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57 things to do
Athens (Greek: Αθήνα, Athína) is the capital city of Greece with a metropolitan population of 3.6 million inhabitants (2025) based on ELSTAT Census but with undocumented population it reaches 5.2 million. It was a major cultural, political and religious centre of Classical Greece, a place that deeply influenced the course of Western civilization. Don't come expecting a philosopher's theme park; contemporary Athens is the graffiti-coated, fast-beating urban heart of the country, where modern Greek culture, business and social life flourish amidst ancient monuments. ===Ancient Athens=== thumb|The reconstructed Stoa of Attalos, in the Ancient Agora According to mythology, the Greek Gods Poseidon and Athena wanted to claim the city for their own. To persuade the people to accept them, they granted gifts. Poseidon struck his spear into the ground and produced running water. Athena gave the city olive trees, which provide food and economic prosperity through trade. The people were then asked to vote for the Gods, and Athena won by a single vote, resulting in the city bearing her name. T…
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Quick facts
Popular tours and experiences
Climate
Typical temperatures through the year
Dates to know
Ochi Day
2026-10-28 · Το Όχι
Christmas Day
2026-12-25 · Χριστούγεννα
St. Stephen's Day
2026-12-26 · Σύναξις Υπεραγίας Θεοτόκου Μαρίας
New Year's Day
2027-01-01 · Πρωτοχρονιά
Epiphany
2027-01-06 · Θεοφάνεια
Propylaea
See
The monumental gate at the western end of the Acropolis with Doric columns of Pentelic marble. In a prominent position o…
Theatre of Dionysus
See
Classical Athens' main theatre, the first theatre ever built. Many of the great Greek plays were performed here for the…
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
See
This theatre, built in 161 CE, is still used for concerts and plays. The stone backdrop is still preserved to a remarkab…
Athens Municipal Art Gallery
See
Paintings of Greek painters of the first half of the 20th century are displayed.
Pireos, 51
M-F 09:00-13:00 and 17:00-21:00
+30 210 3231841
Vorres Museum
See
A museum of folk and contemporary art. Its grounds cover 320,000 m<sup>2</sup> (80 acres) including several buildings, g…
1 Parodos Diadochou Constantinou St., Paiania, Attiki
Sa Su 10:00-14:00, weekdays by appointment only and for groups of at least 20 people
€5, students €3
Parthenon
See
This massive temple was built in the 5th century BC in thanksgiving for the Greek victory over Persian invaders. It was…
Erectheion
See
This elegant temple was primarily dedicated to the goddess Athena. The uneven ground led to a complex plan, with an east…
Acropolis of Athens
See
It was the ancient fortified town of Athens, dating back to the Late Bronze Age. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site…
+30 210 3214172
Acropolis Museum
See
You will need to purchase a timed-entry ticket for this museum, separate from the Acropolis. Buying online in advance fr…
Dionysiou Areopagitou 15, 11742
+30 210 900 0900
€20, reduced €10
Pnyx
See
If Athens is the birthplace of democracy, then Pnyx is its cradle. Around 507 BCE this rocky hill, overlooking the Akrop…
Free
Ancient Agora
See
The site of the ancient city centre is a green space with a beautiful view of the Acropolis. It was built as a multipur…
Tu-Su 08:30 - 15:30, M 10:00-15:30
€20, reduced €10, ticket valid for both the archaeological site and the museum
Stoa of Attalus
See
This building was reconstructed in the 1950s from its original foundations, incorporating as much of the original struct…
Church of the Holy Apostles
See
From the 11th century, one of the oldest churches in Athens.
Roman Agora
See
This area became the main marketplace of the city after the Ancient Agora to the west became primarily a religious facil…
08:30 - 16:00
€10, reduced €5
Kerameikos
See
The site of the ancient cemetery of Athens. It also houses the Dipylon Gate, where the Panathenaic procession would begi…
08:30 - 16:00
€10, reduced €5
Temple of Olympian Zeus
See
Only the ruins remain today. The column that has fallen and can still be seen in pieces was brought down during a thunde…
€10, reduced €5
Arch of Hadrian
See
A monumental gateway resembling a Roman triumphal arch. It was built around 131 AD to honor the Roman emperor Hadrian, a…
Free
The Lyceum
See
An ancient temple here hosted lectures by Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, and early meetings of the Athenian Assembly. A…
€10, reduced €5
Plato's Academy
See
This house of study was founded by the famous philosopher Plato. His equally famous follower Aristotle studied here for…
Hadrian's Reservoir
See
Now the base of a summertime outdoor cinema, you can view the remains of the reservoir that was the terminus of an aqued…
Free
Panathinaiko Stadium
See
The stadium that housed the first modern day Olympic Games of 1896. Earlier versions of the stadium date as far back as…
Leof. Vasileos Konstantinou
+30 210 75 22 984-6
€12 entry / €6 concession
Lycabettus Hill
See
A 200m hill bordering the Kolonaki district. You can reach the top by walking (the path starts 15 minutes from Evangelis…
National Theatre
See
A low but imposing building erected between 1882 and 1890 by architect Ernst Ziller in the eclectic style of that age, c…
Agiou Konstantinou 22
Syntagma Square
See
Check out the Parliament building and the newly restored Grande Bretagne Hotel.
Hellenic Parliament Building
See
This building is on the eastern side of the square. It was the former royal palace before Greece became a republic. At…
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
See
Catch the changing of the guards in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of Parliament every hour on the ho…
Daphni Monastery
See
An 11th-century Byzantine monastery and UNESCO World Heritage site. Damaged by an earthquake in 1999, but has now been f…
Athinon avenue
Tu and F 08:00-15:00
+30 210 5811558
Free admission
Kaisariani Monastery and Gardens
See
A nice escape from the city in the foothills of Mount Hymettus. Walking trails. There's a functional monastery one can w…
Kaisariani Monastery
+30 210 723 6619
National Archaeological Museum of Athens
See
This is the largest and most popular of Athens' many museums, and is usually very crowded. Its vast collection includes…
44 Patission St
Winter: W-M 08:30–15:30, Tu 13:00–20:00
+30 213 214 4800
€12, reduced €6
Kanellopoulos Museum
See
A small but excellent museum displays artifacts from Mycenean Greece on, and includes some wonderful Persian artifacts.
12 Theorias & Panos Streets
Tu-Su 08:00-15:00
+30 21 0324 4447
Apr-Oct: €4, €2 reduced; Nov-Mar: €2
Benaki Museum of Greek Culture
See
Visit the beautiful Neoclassical main building which houses collections of Greek art, from ancient times through the Byz…
1 Koumbari St. & Vas. Sofias Ave
W F 10:00-18:00; Th Sa 10:00-00:00; Su 10:00-16:00
€9, students, seniors, people with disabilities and teachers €7; temporary exhibitions €7/€5; €25 Benaki Museum Experience ticket entitles the visitor to one entrance per exhibition in all the Benaki Museum buildings, valid for 3 months
Museum of Cycladic Art
See
Holds the second largest collection of Cypriot antiquities in the world outside Cyprus, after the Metropolitan Museum in…
M W-Su 10:00 to 17:00, open till 20:00 on Th
€7, on Mondays and students - €3.50
National Gallery
See
It's one of Greece's main art institutions and features paintings and works of art from some of Greece's and Europe's be…
Michalakopoulou 1
Benaki Museum of Islamic Art
See
An excellent collection which anyone interested in Islamic art will want to see. The museum was opened in 2004 as a bran…
22 Ag. Asomaton & 12 Dipilou Streets – Kerameikos
Th F Sa Su 10:00-18:00
€9; students, seniors and teachers €7
Museum of Greek Folk Art
See
An excellent museum of its type. Too often neglected by visitors to Athens, even though it is in the heavily touristed P…
22 Panos str., Plaka
M W-Su 08:00-15:00
€2; students from non–EU countries, senior citizens from EU €1; under 19, students from EU (with ID), and people with disabilities free
Museum of Ancient Greek Technology Kotsanas
See
A very interesting museum that should not be missed. Excellent demonstration of some fantastic inventions of the ancient…
10.00-15.00
+30 693 183 1530
National Historical Museum
See
In the old parliament building, this museum contains a large collection of historic documents such as the first constitu…
Stadiou Street
Tu-Su 08:30-14:30
+30 210 3237617
€3
Numismatic Museum
See
The building of the museum is one of the most beautiful in Athens, and was built by Ernst Ziller and was used as the res…
Museum of Greek Popular Musical Instruments
See
Includes exhibits of traditional Greek musical instruments, with recordings of most of them.
1-3 Dioyenous, Plaka
National War Museum
See
The National War Museum is the only significant surviving public project of the military dictatorship which ruled Greece…
2 Rizari
Nov-Mar: 09:00-17:00, Apr-Oct: 09:00-19:00
+30 210 729-0543, +30 210-7252974
€4
Park of Maritime Tradition
See
Including the historical warships Georgios Averof, Velos and a replica of an ancient trireme.
Palaio Faliro
Hellenic Air Force Museum
See
A number of old planes from as far back as the 1930s can be seen here.
Palaio Faliro
City of Athens Technopolis
See
An industrial museum of incomparable architecture. The centre has assisted in the upgrading of a historic Athens distric…
Spathario Museum
See
The first and unique museum of shadow theatre in the world, dedicated to the famous Greek shadow theatre character "Kara…
Mesogeion & Voriou Ipirou 27
M Tu Th F 09:00 - 14:00
+30 210 80 22 360, +30 210 61 27 245
Free
Planetary Evgenidio Foundation
See
387 Syggrou Ave. (entrance 11 Pentelis st Palaio Faliro, Athens 175 64)
+30 210 9469600
