From unmissable hilltop temples to secret skinny-dipping coves, Athens, the capital of Greece, is a superb mishmash of historic traditions and trendy mischief. Ruminate over the day with the radicals of Exarcheia, wander again in time within the metropolis’s many museums, and discover your beachy paradise alongside the Athens Riviera. Listed below are one of the best issues to do in Athens, Greece.
Uncover the secrets and techniques of the Acropolis
No journey to the “Cradle of Western Civilization” is full with no glimpse of the Acropolis, some of the well-known historic websites in Greece. This 2,500-year-old hilltop citadel, devoted to the goddess Athena, remains to be kicking it with the youth of Greece’s trendy capital. The construction appears unbelievable for its age. Climb the marble steps to the Parthenon to completely recognize the marvel of this classical icon.
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Research sculptures on the Acropolis Museum
Frieze, it’s sculpture time! Behind each nice wreck lies an excellent museum. Some artifacts are simply too expensive to depart mendacity round within the Parthenon, in order that they’ve been introduced inside for safekeeping, most notably the 161m-long (528 ft) part of the Parthenon frieze that is carved with gods, goddesses, musicians, chariots, and sacrificial animals. Comprised of weighty marble, it will have wrapped across the higher band of the Parthenon to kind what regarded like a steady procession.
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Ponder the traditional world within the Agora
As soon as a energetic assembly place for robed politicians, retailers, and philosophers, the Agora is now a shaded retreat for vacationers and metropolis dwellers. Wander the crumbly paths to Hephaestus Temple, a mini Parthenon constructed to honour the gods of blacksmithing and pottery. Through the years, it has been a competition web site for artisans and a spot of worship. There’s additionally an Eleventh-century Byzantine church, nonetheless splendidly intact and stuffed with tales from the previous.
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Discover treasures at Monastiraki Flea Market
Should you love a cut price, then Saturday’s flea market at Monastiraki is nicely price a go to. Set between two of the oldest districts of Athens, the stalls are certain to be hiding loads of secondhand Greek treasures, together with classic clothes, oddities, and bric-a-brac. When you have the time, you would lose an entire day on this fantastically chaotic neighbourhood.
The rooftop cocktail bars in Monastiraki additionally make it considered one of Athens’ greatest nightlife spots. Order a stiff drink from Baba au Rum or 360 Cocktail Bar and benefit from the panorama. Different nice districts for an evening out embody Koukaki for dwell music and a extra laid-back really feel, Psirri for stylish boutique bars, and Gazi for the dance-all-night mega golf equipment.
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See the Nationwide Archaeological Museum
To stop you from falling over all the traditional treasures, Athens has kindly boxed them up into one handy museum. Admire jewelry, sculptures, pottery, frescoes, and artifacts spanning the centuries, from the Neolithic to the Classical eras. One of many greatest attracts is the golden demise masks of Agamemnon. There’s additionally the colossal portrait head of Emperor Hadrian, confirming rumours that the Roman ruler was certainly extremely big-headed.
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Convey a picnic blanket to Filopappou Hill
Filopappou Hill, additionally known as the Hill of the Muses, is considered one of Athens’ most-loved parks and picnic spots. It has a Byzantine chapel, an historic quarry, and a silver-domed observatory with an vintage telescope for stargazing. With beautiful views of the Acropolis, it’s the right place to place down a blanket and watch the sundown after an extended day exploring. Fill your picnic basket with Greek meals and drinks. For a handy finger-picky possibility, go for dolmades, stuffed grape leaves with rice, pine nuts, cheese, and floor meat. Or search out souvlaki, a fast-food staple of grilled meat wrapped in pita and doused in tzatziki. For dessert, deal with your self to a choice of baklava. Wash all of it down with ouzo and lemonade. Don’t overlook the olive bread!
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Watch opera at Stavros Niarchos
Seems modern-day Greece also can produce architectural gems. It’s of their blood. The spectacular, architecturally acclaimed Stavros Niarchos Basis Cultural Heart is residence to the Nationwide Opera and the Nationwide Library of Greece. The encircling gardens, full with playgrounds, cafés, and a man-made river, present the right add-on for households.
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Wander across the graves of Kerameikos
Kerameikos is Athens’ historic necropolis. The 4.5-hectare (11-acre) cemetery is the ultimate resting place for top priestesses, noble households, adorned athletes, and warriors who died in battle. Lots of the graves and monumental tombstones are carved with vivid scenes that inform the story of those previous lives. To get the complete format of the positioning, head to the small museum, which additionally homes an excellent marble bull and a really obedient stone mountain canine.
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Marvel on the Temple of Olympian Zeus
The Temple of Olympian Zeus took 700 years to construct. Emperor Hadrian completed it in 131 AD and added a large statue of Zeus, together with a large statue of himself. In its prime, it was Greece’s largest and most imposing temple. Immediately, it has misplaced a couple of legs, and solely 15 of the 104 columns stay, but it surely’s nonetheless a mighty sight.
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Catch a film by moonlight at Cine Thisio
With about 60 open-air cinemas, Athens should be the world capital of alfresco film nights. Some are in-built Roman aqueducts, whereas others disguise in lush gardens. After which there’s Cine Thisio. Designed in 1935, this cult traditional has probably the most romantic setting of all of them. Overlooking the moonlit Acropolis, it does not actually matter what film you go to see; you received’t be watching it anyway.
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Dip into paradise on the Athens Riviera
Seems you’ll be able to have all of the enjoyable of the Greek islands with out straying too removed from town. The Athens Riviera runs from the southern suburbs of Athens to the tip of Attica, the place the Temple of Poseidon gazes out onto the Aegean Sea. The seashores right here include good meals, loads of bars, and crystal-clear swimming spots.
Head to Faliro to mingle with the yacht-owning marina crowd, Glyfada for boutiques and bars, Voula for family-friendly seaside golf equipment, Vouliagmeni for lake swimming, or Varkiza for watersports and seafood. Away from the coastal resorts, you’ll discover loads of hidden coves the place bronzed our bodies fling themselves off the rocks, a favorite pastime of younger Athenians. Should you just like the quieter life, then one of the best of Athens’ seashores must be Vamvakousi Seashore, hidden behind a bakery. Take the path via the tamarisk timber and oleanders till you attain a gap. The waters listed here are calm and well-loved by locals.
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Stroll like royalty in Athens’ Nationwide Backyard
A phenomenal inexperienced retreat within the coronary heart of Athens, the Nationwide Backyard was as soon as a part of a royal residence designed by Queen Amalia in 1838. It has let itself go a bit because the regal days, however being overgrown truly fits its prime goal as a chilled escape from town warmth. Meander via 6.5 hectares (16 acres) of shaded paths, picnic by the ponds, and peek on the peacocks. With a playground and a tiny zoo, this inexperienced house can also be nice for households.
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Catch a present at Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Sitting subserviently on the base of Acropolis Hill, this historic theatre is without doubt one of the greatest preserved efficiency areas on the earth. It was in-built 161 AD by Herodes Atticus in reminiscence of his spouse after which lovingly restored within the Fifties. Like many Greek antiquities, this memorial for everlasting love is so nicely constructed that it’s nonetheless used for live shows and occasions. Should you’re visiting in the summertime or throughout the Epidaurus Pageant, be sure you e book an evening of Greek drama within the 5,000-seat house. You don’t must be a thespian to understand the magic of this place.
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Discover hipster Athens in Exarcheia
Exarcheia is the hipster hangout of Athens, residence to college students, artists, migrants, and musicians. Previous bookbinders and bouzouki (conventional instrument) makers stand alongside trendy artwork outlets and sustainable streetwear shops. The sandwiches listed here are messy, the ceramics wonky and the residents rebellious. It’s a spot the place vinyl by no means went out of trend, the place neighborhood and custom are nonetheless necessary, and the place rents are nonetheless affordable, making it enticing to creatives. Stare at native artwork within the again room of a espresso store, catch a band at a transformed warehouse, or rub shoulders with the radicals in central sq., reminiscing of the riots in days previous.
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Convene with espresso drinkers in Kypseli
Kypseli is a cultural melting pot, an eclectic mixture of architectural types, eating places, and residents. Kurdish kebab homes combine with conventional ouzeries, crumbling mansions have turn into exhibition areas, and domino duels kick off in curbside cafés. Kypseli is definitely residence to Athens’ first artist residency, which has been the jumping-off level for a lot of creatives within the Greek capital. Should you’re a espresso home hound, then Fokionos Negri Boulevard has among the greatest cafés in Athens. It’s the place old-world Greece meets new world. Seize a desk by the left fountains and watch town go by. Lots of the bars and cafés are open previous midnight, so don’t begin on the ouzo too early!
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