I book my skip the line ticket for the Acropolis Museum of Athens now! The Agora was the main square of ancient Athens. It was considered as the cultural, political, commercial and social center of the city. Nowadays, the site is mostly in ruins, but still worth a visit, especially for The Temple of Hephaestus. Built during the Age of Pericles in B. The museum has a worldwide reputation for its collection of splendid ancient objects. Most of the collections are dedicated to the Greek civilization , but you will also find several rooms with Egyptian antiquities.
The most remarkable pieces exposed in the museum are:. For further informations about rates and schedules, you can visit the official website. The National Archaeological Museum of Athens 5.
The National Garden and the Zappeion Park If you want to enjoy a bit of greenery during your stay in Athens, then you should definitely take a walk in the National Garden and the Zappeion Park. The 2 are actually one and the same big park, making it the largest public park in Athens!
This is the best place to go if you want to relax and have a break far from the tourist crowd. The entrance is free Zappeion Park in Athens. The House of Parliament is located here since , in an ancient royal palace built by the first King of Greece. The Square is a must-see attraction in Athens.
Every hour, the changing takes place and you can attend a strange synchronized ballet. If you want to go shopping in Athens, it certainly will be on Ermou Street! This pedestrian street goes from Syntagma Square to Monastiraki district. Located on Ermou Street, it was built in the 11th century.
I will tell you more about Plaka a bit later. Monastiraki Square, with its Byzantine Church, is the heart of this lively and cosmopolitan neighbourhood. The atmosphere feels a bit like the souks in arabic countries! M any antique and second-hand goods dealers are selling ancient books, silverware or leather goods. The negotiations are often tough, but you can find some nice things, especially if you get up early! Another place you should visit in Athens is Plaka district.
During your tour, you will enjoy Byzantine constructions , as well as neo-classical houses. If you want to admire a stunning view of the Acropolis , then you have to climb up to Mount Lycabettus!
Mount Lycabettus The stadium was built in the 4th century B. C to host the Panathenaic Games , a sporting event held every year to honor the Goddess Athena. There, athletes were competing in track and field, wrestling and chariot races. Originally made out of wood, it has been completely rebuilt in white marble a few centuries later. The stadium had a capacity of more than 70, spectators , and gladiator fights were also organized.
Following the fall of the Roman Empire, the stadium was abandoned, and the stones were reused elsewhere. Much later, during the 19th century , the stadium was rebuilt to host the 1st Modern Olympic Games. The entrance fee includes an audio guide and access to the track. Panathenaic Stadium Also known as the Hill of the Muses , the site is one of the best viewpoints to see Athens and the Acropolis. You can walk to the top of this meters high hill using one of the many pedestrian trails in around 10 minutes.
At the summit, you will have a panoramic view of the entire city, the port of Piraeus and the Attic Peninsula. The Roman Agora is another point of interest to visit in Athens.
The Agora, or Roman Forum is located in Plaka district. It was built between 19 and 11 B. There, you could find a large central market , several shops and public latrines. Voyage Tips - Advice You can see the entire Agora from the outside of the site. The other Museums in Athens If you are staying in Athens for a couple of days, you should take the opportunity to visit some museums.
For the cultural tourism enthusiasts, here are the other museums you should visit in Athens:. Where to go in Athens if you want to party all night? You should definitely try Gazi district! This former industrial district has been refurbished to become the trendy place to go out at night in the Greek capital.
There, you can enjoy a drink on a trendy bar terrace , or try one of the many restaurants and night clubs. The surroundings of the Kerameikos metro station, and the streets of Dekeleon, Gargition and Voutadon are the busiest. The Apollo Coast beaches , in the South of Athens, are the closest to city.
The best part is that you can access them using public transports directly from Syntagma Square! If you want to go to a more family friendly place or wilder beaches , you should try those located East of Athens.
For 5, years, this area was used as a marketplace, gathering place, and residential area. The ground of this large site is littered with the ruins of buildings and walkways.
However, there are two important places to visit the Temple of Hephaestus and the Stoa of Attalos. The Temple of Hephaestus is one of the best-preserved Greek temples. It was constructed in the 5th century BC to honor the god Hephaestus, the patron god of fire, metal working, and craftsmanship. Located just a short distance away from the Ancient Agora is the Roman Agora. This market and collection of buildings was built in the first century BC during the rule of Julius and Augustus Caesar.
The main entrance is through the Gate of Athena. It was built to house rolls of papyrus books. Construction on the temple of Olympian Zeus began in the 6th century BC. It was built to honor Zeus and was planned to be the greatest temple in the ancient world.
When finished, it was one of the largest ever of the ancient temples, with unusually tall columns, each Not long after its completion in the 2nd century AD, it was pillaged by a barbarian invasion.
Even though only fifteen of the original columns still stand, it is easy to recognize its grandeur. A visit here is quick and you can walk among the excavations. If you plan to visit the Acropolis and two additional sites, the ticket pays for itself.
But the real bonus is that the combination ticket allows you to skip the ticket line at each of these sites except at your first site, where you purchase the ticket. Consider visiting one of these archaeological sites first, purchase the combination ticket, and then use this to bypass the ticket line at the Acropolis. Kerameikos was the least crowded site during our visit so this is great place to visit first to purchase your combination ticket.
This museum is the largest archeological museum in Greece and houses one of the greatest collections of artifacts of Greek antiquity. Getting Here: Closest metro stations are Omonia and Victoria stations. We took the metro to Omonia station and then it was a minute walk to the museum.
Picking up your tickets from the office in Athens is much faster than waiting in line at the port to pick them up. The Benaki Museum houses Greek works of art from prehistory to modern time, as well as an extensive collection of Asian art. The Benaki family donated their house and their enormous collection of art and artifacts to Greece. Visit the official website for hours and entrance fees. Plaka is a neighborhood in Athens that stretches from the Acropolis to Syntagma Square.
This is one of the best spots in Athens to go shopping. The older and more interesting streets are located closer to the Acropolis. The Anafiotika area is a charming, older section of Plaka with narrow, photogenic streets and shops.
Located on Ermou Street in Plaka, this is one of the oldest churches in Athens. This Greek Orthodox church was built in the 11th century. It looks out of place, sitting among modern buildings and popular chain stores, as the city of Athens has grown up around it.
This is a bustling, busy spot in Athens. On Sundays, a flea market dominates the square. Numerous hotels offer rooftop restaurants, bars, and even swimming pools, which offer stunning views of the Acropolis. Our favorite rooftop restaurant was A for Athens. Not only do you get a gorgeous view of the Acropolis but you can also look out over the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Mount Lycabettus. There are also numerous hotels that offer rooms and rooftop bars with amazing views of the Acropolis.
Read our post about where to stay in Athens to learn more. Areopagus Hill, also known as Mars Hill, is a spot to get one of the most iconic views of the Acropolis.
But this is more than a nice place to snap a photo. There is a lot of history and legend here. In ancient times, this was a meeting place where philosophy and law were discussed.
It is also the location where the Apostle Paul gave one of his most important speeches. Areopagus Hill is located very close to the main entrance into the Acropolis, so go here before or after you tour the Acropolis.
Located just southwest of the Acropolis, Philopappos Hill also spelled Filopappou Hill is a hilly park laced with walking trails. The most popular viewpoint is located at the Monument of Philopappos, but you can also follow the other trails for a slightly different perspective of the Acropolis.
From here, you get to see just how big this city is, with the Acropolis proudly rising up in the center from the low, white buildings. In the sunlight, this city literally sparkles. Getting Here: Unless you take a taxi right to the Lycabettus Cable Car station, expect to do some walking, and a lot of that will be uphill.
The closest metro stops are Panepistimio and Evangelismos. From here, it will be an uphill walk to the cable car station. Or, you can choose to walk all of the way to the top on a paved trail that switchbacks its way up the hill.
Psyrri aka Psyri, Psiri, Psirri is a funky, trendy little neighborhood not far from Monastiraki. We liked this neighborhood so much that we visited it twice.
Filled with great restaurants, unique bars, a vibrant nightlife, and small boutique shops, this is a very cool spot to go out for dinner and drinks.
Grab a coffee or spoon sweets at Kalimeres. Have dinner at Lithos Tavern , a cozy restaurant that serves traditional Greek and Mediterranean food.
This is a cool spot in Athens and a great place to take a break from temples, ruins, and museums. If you only have a half day in Athens and want to see the highlights, this private tour includes a visit to the Acropolis, Temple of Zeus, Panathenaic Stadium, Plaka, and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The Varvakeios Market is another great spot to take a break from museums and ancient historical sites. There are different sections to the market and we ended up wandering down a long hallway filled with meat vendors and their products. This is the temple you should visit first.
He may be the god of oceans, but Poseidon's palace stands 60 metres above sea level on Cape Sounio. This marble temple was first built by ancient Athenians to honour Poseidon and guide sailors safely home. This space is filled with art that gets people talking. Expect exhibitions of Greek and international art across all media, from painting to video to experimental architecture.
Starting in the wee hours, Greek vendors bellow out their best deals in an attempt to sell fresh meat, fish, fruit, spices and products from around the country. The atmosphere is unlike any other as travellers and locals traverse the narrow aisles lined with hanging meat carcasses, stalls of Greek deli delights and fresh seafood iced down in vibrant displays.
Monastiraki is one of the oldest and busiest areas of the capital, packed with rooftop bars, ancient sights and huge markets. The Monastiraki metro station is right off the picturesque main square which also has brilliant views of the Acropolis. Go shopping at the Monastiraki flea market, squeeze your way through thronging pedestrian alleys, and peruse shops filled with antiques, handmade jewellery and Greek handicrafts. To see the distinctly shaped slender marble figurines and statues that date back to the Bronze Age.
Tucked away in the heart of Athens, the National Gardens offer a beautiful retreat from the bustle of the concrete capital.
This grandiose park was commissioned by Queen Amalia, the first queen of Greece, in and completed two years later. The Gardens cover 16 hectares of narrow gravel paths and ponds, as well as a small zoo with wild Greek goats, peacocks and chickens.
Lycabettus Hill is one of the highest peaks in Athens. Concerts are held at the Lycabettus open-air theatre, built on another part of the hill, in summertime. Duck into the side streets here and explore the charmingly narrow old lanes.
An oasis of Mediterranean greenery. For a proper night out the way Greeks do it. Cine Paris is one of around 90 outdoor film venues in Athens where patrons can watch old Greek and foreign classics, plus the latest Hollywood releases.
Cine Paris closed for renovations during the season, but expect it to return with a bang in
0コメント