By air
Athens International (ATH), ~33 km
Europe · Greece
Athens, Greece
The Acropolis above a lively city
Getting there
Best time to visit
April to June and September to October — warm, not scorching
Don't miss
The Parthenon
The Acropolis Museum
The Ancient Agora
The Temple of Olympian Zeus
Things to do
The Acropolis and its museum
Plaka's lanes
A day trip to Cape Sounion
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: A.Savin · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Comfortable shoes, sun protection
A quieter corner
Filopappou Hill, for the Acropolis at sunset
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Athens?
April to June, or September to October — warm, but not scorching. Bring comfortable shoes and sun protection.
What are the must-sees in Athens?
The Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum, the Ancient Agora and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Then wander Plaka's lanes, and take a day trip to Cape Sounion.
Where can I see the Acropolis at sunset?
Head up Filopappou Hill for the Acropolis at sunset.
What should I eat in Athens?
Souvlaki, and meze in Psiri. Make time for the Central Market, too.
About Athens
- Hills
- Coastal
Where it is
Athens, the capital of Greece, spreads across the central plain of Attica in the south-east of the Greek mainland, ringed by Mount Aigaleo, Mount Parnitha, Mount Penteli and Mount Hymettus and opening south-west onto the Saronic Gulf at the port of Piraeus.
History
With a recorded history of more than 3,400 years, Athens was the leading city of classical Greece: Cleisthenes introduced democracy here in 508 BC, and under Pericles in the 5th century BC the Parthenon rose on the Acropolis. Roman, Byzantine, Frankish and, from 1458, Ottoman rule followed, and in 1834 Athens became the capital of the newly independent Greek state; it hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.
People
Athenians speak Greek, and the city draws people from every part of Greece and its islands. Evzones in the pleated fustanella kilt guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Syntagma Square, rebetiko songs are heard in old tavernas, and in summer plays and concerts are staged in the Roman Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
Known for
- The Acropolis and the Parthenon
- The Acropolis Museum
- The Ancient Agora and the Plaka quarter
- The National Archaeological Museum
- Souvlaki and meze in the tavernas
Did you know?
The Panathenaic Stadium, which held the opening ceremony of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.