Attractions in Athens

Life in Athens takes place on the street. The best way to experience the city is to join in this intoxicating mix that’s somewhere between bedlam and joie de vivre. Get yourself in the mood with an afternoon volta (stroll) along the Ancient Promenade. Circling the heart of the ancient city, the pedestrianized route takes in The Temple of Olympian Zeus, the mighty Acropolis and the Ancient Agora. You’ll also find plenty of modernity here, with open-air art exhibitions, book fairs, buskers and street traders, lending the promenade a festival air. It is the oldest city in Europe, yet still in a state of transition. It’s one of Europe’s safest and liveliest cities – a heady mix of grunge and grace with an undeniable urban soul. Most visitors will leave impressed with its vibrant street life and relaxed lifestyle, where people take time out for endless coffees and evening strolls, dine out until late and enjoy the city’s nightlife, long after the rest of Europe has gone to bed. Athens has improved in its social amenities and infrastructure so much, that it has become one of the most popular tourist spots. Omonoia, Psirri and Gazi, Syntagma are few remarkable Sightseeing in Athens. Still there are many hills, old museums and universities to be visited. After Marathon and Olympics fame, Athens has become the most wanted place to visit.

 

 

The Acropolis

What would a visit to Greece be without going to the Acropolis? The Acropolis is the most important ancient site in the Western world and is a World Heritage Site. Crowned by the Parthenon, it stands sentinel over Athens, visible from almost everywhere within the city. Its monuments of Pentelic marble gleam white in the midday sun and gradually take on a honey hue as the sun sinks, while at night they hover above the city brilliantly illuminated. You can take a tour or wander up there yourself but during the summer, whatever you do, unless it is overcast, go early in the day. It can get very hot up there and gasping for breath can detract from your ability to marvel at the greatest of all archaeological sites. After climbing the steps you are at the entrance, or the Propylaea, which was completed in 432. To your left is the Pinacotheca and a Hellenistic pedestal and on the right the tiny temple to Nike Athena or the Athena of Victory which commemorates the Athenians victory over the Persians. The Parthenon and the other main buildings on the Acropolis were built by Pericles in the fifth century BC as a monument to the cultural and political achievements of the inhabitants of Athens. The term acropolis means upper city and many of the city states of ancient Greece are built around an acropolis where the inhabitants can go as a place of refuge in times of invasion. It's for this reason that the most sacred buildings are usually on the acropolis. It's the safest most secure place in town. As little as 150 years ago there were still dwellings on the Acropolis.

 

Daphni Monastery

The Daphni Monastery  is an 11th-century Byzantine monastery outside Athens. Founded on the site of a Greek temple, it is now a museum and World Heritage Site. Daphni Monastery is one of the great masterpieces of the Byzantine Empire, especially famed for its beautiful interior mosaics. Sadly, the church has been closed for restoration work since 1999 with no estimated date of completion. Located between Athens and Eleusis, this site has been sacred since ancient times. It originally hosted a Temple of Apollo, from which the name Daphni gets its name. The temple was destroyed around 395 after paganism was outlawed by the Christian emperor; one surviving column of the temple can be seen near the entrance of the monastery.

 

The Temple of Olympian Zeus

The Temple of Olympian Zeus is is the largest in Greece. The temple was begun in the 6th century BC by Peisistratos, but was abandoned for lack of funds. Various other leaders had stabs at completing the temple, but it was left to Hadrian to complete the work in AD 131. It took more than 700 years to build. Hadrian put a colossal gold and ivory statue of Zeus in the cella and, in typically immodest fashion, placed an equally large one of himself next to it.

 

The National Archaeological Museum

This extensive collection is housed in the heart of Athens. Greece is rightly proud of its flagship museum. While even a brief visit is dazzling, the true museum junkie should allow 2-3 hours. Even then, you're speeding through millennia of Greek culture, starting with the Cycladic Island civilization and the Minoans and Mycenaeans, and stretching toward the present. Souvenir hunters will also enjoy the well-stocked gift shop filled with official reproductions of many of the items on display.

 

Benaki Museum & Benaki Museum Pireos Annexe

Greeces' finest private museum contains the vast collection of Antonis Benakis, accumulated during 35 years of avid collecting in Europe and Asia. In 1931 he turned the family house into a museum and presented it to the Greek nation. The Benaki Museum Pireos Annexe hosts regular visual arts, cultural and historical exhibitions as well as major international shows. The impressive former industrial building has a café and excellent gift store. It's the oldest museum in Greece and ranks among its best. More than 20,000 items are on display chronologically over four levels, beginning with prehistory to the formation of the modern Greek state. It has an excellent Byzantine collection and a gallery focusing on the development of Hellenism during foreign domination. The spectrum of Greek cultural history is covered, including Karaghiozi shadow puppets, a stunning array of costumes, jewellery, textiles, and paintings, including early works by El Greco.

 

The Plaka

The Plaka is the oldest section of Athens. Most of the streets have been closed to automobile traffic, though you should still keep a watchful eye for a speeding motorcycle or delivery truck. The Old town Plaka still remains as the most beautiful romantic places of Athens. The best way to experience the beauty is take a walk starting from the Aglican and Russian churches on Odos Fillelinon. This will lead to the museum of Greek Folk Art, gently down the hills and you can enjoy the pleasant weather there especially during snowfalls and winter seasons. This place is crowded by cafes and people who weave regional costumes and do embroidery and pottery. Plaka is one of the best places you can ever visit.There are hotels available for stay too. There are a few galleries like the Moraitis and there are several museums in the Plaka, like the Children's Museum, the Music Museum, the Greek Folk Art Museum and the Jewish Museum, which is right at the entrance to the Plaka at Nikis and Kydatheneon streets.

 

Syntagma Square

Syntagma Square refers to Constitution according to Greek meaning. The palace of the Greek king Otto has been made the parliament and this one presides in a square. This square remains as a primary venue for public gatherings, strikes and political party parades. A strip of museum and Athens Hotel are situated near this parliament and hence this is a good place for tourists as they can lodge and visit the places in and around Syntagma Square. The great thing in visiting this parliament is to see the Tomb of an unknown soldier. Every hour a guard will replace them and they can be found in perfect uniforms. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Greece is also the testament of choice during major holidays.

 

Monastiraki

The Monastiraki flea market is the place to be on Sunday's when it seems every Athenian is here either buying or selling. You have to get here early because after about 11am the crowd becomes impossible and if you want to take a break there are few tables available at the many cafes and restaurants in the area. You can wander around aimlessly or you can find someone who knows the flea market who can show you around if you are intent on buying something in particular. Overlooking Monastiraki square, and across the street from the metro station is the restored Turkish Mosque, now the traditional ceramics museum. Right next door are the large columns and ruins of the Roman Emperor Hadrian's Library and the Roman agora. This is the street where many of the street venders are and if you go up and take a right on Adrianou the road runs parallel to the metro tracks and the ancient Agora with the Stoa of Attalos museum. Here you will find several cafes, ouzeries a couple restaurants and lots of people selling stuff right on the street, and plenty of interesting people.

 

Psirri

North of Monastiraki you'll find old warehouse buildings, mid-age office and industrial buildings presenting a new face. This is the area of intriguing restaurants in novel settings with original interior and exterior design, benefiting from the character and nature of the original use of these industrial buildings. Art galleries and artists' workshops and studios, neighbour Experimental Theatres and cafe/bars.

 

Agora

Though the Romans have nothing to do with the name, Roman Agora, it actually got its name as this architectural complex was built during the Roman period. This rectangular courtyard was surrounded by stoas, storerooms and stops. At some time while the control of Hadrian, the quad got cemented with slabs. Later after the intrusion of Herulae during the 267 CE, Athens city confined to areas between the Late Roman fortification walls. Roman Agora became the main market of the city later and whatever the commercial functions might be, it started happening here. Later, it had become the archaeological park of that time.

 

Athens Olympic Complex

Athens' newest landmark is the massive Athens Olympic Complex. The showpiece stadium where the main action took place in 2004 is crowned by the striking glass and steel roof designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. The vast complex includes numerous stadiums and futuristic design elements, such as the shimmering Wall of Nations.You can only visit on an organised tour - minimum 15 people. If you are travelling independently, you can send a request to join another tour.

 

Lykavittos Hill

This hill is the highest point in Athens and is visible almost from any part of the capital. This majestic peak is an important tourist destination and should not be missed out at all. This place is used as archaeological area which spreads out as far as the eyes could capture it on. From this place it is exceptionally pleasing to admire Acropolis. This popular tourist destination is of more excitement when it is viewed at night. It gives a feel of a fantastic art work to see the ship sailing and in the backend the stars glittering, almost like a movie captured with various colour additions, just pleasing the eyes. There is also has a 100 year old Church and a bar at the top of the hill.

 

The Temple Of Poseidon at Sounion

About an hour away, on a hill overlooking the sea at the very tip of the Attiki Peninsula on a spot that could not be more perfect for an ancient site of worship is the Temple of Poseidon, God of the Sea, which boasts not only the carved graffiti of Lord Byron but the best sunsets after Santorini. There is a small beach below and a sea that looks and feels like the islands, as well as two small fish taverns and many more on the way there and back. Go in the late afternoon, have a swim and an ouzo and some mezedes and see the temple and watch the sunset before going back to Athens for a quick shower and a nap before going out to dinner and maybe out on the town later.

 

Delphi

Explore one of the most famous archaeological sites of Greece with this one day tour from Athens. Delphi, known in ancient times as the navel of the world. Pass by Castalia Spring, visit at the archaeological site the Temple of Apollo famous for its oracle and the Museum of Delphi, with it's spectacular finds, including the bronze Charioteer, the Naxian Sphinx and the Statue of Antinoos. After lunch return to Athens via the picturesque mountain village of Arachova, built on the south slopes of Parnassus, well known for its attractive hand-woven carpets, rugs and quilts, as well as for its wine and cheese.