Wednesday, October 4

Athens is not only the capital of modern-day Greece, but also the birth of western civilization. When visiting the city, you'll see constant reminders of this with remnants of buildings that date to way before the time of Jesus Christ! It can be hard to know where to start when exploring Athens, as there are so many cultural and historical attractions.  This list consists of some of the best places to visit in Athens - a mixture of cool cultural landmarks and quirky attractions that will help you get the best out of your visit!

 

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#1 —  Acropolis of Athens - One of Athens’ coolest hlstorical sites

 

The Acropolis of Athens is a citadel perched upon a rocky hill at the top of the Greek capital. It is without a doubt the most important landmark in Athens, possibly even the whole of Greece! According to UNESCO, who listed it as a World Heritage site, it’s the most beautiful architectural complex from Greek antiquity. There's more than enough in the Acropolis to spend a few days wandering around and exploring. Just beware it can get extremely hot and it's uncovered, so take adequate sun protection and wear comfortable clothes!

 

What to do there: There's a long list of things to do here. First on your list should be the 5th century BC Parthenon Temple. It's a beautifully preserved temple and a key point of interest in Athens and the Acropolis. The Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike are other important temples in the Acropolis, while the Theatre of Dionysius at the foot of the hill is worth a visit too. Before of after you explore the citadel, take a walk around the Acropolis museum to learn more about this incredible archaeological site.

 

#2 —  Mount Lycabettus

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Another hill in the Greek capital and another cool place to visit. Rather than being famed for its manmade wonders, the highest point in Athens is covered in pine forests which are a cool and refreshing walk option on a hot summer's day! If a walk sounds like too much work, there's a funicular train on the hill too. That'll take the strain off your legs while still allowing you to enjoy the stunning views all the way down to the ocean!

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What to do there: There's a whole host of things to do here. As mentioned, a walk or taking the funicular is a great way to enjoy the views on the way up and at the top of the hill. Not only that, atop the hill is one of the best places to eat in the capital. Stunning views at twilight with delicious local and traditional food is an unforgettable way to spend an evening.

 

#3 - Panathenaic Stadium

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You can't travel to Athens without knowing it's the birthplace of the modern Olympic games. And what's better than seeing the original stadium, and the only one in the world made completely of white marble? The stadium's history goes further back. There were sporting events dating back to before Christ that took place on the land now occupied by the stadium! As well as being a proud sporting achievement, it was the first place to play the modern Olympic Hymn. The Panathenaic Stadium also had a place in the Athens Olympic Games in 2004!

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What to do there: Walk around the stadium and take in the impressive architecture of the world's only marble stadium Nowadays, the Panathenaic Stadium isn't just used for sporting events, but it's a concert venue.

 

#4 —  National Garden, Athens - A beautiful and scenic place to check out in Athens

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The National Garden is another famous place in Athens. Not only can you enjoy native and exotic plants, but there are tortoise and terrapin ponds in the garden too! If you're planning on walking from Mets to Kolonaki, then this is one of the prettiest routes you can take. Exploring the gardens is a perfect way to spend half a day when visiting Athens. and it's popular with tourists and locals alike!

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What to do there: The beauty of the national garden is that you can make it suit your style. So, if you want to spend a few hours reading a book in the shade, no problem. Want to learn about the 7,000+ species of plants and trees in the park? You can do that too. There's even a children’s library to keep the kids entertained!

 

#5 —  The Old Madrasa of Athens - One of the more unique places to visit in Athens!

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So, one of the more unusual things to do in Athens is visiting the Old Madrasa. It's not something that will take a day or even half a day, but don't let that put you off. The Madrasa is more modern than most of the ruins in Athens, dating back just 300 years. It's practically brand new by the standards here! A remain of Ottoman rule, this became one of the most feared and terrifying prisons in the Greek capital. Few who entered left, with many either being sold to slavery, tortured, or hanged from the ‘hangman's tree.’

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What to do there: Nowadays, the Madrasa is an interesting place to take a walk and see what's left. The key part is the doorway that led prisoners, students, or a condemned person to their fate. You can also see the remains of the walls that held the prisoners in! The tree where so many were executed from can't be seen today — it was destroyed by a lightning strike in 1919.

 

#6 - Syntagma Square

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Syntagma Square is the centre of Athens and a very important place! Translated into English, Syntagma means Constitution.  Nowadays, it's the base of the Greek parliament and where you'll find the country's royal palace. That's not all though, Syntagma Square is a top Athens hotspot, with plenty of restaurants, nightlife, and accommodation. In fact, most of the city's 5-star hotels are based around the outside of the square. It's a great place to eat.

 

What to do there: Around the outside of Syntagma Square, there's plenty to keep you entertained for half a day. Such a large number of cafes with outside seating are the perfect place to enjoy a drink, a book, or just watch the world go by! It may sound weird, but the square's metro station is worth a visit too. Why? -- Well, when digging the foundations of the station, workers discovered one of the largest archaeological discoveries in Athens! So, when walking through the station, some of these ruins are on display!

 

#7 - Temple of Hephaestus and the Agora

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Since these two are so close, we've put them together. Temple of Hephaestus is the perfect place to visit before or after a visit to the Ancient Agora. Among all the beautiful and fantastically preserved temples in the capital, this one often gets overlooked. It's a mystery as to why though, considering this is one of the most complete in the city! Head on to the Agora, where minimal restoration has taken place so that you can imagine how the ancient marketplace was in the glory days of Ancient Greece!

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What to do there: As well as visiting the Temple of Hephaestus, there are a few things to keep you entertained for at least half a day. Another impressive building that has been beautifully preserved is the Stoa of Attalos. This building comes from the Hellenistic Period. At the Agora, you can learn about how it was important through the years to not only Ancient Greece, but also to Roman and Byzantine too!

 

#8 - Kerameikos Cemetery

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The stunningly beautiful Kerameikos Cemetery is a victim of a city that has so many archaeological sites! Often overlooked for more glamorous sites like the Ancient Agora or the Acropolis, you may be lucky enough to get this cool place almost to yourself. Especially if you're not visiting in the high season! The cemetery is dedicated to Keramos, the son of Dionysius. He was the hero of potters, and that's where English word ceramic comes from!

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What to do there: You might think that fewer tourists come here because it hasn't been worked on. Well, you'd be wrong! As well as the beautifully preserved cemetery, there's a museum too. And yep, you guessed it, it's dedicated to pottery. Once you've finished at Kerameikos, head to one of the local spots nearby. Some of the best places to eat in Athens can be found nearby.

 

#9 —  Technopolis

There are plenty of museums in Athens, but for the average person, there is only so much you can learn about ruins and archaeology before you start to get a little bored. If you're looking to enjoy a spot of culture and something educational, this is the perfect alternative. Technopolis is located in the old gas factory in Athens but has been transformed into one of the city's most artistic and intriguing cultural centres. Visit here to see a different side of the Greek capital's history and culture!

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What to do there: This charming place is often seen as a factory of art. However, it's not just art that you can enjoy here! As a live autonomous community, you can see carpenters, mechanics, and barbers working here. It's a closed community and a tourist attraction at the same time! Check out Technopolis' events programme to see what cool things are happening when you travel to Athens. Poetry readings, art exhibitions, and concerts are just the start!

 

#10 - Polignotou, Athens at niqht!

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Polignotou is the street which leads to the Acropolis, and a leisurely stroll from Thissio to Plaka at night is an ideal spot for a romantic walk, or just to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It's almost always quiet, and you'll just be guided by the moonlight and the lights of the ancient Acropolis! When you reach your destination of Plaka, you can find some of the best places to eat in Athens.

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What to do there: Of course, sometimes a walk just isn't enough to keep you entertained. Something that will make for an unforgettable evening though is watching a movie at Thissio open-air cinema. Not only are you under the stars, but you're also in the shadow of the Acropolis and the iconic Parthenon. There are a number of other open-air cinemas in Athens too, so if sitting under the stars in relative warmth appeals to you, you're certainly in the right city!

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