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Athens Maps & Attractions Guide
Athens maps & Attractions - Things to do
in Athens
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Athens
Attractions - Things to do
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 |
4. Piraeus
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What is it? Although not really attractive to tourists,
the confusing, bustling port of Athens is the departure point for
hundreds of island ferries and cruise ships, so most tourists pass
through it while visiting Greece. Pireaus has been Athens' port
since ancient times. It actually consists of three harbours, with
most of the tourist boats using the Zea Limani section. There are
several fish restaurants in the harbour precincts, and a sprawling
street market. Visitors with time on their hands while waiting for
ferries can also explore the Maritime Museum at Akti
Themistokleous, alongside the pier used by the island hydrofoils,
which features models of ancient and modern
ships.
Hours of Operation: The museum opens Tuesday to Saturday 9am to
2pm
Phone: |
5. Plaka
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What is it? The old town section of Athens below the
Acropolis has become the gathering place for travellers and
tourists, particularly in the warm Athens evenings. Strolling the
narrow streets of the Plaka flanked by ancient monuments, Byzantine
churches and mosques, stately mansions, and inviting tavernas with
vine-covered courtyards, makes a pleasant
diversion.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
6. Kolonaki
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What is it? For a magnificent view of the Acropolis,
particularly at sunset, it is possible to ride a funicular up the
slopes of the Lykavittos hill from Kolonaki Square (in Athens'
smart shopping district). The railway rises steeply to the summit
912ft (278m) above the city. There is a café at the top, as well as
the chapel of Agios Giorgios (St George) to go with the spectacular
view.
Hours of Operation: The funicular runs Friday to Wednesday 8.45am to
midnight, and Thursday 10.30am to midnight
Phone: |
7. Syntagma Square
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What is it? The square that forms the heart of modern
Athens is home to the Parliament building, built in 1840 as a Royal
Palace. Tourists flock to photograph the unusually clad guards at
the palace; the skirted and pom-pommed guard is changed
ceremonially every hour. The square is a central point to access
all the major attractions of Athens, particularly 'museum mile'
along Vassilissis Sophias Avenue which runs from Syntagma Square.
Here most of Athens' museums are clustered, including the Benaki
Museum, Museum of Cycladic Art and the Byzantine
Museum.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
8. Cape Sounion
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What is it? Cape Sounion, about 43 miles (69km) east of
Athens, is a popular seaside resort used by locals and visitors
alike. On the cliffs above the town is the 5th-century BC Temple of
Poseidon, where, according to legend, King Aegeus waited for his
son, Theseus, to return from Crete after slaying the Minotaur.
Sounion is easily accessible by bus from the
city.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
9. Monastery of Daphni
Athinon Avenue, Daphni
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What is it? This great Byzantine architectural
masterpiece dates from the 4th century AD, and is situated about
five and a half miles (9km) west of Athens on the road to Corinth.
The church is built on a site where shrines have existed since
ancient times, often destroyed by invaders and earthquakes. During
the Crusades Cistercian monks turned Daphni into a Catholic
monastery, but today it has been reclaimed by the Greek Orthodox
Church and its beautiful mosaic work depicting Biblical scenes has
been restored. A wine festival is held at Daphni each year in
August/September.
Hours of Operation: Daily 8.30am to 2.45pm
Phone:(210) 581 1558 |
10. Marathon
114 Plataion Street
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What is it? About 26 miles (42km) northeast of Athens,
between the villages of Nea Makri and Marathona, is the site of the
great battle between the small force of Athenians and the mighty
Persian army in 490 BC. On the plain of Marathon today the burial
mound of the 192 Athenians who fell in the fight can be seen, along
with a small museum displaying archaeological relics from the
battlefield. The battle is famed not only for the Athenian victory
against huge odds, but also for the fleetness of the Athenian
runner, Pheidippides, who was dispatched to Athens with news of the
victory and fell dead from exhaustion after delivering the message
to the city; thus the name 'Marathon' was given to long-distance
running races. The Marathon race in the 2004 Olympics started here,
and followed the same route as that run by Pheidippedes in the
legend, ending at the Panathinaikon Stadium in Athens which was
built for the first modern Olympic Games in
1896.
Hours of Operation: Museum open Tuesday to Sunday 8.30am to
3pm
Phone:(294) 055 155 |
11. Delphi
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What is it? In ancient times pilgrims came from all over
the Greek world to seek advice from the god Apollo, via his oracle
at the scenically beautifully situated site on the slopes of Mount
Parnassus, known as Delphi. Today tourists flock constantly in the
wake of the pilgrims of old up the Sacred Way to marvel at the
remains of the marble Sanctuary of Apollo, the Castalian Spring and
the Sanctuary of Athena. There is an excellent museum, too, at the
site, which is northwest of Athens in the prefecture of
Fokida.
Hours of Operation: Daily 7.30am to 7pm
Phone:(226) 508 2312 |
12. Saronic Islands
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What is it? The Saronic group of islands are all within
an hour or two of Piraeus by boat, making them ideal destinations
for day trips from the city for those who want to experience a
taste of Greek island life. Alternatively, use the islands as
tranquil bases on which to stay while commuting to Athens to see
the sights. Aegina is the closest island, sporting a sandy beach
called Agia Marina, and a quaint fishing village called Perdika.
Hydra has no sandy beaches, but the town is picturesque and offers
good seafood restaurants. Poros can be reached from Piraeus in
little more than an hour and sports beautiful forests that descend
to the beach. It offers water sports opportunities and a lively
café scene, as well as being a ferry hub offering connections to
all the popular Aegean islands. Spetsi has an attractive old
harbour and one of the oldest wooden boat-building yards in Greece.
It is also renowned for its beaches and pine
forests.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
Athens Holidays guide
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Transport -Most tourist sites are within the city
centre, which is easy to get around on foot, however there is an
extensive public transport network consisting of buses, trolley
buses, minibuses and a fast new 3-line underground metro service
that requires a standard ticket for a 90-minute usage span.
More information at the |
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