The city of Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece and one of the most ancient cities on earth with a recorded history dating as back as 3.200 BC. Ancient Athens was a guarded city surrounded by walls, a powerful city-state which developed along with its sea port. It has been marked as the center of the Arts, knowledge and philosophy, hosting Plato’s Academy and Aristotle’s Lyceum, is regarded as the birthplace of modern civilization and Democracy.

Today Athens is a modern Metropolis and the center of financial, industrial, political and cultural traits of Greece.

Top 10 sights

Some of the most impressive sites in Athens which will link you with the past are the Acropolis and beneath that the Modern Acropolis Museum. The National Archaeological Museum hosts a treasure of classic antiquities. The Ancient Agora, which lies to the north of the Acropolis, is it the market-place that played a significant role in Ancient Athens. In there you will find a museum which hosts the most important findings from the remains of law courts, prison, schools and theatre which date back as far as 600BC.

Monastiraki is one of the oldest areas of the city including mosques dating from the Ottoman era. Visiting this area you will find the modern flea market of the city, monuments, churches and museums. The Temple of Olympian Zeus can be reached on foot from the Acropolis and is an Ancient Greek temple that was dedicated to the King of the Olympian gods and the largest temple in the ancient world. Today only 16 of its original marble columns remain as it has been damaged repeatedly by earthquakes and plundering. Opposite the site you will find the triumphal Hadrian’s Arch which stands on one of the site’s corners.

Where to Stay

Athens is a great city offering all sorts of options for one who will visit! There is a handfull of hotels and hostels in the city centre, which could serve as base for your tours. If you would like to reside by the sea you can stay in one of the hotels of the south suburbs like Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni, Lagonisi, Saronida and Sounio. If you prefer to stay outside the city centre but not in a seaside resort you can find a number of hotels in the northen suburbs, like Maroussi and Kiffisia.

Nightlife

Athens is a vibrant city, known for it nightlife that lasts until early in the morning. Keep in mind that Greek people’s daily rhythms differ compared to those in the rest of Europe. This means that you should not be surprised to find restaurants serving dinner at 22:00 neither when a bar tend to fill up after 00:00.

You can find a variety of modern bars and clubs in the area of Psirri, Agia Eirini Square, Kolonaki and Plaka. Alternatively, especially during the summer period, you can try out the sea-side nightlife the southern suburbs have to offer.