by Katherine Poseidon and Katia Mavrikou
How are you feeing these days? Maybe a little overwhelmed by everything happening in the world? We are too, but... it seems like perfect timing for a holiday that celebrates love, right? Rather than rehash all of the romantic things to do in Athens for the lovebirds we decided to branch out a little for Valentine's Day and list some unique things to do to celebrate love in general, with romantic partners, best friends, and even family. We think everyone could use a little love!
Love comes from the heart but passes through the stomach!
join the best gastronomic in Athens this season
Indulge in Athens' Best Chocolate
Valetine's Day is nothing if not a good excuse to indulge the sweet tooth a little bit. Some of our favourite picks for chocoholics are Aristrokratikon near Syntagma square, an Athens institution making delightful little chocolatey bites, or the Dark Side of Chocolate near Kolonaki, a store devoted entirely to our favourite indulgences. If you have time to grab your significant other, or your best friend, catch up and reminisce over a cup of hot chocolate at Petit Fleur in central Athens.
Fall in love with the best Athens' food tours
Try a Unique Experience for Something New
Share with your loved one the experience of a Traditional Greek Dance lesson and learn something new, together! (Picture by Katia Mavrikou)
It's easy to get caught up in the fast pace of the everyday, so why not use Valentine's Day as an excuse to spend some quality time with a loved one? One of the best ways, in our opinion, is to try a new experience or travel adventure, something a little out of the ordinary. We've gathered here our favourite unique experiences in Athens; so why not join a Greek dance lesson, a quirky tour, an olive oil tasting seminar or mosaic workshop near the Athens beach side? Otherwise, visit somewhere you think you've been a million times, but join a tour to learn something new. Even if you think you know everything there is to know about Ancient Greece, we promise you'll learn something that surprises you!
Share an alternative Athens experience!
Spend the night in one of Athens' best hotels
Pamper yourself and your loved one with an exclusive stay in one of Athens' most legendary hotels, the Hotel Grande Bretagne. (Picture via Hotel Grande Bretagne website)
Athens offers a variety of beautiful hotels where you can spend a special night with your loved one on Valentine's day. We've hand picked a few of our favorites which whisper 'special occasion' for visitors and locals alike. The Hotel Grande Bretagne for an old-Athens feel, the New Hotel for design-lovers, The Margi for the romantics, the Semiramis in Kifissia suburb for art enthusiasts, Coco-Mat Hotel Athens for the minimalists, let alone Grande Resort Lagonissi and Cape Sounio for sea and sunset lovers! Added bonus? Your morning breakfast option at the hotel; yum!
Trips from Athens for a day, or two!
Escape the City and Explore Nature
Though it may not be easy enough to plan a full romantic getaway, why not go on a mini-escape into nature? You can check out our suggestions for best day-trips from Athens to really get out of town, or just check out some of our favourite green spaces if you need to stay a little closer to home. If the weather is nice, pack a picnic and pretend that you (plus significant other, family, or best friends) are a world away. This is also a sneaky way to 'give' your loved one flowers for the day - just visit the flowers in their natural habitat!
escape the athens city centre for a day close to nature
Share a Meal at One of Athens' Best Restaurants
It's no secret that you will find delicious places to eat in Athens (not just Greek food), and why not use Valentine's Day as an excuse to go out for a great meal? The holiday isn't popular enough here to worry about crowded restaurants, so you can relax and make it an evening to remember! We've recommended some of our top picks in various posts in the past: if you're looking for the gourmet version of food in Athens, check out our luxury guide to Athens; but a good souvlaki overlooking the Acropolis is always an old-time-classic thing to do in Athens. We suggest you follow one of our neighborhood guides for Kolonaki, Mets or Athens' beach suburbs of Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni. If you're looking for more inspiration, this guide can help you navigate any menu...!
Is your Valentine a foodie?
Give the Gift of... Gifts..!
Join the EXCLUSIVE 'Heritage Dinner' in a private mansion over archaeological ruins, overlooking the Acropolis; a once-in-a-lifetime experience for your Valentine's Day in Athens!
Though you'll definitely find us on the side of 'experiences not things' there is a time and place for exchanging gifts, and Valentine's Day is a good opportunity. There are so many unique and handmade gifts, and we've gathered some of our best ideas for souvenirs from Greece - don't forget these are great suggestions for locals and visitors alike! Of course, there's no reason why gifts have to be things - why not surprise your loved one with a unique experience that you can share together? Or with tickets to the city's newest exhibition? Everyone loves the gift of quality time.
The coolest valentine's day gift ideas!
The best part of Valentine's Day is that there's no 'right or wrong' way to do it - you may say it's cheesy (fine, why not), but we can't see any harm in a whole day celebrating love!
Right?
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Note: This post was updated on February 2018, from theTravelPorter with love!
