What to see in Athens

by Jack Johnson Designer

Athens is the ancient cultural center of Greece and simply a very beautiful and distinctive city. Today in our guide to Athens we will tell you about its most interesting places, which will turn your Athens vacation into an unforgettable magical fairy tale when you visit the sights.

Plaka

Athens is a city of antiquity, and therefore get acquainted with it start with the most "bearded" sights. One such place to visit is the Plaka district. The oldest historical area of the city rests under the shadow of the no less ancient hill - the Acropolis. The labyrinths of narrow, shady streets, twined with greenery and flowers, are woven into a bizarre pattern, taking you back in time, slowing down time. It's worth wandering among the old traditional Greek houses and then stopping at one of the hospitable little taverns to experience Greek hospitality.

Acropolis

After a walk around Plaka, don't be lazy to go up to the Acropolis. Everyone must know this flat-topped rock topped with a classic Greek temple. In the past it was decorated with many temples and sculptures, but today only the temple of Nika Apteros, the Erechtheion and the famous Parthenon remain of all this splendor.

The hill offers a beautiful view of the city, as if scattered below, and its temples are a great place to explore the culture and history of Ancient Greece.

The Acropolis is open daily from 08:00 to 15:00, the ticket costs €12 (full). For young people under 18 years old admission is free (proof of age required). The Acropolis is free to visit on March 6, June 5, April 18 and May 18 (public holidays), the last weekend in September and every first Sunday from November 1 to March 31.

Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport is the central airport of Greece serving the capital and Attica. This major airport is known for its continuous investment in innovative technology, making it one of the most modern airports in Europe and the world at large. Transfer Athens airport is possible by taxi. The airport is becoming increasingly popular as a hub for Southeast and East Asia, it is the largest airport in Europe, receiving flights from the Middle East (due to its proximity to the region).

Areopagus Hill

Want to see Athens from above? Nothing could be easier! Just climb the Areopagus Hill at the northwestern end of the Acropolis. Once the center of social life in Athens, today the Hill of Ares (as its name is translated) has become a favorite tourist spot because it offers an amazing view of the city!

Athens Archaeological Museum

Greece in general and Athens in particular can be rightly considered one big open-air museum. Yet to explore the rich architectural and sculptural heritage of Hellas, you should visit the Archaeological Museum of Athens. There are more than 20,000 exhibits from different eras, from early civilizations to antiquity. Ancient ceramics, figurines, housewares, bronzes, jewelry - you can't list everything. So take your time and go to the unexplored places!

Benaki Museum

Your introduction to the culture and history of Greece will not be complete if you do not include the Benaki Museum in your "tourist list". Yes, it is dedicated to archaeology (why be surprised if Greece is famous for archaeological finds?). But its rich collection will not leave you indifferent, because the artifacts presented here cover a time period starting from the Paleolithic period!

And then, in the museum you can see not only the heritage of Greek culture, but also Andean, Islamic and Chinese. Sculptures, paintings, icons, jewelry and utensils - all this will immerse you in bygone eras and reveal the charm of ancient times.

National Garden

There is nothing more desirable for a tired tourist than to relax in peace and quiet. The best place for this in Athens is the National Garden. Finding it is easy: the garden is located near Syntagma Square, just behind the Parliament building.

The shady alleys keep you cool while the pond keeps you cool. In addition there are ancient ruins, remnants of columns and ancient mosaics. There is also a mini-zoo and a botanical museum, so you won't be bored.

Museum of Greek Folk Art

Greece is not only a place of ancient statues and temples, as it may seem. To get to know this country better, you should visit the Museum of Greek Folk Art. That's where all the color of folk crafts are collected! Here you will find products of wood, metal and clay, richly decorated with carvings and incrustations, and a hall devoted to traditional carnival costumes. There is also an exhibition of silverware and weapons, and there are puppets from the national theater Karagiosis, depicting scenes from everyday life in Athens.

Theater of Dionysus

Surely, many people have heard about the famous Greek amphitheaters, but few know that the oldest of them is located in Athens. The theater of Dionysus was founded in V century BC! Here the productions of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Aristophanes were staged, and the theater could seat 17 thousand spectators.

Today the favorite entertainment of tourists is to check the fantastic acoustics of the theater: if one person stays in the orchestra and speaks, and the other person goes up to the top row, he will hear every single word. Don't be lazy to check for yourself!