[Greece Free Trip Day 6] Last Day of the Trip | In-Depth Visit to Athens' Attica Department Store and the Archaeological Museum

Itinerary Overview As our Greece trip draws to a close, today's schedule is relatively relaxed. After dropping off our luggage at the apartment, we each headed off to enjoy some free time. Some group members chose to spend a leisurely time at the apartment, while I decided to visit Attica, Athens' largest department store. We regrouped in the afternoon to visit the National Archaeological Museum of Greece together, bringing a perfect historical and cultural close to the entire journey. 📍Today's route: Attica Department Store → National Archaeological Museum of Greece → Back to the apartment to rest → Flight home Starting Point of Free Travel: Visiting Athens' Largest Department Store, Attica Although we were staying at an apartment-style accommodation, the management team was quite thoughtful and let us leave our luggage in the apartment even after check-out, saving us the trouble of finding storage. I used this time to head over to 【Attica Department Store】 for a look around, experiencing the modern fashion side of downtown Athens. 🛍 Quick Info on Attica Department Store: 📍 Location: Right next to Syntagma Square in downtown Athens 🕘 Business hours: mostly 10:00–21:00 (closed on Sundays) 🛒 Features: Almost all are international luxury brands (such as GUCCI, DIOR, Armani, etc.) Very few local Greek brands, only a scattered handful of counters Floors 1 to 3 are men's sections, with a surprising variety — it's shocking how huge the men's market actually is Since the prices were quite high, this trip was just window shopping for me, and I ended up leaving empty-handed, but I gained a much deeper understanding of Athens' department store market.

▲ Attica exterior and street view of the entrance Afternoon culture itinerary: An in-depth visit to the National Archaeological Museum of Greece After meeting up with the group, we headed to the National Archaeological Museum, one of the largest museums in Athens, home to an extraordinarily rich collection.

🎫 Practical Information: Admission: 12 euros (one of the cheapest museum tickets on this trip) Audio Guide: Available in English, scan the QR code to download the official app Recommended Visit Time: About 3–5 hours (we actually stayed over 5 hours) 🏛 Exhibition Areas: The museum is divided into several exhibition areas, covering the course of Greek civilization from the Neolithic period to the Classical era: Prehistoric Artifacts: Displays artifacts unearthed from the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures, full of mythological flavor

Bronze and Iron Ages: covering the development of weapons, tools, and pottery

Statues from the Greek city-state period: statues of gods such as Athena the war goddess, Zeus, Poseidon, and other deities Ancient Greek jewelry and gold artifacts exhibition area: showcasing the craftsmanship and aesthetics of ancient Greek nobility 🌟 Must-See Collections and Recommended Photo Highlights · The Mask of Agamemnon ➤ From a royal tomb in Mycenae, this is the museum's most famous treasure.

· Ephebe of Marathon ➤ A relic recovered from the sea, remarkably well preserved, with clearly defined facial features — a representative masterpiece of Classical-era sculptural aesthetics of the human form.

· Poseidon/Zeus Bronze Statue (Artemision Bronze) ➤ A bronze statue full of dynamic energy, currently debated whether it depicts Zeus or Poseidon.

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

· Ancient Greek Pottery: Black & Red Figure Pottery Techniques ➤ Every piece of pottery is a fusion of mythological storytelling and artistic beauty.

· Antikythera Mechanism ➤ Hailed as the earliest astronomical calculator of the ancient world, it's known as the "ancient computer.

· Mycenaean gold cups and ornaments ➤ The exquisite craftsmanship reflects the lifestyle taste and technical skill of the nobility at that time.

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

· Tombstone Relief ➤ Elegant marble relief showcasing the funerary art of ancient Athens.

· Marble relief grave goods ➤ A giant stone-carved relief depicting the great myth of Eleusis, of magnificent size.

· Bust of Antinous ➤ A statue of Antinous, the companion of Emperor Hadrian, representing typical Roman portrait art.

☕ A Little Rest at the Basement Café: Midway through, we had a light meal at the basement café, where you can choose from light bites and coffee — a great spot to relax after some tiring exploring.

Packing, resting, and returning to the airport After the tour ended, we returned to the apartment to get ready for the trip home. When the manager was slow to show up, we managed to reach them using a Greek phone number from one of our group members. 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 our pickup to the airport. ✈ Athens International Airport (ATH) information: Customs and security screening were quick The airport facilities are excellent, with a Starbucks, restaurants, and duty-free shops available for shopping. For this trip, the flight first arrives in Istanbul, Turkey for a transfer, before heading back to Taiwan. After departing smoothly, this Eastern Mediterranean journey through Greece and Turkey has officially come to an end. Trip Summary and Afterword The entire journey started from Istanbul, Turkey, crossing through 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.On the last day, we wound down leisurely, admiring history and art, and left with a heart full of memories and photos. 📌 Full Turkey & Greece Self-Guided Travel Log Turkey Chapter Day 1-2: First Impressions of Istanbul｜Day 3: Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar Day 4: Cappadocia's Amazing Hot Air Balloons｜Day 5: Exploring the Derinkuyu Underground City Day 6: Salda Lake's Mirror Effect and Konya's Whirling Dervishes｜Day 7: Antalya's Ancient Theatre and Old Town Day 8: Salda Lake & Golden-Glow Pamukkale｜Day 9: Marmaris Resort Day Greece Chapter Day 1: Rhodes Knights' Path｜Day 2: Morning Swim in the Aegean & Old Town Tour Day 3: Day Trip to Delphi & the Monasteries｜Day 4: Classic Athens Acropolis Route Day 5: Flea Market & Acropolis Museum｜Day 6: Attica Department Store & Archaeological Museum