What to see in athens: TOP-20 interesting places

Plaka District

Athens is an ancient city, so start your acquaintance with it from the oldest attractions. One such place to visit is the Plaka district. The oldest historical district of the city lies in the shadow of the equally ancient hill — the Acropolis. The labyrinths of narrow shady streets, entwined with greenery and flowers, form a whimsical pattern, taking you back in time, slowing time down. Here, you should wander among the old traditional Greek houses and then stop in one of the hospitable small taverns to experience Greek hospitality firsthand.

Acropolis

After strolling through Plaka, don't be lazy to climb the Acropolis. Everyone is probably familiar with this flat-topped rock crowned with a classic Greek temple. In the distant past, it was adorned with numerous temples and sculptures, but today, all that remains of this splendor are the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and the famous Parthenon.

The hill offers a beautiful view of the city spread out below, and its temples are an excellent place to get acquainted with the culture and history of Ancient Greece.

Areopagus Hill

Want to see Athens from a height? It's simple! Just climb Areopagus Hill, located in the northwest part of the Acropolis. Once the center of public life in Athens, today, Ares' Hill (as its name translates) has become a favorite spot for tourists, as it offers a stunning view of the city!

National Archaeological Museum of Athens

Greece in general and Athens, in particular, can rightfully be considered one large open-air museum. Still, to explore the richest architectural and sculptural heritage of Hellas, you should visit the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. Here, more than 20,000 exhibits from different eras, from early civilizations to antiquity, are collected. Ancient ceramics, statuettes, household items, bronze artifacts, jewelry — you can't list everything. So, take your time and head to the unexplored places!

The entrance fee is €12 from April 1 to October 31, and €6 from November 1 to March 31.

Benaki Museum

Your acquaintance with the culture and history of Greece will be incomplete if you do not include the Benaki Museum in your "tourist list". Yes, it is dedicated to archaeology (which is no surprise, since Greece is famous for its archaeological finds). But its rich collection will surely leave you indifferent, as the artifacts presented here cover a time period starting from the Paleolithic era!

Moreover, in the museum, you can familiarize yourself not only with the heritage of Greek culture but also with Andean, Islamic, and Chinese cultures. Sculptures, paintings, icons, jewelry, and dishes — all this will immerse you in past eras and reveal the charm of ancient times.

Entrance fee — €30. Every Thursday and May 18 (Museum Day) admission is free.

You can book a hotel with a discount of up to 65% on the website.

National Garden

There is nothing more desirable for a tired tourist than rest in peace and quiet. In Athens, the best place for this is the National Garden. It's easy to find: the garden is located near Syntagma Square, right behind the Parliament building.

Shady alleys will save you from the heat, and the pond will provide refreshing coolness. In addition, ancient ruins, remnants of columns, and ancient mosaics have been preserved in the garden. There is also a mini-zoo and a botanical museum, so you certainly won’t be bored.

Museum of Greek Folk Art

Greece is not only a place of ancient statues and temples, as it may seem. To get to know this country more deeply, a tourist should visit the Museum of Greek Folk Art. This is where the entire splendor of folk crafts is gathered! Here you will find wooden, metal, and clay items, richly decorated with carvings and inlays, and an entire hall dedicated to traditional carnival costumes. There is also an exhibition of silver items and weapons, and here you can see puppets from the national theater Karagiozis, depicting scenes from the everyday life of Athens.

Entrance fee — €8 in the summer season, €4 in the winter season. Every first Sunday of the month, admission is free.

Theatre of Dionysus

Many have probably heard of the famous Greek amphitheaters, but few know that the oldest of them is located in Athens. The Theatre of Dionysus dates back to the 5th century BC! It was here that the works of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Aristophanes were staged, and the theater could accommodate 17,000 spectators.

Today, a favorite pastime for tourists is testing the theater's fantastic acoustics: if one person stays in the orchestra and speaks, and another climbs to the very top row, they will hear every single word. Don't be lazy to try it yourself!

Church of Agios Eleftherios

At first, you might not even notice the Church of Agios Eleftherios and just walk by. But that would be a mistake. This small 12th-century church is considered one of the most beautiful in the city. The graceful marble structure with intricate carvings on the walls evokes a sense of wonderful peace and tranquility.

Museum of Cycladic Art

Another must-visit spot for those who cannot imagine their life without new knowledge. At the Museum of Cycladic Art, you will learn about the daily life and culture of civilizations inhabiting the Aegean Sea coast and Cyprus. The collection includes particularly interesting figurines depicting scenes of ancient life: hunting, family scenes, daily activities, and more. Here you can also see rare Cypriot antiques: items made of gold and silver, bronze, and glass of amazing craftsmanship.

Tower of the Winds

Despite its romantic name, the tower serves a rather prosaic purpose today—it houses a weather station. Nonetheless, it's worth a visit: the tower features hydraulic clocks that indicate time by the sun, and the structure itself is a living monument of architecture (built in the 1st century BC). The friezes of the tower depicting wind gods are especially interesting. Underneath their figures, you can see the markings of the sundial, as the tower was used as a giant clock.

Ceramic District Museum

The Ceramic District Museum is named for a reason. In the eponymous district, potters and sculptors have settled and worked since ancient times, and many interesting finds have been made here.

The museum boasts the largest collection of statues, sculptural groups, and compositions from the ancient period. In the museum's inner courtyard, you will find the gem of the collection—the statue of the Bull of Dionysus (340 BC). Of course, there is also an abundance of ancient ceramics, jewelry, and household items.

Ticket price — €8.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Greece has long been renowned for its love of music, which is why famous amphitheaters were so popular in Hellas. One of them still operates to this day.

The Odeon, an amphitheater on the southern slope of the Agora, is an ancient venue for musical events that has preserved its functions to this day. This majestic structure has been remarkably well-preserved and today serves as the central cultural stage of Athens. Festivals, concerts, and theatrical performances take place here (for example, the Athens Festival runs from May to October).

Temple of Hephaestus

Athens is firmly associated with elegant ancient temples by tourists, but it is a mistake to think that they are all alike. Each temple is unique in its own way, and you can only check this by visiting it yourself.

To do this, we recommend you visit the Temple of Hephaestus — one of the best-preserved temples of Ancient Greece.

Piraeus Harbour

Greece would not be Greece without the sea, as the entire history of the country is closely intertwined with this mighty element. Therefore, treat yourself to a walk in the Athenian port of Piraeus. It will share with you not only the sea air and magnificent views but also its interesting history and notes on modern life. The view of the city from the waterfront is simply magical: clusters of white houses against the backdrop of the azure sky and the deep blue sea will captivate you at first sight!

Monastiraki Flea Market

If you want to immerse yourself in the vibrant and bustling life of Athens, be sure to visit Monastiraki Flea Market—the city's oldest trading square. Today, it's a sprawling flea market where everyone will find something to their liking. Every day from 8:00 AM, a colorful event unfolds here called "Greek trade". Even if you don't plan to buy anything, take a stroll among the vendors, observing the lively trading and soaking in the atmosphere of real Athenian life.

The Erechtheion

While on the Acropolis, don't miss the chance to visit the Erechtheion Temple, where ancient Greeks worshipped Poseidon and Athena. Today, not much remains of its former splendor, but the temple still retains its grandeur and beauty and deserves to be visited. The statues of the Caryatids, adorning one of its porches, are especially noteworthy.

Cape Sounion

If you are a romantic at heart, we know an interesting place in Athens that you will definitely love! We're talking about Cape Sounion. You might ask, what's the point of traveling an hour from Athens for some cape?

It's because here you can witness breathtaking sunsets over the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon, as access is open here daily without restrictions. And before you return to Athens, make a wish—legend has it that it will definitely come true!

Mount Lycabettus

Arguably, the most colorful and extensive panorama of Athens unfolds from here—from Mount Lycabettus (or Lykavittos), the highest point in the city's vicinity. In addition to the impressive view, at the summit stands the Chapel of St. George and an open-air theater where musical performances and concerts take place.

Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum

Want to know what jewelry was in fashion in Greece in different epochs? It's easy! Visit the Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum and see for yourself.

The museum's collection boasts over 4,000 exhibits: jewelry, decorative objects made of precious metals, and small sculptures. And that's not all— the permanent exhibition includes items from the museum's founder, jeweler Ilias Lalaounis, while the temporary exhibition tells the history of jewelry-making worldwide.