Overview

There is no shortage of famous ancient sites to explore in and around Athens. You won't even have to leave the central city to enjoy the architectural marvels of the hilltop Acropolis complex or the wonderful walkway tour of ancient sites in the Archaeological Park. Several world-class museums allow you to gawk at the glorious creations of the Greeks through their many eras. But timing is everything if you want to experience the most ambiance and the least crowds, so plan your attack thoughtfully.

Acropolis

Athens' greatest icon is testament to its former glory and the legacy of the ancient Greek civilisation. There's nothing trite about this monument, despite its huge popularity as a tourist destination. The Temple of Nike, the Proplyaia and the Parthenon rarely fail to conjure up fantasies of the ancient world of the Greeks and their devotion to their gods. Visit in the late afternoon, when the fading light makes this hill even more magical.

Archaeological Park

In preparation for the 2004 Olympics, Athens created a fantastic network of walking paths that was intended to direct visitors past all the city's greatest ancient monuments. Starting at Hadrian's Gate, you'll pass the Acropolis, Ancient Agora and end up at the Kerameikos. Besides the legendary scenery, the walkway has given the people of Athens a much-needed place to stroll in peace.

National Archaeological Museum

The collection of Greek antiquities at this museum in unequalled, and continues to awe people even after many visits. The diversity of relics, artwork and statuary is comprehensive and inspiring. From the stunning gold artefacts of the Mycenaean Collection unearthed by Schliemann in 1876 to the vast array of statues and bronzes from antiquity, you'll want to get here early and plan to stay late.

Ancient Agora

The district of the Agora was the commercial and civic heart of Athens during its ancient heyday. The buildings here were used for politics, education, athletics and theatre by the citizens of the city, and today the Agora offers visitors a rare glimpse into what the working side of Athens looked like centuries ago. Wander the same streets where Socrates and Plato pondered life. Marvel at the Stoa of Attalos monument from 200 BC, and admire the charming Byzantine Church of the Holy Apostles.

Benaki Museum

Another of Athens' top historic museums was created in 1931 by art collector Antoni Benaki. His collection of 20,000 pieces of art ranges from Neolithic times to the 20th century. The relics on display are rare, eclectic and diverse. His folk art collection is particularly interesting, and everything is housed in a beautiful neoclassical mansion.

Byzantine and Christian Museum

This wonderful museum focuses on a more contemporary era of Greek civilisation: the Byzantine period (4th to 15th centuries). If you are interested in religious icons, this is the finest museum in Greece to learn more about them. Its collection of Bibles, mosaics, icons and religious art is the finest in the country.

Olympieion (Temple of Olympian Zeus)

This enormously ambitious temple was begun by Hadrian in the 6th century BC and slowly completed over the ensuing 700 years. Also known as the Kolonnes, it was one of the ancient world's largest temples, featuring Pentelic marble columns 17m high. Many of them still stand, while others lie scattered on the ground. Although the statues of Zeus and Hadrian that it once housed are gone, the feeling of this site is still powerful.

Foundation of the Hellenic World

Athens' most high-tech museum is the ideal place to learn about the complete history of Greece through interesting and entertaining interactive exhibits. Kids will be particularly drawn into the virtual tours of Greece that enable visitors to summon key moments from Greek history.

Fillopapou Hill

Right in the heart of Athens is the Hill of the Muses, a superb park covered in pines, cypresses and other native plants. There are actually three hills clustered together, and each presents a mix of recreation and historical sites. It's an ideal place to walk and the views of the Acropolis are as good as it gets. For more exercise, climb the Hill of the Pnyx and the Hill of the Nymphs, each offering incredible views.

Overview

The residents of Athens are intensely passionate about the team sports of football and basketball. If you're a fan of football, watching one of the city's two professional clubs in action is a real treat. There are several hilly, cool and shady parks to walk and relax in, and a number of urban beaches just minutes from the centre of Athens that are easily accessible by bus, tram or taxi.

National Gardens

What was once the royal family's private palace garden is now a public park for all to enjoy. It's one of the best places in Athens to take a walk or relax on a grassy lawn and escape the chaos of the city. There are small lakes filled with birds, meandering paths, gardens and even a small zoo.

Urban beaches

It may come as a surprise that there are beaches right in Athens that run along the Saronic Gulf to Cape Sounion. All the beaches are easy to reach via taxi or public transport, and most of them have EU blue flag status for their clean water. There are several beaches to choose from, but Agios Kosmas, Asteria, Astir and Varkiza beaches are the most popular. Varkiza especially has pristine water and a fun social scene full of beach bars, water sports and a water park.

Football

Ever since Greece won the European Championships in 2004 the country has gone mad for football. Athens has two top-flight clubs that are very good, often appearing in European tournaments. Panathanaikos and Olympiakos are fierce rivals, and their home games are always passionate, entertaining events.

Mount Likavitos

This hill to the northeast of Athens is a favourite getaway for locals and arguably has the best views over the city sprawl and the Saronic Gulf. Sunsets are the best time to go, but also the most crowded time. You can walk around the hilltop and check out the Chapel of St George or watch summer drama at the Likavitos Theatre. If you don't want to make the trek up the hill from Dexameni Square, a funicular makes the same journey.

Plain of Mars (Pedion tou Areos)

Athens' largest public park can be found on bustling Leoforos Alexandras Street. It's a quick and easy escape from the city, full of towering trees, gardens, and meandering paths with plenty of benches to relax on. Just across the street is Strefis Hill, another great hiking spot with panoramic hilltop views stretching all the way to the Saronic Gulf.

Dining and shopping

Athens is in the midst of a culinary revolution but lovers of traditional Greek taverna fare need not worry, because this amazing facet of the Greek dining scene has not be swept aside in favour of trendy fusion restaurants or global ethnic cuisine. There is a dominant trend in the city to play creatively with classic Greek dishes and serve them in extremely chic, stylish restaurants.

Thankfully, the classic Greek tavernas that focus on authentic Greek fare are actually undergoing the same revival as locals and visitors alike seek out the distinct ambiance and dishes served up in these charming houses. In fact, as the Athens palate becomes more sophisticated, the taverna food has become more refined.

There are plenty of choices when it comes to eating out in Athens. The 2004 Olympics was the catalyst for the continuing restaurant boom, and the variety and quality of dining selections is better than ever. Besides plenty of Greek cuisine, visitors can enjoy excellent seafood, ethnic food and continental cuisine. In general, the prices are reasonable at most restaurants unless you splash out for a meal at one of the hotspots of the moment.

The Plaka is where you should start your culinary explorations. Some of Athens most endearing old restaurants are here, as well as some of its tourist traps. The trick is knowing where to go, and your hotel concierge should be able to steer you in the right direction. Syntagma Square isn't where you want to eat a lingering meal, but it's ideal for a snack. The quintessential Greek loukoumades (doughnut-like pastries lathered in honey, powdered sugar and cinnamon) are at their best here.

Shopping in Athens is also a rewarding experience. Most of the tourist-centred shops can be found in the downtown area enclosed by Monastiraki, Syntagma, and Omonia squares. Many shops frequented by locals are here, as well as most of the big department stores.

The Plaka is saturated with stores selling souvenirs such as t-shirts, antique reproductions, and just about any other Greek-themed trinket you can conjure. For a more authentic experience check out the flea market at Monastiraki, which really comes to life on Sundays. You can find some true gems mixed in with inexpensive souvenir trinkets.

For high fashion, the only place to go is Kolonaki, along the slopes of Mount Likavitos. Unless you're very well-heeled, this is better for window shopping as the posh boutiques carry price tags as high as anything in Paris or London. Jewellery is another popular buy in Athens, but beware of fakes. The shops in tourist hubs like the Plaka and Monastiraki are more likely to overcharge visitors.

The pedestrian Ermou Street is Athens' hot shopping spot, filled with more shops than you'll have time to enter. But the atmosphere is wonderful and the selection comprehensive. If you see an antique you like, keep in mind that anything over 100 years old needs a hard to obtain export license, and most others are fakes. For local handicrafts, try the Centre of Hellenic Tradition, which is an excellent venue for all kinds of authentic quality crafts and artwork.

The 2004 Olympics really kicked off a restaurant renaissance in Athens in a bid to serve the international community that came for the games. This trend has continued as Athenians seem to have rediscovered their love of eating out and eating well. There are some amazing restaurants in Athens, and some of the best are simple tavernas dishing out classic Greek dishes.

Overview

Flying into the new Venizelos International Airport outside of Athens is a pleasurable experience, and the easiest way to get here. Buses, trains and ferries are other options if you're already in the region. Exploring on foot is the ideal way to see the ancient sites of central Athens, but the public transportation network is up to the job should you need help, and taxis seem to be at every corner.

Airports

Athens' new international airport is known as Venizelos, or Sparta for short. It opened in 2001 as a spacious, light and airy airport with modern facilities and even a small museum filled with relics found on the site when they built the terminal. The main terminal has both A and B Arrivals areas, which can be a little confusing. The trek from your disembarking point to the Baggage Claim area is often quite a distance.

Most major international airlines provide regular service to Athens from nearly every developed country in the world. The only downside to this wonderful new airport is that it's quite far from the city so transport becomes a real issue when planning your ride into Athens.

Fortunately, the planners thought about the transportation issue when they designed the new airport. The terminal is linked to Athens by a six-lane expressway, taxis, buses and a Metro line. The public transportation is actually very good from the airport to the city, especially the Metro, because road traffic is notoriously jammed during much of the day.

Metro Line 3 is the best way to get into the city from the airport unless you're carrying a huge amount of luggage. It's cheap, fast and easy to use. Public buses are much slower than the Metro but extremely cheap, operate 24 hours a day and can get you to coastal areas not accessed by the Metro.

Taxis are often the easiest way to get from an airport to your hotel, but not necessarily in Athens. Acquiring a taxi at the airport is fiercely competitive so you may have a rather unpleasant experience to start off your visit. If you do take a taxi, ask at the information desk what the fare should be and notify your driver before setting off.

Public transportation

You can get to Athens by coach and train from most Greek destinations. Buses arrive at either Terminal A or Terminal B, and the national coach company is called KTEL. Trains from the north arrive at Larissa Station, and trains from the west and south arrive at Peloponnese Station. All ferries arrive at Athens' main seaport 11kms south of the city.

In Athens most of the attractions are concentrated in the centre of the city so you can use your feet to see most of the sights. Several pedestrian zones around the Commercial Triangle, the Plaka and Kolonaki make walking around central Athens a real pleasure.

The Metro is a relatively new form of transport in Athens and it's a convenient way to reach the Acropolis and Syntagma Square, two of the hottest destinations. The buses and trolleys are also a good way to travel distances around Athens. The network is cheap, but quite basic and slow.

There are said to be more than 15,000 taxis in Athens, but ironically it can be a chore to find one that's empty. This is one city where it pays to have the phone number of a taxi company to call for a pickup. The fares are cheap, however, and most drivers are honest and hardworking.

Renting a car in Athens is not advised due to heavy traffic, little parking, and chaotic driving but it can be a convenient choice if you plan to make daytrips outside the city.