Things to see in Athens

Exlpore the Greek capital and all the top things to see in Athens.

Acropolis is probably the most famous monument of Greece and synonym to its capital, Athens. It was built in the 5th century BC, includes monuments such as the Parthenon, the Propylaea and the Erechtheion and highlights the aesthetics and the development of the ancient Greek civilization.

Near the SE side of Acropolis is located the theater of Dionysus. It was the main place of performance of the Attic drama and it hosted the biggest theatrical celebration of the city of Athens, the Great Dionysia. Most tragedies and comedies of the 4th and 5th centuries BC that have survived until today were written to be performed in this space. In the west side of the theater you can visit the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, an ancient roman conservatory of 5,000 seats that hosts, until today, musical and theatrical performances.

Walking through the Dionysiou Areopagitou St, you can admire the many beautiful renovated neoclassical buildings that are different from the modern architectural style of the rest of the city, as well as the new Acropolis Museum with its unique and imposing aesthetics.

In the north side of the Acropolis you can visit the areas of Plaka and Anafiotika. The picturesque buildings of Plaka have been deemed as preserved so that the area is the only district of Athens that one can see the city as it was 100 years ago. Today the area hosts countless museums, taverns, restaurants, cafes and tourist shops. Anafiotika is a small neighbor in the higher place of Plaka. It is a very unique district in typical Cycladic style, built by Anafi builders that kept architectural elements from their island when they moved in the center of Athens. The area is accessed by the Metro stations of Acropolis and Syntagma.

East of the Acropolis and just beyond the conjunction of the central avenues of Queen Amalia and Queen Olga, visitors can admire the Hadrian's Gate. The gate was built to celebrate the arrival of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, great benefactor of the city, who passed below when he came to attend the inauguration of the temple of Olympian Zeus, ruins of which are preserved behind until today. It was the most monumental and majestic temple dedicated to the father of the gods, Zeus. It was built by Emperor Hadrian, had 104 columns, of which only survived the 15th and 16th lying sprawled on the ground.

Nearby, stands the imposing Panathenaic Stadium. Dressed entirely of white marble, it hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Opposite the stadium is located the Zappeion Hall. This neoclassic mansion is a piece of global modern history, as it was the first building to be erected specifically for the revival of the modern Olympic Games and since then it has hosted some of the most historic moments of Greece. Now it is mostly used for public and private exhibitions and events, but every now and then a piece of modern history is still being written in its halls.

Adjacent to Zappeion, you'll find more exciting things to see in Athens. Spend some time discovering the National Garden, situated right next to the building of the Greek Parliament. In the gardens, visitors can admire hundreds of species of trees and plants, various bird species, lakes and archaeological remains such as a Roman villa mosaic and marble remains scattered all over its premises. The building of the Greek Parliament is the former Royal Palace and was built in 1840, constituting the house of King Otto, overlooking Syntagma Square. The building of the Old Parliament is located on Stadiou Street and is one of the most representative examples of neoclassical architecture. The Parliament remained at this building until 1932, when it moved to its current, much larger building.

The National Archaeological Museum of Greece in Patision Street is one of the most important museums globally, concerning ancient artefacts. It features exhibits of all cultures that flourished in the Greek area and elsewhere in the world, from prehistory to the end of the Roman period.

Within a short walking distance of the Candia Hotel in Athens city center, in the historical industrial plant of gas in Gazi, which was shut down in 1984. Today the old tanks, warehouses, industrial plants, chimneys etc have been turned into an artistic space that presents and hosts dozens of cultural events such as music, dance, cinema and theater. The surrounding area is well developed and plays an important part in the Athenian nightlife. The area is served by Kerameikos Station.

Venture out into the suburbs and you'll discover more things to see in Athens, such as the remarkably impressive Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. It dates back to the 5th century BC and is built on a steep cliff at the southern tip of the Attica peninsula, offering fantastic views of the Aegean Sea. The Temple of Poseidon at Sounion is the ideal spot to admire the famous full moon of August.