Athens

What to see and do in Athens?

According to Greek legends, Greece was created during a competition between the Goddess Poseidon and Athena. As they both had an eye on the city, Zeus told them to both bring him the most useful gift. Poseidon brought him a horse and Athena brought him an olive tree (the symbol of peace). With this, Goddess Athena won the competition. This is why Athens was named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom and protection.

Athens is a mix of ancient influences and modern adjustments that have been made for the Olympics. The city of Athens has a village-like atmosphere; and even though the city is surrounded by many cars, you will find that you will not notice this. But most of all, Athens is known for its old artifacts.

One of these remainders is the Acropolis,(mountain) the symbol of Athens. This is a famous spot when the sun goes down in the late afternoon. On the top of the Acropolis, light shows are held from April till October. On the South side of the Acropolis you can find the Theater of Dionysus. The most important temple on the Acropolis is the Parthenon, exhibiting the remains of the influences of the Christian and Islamic periods.

If you are on the top of the Acropolis you have a panoramic view on the neighborhood Plaka and Anafiotika, which you can easily get to by foot. In the summer months these little neighborhoods are filled with tourists. These cities are known for their picturesque views of a labyrinth with small windy streets with cubed houses stacked closely together and balconies full of colorful plants.

Another must see in Athens is the temple of Zeus, one of the largest temples in Greece.

If you go to the central market in the center of Athens you should eat at the meat market section. There is a restaurant that only serves traditional Greek dishes called Ipeiros. You can also take a cable car to the peak of Lykavittos and watch the sunset and eat in a fancy restaurant. And off course you should go clubbing or go to a live music cafe and dance the traditional Sirtaki dance; where you dance all together in one line and hold each other on both shoulders.

Thinking of going on a city tour bus and seeing all of Athens? Catch the 'hop-on-hop- off-bus'. The bus operates in the summer months between 09.00 and 19.00.

Want to make your own way through the city? There are 3 main metro lines that bring you to all parts of the city. A single fare costs 0.80 cents and is valid for 90 min. You can also get a day pass for 3 Euro, or a weekly pass for 10 Euro.

Interested in catching a ferry and exploring the neighboring islands of Greece? Simply go to Piraes (harbor in Athens where you can catch ferries to the islands of Greece and even other countries such as Turkey and Italy).

Want to come to Greece this summer? Book a Hostel in Athens today!

Also check our other articles: on Holiday in Greece and Island hopping in Greece