Athens, the city of art and democracy

Athens is the capital of Greece, known as the city of art, democracy, and stunning architecture. The best way to explore the city is by wandering along its streets with beautiful neoclassical buildings, squares, statues, and picturesque alleys.

Visit the marvellous Acropolis, busy Syntagma Square, pedestrian Ermou Street, the National Garden, and charming districts of Plaka, Anafiotika, Psiri, Thissio, Monastiraki and Kolonaki.

Look at the Athens Travel guide and feel the magical atmosphere of ancient history and modern city.

Athens Street and Acropolis

How to get to Athens

Athens is located in Greece’s Attica region and can be easily reached by plane, sea, or by car /bus.

♦ By plane: Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” is located 33 km southeast of Athens. It is connected with all parts of the world with regular and charter flights. From there, you can catch a taxi or bus, and it takes 30-45 minutes to drive from the airport to the centre, depending on the traffic. Also, Metro Line 3 (the Blue Line) connects the airport and Piraeus with the city centre (Syntagma or Monastiraki stations, about 40 minutes of drive).

◊ By sea: There are two seaports near Athens. Piraeus Port is the main Athen’s seaport on the Saronic Gulf, located around 12 km away. Rafina Port is located around 33 km east of the centre of Athens, and it is close to the airport. From these ports, you can catch ferries to different Greek islands. The third port of Lavrio is located on the southeast coast of Attica, about 60 km from Athens.

♦ By car or bus: Because of its position in Southeast Europe, you can also reach Athens by car or bus, as well. The A1 motorway leads from the Greek border Evzonoi, pass Thessaloniki to Athens. There are two bus stations. Athens Kifissos Bus Station (Terminal A) is the largest bus terminal in the city. The second one is the KTEL Liosion (Bus Terminal B).

◊ By organized tours: many travel agencies organize various excursions from Europe to Athens, by bus or by plane.

Public transport in Athens

Even though the best way to explore the city is on foot, you can use public transport, which is affordable.

The metro is the fastest way. There are three metro lines: Line 1-Green Line, Line 2-Red Line, and Line 3-Blue Line. Interestingly, you can see Greek artefacts found during the construction of the metro, especially in the Monastiraki, Syntagma, and Acropoli metro stations.

Besides the metro, you can use the bus, tram, trolleybuses and suburban railway, as well. Take a look at the price of tickets.

♦ The standard ticket: 1.20 EUR for all types of public transport, valid for 90 minutes.
◊ The one-way airport bus ticket is 5.50 EUR.
♦ A special ticket to and from the airport: 9 EUR.
◊ Day Pass: 4.10 EUR (unlimited travel for 24 hours, excluding airport services).
♦ A 5-day Ticket: 8.10 EUR (unlimited travel for 5 days, excluding airport services and bus X80).
◊ A 3-day tourist ticket: 20 EUR (unlimited travel and one round trip to/from Athens airport).

Check all details about the public transport in Athens here.

Athens by night

Best time to visit Athens

You can visit Athens all year round. The Mediterranean climate provides over 300 days of sunshine a year.
Autumn and winter are mild, with pleasant temperatures from 7° C to 15° C and rain, but snowfall is rare. Temperatures are usually above 22º C from April until October, and summers are very hot.

For example, the evening and night temperatures were about 5° C for this New Year’s Eve. But the days were sunny with temperatures of 10-15° C, perfect for strolling around.

Is Athens expensive?

Compared to other European capitals and cities, Athens is an affordable destination, depending on your interests.

Lower budget travellers usually spend 40-70 EUR per day, mid-range travellers 100-250 EUR per day, and luxury travellers 250+ EUR per day. Bear in mind that the price of tickets for accommodation and archaeological sites may vary depending on the low and high seasons.

Athens Travel guide: what to see and do

Ahh… There are so many interesting places to see and things to do in Athens! Definetely, it is one of my favourite cities. You can enjoy the fascinating archaeological sites, stroll around picturesque districts, or go shopping.

In the meantime, take a coffee break in numerous bars and cafes, and taste delicious Greek food in taverns and restaurants. And, of course, you can enjoy the nearby beach in the Glyfada neighbourhood, which is easily accessible by private and public transportation. So, take a look at the list of the most interesting places in the city.

The Academy of Athens

🏛️Ancient Athens

Athens is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in Europe. It flourished in the 5th century BC, known as “the Golden Age of Athens”.

The landmark of Athens is the Acropolis of Athens with magnificent monuments such as the Parthenon, the Erechteion with beautiful Caryatids, and the Temple of Athena Nike. In previous blog posts, I wrote in detail about the fascinating history of the Acropolis and ancient Athens, as well as tips for tickets and visits.

👉 You can read more about the Acropolis of Athens here.

Acropolis of Athens

Besides the Acropolis of Athens, many ancient monuments can be seen, such as the Ancient Agora, the Temple of Hephestus, the Hadrian’s Library, the Roman Agora, the Tower of the Winds, the Kerameikos cemetery, etc.

👉 You can read more about the most famous Ancient monuments of Athens here.

Ancient archaeological sites in Athens

Modern Athens

Athens has a rich history shaped by the Romans, the Byzantines, the Venetians, and the Ottomans. After liberation from the Ottoman Empire, Greece became the Kingdom of Greece in 1830. Athens was chosen to be the capital of the new state in 1834, replacing Napflio, the first  Greek capital.

Today, Athens is a modern and vibrant city with over 3.6 million inhabitants. It is the main economic, political, cultural and educational centre of Greece. Also, it is a favourite tourist destination which attracts millions of tourists every year.

What to see in Athens

The most famous and important squares are Syntagma, Monastiraki, and Omonia, situated in the districts with the same name.

Syntagma Square

Syntagma Square, or Constitution Square, is the central square of the city. It got its name from the Constitution of Otto, the first King of Greece. After a military uprising on 3 September 1843, he was obliged to grant the first Constitution of Greece.

Today, the square is a very important transport spot with Syntagma metro, bus, and trolly stations. Next to the Hellenic Parliament, there is the National Garden, and across the street, a small park with a fountain.

By the way, Syntagma Square is a well-known meeting point for both locals and tourists. It’s a common location for strikes and demonstrations, but also, one of the main spots for New Year’s Eve celebrations. Since we were in Athens at that time, Syntagma Park was interestingly decorated, with concerts and fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

Syntagma Park for NY Eve 2025

Within a short walking distance of Syntagma Square, there is pedestrian Ermou Street, as well as the neighbourhoods of Kolonaki, Plaka, Monastiraki and Psiri, the Acropolis and other famous sites of Ancient Athens.

The Greek Parliament and Evzones guardians

The Old Royal Palace is a neoclassical 19th-century building located in Syntagma Square. It has housed the Greek Parliament since 1934.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was mounted as a relief at the foundation of the Parliament building on March 25, 1932. It represents the naked male sculpture of a dead warrior on the ground, with a shield in his hand and an Ancient Greek helmet.

But, this building is one of the favourite tourist spots because of the famous Evzones, a special unit of the Hellenic Army. They guard the Monument of the Unknown Soldier and the Presidential Mansion.

Athens, Greek Parlament, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and Evzone soldier

The Changing of the Guards ceremony

Watching the Changing of the Guard is always fascinating, and it takes place every hour.

So, every soldier guards for about an hour, 3 times in every 48 hours. During that one hour, they have to stand perfectly still, without any eye movement, or changing facial expression. Their moves are strongly controlled and slow motion during the changing of the guard, to protect the body’s circulation. The Evzone soldiers are selected carefully. They must be tall at 187 cm and must be in excellent physical and psychological condition.

They are dressed in a special handmade uniform, with a red fez on their heads and unique shoes. But the most interesting part is the fustanella, a white skirt made of 30 m material, with 400 folds, which represent the 400 years of Ottoman occupation. Even King Otto wore it during his official appearances.

Also, they hold a semi-automatic gun with bayonets in their hands.

Changing of the Guard

The National Garden of Athens

An interesting National Garden is located near the Greek Parlament. It is a perfect place for a walk to avoid hot days and crowded centre.

Originally, it was a private Royal Garden, commissioned by Queen Amalia (the wife of King Otto) in 1838 and completed by 1840. After the end of the monarchy, it was declared a public park and renamed the National Garden in 1927.

The entrance is free, so you can enjoy walking around more than 7,000 trees and greenery in an area of about 16 hectares. There you can see various birds, turtles, and fish in the small lake, as well as a children’s playground, the Botanical Museum, and an open coffee shop.

Also, there is a beautiful yellow building of Zappeon Hall. It was the official Olympic Village of the Olympic Games in 1896. Today, it is used for public exhibitions, and various events and ceremonies.

National Garden of Athens, August 2015

Omonoia Square

Omonia Square

Vibrant Monastiraki Square

Monastiraki Square is one of the oldest neighbourhoods of Athens. It got its name after the nunnery (female monastery) established on the square. The small Church of Pantanassa is known as the Great Monastery, and later as monastiraki (“little monastery”). You can see it on the left side of the square.

On the right side, there is the former Tzistarakis Mosque built in 1759. It was named after the Ottoman voivode of the city, Mustafa Aga Tzistarakis. This Ottoman building served also as an assembly hall for the local town elders, then as barracks, a prison and a storehouse. Today it is a part of the Museum of Greek Folk Art.

Monastiraki Square

The Monastiraki area includes also the Ancient Agora, the Hadrian Library and the Roman Agora with the Tower of Winds. There are many fast-food restaurants, cafes and taverns, as well.

In a word, this square is very crowded, regardless of whether it is morning or evening. Across the mosque, there is an entrance to the Monastiraki metro station.

Monastiraki Square, by day and night

Athens Trilogy

“Athens Trilogy” is a beautiful complex of three neoclassical buildings. They are located in Panepistimiou Street, a few minutes away from Syntagma Square and Omonoia Square, as well. The complex consists of the National Library, the University of Athens, and the Academy of Athens.

Danish architect Theophil Freiherr von Hansen designed them in the 19th century. They look just like the buildings in ancient Athens, surrounded by flowers, shrubs, and mandarin trees.

The National Library 

From 1903, the beautiful building of Vallianeion Hall with curved stairs housed the National Library of Greece. In front of it, you can see the statue of Panayis Athanase Vagliano, a shipowner, and one of the Vagliano brothers from Kefalonia Island. They donated a huge amount of money for the construction of this building.

Because of the limited space, the huge collection of approximately one million items was transferred to the modern Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in 2018. I think that today it is not open to the public.

The National Library of Athens

The University of Athens

The impressive building of the University of Athens is located between the Library and the Academy.

By the way, the University of Athens is the oldest university in Modern Greece. Also, it was the first contemporary university in the Balkan Peninsula and the Eastern Mediterranean region. First, it was housed in a building in Plaka from 1837, and then, the University was relocated to this building in 1841.

Athens, University

The University is fantastically decorated by a 45-meter fresco on the façade, designed by Carl Rahl and Eduard Lebiedzki. So, the fresco represents a series of figures from ancient Greece and Apostle Paul, to King Otto, surrounded by the Sciences in the form of Renaissance female figures.

Beautifully decorated the building of The University of Athens

Today, this building houses the institution’s administrative offices. Also, it serves for the university’s ceremonies and official events.

The Academy of Athens

The third marvellous building is the Academy of Athens, built from 1859 to 1885. The complex consists of a central section and two wings.

Well, it is a great honour to be a part of the Academy. Its members are prominent persons from the fields of Science, Humanities and Fine Arts.

The Academy of Athens

In the front of the Academy, near the stairs and mandarin trees, you can see the statues of Socrates and Plato. At the entrance, on the left side, there is the statue of Athena, the goddess of wisdom. On the right side, you can see the statue of Apollo, the god of light.

The beautiful building of the Academy of Athens

Today, the Academy building is used for conferences, but it is not open to the public.

The decorated ceiling and columns of the Academy of Athens

The Panathenaic Stadium (Kalimarmaro)

This stadium is located at the end of Herodes Atticus Street. The first modern Olympics took place there in 1896, and later again in 2004.

First, it was used in 330 BC for the Panathenaic Games, held to honour the goddess Athena, the protector of the city. Then, thanking Herodes Atticus, the Romans rebuilt it in 144 BC, adding marble seats, statues, and a temple of the goddess Fortune. However, it was abandoned until the 19th century when it was rebuilt for the first International Olympic Games.

You can visit the stadium from 8 AM to 5 PM, during November-February, and from 8 AM to 7 PM, during March-October. The ticket price is 12 EUR, and the reduced price is 6 EUR.

Today, various sports events, concerts and theatrical plays are held in the stadium.

Panathenaic Stadium, August 2015

👉 You can read more about
Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, and the Modern Olympic Games here.

The most picturesque Athens quarts

Today, the Athens Urban Area consists of 40 municipalities. Five municipalities belong to Piraeus, and the other 35 belong to four units: Central Athens, North Athens, West Athens, and South Athens.

Vibrant Plaka and Anafiotika

Plaka is the most famous part of Athens, known after the magnificent Acropolis, and as a bohemian district. It is located between Syntagma and Monastiraki neighbourhoods, or you can follow Ermou pedestrian street and go down south.

Plaka is one of the oldest quarts, known as the Turkish district of Athens, during the Ottoman occupation. It was damaged during the Greek War of Independence. But, under the rule of King Otto, the main part of Plaka was rebuilt by the inhabitants from the Anafi island who took part in the construction of Athens buildings. Today, this part is known as Anafiotika.

Anafiotika, the touch of Cyclades

Nestled below the Acropolis, the Anafiotika looks like some of the Cyclades Islands! Tiny houses, narrow paved alleys, flowers and little gardens are all you can see there. It cannot be visited by car.

Anafiotika is a very calm area. Many houses are abandoned, but some are still well-preserved and restored. There, you can find the Byzantine Church of Agios Nikolaos Ragava and even the Turkish hammam. From there, you can go to the nearby Plaka or continue to Mount Lycabettus.

Anafiotika

By the way, Anafiotika is known as a district of Athens’ street art. The walls of the abandoned houses in winding alleys are painted with graffiti and colourful murals.

Athens, Anafiotika murals

Restaurants and shops in Plaka

The main street in Plaka is Adrianou Street, which splits the district into two parts: Ano (Upper) Plaka and Kato (Lower) Plaka. The whole area is a maze of cobbled alleys with various shops, specialized souvenir shops, charming cafes, traditional restaurants, and blooming bougainvillaea.

Restaurants and bars in Plaka

It seems that the time is slowing down there. Just get lost among colourful houses, and enjoy delicious Greek cuisine.

Plaka Restaurants, January 2025

By the way, we welcomed the New Year 2025 in the “Odos Lisiou”, a multi-levelled rooftop sky bar restaurant in the heart of Plaka.  It was such a good feeling standing on the rooftop with a glass of Prosecco, watching the fireworks over the city and the magnificent Acropolis.

NY Eve 2025, Odos Lisiou roofbar

Psyri

One more interesting part of Athens is Psyri, located northwest of the Acropolis. In the past, significant Muslim inhabitants lived there. Later, it became the quart known for craftsmen. In the 1990s, many of the abandoned workshops were transformed into galleries and studios.

Today it is famous for shops with affordable prices, street art, hipsters, artists, and trendy bars. You can see various colourful murals and graffiti.

Athens, Psiri quart

There. you can find excellent traditional taverns with delicious Greek dishes.

Tsipoyradiko Arahova tavern, Psiri

In a word, there are plenty of options for all budgets to satisfy your food tastes. Also, Psiri is known for its nightlife, which is popular among young people.

Scrolling around the Psiri quart by night

Little Kook Café

Don’t forget to visit Little Kook, a fairy-tale-themed café, that opened in 2015. It became one of the most photographed spots of Athens on Instagram!

So, depending on the time of the year, the whole interior and exterior of the cafe changes in the different themes, such as Halloween, Mary Poppins, Snow White, Pirates, Peter Pan, Alice in Kookland, or Circus. Since we were in Athens for the New Year celebration, the café was decorated in Christmas mode.

And yes, it is eccentric, overdecorated, and colourful, with numerous lights, but it is also like a fairy tale!

This cafe is crowded by day and night. People stroll around, take selfies, and photograph the cafe. The prices of cafes, chocolate drinks and sweets are a little bit higher than in the other cafes and cake shops in the city.

Little Kook Cafe, Christmas style

Kolonaki 

Well, Kolonaki is one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in Athens. It is located about ten minutes of walk from Syntagma Square, on the southern slopes of Mount Lycabettus.

In this upscale district, you can find high-fashion boutiques, art galleries, charming cafés, exclusive restaurants, hotels, and several museums. It is a stylish neighbourhood with neoclassical and modern buildings.

The Lycabettus Funicular Railway leads you to the summit of Lycabettus Hill. From there, there is a fantastic panoramic view of the city of Athens.

Lycabettus Hill, Kolonaki quart

Thissio

Thissio is a calm neighbourhood, surrounded by the archaeological sites of the ancient Agora and Keramikos. 

This area is known for pedestrian streets, cafes, restaurants, archaeological monuments, churches, and synagogues. It is connected to other parts of the city via a metro station. By the way, the Apostolou Pavlou is the main pedestrian street, which got its name after St Paul the Apostle, who visited Athens in​ AD 51 and walked this way.

Thissio quart

On the Thissio local market, you can find various items, such as vintage clothes, antiques, handmade crafts, jewellery, unique souvenirs, and some local food products.

Athens, Local market at the Thissio district

Museums in Athens

There are many different museums in Athens, so take a look at the list with some of them.

♦ The Acropolis Museum is located close to the Acropolis, and it was opened in 2009.
◊ The National Archaeological Museum is the largest archaeological museum in Greece.
♦  Stoa of Attalos – Museum of the Ancient Agora.
◊ The Numismatic Museum of Athens houses a collection of over 500,000 coins, medals, gems, weights, stamps and artefacts from 1400 BC to modern times.
♦ Museum of Cycladic Art houses a collection of Cycladic artefacts.
◊ The Byzantine and Christian Museum with frescoes, paintings, sculptures & artefacts.
♦ The Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments.
◊ The Benaki Museum of Greek Culture.
♦ The National Historical Museum.
◊ The Maria Callas Museum is a biographical museum dedicated to the famous opera singer.

Athens: Numismatic Museum, Museum of the Cycladic Art, Maria Callas Museum

Churches in Athens

♦ The Metropolitan Cathedral is located between the squares of Syntagma and Monastiraki. It is dedicated to the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary. The foundations of the church were laid in December 1842 by King Otto and Queen Amalia, but it was completed in 1862.

This church is considered a spiritual centre of Greek Orthodoxy. Inside the church, there are the tombs of two saints: St. Philotheis and St Gregory V, Patriarch of Constantinople. Also, it is known for numerous important ceremonies, such as weddings, christenings, and funerals of famous people, including the Greek royals.

Metropolitan Church of Athens

◊ Close to this church, you can see the Little Metropolis or the Church of Panagia Gorgoepikoos.

♦ The nearby Church Agia Dynami (“Holy power”) is located on Mitropoleos Street. This tiny church dates back to the 16th century, and the modern building was built around it.

◊The Catholic Church of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite was built in 1844. It is located close to Syntagma Square.

♦ Church of Agios Nikolaos Rangavas is located at the Anafiotika quart. It was built in the 11th century and rebuilt in 1980. The inner dome and northern part of the church belong to the Byzantine period.
◊ The first Greek Evangelical Church was built in 1871. It was demolished and rebuilt in 1956.

The Agia Dynami Church, Church of Panagia Gorgoepikoos, Catholic Cathedral of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite, and Church of Agios Nikolaos Rangavas

♦ The Church of Panagia Kapnikarea is located in the pedestrian Ermou Street. This Byzantine Church was built in 1050 over the ruins of an ancient church dedicated to Athena or Dimitra. The current church is dedicated to the Annunciation of the Virgin. 

The Church of Panagia Kapnikarea, Ermou Street

Where to stay in Athens

Well, depending on your budget and interests, you can choose between various types of accommodation, from hostels and apartments to modern 4* and 5* hotels. Generally, affordable accommodation prices are around Omonia and Psiri, and the best locations are around Plaka, Syntagma and Monastiraki due to the proximity of archaeological sites.

The King George Hotel (built in 1930) and the Hotel Grand Bretagne are the two most famous luxury hotels. They are situated one next to another in the Syntagma Square.

Athens Capital Hotel, King George Hotel and Hotel Grand Bretagna

Cafes and restaurants

You can find numerous cafes, bars, roof bars, taverns and restaurants in Athens, almost at every corner.

In a word, you can choose between street food (gyros, souvlaki, kebab, various pastries, sandwiches, burgers), Greek taverns, roof bars, international, and Michelin-starred restaurants. 

Try delicious Greek dishes such as moussaka, souvlaki, roasted lamb, stuffed tomato, and grilled seafood.

Shopping in Athens

♦ Located below Syntagma Square, Ermou Street is the most famous commercial street in Athens. There you can find various international and local fashion brands.
◊ The famous high fashion brands boutiques are located in Kolonaki Street.
♦ You can buy various souvenirs in the Plaka, Psiri, Monastiraki and Thissio districts, and generally, everywhere in the city.
◊ If you like to see local markets, visit the Varvaikos market, the central city market, located on Athenians Street.

Shopping souvenirs, Ermou Street and Varvaikos market

What to see near to Athens

There are many interesting places to see close to Athens, during one or two days excursions.

◊ Take a Hop-on-hop-off bus tour and visit Athens, the Port of Piraeus, and the coastline of the Athenian Riviera.
♦ Visit Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon at sunset.
◊ Delphi, the ancient sanctuary dedicated to the god Apollo. You can read more here.
♦ Mycenae, the centre of the Mycenaean civilization, you can read more here.
◊ Epidaurus, the most ancient theatre, you can read more here.
♦ Nafplio is a charming coastal town on the Peloponnese.
◊ Saronic Islands, the group of small islands in the Saronic Gulf.

Whether you’re exploring its ancient landmarks, enjoying Greek cuisine, or taking a day trip,
Athens offers endless possibilities for an unforgettable experience.