[Greece Independent Travel Day 6] The Last Day of the Trip | Attica Department Store in Athens + An In-depth Visit to the Archaeological Museum

Trip Overview As our Greece trip comes to an end, today's itinerary is relatively relaxed. After we drop off our luggage at the apartment, we'll go our separate ways for free activities. Some team members will spend a leisurely time at the apartment, while I've decided to visit Attica, the largest department store in Athens, and will meet up with everyone in the afternoon to visit together the "National Archaeological Museum of Greece," providing a perfect historical and cultural conclusion to our entire journey. 📍Today's Route: Attica Department Store → National Archaeological Museum of Greece → Return to apartment for rest → Depart for home The Starting Point of Our Independent Trip: Visiting Attica, Athens' Largest Department Store Although we stayed in apartment-style accommodation, the management team was very thoughtful and let us leave our luggage in the apartment even after checkout, sparing us the trouble of finding a storage service. During this time, I chose to head to 【Attica Department Store】 to have a look around and experience the modern fashion scene in downtown Athens. 🛍 Quick Info on Attica Department Store: 📍 Location: Right next to Syntagma Square in central Athens 🕘 Business hours: mostly 10:00–21:00 (closed on Sundays) 🛒 Highlights: Almost entirely international luxury brands (such as GUCCI, DIOR, Armani, etc.) Very few local Greek brands, only a handful of scattered counters Floors 1 to 3 are dedicated to menswear, with an astonishing variety — I was surprised at just how huge the men's market actually is Since the prices were pretty steep, this time I just did some window shopping and ended up leaving empty-handed, but I gained a much deeper understanding of Athens' department store scene.

▲ Attica exterior and street view at the entrance Afternoon cultural itinerary: An in-depth visit to the National Archaeological Museum of Greece After meeting up with our group members, we headed to the [National Archaeological Museum] (National Archaeological Museum), one of the largest museums in Athens, with an extraordinarily rich collection.

🎫 Practical Information: Tickets: €12 (one of the cheapest museum tickets on this trip) Audio Guide: English version available, you can scan the QR code to download the official app Suggested Visit Time: Approximately 3-5 hours (we actually spent over 5 hours) 🏛 Gallery Introduction: The museum is divided into several galleries, covering Greece's civilizational journey from the Neolithic Age to the Classical Age: Prehistoric Artifacts: Displays artifacts from Minoan and Mycenaean cultures, full of mythological charm

Bronze and Iron Age: Covering the development of weapons, tools, and pottery

Statues from the Greek city-state period: including statues of gods such as Athena the goddess of war, Zeus, Poseidon and other deities Ancient Greek jewelry and precious metals exhibition: showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship and aesthetics of ancient Greek nobility 🌟 Must-see collections and recommended photography highlights · The Golden Mask of Agamemnon (The Mask of Agamemnon) ➤ From the royal tombs of Mycenae, this is the museum's most celebrated and treasured masterpiece.

· Ephebe of Marathon ➤ This underwater artifact is remarkably well-preserved, with clearly defined facial features, making it a masterpiece representing the aesthetics of human figure sculpture from the Classical period.

· Poseidon/Zeus Bronze Statue (Artemision Bronze) ➤ A remarkably dynamic bronze statue of a god, whose identity — Zeus or Poseidon — remains a subject of debate.

· Linear B Tablets ➤ Showcasing the earliest form of written record from ancient Greece.

· Ancient Greek Pottery and the Black & Red Figure Pottery Technique ➤ Each piece of pottery is a fusion of mythological storytelling and artistic beauty.

· Antikythera Mechanism ➤ Hailed as the earliest astronomical computer of the ancient world, it is known as the "Ancient Computer.

· Mycenaean gold drinking cups and ornaments ➤ The exquisite craftsmanship reflects the lifestyle tastes and technical skill of the nobility of that era.

· Athena Statue Replica ➤ A high-definition replica of the original Parthenon statue, recreating the splendor of the Parthenon.

· Tombstone Relief ➤ An elegant marble relief showcasing the ancient Athenian art of tomb sculpture.

· Marble Relief Burial Artifacts ➤ Monumental stone reliefs depicting Eleusinian mythology, extraordinary in scale and craftsmanship.

· Antinous Bust ➤ Statue of Antinous, companion of Emperor Hadrian, exemplifying typical Roman portrait art.

☕ A Little Break at the Basement Café: Along the way, we had a simple meal at the basement café, where you can choose from light snacks and coffee — a great spot to rest after all the shopping and sightseeing.

Packing up, resting, and heading to the airport for the return flight After the visit, we went back to the apartment to prepare for the journey home. When the manager didn't show up for a long while, we managed to reach them using a fellow traveler's Greek phone number. This reminded me once again that when traveling abroad, it's best to have at least one SIM card that can make phone calls, just in case. Once we got our luggage back safely, we rested briefly at the apartment while waiting for the airport transfer. ✈ Athens International Airport (ATH) information: Customs and security procedures were quick The airport has excellent facilities, including Starbucks, restaurants, and duty-free shops for shopping. For this trip, we first arrived in Istanbul, Turkey for a transfer, and then flew back to Taiwan. After a smooth departure, this journey through the Eastern Mediterranean across Greece and Turkey has officially come to an end. Trip Summary and Afterword The entire journey started from Istanbul, Turkey, crossing Cappadocia, Konya, Antalya, and Pamukkale, then island-hopping to Rhodes and Athens in Greece. Spanning 16 days, it covered ancient ruins, cuisine, nature, and culture—rich and unforgettable.The final day wrapped up leisurely, appreciating history and art, leaving behind wonderful memories and photos. 📌 Turkey & Greece Independent Travel Complete Record Turkey Section Day 1-2: First Impressions of Istanbul | Day 3: Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar Day 4: Cappadocia's Hot Air Balloon Spectacle | Day 5: Green Line Underground City Exploration Day 6: Mirror Sky and Konya Whirling Dervishes | Day 7: Antalya Theater and Ancient Town Day 8: Lake Salda & Golden Pamukkale | Day 9: Marmaris Resort Day Greece Chapter Day 1: Path of the Knights in Rhodes | Day 2: Morning Swim in the Aegean & Old Town Tour Day 3: Delphi & Monastery Day Trip | Day 4: Athens Acropolis Classic Route Day 5: Flea Market & Acropolis Museum | Day 6: Attica Department Store & Archaeological Museum