The lovely capital of Greece, Athens, was the center of Ancient Greece, the birthplace of philosophy, astronomy, democracy, arithmetic, the Olympic Games and the listing goes on. Athens was as soon as probably the most highly effective empires, which is obvious within the landmarks, monuments, and ruins that fashionable Athens has inherited to this present day. The metropolis has been inhabited for greater than 3,000 years and is unfold throughout seven historic hills. We have created a listing of 23 vacationer sights all guests ought to go to when in Athens.
23 Tourist Attractions in Athens it’s essential to not miss
1. The Plaka and Anafiotika Neighborhoods
Residing underneath the realm of Acropolis the Plaka District resembles a small island village with its colourful nobly homes, the bougainvillea bushes shadowing the slim streets and the normal tavernas spreading their tables via the steps reigning the surroundings. The neighborhood of Plaka is house to a number of the most costly homes in Athens, because the views and the tranquility of the realm cannot be in comparison with every other within the heart. The well-known Greek tavern, named Anafiotika, attracts Greeks and vacationers all yr spherical, the place they’ll degust on scrumptious freshly made meals and home wine to the sound of dwell Greek music dominated by the “bouzouki”.
Recommended tour:
Athens: Acropolis and Old Town Small Group Walking Tour
2. Ancient Agora
The Ancient Agora was {the marketplace} and the middle of on a regular basis life in historical Athens. I used to be additionally the place Greeks would focus and focus on philosophy, politics, present occasions or astronomy. In this spot is the place the traces of the start of Democracy will be discovered. It is a stupendous space enclosed for its preservation the place guests also can go to the museum of the Ancient Agora the place artwork crafts similar to bronze, clay and glass objects, sculptures, cash relationship again to the seventh century BC will be discovered. In the Agora there are additionally temples devoted to God Hephaestus and a smaller one for Apollo Patroos. The Ancient Agora is positioned northwest of Acropolis.
Recommended tour:
Athens: Agora, Plaka & Monastiraki Private Tour
3. Roman Agora
In the north of the Acropolis and east from the Ancient Agora, positioned within the space of Monastiraki is the Roman Agora. The Roman Agora was constructed later within the 1st century BC by the Roman Emperors Julius Caesar and Augustus and the aim was purely to be an open-air market that includes outlets. Along the centuries and the quite a few invasions first by Venetians and later by the Ottomans in 1400, the Roman Agora was destroyed and its ruins had been lined by homes, workshops, and mosques. The Fethiye Mosque constructed by the Ottomans through the seventeenth century remains to be standing to this present day, nonetheless, it has been repurposed for using exhibitions and conferences.
Recommended tour:
Acropolis, Plaka & Ancient Agora Guided Tour with out Tickets
4. Tower of the Winds
Found within the Roman Agora, positioned between the districts of Monastiraki and Plaka, the wind tower ruins are a part of the primary meteorological station ever to exist. Made from Pentelic marble, the wind tower was as soon as a clock tower, from the place historical Greeks might inform the time of the day. It was constructed within the yr 50 BC and the founder was the astronomer Andronicus of Cyrrhus and different features of the tower aside from telling the hour, included forecasting the climate.
Recommended tour:
Athens Private Acropolis and Other Ancient Sites Tour
5. Acropolis
Acropolis is the jewel of Athens. Rising within the basin of Athens, the Acropolis monument is probably the most well-conserved monument nonetheless present from the Greek historical instances. Acropolis derives from the artificial phrase acro and polis, which suggests the sting of town, as within the highest level of town, the spot from the place guards might oversee the entire metropolis in Ancient Times and detect any enemies or exterior coups.
The Parthenon, which is a very powerful landmark in Greece’s historical past, majestically brightens town of Athens. The constructing was constructed within the 4th century BC in honor of the goddess Athena, who was Athens’ metropolis patroness. Through the years and the numerous international invasions of the nation, the Parthenon deteriorated, till in 1975 the restoration mission of the temple of Athena Nike was initiated to recreate the right reproduction, consisting of recent components and the ruins left behind.
Recommended excursions:
Acropolis: Guided Walking Tour with Entrance Ticket
Athens: Hidden Historical Gems Private Walking Tour
6. The New Acropolis Museum
The New Acropolis museums opened its door to the general public within the yr 2009, depicting a complete of three.000 artifacts present in Acropolis and the areas surrounding. The first Acropolis museum was in-built 1874, nonetheless, when new excavations within the metropolis uncovered new artifacts the pressing want for extra and fashionable house was responded by the creation of the brand new museum, which has a complete space of 25,000 sq. meters, which is roughly 15 instances the scale of the previous one.
The Museum has been constructed on prime of components of ruins of Roman and early Byzantine Athens. The vital construction of the museum has been designed exactly to be accessible to folks with particular wants. The glass surrounding the higher ground ranges permits the guests to admire the Acropolis from a distance, whereas they’ll additionally take pleasure in scrumptious meals on the museum’s restaurant on the rooftop terrace.
Recommended excursions:
Athens: Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Tour
Athens: 3-Hour Private Acropolis Museum By Night Tour
Athens: Private 4-Hour Tour with Acropolis and Old Town
7. Temple of Olympian Zeus
The temple devoted to the pinnacle of the Olympian God Zeus, often known as the Columns of the Olympian Zeus, is the biggest one in Greece. The development of the temple started through the sixth century, underneath the tyrant Pisistratus, who envisioned constructing the biggest and biggest temple, however was not accomplished for nearly 6 centuries, when Roman Emperor Hadrian determined to conclude the mission. Once the temple was held by 104 columns of 17metres every, nonetheless, immediately solely 15 are nonetheless standing.
Recommended tour:
Zeus Temple, Acropolis & Museum Private Tour with out Tickets
8. Hadrian’s Arch
History has that the Arch was constructed to honor the arrival of Roman Emperor Hadrian in Athens and his contributions to the city, as was the conclusion of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, positioned behind the Arch.
The monument is constructed by marble derived from the Mountain Penteli, positioned 18km away, as is its neighboring temple. There are two fascinating inscriptions carved on the underside of the arch one on the northwest and the opposite on the northeast facet.
The first writes: ΑΙΔ’ ΕΙΣΙΝ ΑΘΗΝΑΙ ΘΗΣΕΩΣ Η ΠΡΙΝ ΠΟΛΙΣ – This is Athens, the traditional metropolis of Theseus.
The second: ΑΙΔ’ ΕΙΣ’ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΥ ΚΟΥΧΙ ΘΗΣΕΩΣ ΠΟΛΙΣ (that is town of Hadrian, and never of Theseus).
Recommended tour:
Athens: Mythology, Gods and Legends Small-Group Walking Tour
9. Museum of Cycladic Art
The museum hosts a world-class assortment of Cycladic Art that includes greater than 3,000 artifacts fabricated from marble stone, clay, bronze, silver, gold, glass, and faience, which date again to 3300 to 1100 BC, discovered within the many then inhabited islands of the Aegeon Pelagos. The items of artwork are grouped relying on the utility of the item, if it was a toy or a culinary object, the relationship or the situation discovered, objects tributed to Gods or Heroes, so as to give a greater image of historical Greek Civilization to the guests.
The museum is open each day besides Tuesdays from 10:00 am to 17:00 pm and a full-priced admission ticket is 7 EUR.
10. Monastiraki and Flea Market
The district of Monastiraki is positioned underneath the Roman Agora and is the trendy market the place a whole lot of memento but additionally business outlets will be discovered immediately. During the weekend the realm turns into an enormous flea market well-known for the vintage items bought at beneficiant costs. The space is wealthy in conventional eating places and souvlaki outlets attracting many vacationers. It can be recognized for the rooftop bars and cafeterias from the place guests can admire the gorgeous metropolis and Acropolis views.
11. Changing of the Guards at Syntagma Square
The most central level of Athens metropolis is the Syntagma Square, the place the Hellenic Parliament constructing is positioned. A really well-known attraction/occasion for vacationers visiting Athens is the symbolic altering of the Guards in entrance of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The guards often known as Evzones who put on conventional costumes which includes of pleated skirts, leg tassels and “tsaruxia”, the normal Greek sneakers with pom-poms on the highest, are in place 24/7 all yr spherical.
12. The National Archeological Museum
The National Archeological Museums is Greece’s biggest and largest museum. With over 20,000 reveals, the museum’s intention is to depict a panorama of Greek Civilization from prehistoric instances to Late Antiquity. The museum homes a number of the most well-preserved, rarest, and well-known statues from Ancient instances, just like the Antikythera mechanism, which is claimed to be the firsts traces of a pc, the Bronze Statuette of Athletic Spartan Girl and the Gold Nestor’s Cup, which is described within the epos of Iliad. The museum additionally homes a 118years previous library of 20,000 volumes together with archeological uncommon historical artwork, science, and philosophy books. The neo-classical constructing, constructed within the nineteenth century, additionally homes fashionable conservational laboratories, a photographic and chemistry laboratory, exhibition areas, and a lecture corridor the place archeological lectures happen.
Recommended tour:
Acropolis and National Museum Private Athens Tour
13. Mount Lycabettus
Mount Lycabettus is the very best level in Athens, located at over 300 meters above sea stage. The 360° view of Athens metropolis from the hill is solely breathtaking. The most lovely pictures fill the eyes of each customer, dealing with the Acropolis to Piraeus and the Athenian Riviera. The Lycabettus Mount is a very fashionable vacation spot for sundown and dawn lovers, as one can anticipate each the setting and the rising of the solar from that time is fascinating. One of the perfect eating places on the town is positioned on the highest of the hill, named Orizondes- a contemporary Mediterranean delicacies restaurant with distinctive service, high-quality dishes made with the best elements and naturally distinctive views, appeal to loads of guests. To climb the hill you hike from Syntagma Square, which takes an hour and a half or you can hop on an underground cable automotive that crosses the hill and takes you proper to the highest! Also try our publish on Top 5 Spots: The Best View of Athens
Recommended tour:
Athens: 1-Hour Mount Lycabettus Tuk-Tuk Ride
14. Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Lying simply on the foothill of the Acropolis is the marvelous historical open-air theater – the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Built between 22 BC – 15 BC by the Greek politician and thinker Herodes Atticus in reminiscence of his late Roman spouse Regilla. In the Nineteen Fifties the viewers stands and the stage had been restored to accommodate the Athens Festival which runs yearly from May to October. Famous and acclaimed Greek, in addition to worldwide artists, have carried out within the theater like Maria Callas, Frank Sinatra and Luciano Pavarotti.
15. National Garden and Zappeion
Located within the coronary heart of Athens, subsequent to Syntagma Square the inexperienced abyss of the National Garden is right for a stroll throughout a sunny day. Besides the gorgeous bushes and flowerbeds which naturally adorn the park, statues and historical ruins and monuments additionally give an imposing contact to the surroundings. The constructing of Zappeion and its backyard may also be discovered on the premises of the National Garden. The Zappeion immediately is used to host conferences and ceremonies, however was as soon as a constructing the place necessary historic occasions occurred. Is on this constructing the place Greece was signed in to be a part of the European Community in 1979.
16. Philopappos Hill
Southeast from the Acropolis space, one other well-known hill surrounded by wealthy greenery stands out. That is the Philopappos Hill, named after the monument positioned there devoted to Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos, a Roman prince who dominated the traditional Greco-Iranian kingdom Commagene, who had additionally been buried there. The hill, 150 meters excessive above sea stage provides lovely views of the Acropolis, Athens and the Aegean Sea.
17. The Prison of Socrates
Beneath the Hill of Philopappos, on the jap facet, two caves carved into the rock hill are mentioned to be former prisons the place the best Greek thinker Socrates was locked up across the yr 399 BC. Socrates was accused for brainwashing the younger era in opposition to democracy and the city-state order. He was additionally blamed for political corruption and for doubting the pantheon, the existence of the Olympian Gods. He was sentenced to dying and needed to keep on his personal execution by ingesting a toxic beverage of hemlock. In these previous prisons, Greeks hid items of artwork from the Acropolis and the National Archeological Museum through the occupation of the Nazis throughout WW2.
18. Benaki Museum
The Benaki Museum is positioned within the household mansion of Emannouil Benakis, a person who is taken into account a nationwide benefactor to Greece. The museum homes 120,000 Greek items of artworks from prehistoric to fashionable instances, representing the assorted phases of greek tradition. The venue is house to an intensive assortment of Middle-Eastern, Islamic and Asian artwork, it hosts periodic exhibitions and maintains a state-of-the-art restoration and conservation workshop. The bigger contribution to the museum was made by the Benakis household themselves in 1934 once they donated 37,000 Islamic and Byzantine objects to be displayed on the properties of the museum.
Recommended tour:
Athens: Private Guided Tour of the Cycladic & Benaki Museums
19. EMST
EMST is the National Museum of Contemporary Arts in Athens. The artwork collected and displayed on the museum dates again to the postwar interval up till the current and options 172 artworks, created by 78 Greek and International artists. Awarded up to date artists like Costas Varotsos, Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, Pedro Cabrita Reis, Kim Sooja amongst others are displayed within the everlasting exhibition of EMST. All these artists concentrate on the identical following subjects: Memories, Political narratives, Limits and passages and Eterotopias, Mythology of the acquainted and New Perspectives. An paintings itself is the constructing which hosts completely the EMST assortment since 2014. Located in Syngrou Avenue, the constructing is a former FIX Brewery in-built 1961 after which deserted in 1982. The excessive ceilings, the glass home windows scattered across the partitions of the institution, the spacious rooms, all profit the exhibition of the artworks, which allows each to have their very own place and “privacy”.
20. Byzantine and Christian Museum
One of the biggest and most vital museums of Byzantine Art on the earth is positioned in Athens, the Byzantine and Christian Museum. The assortment of artcraft sums as much as roughly 30,000 items and consists of artworks similar to pottery, icons, ceramics, ecclesiastical textiles, statues, sculptures, work and jewellery relationship again from the third century AD to the Late Middle Ages (twentieth century). This is a good museum to admire the glories of the Greek Orthodox Christianity.
21. Areopagus
The large rock positioned on the northwest facet of Acropolis, simply throughout the doorway of the monument, is the Areopagus or Hill of Ares. The web site in historical Greek instances was used as a governmental establishment the place the oldest therefore wiser tried instances of murder, non secular issues, robbing, and even instances regarding arson of olive bushes! This structure existed manner earlier than Democracy was born in Athens. Today, on this hill guests can climb freed from cost and admire probably the most lovely 360 levels views from Athens. On the Southwest Acropolis, on the Southeast the Aegean Sea, on the West the Philopappos Hill, trying down the traditional Agora and wherever else one look they’ll gaze on the gorgeous metropolis of Athens and the wealthy greenery that surrounds the positioning.
22. Kallimarmaro Stadium or Panathenaic Stadium
Built through the period of Herodes Atticus, roughly round 335 BC, this stadium is of nice significance within the historical past of sports activities, because it has hosted a number of Olympic Games for hundreds of years. Built fully from marble, the stadium accommodates as much as 50,000 seating spectators and is among the oldest stadiums nonetheless working in fashionable days. Of course, the stadium guests admire immediately is a reproduction of the unique Kallimarmaro Stadium, which was rebuilt to host the 1896 Olympic Games, the primary worldwide one held in fashionable historical past. Since then the venue has hosted yet another time the Olympics in 2014, the 1997 World Championship in Athletics, the Special Olympics in 2011, and well-known artists’ live shows such because the Scorpions & the R.E.M.
23. Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center is a multifunctional and environmentally sustainable advanced in Kallithea, the area of Athens. The entire Center, which consists of the National Library of Greece, the Greek National Opera, and the 210,000 m² Stavros Niarchos Park, was a donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation to the Greek state and for all Greeks delivered in 2017. The SNF dedicated to fund all the prices of the Center which summed as much as €630 million, together with a €20 million grant to assist keep and maintain the middle for the primary 4 years of its operation. The function of the Center was to offer an area the place everybody, no matter disabilities, might have free entry to training, recreation, arts, music, tradition, sports activities and nature.
Recommended tour:
From Athens: E-Bike Ride to the Sea
