock above the modern city. Ancient temples command attention, but neighbourhood markets, Byzantine churches and the changing of the guard keep the visit from becoming a single-period history lesson. The Acropolis and its museum work best as a pair: the archaeological site gives scale and position, while the museum explains sculpture and construction. Heat and polished stone can make the climb demanding. Athens also has an extensive public transport network connecting the centre, port and airport. Reserve any timed archaeological entry through the official system, start exposed sites early and carry water in a reusable bottle. Use the metro for longer hops, then walk Plaka, Monastiraki and the historic centre at street level. Add this to your list and read a city where ancient masonry keeps interrupting the present tense.