Athens Travel Guide
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Why? The sprawling capital of Greece received a major
make-over prior to hosting the 2004 Olympic Games, so a holiday in
Athens is now an even more attractive proposition than ever before.
It's landmark Acropolis and other remains of classical Greece are
an eternal drawcard for thousands who travel to Athens every day to
soak up its unique atmosphere.
When? Whichever time of year you choose to holiday in Athens
you will be guaranteed bright blue skies and sunshine: perfect
weather for making use of the vine-covered patios of the street
tavernas. The winter months (October to April) may bring a few
short rain showers, but not enough to dampen the spirits. July and
August can be unpleasantly hot and muggy. The best time to travel
to Athens is in Spring.
Who for? A holiday in Athens, with its hectic traffic and
frenetic pace, may be too daunting for very young children, but
anyone with a taste for classical history, colourful street markets
and tasty Greek specialities will revel in exploring this ancient
city.
More Info : Make sure you know before you go by consulting
our comprehensive Athens travel guide before you travel to Athens.
The guide includes everything you need for a memorable Athens
holiday.
Overview
Athens exudes a unique charm, its lively character winning over tens of thousands of visitors every year. Street markets, vine-covered tavernas, souvenir stalls and ancient monuments all form a conglomerate with buildings old and new in this city, which one out of four Greeks call home. For tourists the greatest advantage is that most attractions are accessible on foot in the central area around the landmark Acropolis. Walking is the best way to soak up the Athenian atmosphere because the traffic can reach nightmare proportions.
Athens was named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, who according to mythology won the city as prize after a duel against Poseidon. The city can chart its history back thousands of years and is regarded as the cradle of western civilisation; the place where democracy was invented and philosophy, art and architecture were refined. After a classical golden age when it was home to Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, the city declined in the Middle Ages, dwindling to nothing but a town with a few thousand residents gathered in the colourful area that is now known as the Plaka, until its rebirth as capital of an independent Greece in 1834.