Destination Athens

WHY VISIT ATHENS

Fascinating and mysterious  Greece’s city, Athens has been the nerve center of literature, art, and philosophy. The homeland of Socrates and Plato, the history of Athens begins a myth that attributes the building of the city to the goddess Athena. But Athens is not just history, myths and legends, it is also modernity, street vendors with their colorful clothes, taverns, night clubs, and outdoor theaters.

Made even more beautiful by the 2004 Olympics, Athens is ready to welcome you and to take you through its magical streets steeped in history and its monuments that speak of adventures and conquests.

WHAT TO SEE IN ATHENS

Top attractions not to be missed are:

• Acropolis: Parthenon, Erechtheion, Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike
• Temple of Hephaestus
• Temple of Olympian Zeus
• Herod Atticus Odeon
• Ancient Agora of Athens
• Plaka neighborhood
• National Archaeological Museum
• Plateia Syntagmatos (Syntagma Square)
• Monastiraki

Following instead some hidden spots of the city that only locals know!

• Anafiotika
• National Garden
• Church of Kapnikarea
• Protogenous street
• Dionisiou Aeropagitou
• Mount Lycabettus

WHEN TO GO TO ATHENS

The best period to visit Athens is from April to October.

Following a list of main events and typical festivals and celebrations of Athens.

• Athens & Epidaurus Festival

HOW TO REACH AND MOVE IN ATHENS

The main airport is the Athens International Airport

public transport

download the transportation map

WHAT TO DO IN ATHENS

typical dishes of Athens:

• Dolmades, stuffed vine leaves;
• Gemista, tomatoes, peppers, and courgettes, stuffed with rice and oven-baked;
• Gigantes, big butter beans baked in a rich tomato sauce with olive oil;
• Moussaka, aubergine casserole with minced lamb, cinnamon, red wine, and olive oil);
• Calamari, deep-fried rings of squid or octopus;
• Souvlaki, spit-roasted meat, generally pork or chicken;
• Stifado, rich beef stew with caramelized onions, cinnamon and cloves;
• Kokkinisto, a rich stew of either beef, pork or chicken cooked with red wine and tomatoes;
• Horiatiki, salad of feta cheese, tomato, cucumber, green peppers, black Kalamata olives, and fresh olive oil;
• Krasi, wine – lefko is white, kokkino is red;
• Retsina, wine made with pine-needle resin;
• Ouzo, an aniseed-based clear spirit to which water is added;
• Raki, a sharp and fiery spirit made from distilled grapes;
• Metaxa, a Greek spirit, similar to brandy;
• Greek coffee, thick and strong, and sugar according to taste;
• Frappe, frothy iced coffee made from Nescafe and drunk through a straw;

typical souvenirs of Athens are:

• Woven bags;
• Hand-painted Byzantine Icons;
• Rugs;
• Ceramics such as hand-made replicas of amphoras, wall-hangings, decorative plates, and cups;
• Hand-made leather sandals;
• Bouzouki, the mandolin-like musical instrument
• Komboloi, the typical worry beads;
• Backgammon set;
• Gold and silver jewelry;
• Olive products: olive oil, olives, oil soap, oil shampoo, and body lotions or olive wood items;
• Honey, cheese, fresh and dehydrated herbs, wines and Ouzo;
• Sweets such as Loukomi, Halva, Baklava or Kataifi

The main theatre of Athens is the National Theatre