Athens

The Parthenon and the temple of Athena, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the major attraction of Athens. The Erechtheion displays the statues of the female Caryatids, though the original statues have been replaced by copies because of air pollution; the originals are in the new Museum. On the southern slopes of the Acropolis lies the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a Roman theatre with room for as many as 5,000 spectators. It is used during the annual Athens Festival for world-class ballet and music performances. The Theatre of Dionysus lies beside Herodes Atticus, and almost all the tragedies and comedies of Ancient Greece were written for this theatre.

The Athens National Garden is a large historic park featuring both native and exotic plants, along with archaeological remains and a children’s library. Explore the small zoo, the botanical museum and the ponds. The garden is also home to landmarks such as the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Temple of Kronos and Rhea, the Zappeion Hall, and the Presidential Palace gardens. It is a highly recommended spot for running, exercising, or simply enjoying a walk.

In antiquity, the Agora played a major role as both a marketplace and a political centre. The Agora is dominated by the Stoa of Attalos and the Theseion, or Hephaisteion, dedicated to the God of metalworking and also to Theseus, one of the heroes of Greek mythology.

Well worth visiting and right at the foot of the Acropolis lies the new Acropolis Museum, which provides valuable insights into Greek mythology and Greek history. The museum restaurant offers panoramic views of the Acropolis and a 700 square metre public terrace commanding a breathtaking view of the historic hills of Athens.

Benaki is a history museum with Greek art and objects from the Stone and the War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire. It presents its pieces over three floors and apart from seasonal exhibitions, the museum offers events, courses and publications to educate audiences of all ages. The annexed cafe-restaurant welcomes you in a relaxed ambience where you can enjoy dinners, lunches or breaks before exploring the museum.

Breath in the maritime air around Glyfada, a pretty beach town with many restaurants, shops, bars and cafes, accessible from Athens by bus and tram. In Glyfada and further on the Athens Riviera you will find many beaches, ideal for swimming or sunbathing.

Mount Lycabettus, in Greek: Lykavittos, Λυκαβηττός, sits right in the centre of Athens, rising 277 metres above sea level. Getting yourself up to this altitude gives you an exquisite 360° view over Athens, the Aegean sea and the ships in Piraeus. When the sky is clear, you can see all the way to the mountains in Peloponnese. As well as views, there is also a chic cafe-restaurant, a 19th century Chapel and an amphitheatre.

For a nice walk or picnic a bit outside the busy streets and squares of central Athens, you can head to the Philopappos Hill. It offers a great view over the city and maybe the best view of the Acropolis, just far enough to embrace it all while avoiding the tourists crowd and close enough to see the beauty of its architecture.

Exarcheia, Athens' anarchist neighbourhood, has seen the youth of the city rise up against power and injustice many times and unfortunately, it has been the theatre of political drama. Even though Exarcheia has kept intact its rebellious soul and keeps on its walls traces and street art as testimony of its agitated past, the area has softened a bit and has become somewhat hipster. It is a cool place to hang out, go for a walk, meet locals, and have a coffee or a drink around the main square.

Named after Erechtheus, king of Athens and foster son of Athena, the Erechtheion is an ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon. This intricate temple was designed to accommodate the radically uneven ground on the site and to avoid disturbing sacred shrines like the altars to Poseidon, the sacred olive tree, a well containing sea water, the tomb of Kekrops, and the Pandrosion sanctuary.

The Megaron, Athens' Concert Hall, was inaugurated in 1991 and it now houses four halls offering a variety of musical performances. It is famous for its top-notch spectacles and an impressive acoustic.