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Athens Holidays, Hotels & Travel Guide
Travel guide to hotels & holidays in Athens
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Athens Holidays Overview
A guide to holidays in Athens - Athens exudes a unique charm, its lively
character winning over tens of thousands of visitors every year.
Street markets, vine-covered tavernas, souvenir stalls and ancient
monuments all form a conglomerate with buildings old and new in
this city, which one out of four Greeks call home. For tourists the
greatest advantage is that most attractions are accessible on foot
in the central area around the landmark Acropolis. Walking is the
best way to soak up the Athenian atmosphere because the traffic can
reach nightmare proportions.
Athens was named
after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, who according to
mythology won the city as prize after a duel against Poseidon. The
city can chart its history back thousands of years and is regarded
as the cradle of western civilisation; the place where democracy
was invented and philosophy, art and architecture were refined.
After a classical golden age when it was home to Socrates, Plato
and Aristotle, the city declined in the Middle Ages, dwindling to
nothing but a town with a few thousand residents gathered in the
colourful area that is now known as the Plaka, until its rebirth as
capital of an independent Greece in 1834.
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Athens
holidays - Top Places To Go
1. Acropolis
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What is it? Those arriving in Athens for the first time
generally head immediately for the Acropolis. There are very few
visitors who are not already familiar with the image of this
distinctive citadel of ancient Athens, perched on its steep
flat-topped rock above the sprawling city. It is the spot where
Athens, and classical Greek civilisation, began, and the site of a
collection of beautiful temples, most dedicated to the goddess of
wisdom, Athena. The ruins that remain visible today date from the
4th century BC, most of them erected by Pericles after the Persians
destroyed many of the original Acropolis buildings. Visitors toil
up the slopes past the souvenir stands and enter the site through
the monumental entrance way, the Propylaia, which in ancient times
contained an art gallery. To the right of the entrance is the tiny
temple of Athena Nike, reconstructed and restored. The Parthenon,
the greatest surviving monument of Doric architecture, is the
biggest drawcard on the Acropolis, built of Pentelic marble
quarried from the distant mountains, which form the backdrop to the
magnificent view of Athens from the Acropolis. Alongside the
Parthenon is another temple, the Erechtheion, which bears holes on
its northern porch where Poseidon's trident struck it during his
contest with Athena to have the city named after him. There is a
museum on the Acropolis, too, where some of the carving and friezes
recovered from the temples are on show, although many of the
archaeological finds from the Acropolis are now housed in the
British Museum in London.
Hours of Operation: Daily 8am to 7.30pm (15 June to 31 October); 8.30am
to 3pm (November to May)
Phone:(01) 321 0219 |
2. Ancient Agora
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What is it? Clustered below the Acropolis (enter from
Odos Adrianou, east of Monastiraki Square) is the remains of the
Agora, ancient Athens' commercial and civic centre, where once
walked and talked the great philosophers Socrates and Plato. In
fact the disgraced and despairing Socrates committed suicide in a
prison in the southwest corner of the Agora, by drinking poison.
The area is littered with the ruins of numerous ancient buildings,
including the Dionysos Theatre (the world's oldest theatre where
great plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides were first
performed). One building that has been restored is the 200 BC Stoa
of Attalos (a stoa is a long, low roofed promenade which served as
a combination law court, municipal office and shopping arcade in
classical Greece). The reconstructed building now has a museum on
its ground floor containing artefacts covering 5,000 years of
Athenian history.
Hours of Operation: Daily 8am to 7.30pm
Phone:(01) 321 0185 |
3. National Archaeological Museum
Patission 44 Street
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What is it? This is the largest and most popular of
Athens' many museums, and is usually very crowded. Its vast
collection includes treasures unearthed from Mycenae by Heinrich
Schliemann; a staggering array of sculpture including the earliest
known Greek figurines dating from around 2,000 BC; frescoes from
the volcanic island of Santorini; and so much more that it is
recommended visitors make several visits to absorb it
all.
Hours of Operation: Monday 12.30pm to 5pm; Tuesday to Friday 8am to 5pm;
weekends and public holidays 8.30am to 3pm
Phone:(01) 821 7724 |
Athens
holidays - Top Events
1. Athens Festival
From 2007-06-01
To 2007-07-31
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What is it? The city of Athens' cultural showcase is the
two-phase Athens Festival, held every summer since 1955 at the
magnificent 2,000 year old Herod Atticus Odeon, built in 161 AD.
The ancient tiered theatre nestles at the foot of the Acropolis and
during summer and autumn resounds each evening to the tune of
symphony orchestras, classical drama and dance, and operatic
performances. The large and varied programme of international and
Greek artists is available from the Athens Festival office on
Stadiou Street. The summer section of the festival runs from about
June to July, while the autumn section covers August to
October.
Where is it? Herod Atticus Odeon |
2. Lycabettus Hill Festival
From 2007-05-01
To 2007-09-20
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What is it? A perfect way to spend the hot summer nights
in Athens in stunning surroundings and with first class
entertainment is to attend some of the items presented at the
annual Lycabettus Hill contemporary arts festival. The various
performances take place in the open-air theatre atop the hill which
provides magnificent views across Athens. The programme includes
contemporary jazz, pop, rock and dance shows. For more information
contact the Lycabettus Theatre on (0)210 722
7233.
Where is it? Lycabettus Hill Amphitheatre (travel up by funicular, or
walk) |
3. Traditional Greek Dance Festival
From 2007-05-01
To 2007-09-07
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What is it? The warmth and energy of the Greek people is
nowhere better demonstrated than in their traditional dancing, and
this can be witnessed in fine style each summer night (except
Mondays) at the theatre established by Greek folk expert, Dora
Stratou, on Philopappus Hill in Athens. The dancers in each show do
full justice to the costumes and ancient routines that make up each
packed performance.
Where is it? Dora Stratou Theatre |
4. Rockwave Festival
From 2007-07-09
To 2007-07-11
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What is it? Since it was first held in 1996 Athens'
Rockwave Festival has become one of Europe's most popular annual
live rock music events, drawing the hottest performers and an
enthusiastic crowd of tens of thousands. The music fest takes place
over three days, featuring three stages offering different types of
music: metal, rock and dance. The latest addition is the 'silent'
dance experience, featuring the Silent
Disco.
Where is it? Terra Vibe |
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