Top attractions in Athens
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Top sights in Athens
Top 10 things to do in Athens
Once the heart of a civilization more advanced than any to come for centuries, visiting Athens reveals just how far mankind can go when holding art and wisdom above waging war. Here are the best things to see and do in Greece's proud and passionate capital.
1. Monastiraki
The Old Town market district Monastiraki is a favorite among tourists and locals alike. Though cheap souvenirs dominate its storefronts, there's plenty on offer for sophisticated tastes too!
2. Parthenon
More than the ruins of an old temple, the Parthenon is an icon of Western civilization, making it the site of Athens' most essential tours!
3. Acropolis of Athens
Many of Ancient Athens' most important buildings were erected in the Acropolis to protect them from invasion. Ruins they may be, but most still look pretty good for their age!
4. Erechtheion
Built on the site where legend tells Poseidon and Athena competed to be the city's patron god, the Erechtheion was actually considered more holy than the Parthenon in its time!
5. Acropolis Museum
Of course, the Acropolis is now mostly in ruin – a monument to Athens' former glory – but almost 4,000 objects excavated from the area can be seen at the Acropolis Museum!
6. National Archaeological Museum of Athens
Widely considered to be one of the best museums in the world, the National Archaeological Museum of Athens boasts many of Greece's most important artifacts, from the prehistoric age to Late Antiquity.
7. Syntagma Square
Named after the Greek Constitution of 1844, the grand Syntagma Square at the foot of the Old Royal Palace has been the epicenter of Greek politics ever since!
8. Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens
In ruins, but once considered the epitome of Doric architecture, the important temple Olympieion was home to the gold Statue of Zeus – one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
9. Temple of Athena Nike
Nike is the Ancient Greek word for victory, and the prominently placed Temple of Athena Nike on the Acropolis was built to aid the Athenian Empire's wars against Sparta. It didn't work!
10. Plaka
This historic district at the foot of the Acropolis is also known as the "Neighborhood of the Gods." Plaka is a great place to wander around and maybe even see an archaeological dig!
Planning Your Visit
Where to stay?
If sightseeing around the Acropolis is your main concern, Plaka is probably the best place to stay. Despite being a highly recommended tourist spot in itself, its streets are pleasantly quiet. The main attractions can also be reached easily from the Monastiraki area, which ought to appeal more to those attracted to Athens' lively street life.
How many days?
How long to spend in Athens depends on how much of it you want to see, of course, but with most of its historic landmarks situated at the Acropolis, you could cover its archaeological sites, best restaurants, and most popular markets in 3 days.
How to get around?
The city is served by buses and electric trolleys that must be waved down at the blue (bus) and yellow (trolley) stops. Tickets are cheap, but then so are taxi fares. Athens also recently opened a sleek new Metro network. Construction was greatly delayed because they couldn't dig for 5 minutes without hitting undiscovered antiquities!
Good to know
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- Language
- Greek
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- Currency
- Euro (€)
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- Time Zone
- UTC (+02:00)
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- Country Code
- +30
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- Best time to visit
- Athens is most pleasant during the spring and fall, when the temperatures are warm and the tourist traffic is at a minimum.
Top Attractions in Athens
- 2 Plaka
- 15 Roman Agora
- 18 Psarades
- 20 Erechtheion
Things to Do in Athens
Cities in Greece
Other Sightseeing Options in Athens
Want to discover all there is to do in Athens? Click here for a full list.
What people are saying about Athens
The tour with Anna was absolutely great. It was really nicely structured and of course very delicious :) Anna knows a lot about food and traditions of the area. So, it was very informative as well. I'll certainly return with my friends to repeat this experience, once this corona pandemic is over. One piece of advice to those, who plan to do this tour: do come hungry! :)))
Very Interesting places. . Learned a lot on Greek past. Our guide BIll was VERY helpful. Told us many interesting myth Greek stories and gave us a lot of interesting information of every place in the way. He also stopped the car for us in interesting places in the way with amazing photo spots !
This place is magical. A temple + a sea + a sunset Our guide BIll was VERY helpful. Told us many interesting myth Greek stories and gave us a lot of interesting information of every place in the way. He also stopped the car for us in interesting places in the way with amazing photo spots.
The tour was very professional organized From the training on the Segway to the information we received Crisis is a Fantastic tour guide - Professional, Energetic, Know a lot and still makes it interesting and not boring
We were at prvite tour with amazing guide Costa that was so funny and full of knowledge. He took us the most important things at Athens and was so kind to us. Thanks Hadar
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