Athens

The Acropolis, Athens.

A unique mix of historic Athens and modern day Mediterranean culture

Athens, which sprawls well beyond its official limits, is unlike any other European capital. Home to roughly one-third of the Greek population, its fabric has been woven by successive waves of migrants – initially from the Greek provinces, today from abroad – since it was designed and built in the early 19th century. The Greek capital may exhibit all the trappings of a big city but at heart it remains a small town. From the air, Athens is an amorphous grey mass; at ground level, it dissolves into neighbourhoods, each separate yet each a part of the rest of the city.

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Top Highlights in Athens

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Acropolis
Attraction
5.0
The symbol of Athens
Benaki Museum
Museum
4.8
World-renowned collection of Islamic art
Inside Bios
Bar/Pub
5.0
Trendy spot with avant-garde beats
Cycladic Art Museum
Museum
4.8
The Nicholas P. Goulandris Foundation
Museum of Greek Folk Art
Museum
4.5
A collection of secular and religious folk art,
National Archaeological Museum.
Museum
5.0
A world class archaeological collection
National Gardens
Attraction
4.5
Subtropical trees, winding paths and ornamental ponds
Oinomageirio to Paradosiakó
Restaurant
4.8
The traditional wine-and-food place
Plaka shopping area
Attraction
4.5
The oldest section of Athens
View from Spondi
Restaurant
5.0
Elegance, exquisiteness and authenticity
Temple of Olympian Zeus - featured
Attraction
4.5
Naos tou Olimpiou Dios
Theatre of Dionysos
Attraction
4.7
The oldest theatre in Greece
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Noteworthy Guides to Athens

Giorgos's Guide to Charming Athens
24 Hours
Food, art and shopping
As the former editor in chief for one of the most successful lifestyle magazines in Greece, I was ...
Romance (for two) in Athens
Romance
History and romance go hand in hand
Athens is by definition a romantic city, although romance is sometimes short lived in crowded ...
Discover Plaka and Acropolis
Athens' most popular neighborhoods
The areas around Plaka and Acropolis are the oldest, most charming, and richest in history and ...
Shop like the locals in Athens
Shopping
Shop like the locals in Athens
Athens is the shopping capital of Greece, a place where you can find everything from bargain ...
Nightlife in Athens
After Dark
Groovy nights, fun for everyone
Athens is one of those world cities that never sleep. During the day, the tourists crawl at ...
Athens off the beaten path
Discover Athens the local way
Athenians won't crawl up to see the Acropolis, but instead, they enjoy strolling down the ...
Evzones changing the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Athens in a day
Most tourists flock to Acropolis, Athens' iconic landmark, but the best views of the monument are ...
The Best of Athens with Fashion Designer Digitaria
24 Hours
Fashionista's favorities
Welcome to my hometown Athens! Being a fashion designer, I love locking myself up in my atelier and ...
The Acropolis from a cafe in Athens
Art & Culture
Top things to do in Athens
Athens is the ultimate travel destination for history buffs: the place is rich in cultural ...
Top 10 selection (based on user ratings)
Athens has a wealth of good hotels for every budget, most ideally located in the proximity of some ...
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Neighborhoods in Athens

ExarchiaKolonakiMonastirakiOmonia SquarePlakaPsirriSyngrou Syntagma Square

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Exarchia

A smart, rustic, Bohemian affair
Exarchia is still a bit anarchist in its tone
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Things to do
  • Nightlife

Known for its appeal to intellectuals and artists, Exarchia is a colorful neighborhood, unmistakably Bohemiam in tone. Small shops, rustic taverns, and traditional cafes here cater to university students, and visitors can expect more quaint alleys lined with neoclassical architecture too.

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Kolonaki

Home of Athens' elite
Lycabettus Hill
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Things to do
  • Nightlife

Athens' most exclusive neighborhood, Kolonaki is where glamorous socialites and foreign dignitaries mingle, shop, and play. Designer shops and boutiques here compliment the chic bar and restaurant scene. Syntagma Square, Mount Lycabettus, and many of the city’s best museums can also be found here.

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Monastiraki

One giant flea market
Tzisdarakis Mosque
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Things to do
  • Nightlife

Another neighborhood in the shadow of the Acropolis, Monastiraki is small but significant area situated around a quaint pedestrian square. Here an ancient Byzantine church watches over the antique booths, leather vendors, and all Ifaistou Street’s myriad mixture of marketable goods.

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Omonia Square

Athens twentyfour seven
Omonia Square traffic
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Things to do
  • Nightlife

Omonia Square, Athens' oldest city square, is a busy hub where six major roads conjoin. Once considered the most beautiful area in all Athens, it is now one of the city’s busiest commercial centers. Visitors can expect upscale hotels, along with round the clock action within this bustling area.

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Plaka

Athens' oldest residential district
The charming closeness of Kydathenaion Street, Plaka
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Things to do
  • Nightlife

Athens' oldest neighborhood, Plaka is famous for its neoclassical mansions. Residential for eons, today trendy cafes and taverns temp Athens' guests with ouzo and meze, not to mention dining in the shadow of the the Acropolis itself. The area is also perfectly located for that weekend stopover.

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Psirri

Athens' hippest quarter
Psirri
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Things to do
  • Nightlife

Psirri, once famous for leather tanneries, has had a transformation of epic proportions. What was a dull commercial district, has become Athens' hippest neighborhood. Old warehouses here became some of the city’s most fashionable bars, while workshops were transformed into chic art galleries.

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Syngrou

Ideal for business travelers
Syngrou
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Things to do
  • Nightlife

Syngrou gets its name from the Andrea Syngrou Avenue, known for some of the largest nightclubs and bouzoukia in Athens. Here you’ll find some of the city’s most modern hotels and conference centers, which make the neighborhood attractive for business travelers.

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Syntagma Square

In the middle of everything, quite literally
Syntagma Square
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Things to do
  • Nightlife

Adjacent to the picturesque Plaka neighborhood, Syntagma Square is a busy transportation hub of Athens. Greece’s Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the city’s most fashionable shops await visitors here. Syntagma metro station is also only moments from anywhere you need to be.

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