Antiquity and modernity in Athens

Athens, which is located in the historic landscape of Attica, is known for its thousands of years of history, in which traces of antiquity, but also of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman rule can be found. To this day, the city is dotted with countless monuments worth seeing, which not only history fans and culture lovers must see with their own eyes. The Acropolis and the Daphnis Monastery, which have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, are just two examples of sights in Athens - we present eight more places that you should visit on your trip to Athens!

1. the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum

If you are in Athens, there is no way around the Acropolis - not least because the rock on which the famous temple complex is located towers above everything as one of the highest elevations in Attica. And the climb up the 156 metre high rock is well worth it, as the ancient city fortifications with numerous temples are located on its summit. Along the way, you will pass the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and the Theatre of Dionysus - and always have a fantastic view of the Acropolis. While the Theatre of Dionysus was the most important theatre in ancient Greece, where comedy and tragedy were created, the Roman Odeon of Herodes Atticus still hosted theatre performances and concerts.

Once at the top, you can see the world-famous open-air museum, which consists of the Parthenon and Erechtheion temples. There are also the ruins of the Temple of Athena Nike, the Eleusinion and the Propylon, the gateway to the Acropolis. From here, you can look out over the rooftops of Athens to the harbours of Piraeus. After a walk or a guided tour, you should definitely visit the Acropolis Museum at the foot of the Acropolis Rock. Even though many of the friezes on display are replicas, as the originals are in the British Museum in London, you can get closer to ancient Greek history in the museum and there may always be something new to discover, as the Acropolis is - due to the ongoing excavations - a constant construction site that brings new things to light.

2. the Agora and the Temple of Hephaestus

In ancient times, the Agora was the central meeting place of Athena, where not only political discussions were held and the foundations for democracy were laid, but also festivals, theatre performances and concerts took place. The 2,000-year-old history can still be sensed in the many preserved fountains, sculptures and columns. The most astonishing is certainly the huge temple of Hephaestus, made of gleaming marble and dedicated to the god of blacksmithing. It is one of the best-preserved temples in Greece, as not only are all 34 columns of the temple still standing, but parts of the original ceiling have also been preserved. If you want to visit the place where people discussed, philosophised, politicised and traded over 2000 years ago, you will find it in the extensive porticoes of the Stoa of Attalos. The Stoa also houses the Agora Museum, where you can learn even more about the events on the former marketplace.

3. the Hadrian's Library and Hadrian's Gate

Hadrian was a Roman emperor in the 2nd century who proved to be an art-loving philhellene during his reign and donated many buildings to the city. He had the Roman Agora extended, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, which had already been started in the 6th century BC, completed and Hadrian's Gate built. In 132, he also had a library built, which would probably have had space for two reading and lecture rooms on three floors and a total of more than 20,000 scrolls. The Corinthian marble columns of the west façade are still preserved today. The ruins are located in the heart of Athens, in the historic centre of Plaka and near Monastiraki Square.

4 Syntagma Square

After visiting the many ancient sites of Athens, Syntagma Square is like travelling back in time to modern times. The square in the heart of the city is the Constitution Square, where the parliament building, built in 1837, is located. Tourists, but also Athenians, come to the square to linger by the fountain, on the green areas or under the trees in front of the parliament building after a shopping trip along Odoes Ermou. Markets, events and parades generally take place here. A highlight on Syntagma Square is the changing of the guard: every hour you can watch the elaborately choreographed military act. The Evzones are easily recognisable by their traditional uniform of a white skirt and shoes with pompoms.

5 The Olympieion

Even in ancient times, the Temple of Olympian Zeus was one of the largest temples, surpassed only by a few other buildings. Even today, the Olympieion is one of the most monumental temples in Greece, as the 16 Corinthian-style columns still tower high into the sky, around 500 metres east of the Acropolis. It is well worth a visit, especially with the knowledge of its complicated construction history: the temple construction began in the 6th century BC, but was only completed in the 2nd century AD during the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. With a bit of luck, you might spot a special highlight of the attraction: one of the Greek tortoises that have taken up residence on the site!

6th Plaka neighbourhood

Street cafés, small jewellery and clothing shops, family-run tavernas: you'll find all this in the old town district of Plaka on a hill in front of the Acropolis. Walking through the winding streets, in many corners you have the feeling of being in an old medieval village rather than in the metropolis of Athens. There are several museums in the city's oldest neighbourhood that are particularly worth a visit for art enthusiasts: the Frissiras Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Folk Art or - for families with children - the Museum of Greek Children's Art. The best thing to do is to stroll through the popular neighbourhood, discover the Lysikrates Monument and the Tower of the Winds, and then enjoy a mocha in one of the charming cafés or watch a classic film outdoors at Cine Paris!

7th Panathinaiko Stadium

Athens' Panathinaiko Stadium is also known as Kallimarmaro (Greek Καλλιμάρμαρο), which can be translated into German as "beautiful marble". The unique marble stadium was the venue of the ancient Olympic Games, where up to 50,000 people could watch the Panathenaic Games in the 2nd century. For the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, the ancient ruins were extended to accommodate 80,000 people. For fans of the Olympic Games, a visit to the ancient stadium is an absolute must!

8 The National Garden

The National Garden is a wonderful oasis in the middle of the bustling city. Covering 24 hectares, it is home to over 500 rare plant and animal species, especially birds, seven lakes, a conservatory, a children's library and a small café. The national park, where King Amalia is said to have spent up to three hours a day tending to the rare plants, is a great place to spend hours and find some relaxation from sightseeing. At the heart of the National Garden is also the Zappeion Hall, where you can visit changing exhibitions on Greek history and mythology.

9th neighbourhood of Exarchia

The neighbourhood of Exarchia is a special part of Athens. It is known as the starting point for many (political) mobilisations, but is also one of the most original and colourful neighbourhoods in the city. As you wander through the streets and marvel at the urban art, you will find many book and record shops, second-hand shops as well as bars and cafés that are more alternative than the usual shops in well-known shopping streets. The district is also home to a large park and - one kilometre away - the National Archaeological Museum. It is the largest museum in the country and has one of the most important collections of Greek antiquities, consisting of more than 11,000 artefacts collected from all over the world. An absolute must on your travel list for cultural holidaymakers!

10th Lycabettus Hill

If you're still looking for the perfect view of all the sights of Athens, Lycabettus Hill will make your heart beat faster. At 277 metres above sea level, Lycabettus (also known as Lykavitos) is the highest point in Athens and is a bit of a challenge to climb, but rewards you with a spectacular view. Alternatively, you can take a cable car to the summit, from where you can look out over the entire city as far as the Aegean Sea. It is most impressive in the evening when the Acropolis, the Olympieion, the Panathinaiko Stadium and the Angora are illuminated. Climbing the Lycabettus on the beautiful circular path can be the perfect end to your trip to Athens to marvel at everything you've seen from above!

Sights in Attica

Anyone leaving the cultural metropolis of Athens and travelling to other regions of Attica will first be greeted by a typical Greek landscape of olive groves, vineyards and orchards. If you venture further into the mountainous landscape, you can discover deep forests, secluded gorges and expansive beaches - a real paradise for nature lovers! But the Attica region is also a historical landscape, where many mythologically and historically significant events took place and are waiting to be explored by you!