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An update from Evaneos
Athens

Athens (Greece)

Practical information about Athens

  • Viewpoint
  • Place or Religious Monument
  • Festivals
  • Archaeological Site
  • Museums
  • Place or Historical Monument
  • Unesco World Heritage
4 / 5 - One review
How to get there
A 2 1/2 hour flight from London
When to go

All year round

Minimum stay
3 to 5 days

Reviews of Athens

Aurélie Chartier Travel writer
45 travel articles

Capital of Greece, Athens hosted the Olympic Games in 2004. A city with a tumultuous history and at the heart of Greek mythology, Athens is probably one of the most lively cities in Europe.

My suggestion:
Visit Mount Lycabettus at the end of the day to gaze at the sunset and see Athens light up.
Summary:

Athens seems rather sad next to European cities with spectacular architecture, such as Rome or Paris. But it's crammed with museums and old buildings which will delight those passionate about archaeology and history during a trip to Greece. Between the unbeatable Acropolis, the gigantic Lycabettus and the Agora, the National Archaeological Museum, the Benaki Museum, the Byzantine Museum and many more places, I could have spent a week taking in the old buildings. Athens is, above all, a city of history.

Eating and drinking mainly takes place in the Plaka neighbourhood. With its feel of small villages - one of the rare districts of Athens to have stayed authentic - Plaka is lively day and night. 

In my opinion, you shouldn't miss an evening in a "bouzoukia": a restaurant where musicians play bouzoukia (Greek lutes). At the end of the evening, everybody dances on the tables and throws flower petals at the musicians. Above all, keep in mind that Athens is a city which is lived inmore than it is visited.

View of the Acropolis in Athens