On a recent trip, I had a full day to spend in Athens, Greece - and in true Elise fashion, decided to pack the day full of as many amazing things to do as possible. Whilst this is an absolutely amazing city that you could definitely spend several days in, I really think that this itinerary hits all of the absolute must-see sights in the city.

8:00 AM: Acropolis and Parthenon

You're going to want to get to the Acropolis as early as possible to avoid the crowds, and 8 am is when this historic site opens. Seriously - the difference between when I went at 8 am, and when all of the group tour busses showed up around 9:30 was insane. This site is, of course, the most famous part of Athens, perhaps all of Greece, and is visible from all areas of the city. To clarify, the Acropolis refers to the entire archaeological site that you can see on the hill, and the Parthenon is specifically the large temple you can see, dedicated to the goddess Athena. If you want to book for this site and get entry to many other points on this list, I really recommend this pass to 5 Archaeological Sites in Athens - it'll save you a lot of time and money to book it all together. I recommend spending 1.5-2 hours for this site, as you'll want to take the time to take it all in. Make sure to wear sensible footwear, as there's quite a lot of uphill walking, and the terrain is a bit rocky.

10:00 AM: Ancient Agora

Also included in the aforementioned city pass is Ancient Agora, which sits at the base of the Acropolis, and was the seat of Ancient Athenian democracy. The site has so many incredible ruins and is also home to the impressive Temple of Hephaestus. The Ancient Agora museum is also worth a walk through - some of the artefacts are truly impressive and so old, it's difficult to wrap your brain around. It's easy to spend another 1.5-2 hours walking around and learning about Ancient Greek life here.

12:00 PM: Explore Plaka

In my opinion, Plaka is the most beautiful part of Athens. Located not far from Ancient Agora, it's got beautiful colorful streets, charming cafes and restaurants, climbing vines and flowers, and as many cats wandering around as you can pet! Spend some time wandering around the streets and finding beautiful corners of this part of the city.

1:00 PM: Lunch at Aerides Plaka

Set in a charming square at the heart of Plaka, Aerides was a fantastic spot to stop for lunch. Don't be fooled by the meze-style eating, these portions are huge, and really affordable. Everything I tried was delicious - the dolmades and the prawns cooked in ouzo were my personal favorite. I walked away from this lunch so stuffed, and the service was friendly and fantastic. Highly recommend!

3:00 PM: Panathenaic Olympic Stadium

Athens is full of historical sites, but this is one you definitely don't want to miss! This is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble, and dates back to the 4th Century BC. It's also the site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Again, the site is included in the city pass entry.

5:00 PM: Temple of Zeus

Just across the way from the Panathenaic Stadium, the Temple of Zeus is a beautiful ruin built to honor the King of the Gods. The temple dates back to around 500 BC. The temple originally featured 104 columns, but today only 16 remain standing. It's one of my favorite ruins in Athens, due to its dramatic look and massive columns.

7:00 PM: Sunset from Philopappos Hill

One of my favorite views of the city is somewhat of a secret to your average tourist. Philopappos Hill offers a fantastic view of the Acropolis, for just a fairly quick 20-minute hike up. To find this specific view, head to the Philopappos Monument, and find the rocky viewing point that faces the Acropolis - I believe it is noted as Viewpoint Philopappos Hill on Google Maps. For best light, go just before sunset for golden hour!

8:30 PM: A for Athens Cocktail Bar

After you've done so much sightseeing for the day, you definitely deserve a cocktail or two! A for Athens has a fantastic view, and some really tasty cocktails (no food though, so make sure you don't go too hungry!) Book ahead for your reservation if going at peak times, as there are limited spaces and it does fill up quite quickly! You can swap this point with the previous hike depending on time of year, and I suppose how many cocktails you're able consume before hiking safely!

9:30 PM: Dinner at Strofi

If you're looking for authentic Greek food, look no further. Also featuring some pretty beautiful Acropolis views (it's all lit up at night, and looks beautiful!), Strofi was recommended to me many times as being a local favorite, as well as fairly affordable for Athens! Again, make sure to book ahead of time in peak season, as spaces are limited and it does tend to book up.

Where to stay: I spent a long time trying to find the best spot to stay in Athens that wouldn't break the bank, and I really enjoyed the location and amenities of the Philippos Hotel. It was the perfect location for getting around the city, and the views from the rooftop terrace didn't suck, either!

Make sure to follow along with all of my adventures on Instagram at @elise.abroad!