- One of the oldest cities worldwide and the oldest European capital.
- Hosted the first modern Olympic Games between 6-15 April 1986.
- Athenians established the first Democracy in 508–507 BC.
Attractions, beaches & Things to Do in Athens
Starting Point: Syntagma Square
Syntagma Square
The central Square of Athens is located in front of the Greek Parliament and is one of the most photographed spots during major protests.
Ermou Street in Athens
Synonymous with the definition of the high-end shopping experience, a road that is the most expensive shopping area in Greece.
Museum of Greek Children’s Art, Plaka Athens
Concentrating on the uniqueness of children's art proposing an alternative educational process.
Plaka Neighborhood of Athens
The oldest city district with the preserved traditional architecture of the last century that creates a unique and unexpected environment.
Roman Agora of Athens
A monument that was founded between the 19 and 11 BC and dates from the era when Athens where under the Roman occupation.
Athens War Museum
« Polemiko Mouseio »Learning about the evolution of the Greek nation through its war history, while seeing numerous rare battle devices equipment and weapons.
Acropolis of Athens
The hill that hosts some of the most significant monuments of the Greek ancient world and signifies the source of western civilization.
Panathenaic Stadium
« Kallimarmaro »Ancient reconstructed stadium that hosted events of the A' Modern Olympic Games in 1896.
Athens Marathon (The Authentic)
A contemporary annual long-distance race that revives an actual incident of the 490 BC in Athens, and became an official Olympic game.
Acropolis Museum
Contemporary and award winning museum that hosts artifacts of the Acropolis as well as parts of the famous Elgin Marbles.
Lycabettus Hill
The famous hill of Athens which has a height of 277 meters over the sea level, and offers a great view over the Athenian city landscape.
National Archaeological Museum, Athens
Includes one of the richest collections on a worldwide level shedding light mainly on the Greek civilization of the Mediterranean region.
Technopolis of Gazi
Contemporary cultural complex in an ex-industrial area of Athens center, famous for the number and the variety of events that it hosts.
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
Impressive cultural complex that tends to become a city trademark since its opening in 2016.
Allou! Fun Park
The most famous and the biggest amusement park in Greece that offers entertainment and loads of adrenaline the whole year-round.
Piraeus
The third most populated Greek city as well as the largest European passenger port that serves as a major industrial and commercial center.
Varkiza Beach, Vari Attica
Fully-organized sandy beach that is really close to Athens. It can be crowded during the weekends and is easily reached by public transport.
Αkti Vouliagmenis Beach, Vouliagmeni Attica
Organized, sandy and clean beach that can be crowded on weekends and has an entrance fee.
Asteras (Astir) Beach, Vouliagmeni Attica
Exclusive sandy beach in a private bay. Its high prices correspond to the level of offered services.
Archaeological Museum of Vravrona
Located 200 meters from the archaeological site of Vravrona, one of the most important sanctuaries of worshiping Goddess Artemis in Attiki.
Mprexiza Beach, Nea Marki Attica
Organized, sandy and small pebble beach that provides shower amenities and cloth changing places, but also with some nice beach bars.
Rockwave Festival, TerraVibe Malakasa
One of the most well-known Greek music festivals that attracts world-class famous rock bands.
Avlaki Beach, Porto Rafti Attica
Long sand and pebble municipal beach, that is organized and offers a lifeguard, but also includes numerous beach bars with many amenities.
Mavro Lithari Beach, Saronikos (Anavyssos)
Pebble & sand beach where its famous beach bars attracts many visitors especially in weekends.
Schinias Beach, Marathon Attica
Sandy & very shallow long beach that is ideal for families. It is close to the historical city of Marathon and to the homonymous national park.
Anavyssos Beach, Saronikos Attica
A shallow and windless organized beach that includes numerous beach bars but also a playground that makes it ideal for families.
Questions & Answers About Athens
Why is Athens named Athens?
The answer is given by an antiquity myth related to the controversy between two gods of Olympus for the name of the city. The goddess of wisdom Athena and the god of the sea Poseidon confronted each other in a battle that would indicate the best gift each of them would offer in the city. The two rival gods reached the peak of the Acropolis followed by the 10 other gods who were the judges and Cecrops l, the mythological king of the city who was a witness. Firstly, Poseidon stood in the middle of the rock and with his trident gave a strong blow to the ground. From there sprang a wave of salt water, which formed a small lake. Then it was Athena's turn to present her own gift and she planted an olive tree on the rock, which was full of fruits. Then, Zeus announced the end of the fight and ordered the other gods to compare the two gifts and decide to whom the city should be given. King Kekropas, noticed that there was plenty of salty water from the sea surrounded the city. In contrast, the olive of Athena would be useful in providing food, oil, and timber. Thus, the city was finally, with a unanimous decision, named "Athens", in honor of the goddess of wisdom.
Why is Athens so popular?
Athens is a city that combines a tremendously rich heritage with a vivid and cosmopolitan perspective of a contemporary metropolis. It is considered as the core of western civilization where political thought, theater, arts, philosophy, science, architecture reached their epic climax. Archaeological sites, numerous museums, and other cultural institutions shed light on the history of a city that has been continuously inhabited for approximately 6,000 years. On the other hand, Athens is today a cosmopolitan capital and the epicenter of the financial, economic, industrial, political, transport, tourism, and cultural life of Greece. Its Mediterranean climate, cultural significance, and proximity to Greek islands make it a worldwide destination.