Athens

Athens is Greece's capital and the cradle of Western philosophy, still centered on the Acropolis rising over a sprawl of low-rise apartments and rooftop bars. It draws history buffs chasing the Parthenon, but the real pull is the layered city underneath: ancient ruins next to 1970s tavernas next to Exarcheia's street art. Unlike the postcard villages of the islands, Athens is loud, gritty, and unmistakably lived-in, a working Mediterranean capital rather than a resort.

Order souvlaki from a stand, not a sit-down menu, and try loukoumades, warm honey-soaked dough balls sold at century-old shops near Monastiraki. Locals eat dinner late, often after 9pm, and a Greek coffee comes with the grounds settled at the bottom, don't stir it up. Tipping is modest, rounding up or leaving small change is standard.