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Athens
- Overview
- Attractions
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- Kids Attractions
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What to see in Athens
Athens Attractions
Athens is an ancient city in the true sense of the word, and one gets the sense that they're tripping over priceless artefacts in the Greek capital. Its origins and culture date back to the years when gods of myth walked the earth, a history reflected in popular destinations such as the Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Ancient Agora, where the temples of the gods Hephaestus and Apollo can be found.
The 3,000-year history of Athens and, indeed, ancient Greece is perusable on 'museum mile' along Vassilissis Sophias Avenue. Here most of Athens' museums are clustered, including the Benaki Museum, the Museum of Cycladic Art and the Byzantine Museum. The 'mile' starts from Syntagma Square, the home of the Greek Parliament and the traditional daily changing of the guard.
For the best view of the city, climb Lycavittos Hill for its spectacular view of the Parthenon and what feels like the whole of Athens. The tranquil National Gardens make a lovely daytime break for those tired of the urban rush; or you can take a tram to Athens' urban beaches, including Agios Kosmas, Attica Vouliagmeni, and Varkiza.
Athens is a busy, sometimes overwhelming city, but a very rewarding one for sightseers.
Acropolis
Those on holiday in Athens for the first time generally head immediately for the Acropolis. There are very few visitors…
Ancient Agora
Clustered below the Acropolis is the remains of the Agora, ancient Athens' commercial and civic centre, where once walked…
Benaki Museum
Established in 1930, the Benaki Museum is one of the most famous museums in Greece and houses artefacts ranging from…
Kolonaki/Lykavittos Hill
Lykavittos Hill juts a steep 984 feet (300m) right up from the centre of the city of Athens, and is a great vantage point…
National Archaeological Museum
This is the largest and most popular of Athens' many museums, and is usually very crowded. Its vast collection includes…
Piraeus
The port of Piraeus is the chief port in Greece, the largest passenger port in Europe, and the third largest in the world,…
Plaka
Plaka is the old historical neighbourhood of Athens, clustered around the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis,…
Syntagma Square
Syntagma Square, or Constitution Square in English, is named for the Constitution that King Otto was forced to grant…
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