As travelers, we may not at first think of Greece as a place to visit for healthy pursuits. Instead, visions of delicious hedonism may come to mind: ouzo sipped in the sand by the azure sea, too much sun in a tiny bikini, and long nights dancing without sleep. But, in truth, Greece and its capital city Athens, home to the original Olympics, have been forever attuned to wellbeing. The ancient Greeks had both a god of healing (Asclepius), and a goddess of health (Hygeia), so it’s no surprise that a country well invested in organic farming, healthy food, a penchant for yogurt, biodynamic wine production, and an island classified as a Blue Zone would actually have a capital city well entrenched in wellness. I’d even say that the Greek penchant for fearlessly and exuberantly sharing feelings rates as a healthier way to live. With Athens exemplifying Greek wellness, we’ve collected our favorite wellbeing hot spots for your next visit. From results-driven facials at a famed skincare institute known for its botanically infused products made from Greek-grown plants, to acclaimed vegan restaurants, to 10K running tours that take you jogging by the most must-see archeological sites in the world, Athens is well entrenched in fit and wellness travel opportunities. We give you Athens: the wellness mecca.
Spa
Dimitra Goula Boutique Institute
A veritable Greek goddess and “modern day alchemist” Dimitra Goula is known by locals for her television appearances sharing at-home skincare methodologies to viewers unable to afford a visit to her bijoux institute in the residential neighborhood of Ambelokipi. Having spent years developing her techniques and crafting products from organic, botanical ingredients — grown on, blessed by monks, and foraged from sacred Mount Athno — Goula attracts a sophisticated clientele from around the world who appreciate her holistic, results-driven, customized techniques, and unique products made from ingredients such as royal jelly and beeswax from chestnut trees. She offers a range of treatments, but we’re a fan of her bespoke, jet-lag curing facials which utilize her proprietary potion dubbed “The Secret.” Hint: it includes regenerative boosting herbs such as valerian, spikenard, and myrrh, which treat wrinkles, skin tone, and elasticity.
Stay
Grand Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Once a private residence, with heart-stopping views of the legendary Acropolis and the original Olympic Stadium — especially vivid from the rooftop bar/restaurant — this historic luxury hotel, celebrating its 150th birthday this year, has been a pampering haven for the haute monde for more than a century. While any of its 320 rooms tempt, its fifth floor-sited Royal Suite gets our vote for your wellness getaway stay thanks to its 4,000-square-feet of spaciousness, in-room sauna, wine cellar, personal butler, and breathtaking blue-hued marble bathroom, anchored by the world’s most spectacular tub. The hotel’s acclaimed GB Spa, replete with herbal detox rooms, an amethyst grotto, stunning pool, and treatments that employ first-in-class brands such as Swiss skincare dynamo Valmont soothe and restore the mind, body, and spirit.
91 Athens Riviera, The Resort
New from the Mediterranean’s sexiest luxury brand, 91 Athens Riviera, The Resort sizzles beachside near the city center. On the revived and flourishing Athens Riviera, ever the hideaway of celebutantes, this innovative hotel delivers a vivacious ambiance for guests as likely to dance the night away as sit down for a romantic meal. Notable for its clever, design-centric footprint, 91 Athens Riviera features captivating “luxents”— stand-alone suites that combine the spirit of glamping tents with pool cabanas. Swankily kitted out, they have amenities as pampering as 1,000 thread count sheets, personal plunge pools, and 50-inch televisions. Eat at Barbarossa, a haven of Greek gastronomy. Tennis on any of eight courts, sunrise yoga, and Augustinus Bader treatments at the serene Soma Spa complete the picture.
Eat
Avocado
A vegetarian cafe with a casual, bygone hippie vibe and hand-chalked menus, Avocado believes so strongly in the adage, “You are what you eat,” that they pledge to feed you only the best. In the heart of central Athens, mindful of the spiritual aspects of eating, a turn-up-your-vibration sort of place, the seasonal menu feeds the body and soul with dishes such as Mother Earth Mother Earth, a vegan spinach tart with flaxseed crust, and Zen Tempeh, a macrobiotic noodle bowl.
Guarantee
Expect queues down the block and around the corner at Guarantee, a three-decade thriving, family-owned sandwich and juice shop in quiet Koukaki. Go early for their raved-about green juice. Mid-day, indulge in sandwiches that draw from more than 150 ingredients, including meats, vegetables, and cheeses from around the world. Their most famous sandwich has caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, and roast beef on a brown baguette, but many customers pick and choose from the tempting vitrine — salami to Florina peppers to blue cheese.
Veganaki
Greek food has a meaty reputation, from souvlaki to moussaka. But the truth is that eating as a Vegan or Vegetarian is pretty easy at most restaurants because vegetables are a celebrated component of Greek cuisine. Nevertheless, it brings Vegan travelers joy to find restaurants truly attune to how they eat, ones where they don’t have to feel timid to inquire about ingredients. Enter: Veganaki, which means Little Vegan. A chic cafe with creative, hand-crafted specialities, Veganaki produces comfort food in a cozy setting. Don’t miss the vegan pastitsio and vegan moussaka, not to mention the pizzas, made with a sweet potato crust and cashew cheese.
Papadakis
The brainchild of one of Athens’ most famous and enchanting chefs, Argiro Barbarigou, this unforgettable restaurant in Kolonaki transports guests on a homage to Aegean cuisine. With an emphasis on seafood underscored by deep relationships with local purveyors, Papadakis takes gourmands beyond their cursory knowledge of Greek fare. Don’t miss the superfood salad with citrus vinaigrette and the white grouper with truffle.
Shop
Anthologist
To achieve wellness of the soul, one must stay in harmony. There’s nothing more cacophonous than shopping amongst throngs of eager buyers or loading up on junk at a touristy store. Andria Mitsakos, collector extraordinaire, has a comment about that: “You don’t need a lot of things, just special ones.” With Anthologist, she invites travelers to be collectors, too, as they peruse her cache of folkloric and artisanal craft, a curation of stunning items from jewelry to fashion to home accessories. By reservation and appointment only, your tranquil shopping spree comes with cups of Greece’s antioxidant-packed Rhoeco tea, air scented by Mitsakos’s new candle, which pulls reference from ancient temples, and the soothing sounds of her instrumental Ayurvedic rhythmic playlist.
Olgianna Melissinos Sandals
Just a few steps from the Ancient Agora of Athens, this custom sandal shop was founded in 1920 by a poet sandal maker, George Melissinos. Now under the helm of his granddaughter, Olgianna creates gorgeous, Greek leather shoes and handbags. Drop in, choose a pair, and in just a few minutes your object of desire will be formed to fit your feet.
Drink
Oinoscent
Greeks have always had wine with dinner, but didn’t really hang out in wine bars until the financial crisis of 2008’s pressures made affordable Greek organic and biodynamic wines — an appealing alternative to imported spirits and flashy cocktail bars. Today a plethora of wine bars comprise Athen’s burgeoning wine scene. One of the best, Oinoscent, lies on the edge of Plaka. Well established and urbane, it has knowledgeable servers and features a slew of Greek wines by the glass.
Pure
In Kolonaki, this welcoming juice bar has a series of popular classics from green juice to energy drinks to results-driven vitamin smoothies, as well as golden latte, coffee, and tea. Try The Heart Beet with orange, carrot, beetroot, and açaí brings us back every time.
Work Out
Go Running
Exercise buffs have a hard time keeping their cool on holiday if they can’t find time to workout. And, yet, they want to experience a new culture, too. The solution? A tour that combines sightseeing with fitness. Go Running leads joggers on a variety of fascinating (and endorphin boosting) 10K and 5K tours across Athens, including Ancient Athens Tour and Byzantine Athens Tour.
Stretch and Refresh
Thanks to its location near the Acropolis Metro Station, Till Dawn Yoga & Pilates makes it easy to fit a yoga/Pilates practice into your Athens holiday. Find your inner landscape with just an hour of yoga or Pilates inside their zen studio, a peaceful venue with classes led in English on good-quality mats.
Hill of the Muses
Get meditative with a sunrise or sunset hike up Filopappou Hill, also known as Hill of the Muses. A thought-provoking natural setting, undeveloped and pine shaded, the hill legendarily has been a sacred place for philosophers. With jaw-dropping views of the Acropolis and Saronic Gulf, the hill’s climb is well worth the walk.
Meet in Athens Bike Tours
A slew of companies offer bike tours around Athens. Choose Meet in Athens for its mission to make sure you discover Athens like a local and for the chance to ride the seriously stellar Dutch Cortina bikes. You’ll pedal past landmarks you’ve seen on postcards, but also be introduced to some local secrets. The Instagram Bike Tour stops at the most photogenic spots, while the Alternative Athens Bike Tour, ideal for those who have visited the city before, unveils lesser-known nooks around town.
Featured image courtesy of 91 Athens Riviera; Travel Curator may earn a commission from product or booking links on this page.
