Begin your journey at Syntagma Square, where you will witness the iconic Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Leave the crowds behind as your expert guide leads you through the chic, shaded streets of Kolonaki. Known as the "Paris of Athens", this aristocratic neighborhood offers a glimpse into the city’s modern lifestyle, Neoclassical architecture, and high-end culture.

Continue to uncover one of the city’s best-kept secrets: Dexameni Square. Stand atop the ancient Hadrianic Reservoir—a 2,000-year-old engineering marvel that once watered the Roman city— and learn about the poets and intellectuals who made this leafy oasis and the nearby small cafe, their home.

Then, the true ascent begins. Trade pavement for pine-scented and cypresses trails as you tackle the slopes of Mount Lycabettus. According to legend, this hill was created when the Goddess Athena dropped a massive limestone rock intended for the Acropolis. As you hike the winding paths, escape the urban noise and immerse yourself in a Mediterranean landscape of cypress trees, agave, and local flora.

The climax of the trek is the summit of Lycabettus, the highest point in Athens at 277 meters (908 feet) above sea level. At the top, visit the picturesque 19th-century Chapel of St. George and take in unrivaled 360-degree panoramic views. Look down on the Acropolis, gaze out to the Aegean Sea, and see the entire sprawling white city beneath you.

Lycabettus is a limestone monadnock millions of years old, a geological formation of Cretaceous limestone that resisted the erosion that flattened the rest of the Athenian basin. This explains its steep, conical shape. 

Having a 360 degrees view of the City, will give you a better understanding of your surrounding neighborhoods. Once we catch our breaths we can choose our way down and return to Syntagma Square or head towards another interesting neighborhood of Athens. The Bohemian and revolutionary Exarchia, but that's another story and another walk!