Athens, Greece. Great sights, great food and interesting antiquing. Travelers hint: Hotel and restaurant prices are low in Athens and two to three times more in the Greek islands.

First the sights! You can see the Acropolis on its hill from around the city. Take the walk up to it and enjoy the souvenirs and stop for a beverage in a café. My favorite – fresh squeezed lemon juice. Yes, the water is okay in Athens. The architectural feat of the Parthenon is still amazing. It was designed to look perfect from a distance by tricking the eye with different column spacing and changing column widths. Don’t miss the Parthenon museum at the hill’s base. There is also a small jewelry museum nearby featuring the work of Ilias Lalaounis (1920-2013), an important Greek jeweler with an impressive body of work. The onsite store sells some of his work and can also make other pieces. History is everywhere, so you can take your time exploring the many other architectural sites.

Second, the food! Athinas Street is the main market (agora in Greek) street in Athens. You can buy fresh meat, fish and produce. Stop at a small restaurant that sells meses, small-portion Greek appetizers. As you walk through the streets, you may see the 150-year-old underground restaurants that used to cater exclusively to men. Now open to all, they still have the same historic menus. You can take a class on how to make a great spinach pie or other Greek delicacies. Sample bread rings (koulouri in Greece) that more than likely were made at the 24-hour Koulouri Bread factory and delivered to street vendors by motorcycle every hour.

Finally, the antiques! The antiques market is on the weekend and centered around Avissynias Square. We took the metro to the Monastiraki stop and walked to the square. If you go that way, don’t miss the archaeological ruins in the station. Don’t spend your time in the square. Prices are higher. Take the side streets surrounding the square. Prices are better – and bring your negotiating skills. Walk away and you will get a better price! You will find books, posters, toys, magazine pages, clothes, rugs, European, Greek and Turkish antiques, beads, linens, watches, dolls and so much more.

We also found dealers in the Psiri neighborhood. This is a typical Greek neighborhood and not touristy. We stopped in a shop, “Follow the Mid-Century Style” where prices were fair. They had vintage Olivetti typewriters in almost any color for around $109, cameras, razors, advertising, furniture and more. They were repairing items in the basement.