The BookTok Guide to Travel: Percy Jackson Edition
From Cairo to Athens to Rome, step into Percy Jackson’s world. Follow in the footsteps of demigods and magicians with this reader’s guide turned travel bucket list.
It’s me, back with another reader’s guide, and by far my favorite. Out of all of the series I have read, Percy Jackson & the Olympians holds the most weight in my heart.
Let me set the scene 11-year-old me, sitting in 6th grade, hating pretty much everything about school (except history…mythology duh). One day, I finish a test early (and by “finish” I mean I Christmas-tree'd it because I had no idea there was even a test). My teacher tells me I have to read for the rest of class. Problem: I had never actually finished a whole book in my life.
So, I grab the first one I see: The Lost Hero. Within the first 10 pages, I was hooked. Like, life-changing hooked. That was the exact moment I fell in love with reading…and school. I’ll forever be grateful to the teacher who made me pick up that book (even if I read the first three Heroes of Olympus books before ever touching Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Would’ve been nice to know there was an order…)
So yeah, this series? Means everything to me. And the coolest part about this world is that you can actually go see so many of the places Percy, Annabeth, Sadie, and Carter stepped foot in. It’s one thing to obsess over the fan art, the characters, and the head cannons, but it’s another to stand in the real streets of Athens or Cairo and think, “This is where it happened.” Here is my reader’s guide to our trip inspired by Percy Jackson (the series that kickstarted all of our new BookTok trips).
Cairo: The Kane Chronicles IRL
Cairo International Airport (CAI)
The chaos begins here. Carter and Sadie think they’re on a casual museum trip with their dad, but anyone who’s read The Red Pyramid knows better. Walking through Cairo’s airport, it’s easy to picture the Kanes bickering at baggage claim while their dad plans something world-altering.
The Egyptian Museum (Tahrir Square)
This is the spot. It’s where Julius Kane tries to summon Osiris and the siblings’ whole world tilts off its axis (well it’s actually the British Museum in London, but if you want the real deal Egyptian artifacts, you have to hit this place). In real life, the museum is massive, a maze of mummies and treasures. Stand in front of Tutankhamun’s golden mask and tell me it doesn’t feel like you’ve stepped straight into the book.
The Pyramids of Giza
Not just a postcard view—these are practically supporting characters in The Kane Chronicles. From magical showdowns to secret passages (plot twist, you can actually go inside them), the pyramids are where history feels alive. Stand at the base, look up, and you’ll understand why Riordan’s gods still linger here.
The Sphinx
Bast fights, riddles, hidden chambers, it all goes down in this half-lion, half-human icon. In person, it feels surreal, like you’ve stumbled into Carter and Sadie’s battlefield.
Athens: The Heart of Heroes of Olympus
The Parthenon
The climax of The Blood of Olympus takes place right here. Percy, Annabeth, and the crew fighting Gaea’s forces with the Parthenon as their stage? Iconic. Just make sure you don’t get a nosebleed and start the next titan war!
The Theater of Dionysus
God of drama, wine, and wild energy—can’t you picture satyrs dancing across this stage? Even in ruins, it feels charged, like it’s waiting for the next demigod quest to unfold.
The Ancient Agora
Rome had its Forum, but Athens had its Agora: the marketplace, the meeting ground (for your book club)? Come here and you’ll feel Percy and Jason standing shoulder to shoulder, Greek and Roman, trying to bridge worlds or the Seven regrouping, planning their next move, arguing about who has to fight which monster this time.
Mars Hill (Areopagus)
Philosophers once debated life’s biggest questions here, but I like to think it’s also the perfect spot for Percy Jackson fans to debate who had the hardest prophecy. (My opinion: Nico. Always Nico.)
Rome: The Mark of Athena Quest Path
The Colosseum
Jason and Percy vs. the twin giants, Otis and Ephialtes. Need I say more? Standing in the arena, it’s impossible not to replay the scene in your head (giants tumbling, bronze dragon overhead, etc.)
The Tiber River
The spot where Percy washes up and meets Tiberinus, the literal river god. Walk along the riverbanks at sunset and be glad you didn’t fall into Tartarus.
Camp Jupiter (via Ostia Antica)
Okay, so Riordan didn’t drop a Google Maps pin (and I know it’s in California), but Ostia Antica, an ancient Roman port city, is the closest real-world vibe to Camp Jupiter. The ruins stretch wide, orderly, disciplined. It’s easy to imagine Reyna commanding the legion here, praetor cloak fluttering.
The Pantheon
Dedicated to “all gods,” this temple hits different when you’ve read the books. Step inside, tilt your head back to the oculus, and just admit it: you’re waiting for Jupiter or Minerva to stroll in, ready to hand you a prophecy. Go around the corner and see the (theorized) place where Annabeth started her quest under the city.
A Roman Holiday
This is one of my favorite moments from the Mark of Athena (Percabeth lover 4 ever!!). Percy and Annabeth actually sit down for a normal meal (well, almost normal—Coke and all) before their quest takes a sharp left turn. Eating al fresco in a little piazza like in Roman Holiday. There’s not a specific place mentioned, so lean into ambiance and pick a trattoria you love (you can’t go wrong). Just make sure to keep an eye out for Aubrey Hepburn.
The Underground “Buried City” (Nymphaeum)
Rome is layers on layers. In the book, part of the seven gets dragged below the streets into an ancient nymphaeum: creepy, echoey, unforgettable. When you visit Rome, any catacomb or underground tour scratches this itch (maybe watch for Arachne’s Lair too).
Whether you’re a lifelong Percy fan or a person picking up The Lightning Thief for the first time, let this be your sign: book the trip, pack the book, and let Percy’s world guide you through our own. And if you are anything like me, put your mascara on AFTER seeing the Parthenon for the first time (tears on tears on tears).
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