Athens National Garden & Kolonaki
We begin our route from the Temple of Olympian Zeus, near the Acropolis Museum. We haven't included Acropolis Museum and Parthenon in this route as you will probably need a whole morning to visit both. We then walk towards the biggest park in Athens, the National Gardens. You are going to find a small Zoo, huge coconut trees, ponds, and many exotic flowers and plants. Walking out of the park, we meet with Syntagma square and the Greek Parliament. Our next stop is the Benaki Museum. The museum is located on Vasilissis Sofias street, which is full of stunning houses, many of which host embassies or museums. Our final stop is aiming to help us recharge. Kalamaki Kolonaki is famous for its souvlaki and greek salad. Many locals visit it, however, you usually find a table and no reservation is needed. It was indeed one of the best souvlaki I have ever had.
Spots
The Temple of Olympian Zeus, also known as the Olympieion or Columns of the Olympian Zeus, is a former colossal temple at the center of the Greek capital Athens. It was dedicated to "Olympian" Zeus, a name originating from his position as head of the Olympian gods. During the Roman period the temple, which included 104 colossal columns, was renowned as the largest temple in Greece and housed one of the largest cult statues in the ancient world. — Wikipedia
The National Garden (it was named Royal Garden until 1974) is a public park of 15.5 hectares in the center of the Greek capital, Athens. It is located between the districts of Kolonaki and Pangrati, directly behind the Greek Parliament building, and continues to the South to the area where the Zappeion is located. The Garden also encloses some ancient ruins, column drums, and Corinthian capitals of columns, mosaics, and other features. — Wikipedia
Syntagma Square is the central square of Athens. The square is named after the Constitution that Otto, the first King of Greece, was obliged to grant after a popular and military uprising on 3 September 1843. It is located in front of the 19th-century Old Royal Palace, housing the Greek Parliament since 1934. Syntagma Square is the most important square of modern Athens from both a historical and social point of view, at the heart of commercial activity and Greek politics. — Wikipedia
The Hellenic Parliament, also known as the Parliament of the Hellenes, the Hellenic Bouleterion or Greek Parliament, is the unicameral legislature of Greece, located in the Old Royal Palace, overlooking Syntagma Square in Athens. The parliament is the supreme democratic institution that represents the citizens through an elected body of Members of Parliament (MPs). — Wikipedia
The museum houses Greek works of art from the prehistorical to the modern times, an extensive collection of Asian art, hosts periodic exhibitions and maintains a state-of-the-art restoration and conservation workshop. This Museum in Athens houses over 100,000 artifacts from Greek history and showcases the many eras, civilizations and cultures which have influenced the development of Greece. — Wikipedia
Kalamaki Kolonaki is a fancy "souvlaki" restaurant and takeaway in Kolonaki. Here, you'll find premium meats on a stick (Souvlaki), and a wide variety of appetizers.
