Behold The Top Of Athens!
Yes, you are looking at Lycabettus Hill, which towers on the left of the picture over Athens Greece, even higher than the majesty of the Parthenon atop the Acropolis!
While The Parthenon is the centerpiece of Athens, just a few miles away is Lycabettus Hill, which looks like this when you are at The Parthenon:
Lycabettus Hills is a cretaceous limestone hill, rising 908 feet above sea level – the highest point in Athens with pine trees covering its base.
While it looks far away, it was actually only a half hour walk up a gradually rising elevation, and it allowed us to see some of the city’s neighborhoods!
Riding The Funicular!
You can walk the 900+ feet up to the top of the hill, but it’s even more fun to take this Funicualr!
The Lycabettus Cable Car was opened in 1965, and takes more than 300,000 people a year up to the top – and guess what? They have advertisements flashing in the tunnel during your trip! Here’s the trip up Lycabettus Hill:
Here is your gorgeous view from the top of the hill!
You have a 360 degree of the city, which is spread out all around you. More than 10% of the entire population of Greece lives within view!
At the top of the hill you will find the Greek whitewashed church of Agios Georgios (St.George) and all are welcome to enter.
The viewing platform in front of the church provides sprawling views of Athens, with a gorgeous shot of The Acropolis and beyond, stretching out to the coastline – and the Aegean Sea!
As you can see, we rally are high above the Acropolis! You can see the remains of one of the early Olympic stadium below:
As you can see, there are amazing images everywhere you look, especially as the sun began to set.
We came up for a terrific dinner at the restaurant Orizontes Lycabettus – and yes, we got an incredible sunset as well…but first, time to eat!
This was our view from our table at the restaurant – phenomenal…we ordered a bottle of wine, and I got a picture of it so I could remember to order it again!
Once someone helps me translate, that is!
Alex says on her Instagram that she is a “lover of potatoes”, so I had to have the greek “patatas bravas” with parmesan cream and homemade Florina red pepper jam!
I shared this entire meal over on my “all food all the time” blog, Bite! Eat! Repeat!
See the rest of the menu here!
An amazing view, terrific food, and that view from the top…wow! Here’s how it looks when the sun goes down…
That’s the Acropolis shining bright….so you know I love funiculars…so much so that I’ve taken them many many times…
In Sicily, these go high in the air above the town of Taormina…check it out here!
And finally, I took a “sky high” trip across Barcelona once as well:
Here is more of that tour and some great food too!
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Categories: Exotic Travel, food blog, Italy, Pop Culture, Real Estate, Restaurants, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir
johnrieber 
Absolutely stunning! I love the white church at the top.
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I have been to Athens twice, but didn’t even know about the funicular. You got some great views from up there, John!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete, it’s an incredible view and the food was great too!
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It all looks amazing, John. Thanks for this information that an armchair traveller like myself can enjoy.
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I saw these in Portugal but didn’t have the opportunity to ride one!
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I know I’ve made this joke before but you’re giving Rick Steves a run for his money. Looks like a wonderful trip, felt like I was there!
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Thanks for the comment!
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