Places to visit in Athens

Popularly known as the Port town of Athens, the Piraeus Harbour is one of the best places to visit in Athens with friends and family. Filled with beautiful restaurants, there are several attractions to visit here. You can explore the Nautical Museum, the Piraeus Archaeological Museum along with the seaside taverns. This is an amazing place to indulge in dining out, with several best-in-class restaurants including the famous Margaro restaurant. 

Commonly known as the Hadrian’s Gate, the Hadrian’s Arch is a marble structure, representing the Roman Triumphal Arch. Built to honour the Roman Emperor, this is a prominent historical site in Athens. View the two famous inscriptions on the front and back side of this arch, which depicts the partition between the old and new cities of Athens. 

One of the most talked about attractions in Athens, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus is an open-air theatre, situated at the slopes of the Acropolis towards southwest. Home to some of the world’s best musical performances since the past 60 years, you can get to indulge in watching the ballets and arias live. Look out for the annual Athens & Epidaurus festival, which is very grandly held here. 

Among the most beautiful and pristine places to visit in Athens, the Temple of Hephaestus tops the list. Dedicated to the Greek God of Volcanoes, fire, and blacksmiths, this temple is kept entirely preserved. Some of the main attractions to visit at the temple are the Ancient Agora of Athens, and the Stoa of Attalos. 

Situated right beside the Greek parliament and behind the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the National Garden is a lush green space. With several inviting trails, you can indulge in strolling around this beautiful space. Moreover, one of the highlights here includes the Zappeion Hall, which hosts several events and performances, and is an open-air hall.

Founded in 1930, the Benaki museum is one the most visited museums in Athens, and has an impressive collection of the ancient Greece relics and its colonies. The Benaki Museum depicts the story of the evolution of Greek culture, from the olden times till the present date. Home to over 45,000 objects and artefacts, the collection here is ever-growing.

With its pristine architecture and colourful houses down the hill, Anafiotika is among the most beloved Athens attractions. Situated on a hill, you can view the famous Cycladic architecture in the Anafiotika neighbourhood. This quaint village is also filled with numerous Byzantine churches, which are worth a visit. You can indulge in some beautiful panoramic views from atop the Anafiotika.

Among the oldest temples in Athena, the Temple of Athena Nike is known to be the first of the ionic structures to have been built in Acropolis. Built on a 6 metre stone, extending up to the southwest Acropolis, this temple also offers splendid views. Dedicated to the goddess of victory in Greek mythology, the name Nike literally translates to ‘a form of Athena’. 

Named after the prince of Commagene, the Philopappos Hill is widely known as the ‘Hill of Muses’. This is one of the most visited Athens attractions, and reaches up to147 metres in height, and is fun to scale. Offering magnificent views of the cityscape, the Philopappos Hill is a serene hill, and is also famous for hiking along with some of the most picturesque views of the surrounding areas.

Located in the Kolonaki quarter, founded by the Nicholas and Dolly Goulandris Foundation, the Museum of Cycladic Art is one of the best art centres in Athens. The permanent collection at this museum is home to over 3000 objects and artefacts; representing ancient Greek art. The artefacts housed here date back to as old as the sixth century BC period. 

Honouring the bravehearts, fighters and soldiers of the nation, the Athens War Museum is dedicated to the history of Athens' independence struggle. Filled with several artefacts belonging to the military, you can indulge in learning more about the same. Immerse yourself in the research and study conducted at the museum, and attend the many temporary exhibitions held here. One of the attractions at this museum is the photograph collection, which is a must see.

Offering the best insights into ancient Greek history from the Byzantine period, this museum is home to the rarest Byzantine art collection. Housing over 25000 artefacts, the objects here also belong to the early Christian, mediaeval, and post-Byzantine eras. You can explore the many sculptures, paintings, textiles, icons, and several other craftworks here.

Known as the world’s oldest theatre, the Theatre of Dionysus was founded in the fifth century BC. Discovered in the 18th century, this theatre hosts the annual spring drama festival, wherein you get to view ancient playwrights performances. One of the main attractions here are the stone reliefs, set on stage, portraying the life history of Dionysus. 

Perched at a height of 277 metres above sea level, Mount Lycabettus is known as the highest point in Athens. A circular winding path takes you up this pristine hill, and you can indulge viewing the entire city of Athens from atop. A funicular also operates around this hill, and is a fun experience if visiting with kids. You can also indulge in the cable car experience.

An ancient monument in Athens, the Old Temple of Athena got its name due to repeated construction and restoration of the monument. The new part of the temple is adorned with marble pediments. Get to witness the ruins of the altar, and the original peripheral structure. The temple is home to several artefacts dating back to the period as old as the sixth century BC. 

An ancient marketplace, the Ancient Agora of Athens is a top visited tourist attraction. This is the place wherein several conferences, events and assemblies took place. One of the main attractions to visit here includes the Temple of Hephaestus, which is a famous ancient temple. Get to explore around some of the most remarkable buildings and structures, which are present around the Agora. 

One of the most prominent museums around the world, the National Archaeological Museum is the largest archaeological museum in Greece. Offering more than 11,000 exhibits, with over five permanent collections and about 8000 square metres of exhibition space, this museum is a must visit. Some notable highlights of this museum are the Prehistoric Collection, the Sculpture Collection, the Vase and Decorative Objects Collection, and many more.

If visiting Athens with your friends and family, do not forget to visit the grand Syntagma square, located right in front of the Hellenic Parliament. One of the best things to do here is to attend the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Syntagma Square, which is an exciting experience. The Syntagma Square is adorned with a marble relief as well, which provides further details about the history of Athens. 

Also known as the Olympieion, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, was once the largest temple in Greece. Dating back to the sixth century BC, one of the notable attractions here is the Hadrian’s Arch. View the architecturally famous Roman baths, along with the ancient marble column ruins. Taking a tour of this historically famous temple is one of the best things to do when visiting Athens. 

One of the most visited attractions in Athens is the Acropolis museum, home to the rarest and the most expensive Greek ancient art collections around the world. Spread across 25000 square metres, housing over 14000 square metres of exhibition space, this space resembles an ancient Athenian neighbourhood. This is one of the best places to visit in Athens in the afternoon; when it's sunny outside.

Dedicated to an important aspect in Greek mythology, the Parthenon is constructed in the Doric order. In the ancient times, this temple was known to be the monument to democracy, and was also attributed to the victory of Athenian’s’ in the Greco-Persian wars. Filled with sculptures portraying Greek art, this is a must visit Athena attraction, with friends and family. 

The Athens Acropolis is one of the most historically significant structures; and is known to be a symbol of the ancient civilization of Athens. One of the most notable attractions here is the Parthenon monument; dating back to 447 BC. Some other attractions to visit here include the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and the Porch of the Caryatids. One of the best times to visit the Acropolis of Athens is during the sunset to indulge in beautiful panoramic views of the city. 

An ancient marketplace of Athens; the Roman Agora was the primary centre of daily life of people. One of the most notable attractions here is the Stoa of Attalos, which is an ancient Agora, initially constructed by King Attalos II. Another famous attraction to visit at the Roman Agora is the Temple of Hephaestus, which reaches up to the beautiful Agora Hill. 

A historically significant site, the Monument of Philopappos is home to several attractions to visit when in Athens. Indulge in strolling around this beautiful space, and discover some of the top attractions. Visit the Prison of Socrates, the Tombs of Kimon, and view the Acropolis and Parthenon. Made of white marble, the Monument of Philopappos is decorated with statues.