Athens Travel Guide
Facts and practical information
Greece, with its deep historical roots and vibrant culture, is a country that beckons travelers from around the globe. At the heart of this nation lies Athens, the capital city, which is situated within the decentralized administration of Attica. Athens is a city that seamlessly blends ancient history with the energy of modern life.
Athens is renowned for its archaeological sites and is often considered an open-air museum. The Acropolis, an ancient citadel perched atop a rocky hill, dominates the city's skyline and serves as a testament to Greece's glorious past. The Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike are all part of this UNESCO World Heritage site and are essential for any visitor to Athens.
Beneath the Acropolis, the historic neighborhood of Plaka, with its labyrinthine streets and neoclassical architecture, offers a journey back in time. Meanwhile, the Agora, the heart of public life in ancient Athens, gives insight into the city's political and commercial history.
The National Archaeological Museum houses one of the world's most significant collections of ancient Greek artifacts, while the new Acropolis Museum is a marvel of contemporary architecture that beautifully displays treasures from the Acropolis.
Modern Athens is not just about the past; it's a bustling metropolis with a variety of cultural offerings. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, for instance, is a hub for art, learning, and recreation. The city's vibrant neighborhoods, such as Kolonaki and Psiri, are filled with chic boutiques, galleries, and restaurants serving delectable Greek cuisine. From traditional dishes like moussaka and souvlaki to the famous Greek yogurt and honey, Athens is a gastronomic delight.
Athens is also the gateway to the Saronic Gulf Islands, with ports like Piraeus offering ferry connections to idyllic destinations like Aegina, Hydra, and Spetses. These nearby islands provide a perfect day trip or weekend getaway, offering beautiful beaches, charming villages, and a slower pace of life.
Athens Attractions - What to See and Explore
Athens offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Acropolis, Voukourestiou Street, Parthenon, National Archaeological Museum. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.
Things to See and Do in Athens by Category
Sights, interesting and unusual places and attractions valued by most tourists. See the list of places to visit in Athens.
Culture
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
AthensAncient stone theater with performances
Concerts and shows Theater 
Mount Lycabettus
AthensLandmark hill with an amphitheater
Concerts and shows Theater 
Badminton Theater
AthensTheater Concerts and shows Performing arts 
Athens Concert Hall
AthensSizable concert hall with performances
Music and shows Music venue 
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
AthensArts center with a park and opera house
Park Civic center
Shopping
Voukourestiou Street
AthensStreet Shopping Shopping district 
Ermou Street
AthensShopping Shopping district 
Stadiou Street
AthensStreet Shopping Shopping district 
Frissiras Museum
AthensMuseum Art museum Art gallery 
Public
AthensShopping Shopping centre Bookshop
Active
Panathenaic Stadium
AthensThe world's only white marble stadium
Ancient Greek architecture Sport venue 
Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium
AthensSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums 
Nea Smyrni Stadium
AthensSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums 
Athens Olympic Sports Complex
AthensSport venue Sport 
Rockway
AthensClimbing
Museum
National Archaeological Museum
AthensAncient Greek art and archaeology museum
Museum Art museum 
Acropolis Museum
AthensMuseum Archaeological museum History museum 
Benaki Museum
AthensMuseum Art museum 
Byzantine and Christian Museum
AthensCollection of frescoes and artifacts
Museum Art museum 
Stoa of Attalos
AthensReconstructed building and Athenian museum
Museum
Archaeological site
Ancient Agora
AthensIconic Greek ruins with a museum
Archaeological site Historical place 
Areopagus
AthensRocky hill with a long history
Archaeological site Geologic formation 
Tower of the Winds
AthensAncient tower to indicate weather and time
Archaeological site Historical place 
Erechtheion
AthensIconic temple of ancient Greece
Ancient Greek architecture Archaeological site 
Propylaea
AthensArchaeological site Historical place
Art museum
National Archaeological Museum
AthensAncient Greek art and archaeology museum
Museum Art museum Benaki Museum
AthensMuseum Art museum Byzantine and Christian Museum
AthensCollection of frescoes and artifacts
Museum Art museum 
Museum of Pavlos and Alexandra Kanellopoulou
AthensMuseum Art museum Archaeological museum 
Museum of Cycladic Art
AthensCycladic art museum with kids' exhibits
Museum Art museum
History museum
Acropolis Museum
AthensMuseum Archaeological museum History museum Byzantine and Christian Museum
AthensCollection of frescoes and artifacts
Museum Art museum 
Numismatic Museum
AthensCoins and medals dating to 1300 B.C.
Museum Archaeological museum 
Epigraphical Museum
AthensMuseum Archaeological museum History museum Museum of Pavlos and Alexandra Kanellopoulou
AthensMuseum Art museum Archaeological museum
Monuments and statues
Temple of Athena Nike
AthensIonic temple depicting a Greek goddess
Ancient Greek architecture Temple 
Arch of Hadrian
AthensAncient monumental arched gateway
Arch Monuments and statues Erechtheion
AthensIconic temple of ancient Greece
Ancient Greek architecture Archaeological site 
Temple of Olympian Zeus
AthensRuined temple completed under Hadrian
Ancient Greek architecture Temple 
Bema of Phaidros
AthensMonuments and statues
Specialty museum
Numismatic Museum
AthensCoins and medals dating to 1300 B.C.
Museum Archaeological museum 
Herakleidon Museum
AthensMuseum Specialty museum 
Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments
AthensMuseum Specialty museum 
Athens War Museum
AthensMuseum Specialty museum Military museum Museum of Pavlos and Alexandra Kanellopoulou
AthensMuseum Art museum Archaeological museum
Temple
Parthenon
AthensIconic 5th BC Athenian temple ruins
Ancient Greek architecture Temple Temple of Athena Nike
AthensIonic temple depicting a Greek goddess
Ancient Greek architecture Temple 
Temple of Hephaestus
AthensAncient, hilltop place of worship
Ancient Greek architecture Temple Temple of Olympian Zeus
AthensRuined temple completed under Hadrian
Ancient Greek architecture Temple Temple of Ares
AthensTemple
Street
Voukourestiou Street
AthensStreet Shopping Shopping district Stadiou Street
AthensStreet Shopping Shopping district 
Sofokleous Street
AthensStreet 
Vasilissis Sofias Avenue
AthensStreet 
Panepistimiou Street
AthensStreet
Church
Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens
AthensLandmark 19th-century cathedral
Church 
Church of the Holy Apostles
AthensTiny, old church with a few murals
Church Sacred and religious sites 
Church of Panagia Kapnikarea
AthensHistoric church with Byzantine designs
Church 
Holy Trinity Cathedral
AthensChurch 
Kaisariani Monastery
AthensMonastery Historical place Sacred and religious sites
Park
National Garden
AthensScenic park with archeological remains
Park Garden Areopagus
AthensRocky hill with a long history
Archaeological site Geologic formation Athens Concert Hall
AthensSizable concert hall with performances
Music and shows Music venue 
Pedion tou Areos
AthensPark Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
AthensArts center with a park and opera house
Park Civic center
Memorial
Choragic Monument of Thrasyllos
AthensMemorial 
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
AthensMemorial 
Asklepieion of Athens
AthensMemorial 
Philopappos Monument
AthensMonument ruins from the 2nd century
Memorial Monuments and statues 
Klepsydra
AthensMemorial
Unesco
Acropolis
Athens5th-century B.C. hilltop temple monument
Ancient Greek architecture Forts and castles Parthenon
AthensIconic 5th BC Athenian temple ruins
Ancient Greek architecture Temple Temple of Athena Nike
AthensIonic temple depicting a Greek goddess
Ancient Greek architecture Temple Erechtheion
AthensIconic temple of ancient Greece
Ancient Greek architecture Archaeological site Propylaea
AthensArchaeological site Historical place
Concerts and shows
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
AthensAncient stone theater with performances
Concerts and shows Theater Mount Lycabettus
AthensLandmark hill with an amphitheater
Concerts and shows Theater Badminton Theater
AthensTheater Concerts and shows Performing arts Athens Concert Hall
AthensSizable concert hall with performances
Music and shows Music venue 
National Theatre
AthensTheater Concerts and shows
Square
Omonoia Square
AthensSquare 
Viktoria Square
AthensSquare 
Kotzia Square
AthensSquare 
Thiseio
AthensSquare 
Syntagma Square
AthensSquare
Sacred and religious sites
Temple of Hephaestus
AthensAncient, hilltop place of worship
Ancient Greek architecture Temple 
Daphni Monastery
AthensHistoric monastery with gold mosaics
Monastery Sacred and religious sites Church of the Holy Apostles
AthensTiny, old church with a few murals
Church Sacred and religious sites Kaisariani Monastery
AthensMonastery Historical place Sacred and religious sites 
Agios Eleftherios Church
AthensChurch Sacred and religious sites
Performing arts
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
AthensAncient stone theater with performances
Concerts and shows Theater Badminton Theater
AthensTheater Concerts and shows Performing arts 
Dora Stratou Theater
AthensTheater Concerts and shows Performing arts 
B & M Theocharakis Foundation for the Fine Arts and Music
AthensMuseum Specialty museum Art museum
Event space
Zappeion
AthensGrand 1880s hall with Olympic history
Convention center Event space 
Technopolis
AthensPerforming arts venue and history museum
Museum Specialty museum Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
AthensArts center with a park and opera house
Park Civic center 
BIOS exploring urban culture
AthensConcerts and shows Theater Bars and clubs
Other categories
Historical placeAreaRuinsArchaeological museumNeighbourhoodTheaterAcropolisNatural attractionLibraryUniversities and schoolsNatureAthens – popular in the area (distance from the center)
In the vicinity of Athens, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Archaeological Museum (Aegina), Attica Zoological Park (Spata), Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus (Epidaurus).
Best Time To Visit Athens
Learn when is the best time to travel to Athens weather-wise and what to expect in each season.
Best Ways to Experience Athens
Food & drink
CuisineA guide to some of the best local dishes and drinks that you will meet in the region.
Moussaka
Moussaka is a cherished dish in various regions worldwide, including the Levant, Middle East, Greece, and the Balkans. Each region offers its distinct take on the recipe. The Greek version, familiar to many in Europe and the Americas, was popularized by Nikolaos...
Dish
Pastitsio
Pastitsio, known alternatively as pastichio, is a delectable baked pasta dish highly favored in Greek, Egyptian, Turkish, Maltese, and Cypriot cuisines. It is a variant of the Italian pasticcio, a family of baked savory pies.
Dish
Stew
A stew is a robust dish crafted by simmering solid food ingredients in a liquid to create a rich, flavorful gravy. These ingredients often include a diverse array of vegetables and proteins such as beef, poultry, sausages, and even seafood.
Dolma
Dolma is a cherished dish that spans various regions, including the Balkans, South Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Middle East. It essentially involves stuffing vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, onions, zucchinis, eggplants, and pointed gourds.
Dish
Gyro
A gyro (or gyros) is a delectable Greek dish that traces its origins to the lamb-based doner kebab. This dish is crafted by cooking meat on a vertical rotisserie and is typically served wrapped or stuffed in a pita, accompanied by ingredients such as tomato, onion,...
Dish
Art works & crafts
ArtFamous works of special cultural and artistic value related to this location.
Mask of Agamemnon
The Mask of Agamemnon, a magnificent gold funeral mask, was unearthed at the ancient Greek site of Mycenae. Today, this captivating artifact can be admired at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, where it is often likened to the "Mona Lisa" of prehistory due...
Pitsa Panels
The Pitsa panels, also known as the Pitsa tablets, are a captivating collection of painted wooden tablets unearthed near Pitsa, Corinthia. These panels hold the distinction of being the earliest surviving examples of Greek panel painting.
Painting
Phrasikleia Kore
The Phrasikleia Kore is an exquisite funerary statue from ancient Greece, created by Aristion of Paros between 550 and 530 BCE. Unearthed in Myrrhinous, Attica, in 1972, this remarkable artifact is celebrated for its exceptional state of preservation and vibrant...
Work of art
Nike of Callimachus
The Nike of Callimachus, also known as The Dedication of Callimachus, is a remarkable statue created by the Athenians to honor their polemarch, Callimachus, who played an influential role in the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC.
Discover the rich history, natural beauty, and vibrant culture of Greece. This article highlights the best places to visit and provides essential travel tips for a memorable trip.
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Attica