Things to Do in Athens

: Blog; 13 January 2017; Hits: 2477

From ancient monuments and medieval churches to world-class museums and high-end boutiques, it's hard to get bored in Athens. One of the main reasons to visit is to roam the Acropolis, exploring its stunning ruins, including the Parthenon.

But you also want to make time for the National Archaeological Museum and the Parliament Building, and maybe a day wandering through the Monastiraki Flea Market. Athens is also home to plenty of vibrant bars and nightclubs.

#1 Acropolis and the Parthenon

The greatest and finest sanctuary of ancient Athens, dedicated primarily to its patron, the goddess Athena, dominates the centre of the modern city from the rocky crag known as the Acropolis. The site is an elevated flat-topped rock with an assortment of monuments and ruins that date back to before 300 BC and include the Temple of Athena Nike, the Theater of Dionysus and the Parthenon, which is an impressive symbol of Classical Greece and a cultural landmark like no other. These unique masterpieces of ancient architecture combine different orders and styles of Classical art in a most innovative manner and have influenced art and culture for many centuries. The Acropolis is the most accurate reflection of the splendour, power and wealth of Athens at its greatest peak, the golden age of Perikles.

http://www.acropolisofathens.gr/aoa/

#2 National Archaeological Museum

One of the world’s most important museums, the National Archaeological Museum houses the world's finest collection of Greek antiquities. Treasures offering a view of Greek art and history dating from the Neolithic era to classical periods include exquisite sculptures, pottery, jewelry, frescoes and artifacts found throughout Greece. The beautifully presented exhibits are displayed mainly thematically. Allow plenty of time to view the vast and spectacular collections (over 11,000 items) housed in this enormous (8000-sq-metre) 19th-century neoclassical building.

http://www.namuseum.gr/wellcome-en.html

#3 Ancient Agora

The agoras of the ancient Greek city-states were open areas for people to assemble for anything from military purposes to political or commercial ones (some agoras served as marketplaces). The Ancient Agora of Athens is the most popular of its kind and is a favorite spot of travelers due to its historic significance: Socrates used to lecture here; it was also here that Saint Paul sought out converts for the then-fledgling religion known as Christianity.

http://ancient-greece.org/archaeology/agora.html

#4 Plaka and Anafiotika

Between the northern slopes of the Acropolis and Ermou Street, the picturesque Plaka neighborhood boasts two important archaeological sites on Pelopida Street: the first-century BC Roman Agora and the second-century Library of Hadrian. However, the main attraction of this historic area is its charming village ambience. Narrow pedestrian streets and the cheerful little squares of the Pláka quarter are lined with lovely bougainvillea-trimmed pastel-painted houses. Tucked away in peaceful corners of the neighborhood are historic churches, such as the Metamórfosis Church in the southwest and the Church of Kapnikaréa in the north. The picturesque setting invites leisurely strolls.

The Plaka quarter has an abundance of authentic Greek restaurants with inviting terrace seating. The area is famous for its Restaurant Staircase on Mnisikleous Street. Try the quieter streets hidden away on the hillside, which conceal cute little cafés and tavernas. Also nestled into the slopes north of the Acropolis is Anafiotika, another atmospheric village-like neighborhood where tourists can enjoy a traditional Greek meal. The winding medieval streets of this Anafiotika are also a delight to explore.

#5 Benaki Museum

The Benaki Museum focuses on Greek art, from prehistory to the modern age. It is located in a large mansion in downtown Athens, and it also has a satellite location -- the Museum of Islamic Art, about a mile walk away, is a particular standout for those interested in Islamic art from the 1100's to 1800's.

http://www.benaki.gr/index.asp?lang=en

#6 National Garden of Athens

When you decide you need a break from the city hustle, join locals and fellow travelers for a respite at the National Gardens, located right in the center of Athens. It is an eclectic, but serene scene, as Fodor's illustrates, "Here old men on the benches argue politics, police officers take their coffee breaks, runners count early-morning jog laps, and animal lovers feed the stray cats that roam among the more than 500 species of trees and plants, many labeled." There is a playground to keep the kids occupied, a café to keep everyone hydrated and a duck pond (inhabited by an army of ducks looking for some bread handouts).

#7 New Acropolis Museum

The Old Acropolis Museum was closed in 2007, primarily due to its lack of space. Subsequently, its contents were moved to the New Acropolis Museum, which opened in the summer of 2009. This dazzling modernist museum at the foot of the Acropolis' southern slope showcases its surviving treasures still in Greek possession. While the collection covers the Archaic and Roman periods, the emphasis is on the Acropolis of the 5th century BC, considered the apotheosis of Greece's artistic achievement. The museum cleverly reveals layers of history, floating over ruins with the Acropolis visible above, showing the masterpieces in context. The surprisingly good-value restaurant has superb views; there is also a fine museum shop.

http://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en

#8 Temple of Olympian Zeus

The Temple of Olympian Zeus was completed in the second century AD by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, more than 600 years after its construction began. Ironically, it was ransacked shortly after. The massive Olympieion, as it's also known, was left in disrepair and quickly devolved into its current state of ruin. Still, it is the largest temple in Greece and remains a popular tourist draw to this day.

http://www.athensguide.com/temple-of-olympian-zeus/

#9 Byzantine & Christian Museum

This outstanding museum on the grounds of former Villa Ilissia, an urban oasis presents a priceless collection of Christian art from the 3rd to 20th centuries. Thematic snapshots of the Byzantine and post-Byzantine world are exceptionally presented in expansive, well-lit, multilevel galleries, clearly arranged chronologically with English translations. The collection includes icons, frescoes, sculptures, textiles, manuscripts, vestments and mosaics. The villa grounds, which sit next to Aristotles Lyceum, include ancient ruins such as the Peisistratos aqueduct.

http://www.byzantinemuseum.gr/en/

#10 Museum of Cycladic Art

The Museum of Cycladic Art is dedicated to the study and promotion of ancient cultures of the Aegean and Cyprus, with special emphasis on Cycladic Art of the 3rd millennium BC.

It was founded in 1986, to house the collection of Nicholas and Dolly Goulandris. Since then it has grown in size to accommodate new acquisitions, obtained either through direct purchases or through donations by important collectors and institutions.

http://www.cycladic.gr/frontoffice/portal.asp?cpage=NODE&cnode=2&clang=1

#11 National Museum of Contemporary Art

The National Museum of Contemporary Art is fairly new since it started operating in 2000. Its’ aim is to offer an official space for contemporary Greek and foreign artists, to organize exhibitions and eventually to build its own collection.

Set in the former Fix Brewery (though you'd never know it, following the massive renovation unveiled in 2015), the city's most prestigious contemporary museum shows exhibitions of Greek and international art in all media, from painting to video to experimental architecture.

Even more sites to visit will follow!

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