Travel Insights

As one of the oldest cities in the world, ancient Athens is steeped in history and enshrouded in a sense of deep mystique. The modern and the ancient exist side by side in Athens, with places of historical interest popping up at every corner. Other than that, the city is brimming with amazing eateries where you can sample authentic Greek and Mediterranean cuisine.

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1. Acropolis, Parthenon, and Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop in the city. When you visit the Acropolis, you’ll be transported back to when Athens stood in all its glory. The Acropolis is filled with structures – primarily temples of ancient Greek deities – that are the epitome of Greek architecture. The most famous being the Parthenon.

The Parthenon

The Parthenon is the most important surviving example of ancient Greek architecture, remarkable in its incredible resilience and proportionate build. The construction was started in 447 BC and it was built as a temple for Athens’ patron deity Athena. The Parthenon and the other Periclean buildings nearby are considered a triumph of the Greek people over the Persian invaders.

Being one of the most iconic sites in Athens, this historic site is visited by thousands of visitors daily. So if you want to avoid the rush, visit the Acropolis between 8 AM – 10 AM (the site opens at 8 AM).

Don’t miss the Temple of Athena Nike when you’re visiting the Acropolis. It’s a smaller temple dedicated to the Greek deity but quite magnificent and well preserved.

Acropolis Museum

This museum houses all the significant artifacts uncovered at the Acropolis and in the surrounding structures. The museum has three levels, each with its own theme. The ground floor “Gallery of the Slopes of the Acropolis” houses objects that ancient Athenians used in their daily life while the “Archaic Gallery” on the first floor holds all the magnificent statues found in the temples near the Acropolis. The third floor “Parthenon Gallery” pays homage to Greek mythology with marble reliefs and statues of prominent Greek deities uncovered at the temple of Athena (the Parthenon).

2. Erechtheion

Erechtheion is another ancient temple situated towards the northern end of the Acropolis. This temple was constructed during the Golden Age of Athens and dedicated to both Athens and Poseidon. Although it suffered some neglect, it’s still an imposing and significant structure with its beautiful Caryatids (statues of Greek maidens acting as support structures or pillars).

3. Ancient Agora

Agora’s were the city centers of ancient Athens, and the Ancient Agora of Acropolis was the heart of Athens’ social, political, and cultural activities. Here you’ll find ruins that take you on a journey of Athens’ evolution, from the Archaic, to Greco-Roman, to Byzantine times.

While the area is mostly an archeological site of ruins, two structures stand out: Temple of Hephaestus, one of the best preserved classical temples, and the Stoa of Attalos, which was rebuild to reflect its original structure.

4. Ancient Agora Museum

The Ancient Agora Museum is housed in the Stoa of Attalos and its exhibits include artifacts spanning from Greek antiquity to the Byzantine period as well as the Turkish occupation of Athens.

You’ll find items clay, bronze, and glass objects used daily by the ancient Greeks as well as a variety of coins. The museum also contains various artworks, mostly sculptures and portraits of deities and wealthy Roman citizens from the 1st and 2nd century BC.

5. Temple of Olympian Zeus

This monster of a structure originally had 104 Corinthian columns, of which only 15 are currently standing. The ancient Greeks had abandoned the construction of the temple when they realized it was turning out to be a testament to human arrogance who considered themselves equal to God. Later Emperor Hadrian had housed a massive gold statue of Zeus in the temple and built the arch of Hadrian nearby.

If you’ve been to Rome, you may have noticed Corinthian columns all over the city, including the Corinthian arch near the Coloseum. This style of architecture took off in Rome when Roman General Sulla transported two columns from this unfinished temple during a Roman conquest in 86 BC.

6. Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Built in 161 AD, this magnificent performance centre is a sloping marble theatre located on the southwestern slope of the Acropolis. It was a prominent place for cultural events, mostly music performances and theatre, among the wealthy citizens of ancient Rome. The theatre has been partially modernized and reconstructed to accommodate contemporary performances. Frank Sinatra, Yanni, and Sting have all performed here during their respective heydays.

7. Areopagus

The Areopagus is a rocky structure near the Acropolis where the council of elders convened in the pre-classical times. Later, this place was used to mete out justice to wrong doers, who would often hide in the temple of Erinyes, which was located at the foot of the cliff.

8. Plaka and Anafiotika

Plaka is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Athens, located at the foothill of the Acropolis. You’ll love the charming cobbled streets and the beautiful neoclassical buildings in this ancient neighborhood.

You can also climb up to Anafiotika, a picturesque part of Plaka, where the narrow alleyways and the beautifully maintained rustic buildings offer tons of photo ops.

9. National Archeological Museum, Athens

This museum is the largest in Greece and one of the most representative institutions of Greek history in the world. The museum houses about 11,000 exhibits, ranging from objects of antiquity from ancient civilizations around the Aegean Sea, Cycladic marble figures, and tablets to precious metal work, vases, and even ancient Egyptian artifacts.

10. Museum of Cycladic Art

The museum of Cycladic Art is dedicated to the study and preservation of civilizations that flourished around the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Today you’ll find mostly white marble statues, but these were originally decorated with a wide variety of color for both aesthetics and symbolic reasons. You’ll also find vases, tools, and weapons spanning across all phases of Cycladic culture. The museum also houses a variety of ancient Greek art that reveal the philosophy and beliefs of the ancient Greeks with respect to warfare, worship, death, royalty, and daily life.

11. Panathenaic Stadium

This is where the first modern Olympic Games were held, and it’s the only stadium in the world that is completely built from marble. Now it’s a multipurpose stadium in Athens and can seat over 60,000 spectators.

12. Mount Lycabettus

You can either hike up to the top of the hill, take a funicular, or go by car. The view is mgnificent as you climb up, and you’ll see a massive open air theatre at the top which hosts various events and festivals in Athens during summer. You can relax with a cup of coffee after the climb while taking in the panoramic views of the ancient city below.

What else can you do in Athens?

13. Sample amazing Greek coffee

Coffee is an inherent part of Greek culture and was a drink that was served late as men gathered to discuss their day, political beliefs, or just to relax. The coffee is freshly prepared in copper pots and the sweetness varies according to the preferences of the drinker. Grab your at Café Taf and Tailor made in Athens (you ca also grab their brews and infusions so you can make your own cup back home).

14. Get your custom Greek sandals

Always loved the gladiator sandals? Now you can grab your custom made traditional leather pair (albeit with a modern twist) at the specialized boutiques in Athens. The leather is not chemically treated and age beautifully over time.

15. Sample amazing Mediterranean and Greek cuisine

Get your fill of mouthwatering street food and other authentic delicacies as you make your way through Athens. Gyros, spit roasted meat in pita bread with different sauces, is great if you want to eat something on the go. Other yummy things you should definitely try are the kebabs (usually served with a side of fries), Mousakka (a type of pasta-free lasagna), Saganaki (deep fried cheese!), and Feta Me Meli (feta cheese wrapped in filo pastry and drizzled with honey).

16. Go on a day cruise to Hydra, Poros, and Aegina

A day cruise from Athens will take you to three beautiful islands: Hydra, Poros, and Aegina. It’s best to go on a guided walking tour in Aegina, while Poros and Hydra are mostly about taking the breathtaking surroundings: clear blue water, white sand, and the pristine greenery.