Rumor has it among airliners that the most beautiful city to see from the air is none other than Athens. With its rolling hills, vast olive groves, palm-lined coastal streets and sprawling urban area on the Attica peninsula, the views are breathtaking. But once they land, visitors are greeted with a surprising truth: this European capital is very different to the slower-paced traditional Greek countryside.
There are countless things to see and events to attend. The quirky architecture and urban planning, a growing population of over 3 million, and the extensive list of “must sees” can be overwhelming. To save you time, we’ve handpicked a list of the top 10 places to visit in Athens (also read this article for a list of must-visit museums in Athens).
1. Acropolis Hill
Monastiraki Square and Acropolis Hill, Athens, Jimmy Teo, Source: Pexels
Athens has at least seven hills of historical importance, but the most famous is the Acropolis, the high ground of the polis (city). This limestone structure is more than just a citadel; since ancient times it has been a major religious site and the center of the building projects of the infamous Pericles.
Carried out during the Greek classical period, this project included the construction of great temples made from Pentelic marble. The temples were dedicated to the ancient Greek gods, the most famous being the Parthenon, associated with the goddess Athena, the patron deity of the city. Other temples include, but are not limited to, the Erechtheion, the Sanctuary of Zeus Polieus, and the Temple of Athena Nike.
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Acropolis: Propylaea and Temple of Athena Nike. Athens, c.1930, Nellys, source: Benaki Museum
Today, the Acropolis Hill is one of the most popular archaeological sites in Greece. Although it is no longer used for religious ceremonies, it stands as a symbol of Greece’s classical period. After all, Athens is known as the “cradle of Western civilization” and its main landmark, the Parthenon, has become a universal symbol of Western ideas and values.
Thision and the Acropolis, Gallinas Angelos, 1895, Source: National Gallery of Greece
Located in the heart of the city, the Acropolis Hill can be reached via the iconic Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, near the Acropolis Museum and the Acropolis Metro Station. Regular admission costs around €20, depending on the season, although children under 5 and young European citizens can enter for free. On certain Sundays and certain days, admission is free for all visitors.
2. Plaka and Anafiotika
A coffee house in Athens during the parliamentary elections of 1956. Athens, 1956. Dimitris A. Harisiadis, Source: Benaki Museum
Surrounding the Acropolis Hill are two of Athens’ most picturesque districts. The streets and low-rise houses of Plaka and Anafiotika are often featured on Athens postcards. With limited car access to the area, both districts offer a haven from the hustle and bustle of the city. Although the names are often used interchangeably to describe the northeastern area around the Acropolis Hill, each district has its own unique character and charm.
Plaka is one of the oldest districts of Athens, known for its neoclassical buildings, iconic art cafés, outdoor cinemas and numerous souvenir shops. Visitors are encouraged to explore the charm of the district by wandering its narrow lanes, which will allow them to discover various galleries and lesser known museums such as the Frissilas Museum.
Due to the large tourist draw around Acropolis Hill, it’s not uncommon to come across a variety of tourist shops in Plaka, but exploring this neighborhood is a must if you’re visiting Athens for the first time.
Anafiotika is a unique neighbourhood within Plaka, accessible from Prytaneiou Street, just behind the Byzantine Church of St. Nicholas Lagavas. In contrast to Plaka’s elegant neoclassical buildings, with their distinctive ornate pediments and symmetrical façades, Anafiotika’s houses exude a rustic feel. Wandering the alleyways that lead into the neighbourhood, one feels like entering a gateway to the Cyclades.
Anafiotika, 1899, Xydias Nikolaos, Source: National Gallery of Greece
Anafiotika is an island-like exclave within Athens that was established in the late 19th century by the builders of the Royal Palace of Athens (now known as the Greek Parliament). Locals and tourists distinguish it by its whitewashed cubic houses, hemmed cobblestone alleyways, and vibrant bougainvillea flowerpots that are characteristic of Cycladic architecture. This is because the island’s first inhabitants were from Anafi, hence the name “Anafiotika.”
3. Syntagma Square and 4. National Garden
Royal Gardens with the Acropolis and Philopappos Hill, 1901, Iakovidis Georgios, | Source: National Gallery of Greece
After visiting the Acropolis Hill, Plaka and Anafiotika, travelers often end up in a less touristy part of Athens. Just one metro stop from the Acropolis is Syntagma Square, one of the most common meeting points for Athenians. In this square, you can admire the Greek Parliament and the old Royal Palace of Athens, and also witness the changing of the guard ceremony in front of the nearby Monument to the Unknown Soldier.
Just a short distance from Syntagma Square, a green oasis awaits those who wish to escape the concrete jungle that is the heart of Athens. Tall palm trees beckon visitors as they pass through the green iron gates. The Athens National Garden was designed in 1840 by German agronomist Friedrich Schmidt at the request of the first queen of Greece, Amalia von Oldenburg. Initially known as the “Royal Garden”, the park features ponds, a zoo with small animals, and a wide variety of plants from around the world. If you’re lucky, you can see non-indigenous birds, including an exotic green parrot, darting from tree to tree. It’s not clear whether these birds were released by Schmidt himself or somehow managed to find their way to the gardens. But the sight is truly amazing.
The park is open to the public from sunrise to sunset and admission is free. The area is guarded by security guards, making the National Gardens considered a very safe place for locals and tourists alike.
5. Zappeion
View of the Zappeion in Athens, Spiros Vassiliou, 1982, Source: Bonhams
Right next to the National Gardens is one of the oldest conference and exhibition centers in Greece. The Zappeion (Megaro) is a palatial building following the Neoclassical architectural movement, which served as the main fencing hall during the 1896 Summer Olympics and the Olympic Village in 1906.
Besides the palatial building, visitors can admire the beautiful surrounding Zappeion Gardens, which include a children’s playground and a 2,400 square meter atrium and patio. In contrast to the National Gardens, the Zappeion Gardens are less crowded and people can freely enter and exit at any time of the day. For this very reason, it is advisable to avoid visiting the area late at night.
6. Temple of Olympian Zeus
View of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, 1853-1854, James Robertson, Source: Benaki Museum
Another important landmark in the city of Athens is the Temple of Olympian Zeus, or simply Olympieion. Located just next to the southwestern part of the Zappeion, its ruins are a reminder of the city’s rich past. The temple was built in the 6th century BC by the tyrants of Athens on the site of an older open-air sanctuary of Zeus. More than 600 years later, the Roman Emperor Hadrian expanded the structure by adding 104 giant columns. Today, visitors can see 16 of them, as the original structure suffered from barbarian invasions and natural disasters.
7. Panathenaic Stadium
Panathenaic Stadium under blue sky, Ali Menoufi, Source: Pexels
Less than a 10-minute walk from Zappeion and Olympieion, you’ll find another important Athens landmark. The Panathenaic Stadium (also known as Callimarmaro) is an open-air U-shaped stadium that has hosted various sporting competitions and cultural events for centuries. Made entirely of marble, the stadium is known for its striking design. Originally built of limestone, it was later rebuilt as a marble structure by Herodes Atticus in 144. In modern times, the stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1896 Olympic Games, as well as several sporting events.
8. Ancient Agora of Athens
North facade of the Odeon, painting by John Travlos, 1948, Source: Classical Academy of America
If you head northwest from the Panathenaic Stadium towards central Athens, you’ll enter the city’s ancient marketplace (agora). The agora was actually more than just a commercial district; Athenians discussed politics and many of their greatest ideas were born here. The agora was also a meeting place for sculptors and marble cutlers, including Phidias, Alcamenes, and Praxiteles.
Currently, visitors can enter the Agora and its museum from 8am to 6pm via Adrianou Street, just a few minutes from Monastiraki Square. The Temple of Hephaestus and other important landmarks are found within the Agora archaeological site. Tickets cost between 5 and 10 euros, but there are many free admission days throughout the year.
9. Kerameikos Cemetery
Stele of the Kerameikos Cemetery in Athens, photograph by William James Stillman, source: Metropolitan Museum of Art
A short walk from the Ancient Agora is the Kerameikos archaeological site and museum of the same name. Dating back to the early Bronze Age, the museum displays part of Athens’ ancient cemetery and brings forgotten rituals to life. At first glance, the site looks like an ordinary park, but look closely and you’ll notice the remains of monumental tombs, statues and walls.
Moreover, the Kerameikos Museum reveals more about the religious beliefs of the ancient Athenians: recent archaeological discoveries in the area, for example, prove that even in classical times, locals used the dead in occult rituals, burying cursed slabs in newly dug graves in the hope that the dead would carry them to the underworld, home of Hecate, the goddess of magic.
The entrance to Kerameikos is located just off Thission metro station, in the pedestrianised area of Ermou Street. Tickets cost between 4 and 8 euros, but there are a number of free days throughout the year, including 28th October.
10. Pnyx
View of the Pnyx and Acropolis in Athens, Markus Winkler, Source: Pexels
Athens is home to many historic hills, but most visitors fail to visit them all during their trip. Besides the Acropolis, another important hill in Athens is the Pnyx. Since 507 BC, ancient Athenians have gathered on this rocky hill to attend ecclesia (assembly) and discuss politics. Important figures such as Pericles and Demosthenes have given historic speeches here, and visitors can freely access it by following the various alleys of the historic center.
A visit to this place not only offers breathtaking views of Athens and the Acropolis, but also allows you to see the first bema (speaking platform) ever erected in the birthplace of democracy. The hill is open to the public day and night and there is no admission fee. The easiest and quickest way to get there is to follow the alleyway that leads from Doridis Observatory to the Hill of the Nymphs. The exact location of the bema can be reached within 15 minutes from Thissio station.
