Athens

Athens is located in central Greece and is the economic, cultural and administrative centre of the country. It is the capital of Greece and the city that gave birth to Democracy and played an important role in the development of the arts and science in ancient times. The impressive ancient and historic sights along with the modern reconstruction of the city have turned Athens into a fully modern metropolis that combines perfectly the glamour of the past with the comfort of the modern. Every year thousands of visitors come to admire the cradle of western civilization.

Athens was named after the goddess Athena, who was the patroness of the city-state in ancient times. Athens developed to a great extent in the 6th century B.C. when it was the center of arts and philosophy of Ancient Greece and laid the foundations of the modern western civilization. The great progress of the city over the years was largely due to the port of Piraeus, the "port of Athens", as it was known. Athens is the capital of Greece since 1834, when the capital was transfered from Nafplio and since then it is the most important center of the country. In modern years it has been the economic, political and cultural center of Greece, while great architects helped rebuild the city. An important year for the city of Athens was 2004, when the Olympic Games were organised in their birthplace, after 110 years.

Athens has some of the most impressive sights, since the city has managed to maintain its rich history in a very good condition. Acropolis with Parthenon, one of the most important monuments of the world, is a pole of attraction for millions of visitors from around the world. On the southwest side of the rock of the Acropolis stands the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, where theatrical and musical performances take place during the summer. The Acropolis Museum that is built a little below the hill of Acropolis, is the epitome of the ancient history of the city. Heading to the historic centre, you will come across the Columns of Olympian Zeus, the Hadrian's Gate and the imposing temple dedicated to Zeus. Moreover, the two markets that have survived, the Ancient Agora of Athens and the Roman Agora offer a spectacular peek to the life of that period. In the Ancient Αgora, you can admire the Temple of Hephaestus, the best preserved temple in the country. To enjoy a panoramic view of Athens, go up to the hill of Filopappos and the hill of Lycabettus, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy the starry Athenian sky. Don't forget to wander around the huge market of Monastiraki and to buy authentic Greek products. Finish your tour at Plaka area and at Anafiotika, the oldest and most picturesque quarter of the city with its cobbled streets and quaint shops that will leave you in awe.

Athens has some quite beautiful beaches within short distance from the city centre. You can enjoy a swim at the beach of Schinias, where the pine forest meets the deep blue waters. Also, good choices that gather people, are the beaches of Varkiza and the Astir Vouliagmenis, in which there is an entrance fee, but the facilities and service will justify the cost. Finally, you can visit the beach of Zouberis in Nea Makri and enjoy your meal in one of the traditional restaurants by the sea.

In Athens, as in the rest of Greece, food is thought of as tradition and element of culture. Pure products, fresh ingredients and tasty recipes create an excellent result. Walk around the historic centre, where you will find traditional taverns and gourmet restaurants. In Piraeus you can enjoy fresh seafood accompanied by excellent labels of Greek wines and in the areas of Thissio and of Psirri, the options for good meat-dishes are endless. Finally, it is worth visiting the various grill restaurants and fast food of the centre, with the ones in Karitsi square, and in Agia Irini square being particularly interesting.

The nightlife of Athens is one of the most attractive aspects of the city. Life in Athens runs fast both during the day and night. From the fancy and expensive bars of Kolonaki, until the student hibs in Gazi and Thisio, Athens is just what someone would want for a night out. Of course, don't forget to visit some of the Live night venues on the coast of Athens that are crowded during the weekends with people due to the well-known greek artists/ singers performing.

Athens belongs to the time zone GMT+2, while during summer the time zone is GMT+3.

Language: Greek

Transactions in the city, as in the rest of Greece, are made in euro.

The dialing code of the area is 210

The Airport of Athens-Eleftherios Venizelos airport is approximately 20 km away from the historic centre of the city. From the Airport there is a metro line (Number 3) that connects it to various areas of the city. From the city center, you can choose either one of the four bus lines serving the Athens International Airport with terminal stop at the Departures level, or the Suburban Railway. The largest port is the port of Piraeus. Just outside the gates of the port, there is a bus and a tram stop so as to get around.