Athens Attractions

The Acropolis is one of the world's most famous landmarks. The magnificent temples on the Acropolis, built in the 5th century BC, have influenced architecture in the Western World for more than two millennia.

The Parthenon, a large temple perched on top of the Acropolis Hill, is one of the world's most famous buildings. It was constructed in the 5th century BC in a span of just nine years.

More than seven centuries after construction started, this temple was eventually completed in 131 AD by the Roman emperor Hadrian. It was the largest temple in Greece, even eclipsing the Parthenon.

For centuries, the Ancient Agora was the center of life in Athens. Today it is a large archaeological park with numerous ruins, a surviving ancient temple and a reconstructed stoa, now home to a museum.

The theater of Dionysus is the birthplace of European theater. During the 5th century BC comedies and tragedies of famous writers such as Aeschylus, Euripides and Sophocles were performed here.

The largest museum in Athens, with an exceptional collection of artifacts, spanning more than seven millennia, from the prehistoric era to the end of the Roman era.

The Roman Agora, a marketplace, was built in the 1st century as the new commercial center of Athens. Bordering the marketplace is the Tower of the Winds, an ancient clock.

The Parliament House was built in the 19th century as the Royal Palace for king Otto I. Shortly after the monarchy was abolished in 1929, it became the new home of the Greek parliament.

The Benaki Museum is one of the top museums in Athens. A varied collection gives an overview of the evolution of art and culture in Greece over a span of more than 7 millennia.

With a height of 277 meters (+900 ft), Lykavittos is the highest hill in Athens. At its top is the picturesque St. George Chapel. The view from the hill is magnificent, especially at night.

Kermeikos is the site of the ancient cemetery. Many funerary sculptures were discovered here during excavations in the early 20th century. Ruins of two large city gates were also found at this site.

Monastiraki is named after and old monastery, most of which has been demolished during archaeological excavations. Nearby is the popular open-air flea market, held every Sunday.

The Panathenaic Stadium was built in 329 BC as the main site for the games that were held during the Panathenaic festival, held every four years in honor of Athena, patroness of the city.

Syntagma Square - Contitution Square in English - is the most famous square in Athens. The main attractions here are the Parliament Building and the Evzones - presidential guards in traditional costume.

The Acropolis has a collection of magnificent sculptures that were found on the sacred Acropolis Hill. They are housed in a rather spectacular modern building, which opened in 2009.

The Philopappos is one of three hills situated just west of the Acropolis. In the Antiquity it was known as the Hill of the Muses, but later it was named for the monument that was erected in honor of the Roman senator Philopappos.

The small but idyllic neighborhood of Anafiotika seems to be plucked straight from the Cyclad islands, with its white buildings and steep, narrow alleys.

The Odeon of Herodes Atticus was built in 161 AD by Herodes Atticus. The theater / concert hall, which had a wooden roof, accommodated up to 5,000 spectators.

The Roman emperor Hadrian, who admired Greek culture, commissioned the construction of a large library complex. The large structure, 120 meters in length, opened in 132 AD.

The National Garden is a surprisingly pleasant park in the center of Athens. It was originally laid out in the mid 19th century as the private garden of the Royal Palace.

The monument of Lysicrates is the most famous choragic monument. Those monuments were built by the so-called choregoi, wealthy sponsors of theater groups.

The Academy of Athens is considered one of the most beautiful neoclassical buildings in the world. It was constructed between 1859 and 1885 after a design by Danish architect Theophil Hansen.

The first cemetery of Athens was created in the 19th century. It contains numerous monumental tombs, many of them decorated with neoclassical monuments such as small Greek temples.

The Museum of Cycladic Art shows artifacts from the ancient Aegean culture. It is best known for its Cycladic statues, minimalist marble figures created 5000 years ago.

The Byzantine Museum has a collection of early Christian, Byzantine and post-Byzantine art from the 3rd to the 20th century. Icons are well represented, but there are many other artworks on display.

The National library is a neoclassical building, designed as a Doric temple by Danish architect Theophil Hansen. The 19th century architect created several more neoclassical buildings in Athens.

The University building is the oldest of a group of three neoclassical buildings that are known as the Athenian trilogy. Statues in front of the building honor important figures in the history of modern Greece.