Part of Plaka, Anafiotika is a scenic neighbourhood of Athens on the northern slope of the Acropolis. Part of this area was destroyed in 1950s for archaeological research. Today, there are only 45 old houses remaining, on the little unnamed streets from Stratonos to the Acropolis rock. It's a great example of the typical Cycladic architecture that gives visitors the feel of Greek islands in the heart of the city.

The National Archaeological Museum, in Exarchia, is home to Ancient Greece’s most spectacular pieces. One room contains Schliemann’s finds from Mycenae, another has the famous frescoes from Santorini on display. There is also a fine collection of idols from the Cyclades and ceramics from all parts of the Mediterranean. The star of the museum is the Antikythera Mechanism — an ancient hand-powered orrery, described as the oldest example of an analogue computer used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses decades in advance. This scientific marvel is dated somewhere between 205 and 60 BCE.

In times of conflict between the Vietnamese government and the country's Buddhist population, Thich Quang Duc calmly sat down in lotus position in the midst of Buddhist protesters and lit himself on fire as a sing of protest. In memory of his sacrifice, a monument was inaugurated in 2010, showing him surrounded by flames.