10 things to do in Athens while on your fertility journey

You have chosen Greece and especially Athens for your fertility journey? That’s great! Greece takes pride in being one of the top fertility destinations, offering top-notch clinics, highly experienced doctors and competitive prices. Some of the fertility treatments that are performed here are IVF, ICSI, egg freezing and the new revolutionary method that can reverse menopause, ovarian rejuvenation. 

MEDIPASS currently cooperates with 5 doctors in Athens and 2 of the most well established clinics, IOLIFE IASO and HYGEIA IVF Embryogenesis. 

Apart from its scientific advancements the city is considered a paradise for tourists, with many activities and places to visit! So, we gathered 10 things you should definitely do while in Greece’s capital, although the city offers the opportunity for much much more!

• Visit the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum. The Acropolis was the center of the ancient city and functioned as a citadel in its protected hilltop location. It is now considered one of the most remarkable sights worldwide. The view from up there is breathtaking but be careful of the rocks around the monument and the crowds that await for their photo-shooting! In summer, when the weather gets hot, it is best to visit the monument early in the morning or late in the afternoon to watch the sunset. In the meantime, you can visit the Acropolis Museum, the place with one of the most valuable collections of ancient Greek art in the world. Extra tip: Book you tickets for the museum and the Acropolis in advance in order to skip the long lines. Our suggestion: Walk from Monastiraki Square towards Plaka, one of the oldest neighborhoods of Athens and taste a local sweet in Giasemi, or Kimolia Art Cafe.

• National Archaeological Museum. The largest archaeological museum in Greece, founded in the 19th century and home of more than 11,000 exhibits, offering a comprehensive overview of Greek civilization from prehistory through the classical period to late antiquity. Next to the museum you will find the National Technical University of Athens, the oldest and most famous technological institute of the country. The institute became a symbol in modern Greek history during November 1973, when it was the focus of student demonstrations against the Greek junta or Regime of the Colonels. 
• National Gallery. Recently renovated and a hotspot for people who love art. More than 1000 art pieces, from Picasso and Rembrandt to Greek famous painters like El Greco and Fasianos. 
• Zappeion, National Gardens and Panathenaic Stadium. All 3 attractions are within walking distance and offer a full day of sightseeing! Search for any concerts or events that may be hosted at the Stadium, and indulge yourself into the Athenian nights. The Panathenaic Stadium was ancient Athens’s largest building and the one you can visit today is a replica of the original stadium, which was rebuilt for the Olympic Games of 1896. Tall trees, ducks, ponds, and lots of shade on a sunny day you can find at the National Gardens, located between the Greek Parliament and Zappeion. On the edge of the garden is the Zappeion Hall, which was built in the 1870s and is used for events. Inside the main entrance is an impressive round, open-air hall, lined by columns. Our suggestion: If you are a shopaholic, visit Ermou Street, it starts across the Parliament, is the biggest and most busiest road full of stores, cafes and restaurants, and ends at Monastiraki Square where you can have a coffee at one of the hotel terraces!

• EMST – National Museum of Contemporary Art. For those that seek that “new” and “contemporary” in art, this is the museum they should visit! It is the sole national institution focused only on collecting and exhibiting contemporary Greek and international art in Athens.
• Mount Lycabettus. It is the highest point in the center of Athens. The view from above is just breathtaking, especially at sunset, where you can also enjoy a romantic dine experience at Lycabettus Hill Restaurant. You can also visit St. George church with its two chapels, built around the 18th century.
• Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNF). The newest member of our cultural history includes the new facilities for the National Library of Greece and the Greek National Opera, as well as 210,000 m² of  a green park that hosts many performing acts. It is a great opportunity for a walk, with a great view from above to the Saronic Gulf. The restaurant at the 5th floor, above the National Opera, is a high gastronomy restaurant which has already been rewarded with the Restaurant & Bar Design Award 2022 in the category “Europe – In Another Space”. 
• Vouliagmeni – South Coast. Who said that palm trees can only be found in Miami Beach? A few tram stops from the center of Athens, you can enjoy your walk or stay a few meters from the sea. The Athenian Riviera, offers you those island vibes you are seeking on a hot summer day. Faliro, Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni, endless coast lines with cafeterias and restaurants for every taste! Our suggestion: Lake Vouliagmeni, a small brackish-water lake fed by underground currents seeping through the mass of Mount Hymettus located to the south of Vouliagmeni. You can enjoy your swim and your sunbathing there with the company of comfort food and a glass of wine. Extra tip: Visit the lake on a weekday, as on weekends it gets more crowded and the entrance fee is much more expensive.
• Temple of Poseidon, Cape Sounion. We are getting a little further from the south coast, but you can definitely visit the temple as a one-day trip. There are many tourist agencies that offer excursions by bus. At the southernmost point of Athens, lies the Temple of Poseidon within a fort that protects the coast of it. Made entirely of white marble, it was erected in the middle of the 5th century BC and built to honor Poseidon, god of the sea. Our suggestion: Before your visit to the temple, go for a swim at ΚΑΠΕ, 11-min drive from the temple, where the colors of the sea definitely resemble those of our islands. It has around 100 stairs to reach the beach, but everything beautiful deserves the pain!

•  Marathon Dam. At the opposite side of the Athenian Riviera lies another lake and one of the most interesting sights of Athens. The Marathon Dam is a gravity dam on the Charadros River, near its junction with the Varnavas Stream, 8 km west of Marathon and 45 km northeast of Athens in Greece. The dam created Lake Marathon for the primary purpose of municipal water supply. It is the only dam made from marble, and it needed 900 people to construct it, in the 1930’s. Our suggestion: Around the area you can find taverns with high quality food (especially stakes). Interesting fact: the classic Marathon of Athens starts from the city of Marathon and ends up at the Panathenaic Stadium. The 42,195 meters of the Athens Marathon are among the most difficult and demanding Marathon courses in the world.

We could write at least 100 more things to see and do in Athens, but let’s stick to these 10 for starters. You can always contact us for more information about your fertility journey and your vacation time in our country!

Bonus thing to do: If you want to feel the late night vibes visit Agia Eirini, very close to Monastiraki square, a place full of cozy bohemian bars where the youth of the city goes to drink and party!

Let us offer you the safest and smoother fertility journey you deserve 🙂