August city-break in Athens

04 August 2014 / 15:08:38 GRReporter

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Simona Peneva

August is the month that we await throughout the year. The hottest month that passes away quickly and leaves a lot of memories. The amount of work decreases, the city becomes deserted, the heat makes every day monotonous and people indulge in rest. We always make plans and set ourselves tasks to accomplish during this month, but eventually we find ourselves at the right place, the beach, enjoying the summer breeze. Many people plan a vacation abroad or on one of the lovely Greek islands but some remain to rest in Greece’s capital. As difficult as it may seem, one can spend a wonderful summer vacation in this noisy city, and, of course, relax and indulge in a well-deserved rest.

Athens is a big city that offers many forms of entertainment and has an excellent geographic location. You do not have to leave it to enjoy the cool sea waves and the hot sand. The choice is great and you can visit both paid beaches with sun beds and umbrellas, beach volleyball and bars and lonely beaches with crystal clear water and rocks that secure not only a beautiful view but also shade. In addition to enjoying the deep blue sea and the hot golden sand, you can sunbathe and relax. Some prefer spending that time reading a book whereas adventurers prefer the refreshing diving. The beaches that offer these pleasures include Yabanaki, KAPE, Limanaki, Mavro Lithari and more.

Of course, it is not necessary to go to the beach every day. You can have a good time if you go to some summer outdoor cinema or theatre. This will surely be an unforgettable experience, especially if you are fond of the big screen. An opportunity to enjoy it is offered by "Cine Thisio" which is determined as the best summer theatre in the world by CNN. The oldest cinema of Athens was established in 1935, it is located close to the Acropolis, on Apostolou Pavlou Street, and offers cinema fans screenings of both new films and older classics.

If you love shopping, you can take advantage of the fact that the busy Ermou shopping Street will be deserted in August and you can go shopping undisturbed. The hot air can exhaust you and it will be a good idea to refresh yourself with the summer season’s favourite frozen yogurt. This is traditional Greek milk, which is frozen, and you can add to it your favourite fruits, nuts, chocolate, candies and various syrups. You can try this dessert at "Chillbox" shops. If you are unable to go downtown, you can go to the local mall and take advantage of summer promotions and discounts as well as see some of the latest films in the indoor cinema.

In the afternoon, when the sun begins to set, you will find the best view in the Monastiraki neighbourhood. Of course, you will not be alone there because all tourists visit this place in August. If you want to chat with friends, having a cup of coffee while watching the sunset over the Acropolis, it will be an excellent choice to visit cafes such as "360", "A for Athens" and "Thisio View". You can also enjoy traditional Greek dishes to the sound of Greek music performed by the orchestra of one of the adjacent taverns that recreate the old-fashioned atmosphere, such as "Dipylon" and "Ilia’s Corner."

For lovers of tourism, Athens is the perfect place. In addition to the Acropolis, which is on the list of sights that should be seen at any cost, there are many more. The Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, the Byzantine and Christian Museum, the Municipal Gallery of Athens and Piraeus, Greece's Jewish Museum, the National Gallery, the National Archaeological and Historical Museum, the Military Museum, the Greek Naval Museum and the Theatre Museum are just some of the places that you can visit, learning, at the same time, something useful about the history of Greece. The state museums will offer free admittance to all every Sunday from 1 November to 31 March. If you prefer enjoying the view without getting tired and wandering around the city, you can take advantage of the "Hop on-Hop off" double-decker that sets off from Syntagma Square. The tour lasts an hour and a half and the ticket price is 18 euro for everyone over 14 years old. "Athens Happy Train" also offers an hour-and-a-half tour starting from Syntagma Square, passing along Ermou Street and reaching Monastiraki at the modest price of 6 euro.

In the end, of course, when the sun goes down and the music sounds louder, you can go dancing in a trendy summer club. In Athens, you can find both indoor and outdoor discos and clubs, with swimming pools, popular DJs, overlooking the beach or even located on the beach. The parties are countless and the choice is great, and when the night comes, you can have fun and exercise your dancing skills.