Touchdown in Athens: Round Two

Having already completed the full Greece sightseeing circuit in 2021—when the Acropolis was blissfully uncrowded during the COVID travel slowdown—this visit to Athens was all about slowing down and experiencing local life in the Koukaki neighborhood. Highlights included wandering through neighborhood markets and cafés, hiking Philopappos Hill for spectacular views of the Acropolis and Aegean Sea, cheering on Team USA during a late-night World Cup match at an Aussie bar, and enjoying a memorable al fresco dinner with younger cousins who happened to be backpacking through Europe. As we head next to Tirana, Albania, a few travel lessons stood out: airport lounge access through Priority Pass is often far more valuable internationally, Athens Airport's Fast Track service was worth every penny, and Aegean Airlines delivered the smoothest fully automated online check-in experience we've encountered so far.