For many visitors, Athens begins and ends with the Acropolis.
But just a few minutes from the ancient monuments, another Athens is waiting to be discovered — one of Mediterranean landscapes, wildlife and remarkably diverse birdlife.
This is the side of Athens that I have been trying to share with visitors for more than 20 years. And it was a particular pleasure to see it recently featured in the Financial Times, in an article dedicated to birdwatching in Athens.
Birdwatching in Athens — an unexpected experience
The article, by journalist Emma Justice, follows a morning of birdwatching around Philopappou Hill, overlooking the Acropolis.
It is a perfect example of what makes Athens so interesting for birders. Within a relatively small area, you can encounter rocky hillsides, Mediterranean scrub, pine woodland, urban green spaces, coastal wetlands and agricultural landscapes — all within easy reach of the city centre. The perfect birding holiday!
On our morning together, we explored Philopappou Hill and the area around the Acropolis, looking for some of the characteristic birds of the Athenian landscape.
For a birder visiting Greece, this means that a city break does not have to be separated from a wildlife experience.
You can visit the Acropolis in the morning and be watching herons, raptors, warblers or shorebirds in very different habitats later the same day.
A dream that started more than 20 years ago
When I started guiding birdwatching tours in Athens more than two decades ago, birdwatching was certainly not something most international visitors associated with the Greek capital.
Athens was — understandably — known for its ancient history, museums, food and Mediterranean atmosphere.
My ambition was to show that there was another reason to visit. I wanted Athens, and Greece more generally, to become recognised internationally as a destination for birdwatching.
It has taken many years of guiding, exploring, learning and introducing visitors to places that are often overlooked by conventional tourism. And gradually, I have seen more birders discovering Athens and adding Greece to their birding itineraries.
That is why seeing birdwatching mentioned in international travel publications is particularly meaningful to me.
Over the years, my work and birdwatching in Greece have been featured in publications including National Geographic and the Lonely Planet guides to Greece.
Now, the Financial Times has also highlighted Athens as a destination for birdwatching — and has included my work as a professional bird guide in that story.
For me, this is more than simply another piece of media coverage. It is a small milestone in a journey that began more than 20 years ago.
Birding while overlooking the Acropolis of Athens!
Athens as a birding city break
One of the things I find most interesting about Athens is that you do not necessarily need to choose between culture and nature.
The Acropolis, the ancient Agora and the historic centre are at the heart of one of Europe's great cultural destinations. At the same time, some excellent birdwatching sites are surprisingly close by.
This makes Athens particularly suitable for a birding city break.
A visitor can combine several days of sightseeing and birdwatching, or simply add a half-day or full-day private birding tour to a conventional trip to Greece.
Spring and autumn are especially exciting, with migration bringing a constantly changing selection of species. But the Mediterranean climate also means that birdwatching is possible throughout much of the year.
Thank you, Financial Times
It was a pleasure to spend the morning with Emma Justice and to share some of Athens' birdlife with her.
Thank you to the Financial Times for highlighting a side of Athens that remains largely unknown to many international visitors.
Twenty years after I first started dreaming of making Athens an international birdwatching destination, the dream is still very much alive.
And there are still many birds — and many places — left to discover.
Read the full article in the Financial Times:
Postcard from Athens: the capital has history, culture — and some of Europe's best birdwatching
