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Athens

NOW 23 °C

Next 5 days

  • SUN 18 °C
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Climatic Data

Source: National Observatory of Athens /meteo.gr

A journey through time

Welcome to Athens, the historical capital of Europe. Welcome to the birthplace of democracy, arts, science and philosophy of western civilisation.  Home of Plato, Socrates, Pericles, Euripides, Sophocles, Aeschylus.  Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities. It’s recorded history spanning around 3.400 years and it is being inhabited since the 11th millennium B.C. E.  Today, under the shadow of Parthenon, the contemporary urban scenery of the sprawling city reflects its exciting history, its multi- cultural modern personality as well as the infrastructure and facilities.

The perfect Mediterranean climate with the legendary greek sunlight, the unique combination of glorious history with modern, urban innovation, the coexistence of great culture with astonishing natural beauty, the high standard hotel accommodation, modern means of transportation such as the cutting edge modern metro, the vibrant rhythm of life, the wide choice of opportunities for shopping, dining and night life and of course the warmth of the Athenians people feature Athens as the ideal all year round city break destination. The city of Parthenon is an open air museum. A large part of the town’s historic center has been converted into a 3 km pedestrian zone, one of the largest in Europe. It leads to the major archaeological sites (“archaeological park”), reconstructing – to a large degree – the ancient landscape. Either on foot or by bike, the ‘’Grande Promenade’’ around Acropolis is an unforgettable journey through history.

Points of Interest

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MUSEUMS

National Archaeological Museum

MUSEUMS

Acropolis Museum

MUSEUMS

Byzantine and Christian Museum

MUSEUMS

National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum

MUSEUMS

Museum of Cycladic Art

MONUMENTS

Panathenaic Stadium

MUSEUMS

Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation, Athens

MUSEUM

Benaki Museum of Islamic Art

SQUARES

Syntagma Square

SHOPPING

Athens for shopping centre

GARDENS

National Garden

GOING OUT

Biking in Athens

GARDENS

Pedion tou Areos

GOING OUT

Nightlife in Athens

INTERCITY BUSSES

Bus Station Kifisou

INTERCITY BUSSES

Bus Station Liosion

TRAIN

Athens Railway Station

Athens lies historically in the very heart of Greece as it is known as the birthplace of democracy and home to some of the most significant philosophers.

Historical Walkings in the city centre

The tour starts at the Temple of Olympian Zeus (6th c. B.C.), one of the largest in antiquity and close by Hadrian’s Arch (131 A.D.), which forms the symbolic entrance to the city. From there, walking along Dionysou Areopaghitou Street (on the south side of the Acropolis) you pass the ancient Theatre of Dionysos (5th c. B.C.) where most of the works by Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylos and Aristophanes were performed. Continuing, you will reach the ruins of the Asklepieion (5th c. B.C.) and the Stoa of Eumenes (2th c. B.C.) and from there the Odeion of Herodes Atticus, which was built in 161 A.D. and is nowadays the venue of the performances of the Athens Festival.

From there you climb up to the sacred rock of the Acropolis, the site of some of the most important masterpieces of worldwide architecture and art, the most renowned of which is the Parthenon temple. Apart from this, also impressive are the Propylaea, the temple of the Athene Nike and the Erechtheion, while you must not skip a visit to the Museum, located close to the Parthenon. Moreover, from the rock you have an impressive view of the city. Only 300m away from the sacred rock of Acropolis stands the impressive Acropolis Museum, one of the most important contemporary works of architecture in Athens. It is made of steel, glass and concrete and it houses 4,000 priceless finds from the Acropolis monuments that represent its history and function as the most important religious centre of ancient Athens.

Coming down from the Acropolis you arrive at the Areios Pagos, the most ancient law court of the world. Opposite it is Philopappou Hill, with its beautiful cobbled little roads and the Roman monument by the same name on its top, while close by is the Pnyx, where the citizens of ancient Athens used to assemble and exert their democratic rights. Walking farther along the pedestrian road you arrive at the Ancient Agora, which was the commercial, political and religious centre of ancient Athens. A visit to the archaeological site will give you the opportunity to become acquainted with the workings of Classical Athenian democracy and visit the stunning Temple of Hephaestus.

From there, via Ermou Street, you arrive at the Kerameikos, the largest cemetery of the ancient city, with impressive tomb sculptures and stelae. The Iridanos River, sacred in antiquity, runs through the archaeological site. However, our tour of enchanting Athens does not restrict itself only to these unique archaeological sites.

Latest Events

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EXHIBITIONS

EUREKA: Science, Art and Technology of Ancient Greeks

HERAKLEIDON ART MUSEUM / ATHENS
THEATRE

The Sound of Shadows

MEGARON - THE ATHENS CONCERT HALL / ATHENS
EXHIBITIONS

Των Aθήνηθεν άθλων

ACROPOLIS MUSEUM / ATHENS
EXHIBITIONS

Beholding Liberty

HELLENIC PARLIAMENT FOUNDATION / ATHENS
EXHIBITIONS

Saturday in the Museum with 20+1 masterpieces

ACROPOLIS MUSEUM / ATHENS
MUSIC

Werther

GREEK NATIONAL OPERA / ATHENS
EXHIBITIONS

Konstantinos Parthenis

NATIONAL GALLERY / ATHENS
EXHIBITIONS

Smyrna in the early 20th century

BYZANTINE AND CHRISTIAN MUSEUM / ATHENS
MUSIC

Neapoly

GREEK NATIONAL OPERA ALTERNATIVE STAGE / ATHENS
EXHIBITIONS

Seeing the invisible

NATIONAL GARDEN / ATHENS

Filming in Αthens

FILMING IN GREECE

THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY (2014)

A con artist ( Viggo Mortensen)and his wife (Kirsten Dunst) find themselves in deep trouble in Greece after the former murders a detective. To escape from Greece, they must trust a stranger (Oscar Isaac) who is inherently untrustworthy.

DIRECTOR: HOSSEIN AMINI
FILMING LOCATION: ATHENS, CHANIA, HERAKLION

IMDb
© Getty Images/ Ideal Image

FOR THE LOVE OF BENJI (1977)

Even when he is supposed to be on holidays, Benji the dog is never far away from adventure. While traveling to Greece with his owners, Benji has a run-in with a secret agent (Ed Nelson), who hides something on him that a lot of unsavoury characters seem to want. Once in the foreign land, Benji becomes separated from his owners, and has to navigate his way through Athens with everyone chasing after him. All Benji wants is to be reunited with housekeeper Mary (Patsy Garrett) and the kids.

DIRECTOR: JOE CAMP
FILMING LOCATION: ATHENS

IMDb

GIRL ON THE BRIDGE (1999)

Adèle (Vanessa Paradis ) a waif who is unlucky in love decides to take her own life by jumping from a Paris bridge, when she gets a strange proposition from Gabor (Daniel Auteuil), a professional knife thrower. Together, their luck is unstoppable, and they have an almost psychic bond. But fidelity is not easy, even for those that are perfectly mached.

DIRECTOR: PATRICE LECONTE
FILMING LOCATION: ATHENS

IMDb

Tips for your Trips

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Lesser known archaeological sites in eastern Attica

Located about an hour from Athens, the archaeological sites of eastern Attica may not be as famous as the Parthenon, the Erechtheum, the temple of Poseidon in Sounio or the ancient agora under the rock of the Acropolis...

greekend*

What’s better than a weekend? A greekend. In just a few hours from home, why not make your next weekend, a greekend*!

Christmas in Greece

Celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Greece means entering a magical world that we can enjoy with all of our senses! Visions of great beauty; delicious flavours; intoxicating scents; and joyful melodies ...

BY CAR
From Thessaloniki via PATHE (Athens-Thessaloniki) and the journey takes about 5 hours.
BY AIR
Athens is connected with the International Airport Macedonia (Thessaloniki), the flight lasts 50 minutes. It also offers flights with other Greek and international airports.

Other destinations

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