Travel to Athens
The history of the city of Athens dates back over 3000 years and it has had a huge impact on Western culture. Athens is a rich city and much appreciated for its enormous monumental wealth which attracts countless visitors from all over. All the monuments still retain their harmony as well as their classical architecture.
When to go to Athens?
In Athens, it gets hot quickly during the summer period. To enjoy a better climate, it is best to go there between October and May.
The historic high seasons are also to be avoided otherwise you risk meeting the visitors landing en masse and storming the various historic sites. This can have an impact on your comfort of visit. In addition to this, tour prices increase during these high seasons. Thus, leaving during the off-peak period would be more interesting.
The essentials of the city
There are several places you should definitely not miss in Athens.
The Acropolis of Athens and the Parthenon
The acropolis is the city’s emblematic monument and is a UNESCO national heritage site. It is one of the most visited ancient sites in Greece and is the main tourist attraction in Athens.
The Parthenon sits atop the site and is the acropolis’s most famous building. It was built in the 5th century and is considered to be the first monument of antiquity which is built entirely in marble.
The ancient agora
It is the main square of Athens and in the ancient period it was the commercial, social, political and cultural hub of the city. Nowadays, only ruins remain on this place, however the visit is worth the detour because it will be the opportunity to admire the temple of Hephaestus.
Zappéion park and the national garden
To enjoy the shade and the cool, head to the National Garden and Zappéion Park. These two places constitute one and the same park which is in reality the lung of the city. The park is located between Syntagma Square and the Panathenaic Stadium.
The national museum
The National Archaeological Museum of Athens is highly regarded worldwide and has a collection of magnificent artefacts. It is a large building of 8,000 m2 grouping together various objects ranging from the Neolithic to the end of the Roman period. A large part of the elements is reserved for the Greek civilization but there are rooms exclusively reserved for the Roman civilization. There you will find interesting pieces like the golden mask of Agamemnon, the statue of Zeus, the statue of Athena, etc.
Ermou Street
If you want to go shopping in Athens, you can go to Ermou pedestrian street in Monastiraki district. It is the commercial vein of the city and includes the big stores of the big brands: Zara, H&M, etc. There are also restaurants and bars.
Syntagma Square
It is the central square of Athens and it is also called the Constitution Square. It is the major gathering place for sporting events and other such events. In the past, it was a royal palace built by the first king of Greece and it was the seat of power.
