Ten Fun Things to Do
in Athens
There are plenty of fun things to do in Athens, as well as
the obvious attractions like visiting the Acropolis, the Plaka, or the National
Archaeological Museum. Sometimes the little fun things might only take a few
minutes but can really add to the pleasure of a visit.
Sunset on the Acropolis
Here's our list of ten fun things to do in Athens, some of
which are free or inexpensive. All of them will add something to your visit to
Athens. Try to fit in as many as you can.
Ten Fun Things to Do
in Athens
See the Sun Set on
the Acropolis
Areopagus Hill
There are sunsets and then there's watching the golden glow
of the sun going down and illuminating the pinkish granite of the 2500-year-old
Acropolis from the top of the Areopagus Hill.
Photograph a Running
Statue
O Dromeas
O Dromeas means The Runner and this remarkable statue stands in the middle of a traffic island 1.5km east of Syntagma Square and across from the Athens Hilton. It took sculptor Costas Varotsos six years to put together the thousands of pieces of jagged broken glass which, together, make the shape of a running figure, as if racing into the wind.
Dine in the Athens
Central Market
Athens Central Market
Central Municipal Athens Market, Filopoimenos 4
To enjoy authentic Greek cooking at cheap prices, forget the tourist areas and head for somewhere like the Oinomageireio H Epirus (Epirus Tavern) restaurant in the city's main market and taste the best moussaka you'll ever eat.
Snap Yourself with an
Evzone
Evzone Soldier in Athens
Monument of the Unknown Soldier, Leoforos Vasilisis Amalias 133
The Presidential Guards known as Evzones guard the Monument
of the Unknown Soldier outside the Hellenic Parliament building. They're used
to being photographed, and having people pose next to them, so don't be shy,
but do be respectful.
See a Play in One of
the World's Oldest Theatres
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Photo by 'Bobby H' and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Areopagitou Dionisiou
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus, at the foot of the Acropolis, was built in 161 AD and is still in use today as a performance venue. The best time is in summer during the Athens and Epidaurus Festival when you might see anything from classical Greek drama to rock stars like Sting.
Swim in a Lake that's also a Spa
Vouliagmenis Lake
The Vouliagmenis Lake is less than 30 minutes from the city centre, near the Athenian Riviera, and acts as a natural hot spa. It is fed by underground thermal springs and by warm water from the sea, and it also disappears in an underground cave system that has still not been fully explored.
Walk in the Footsteps
of St Paul
Apostolis Pavlou
Photo by George E. Koronaios and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
Areopagus Hill
Apostolou Pavlou is a pedestrianised street that follows the
route that the Apostle Paul took when he visited Athens to preach on the
Areopagus Hill. You'll be rewarded for the climb by photos over the city and of
the Acropolis.
See where the Olympic
Games was Reborn
The Panathenaic Stadium
Panathenaic Stadium, Leoforos Vasileos Konstantinou
The Panathenaic Stadium was used for the first modern
Olympic Games, held here in 1896. It's still a remarkably elegant piece of
architecture, tempting everyone to take 'just one more photo'.
Buy a Souvenir at the
Monastiraki Flea Market
The Monastiraki Flea Market
Monastiraki Square
Many cities have flea markets but you've never seen anything
like Monastiraki every Sunday morning. Running for miles from Monastiraki
Square, it's a mix of western market and eastern bazaar where you can buy
anything from old typewriters to video games, from watches to bicycles, from
religious icons to pornography.
Escape the Heat in a
Royal Garden
The National Garden
National Garden, Leoforos Vasilisis Amalias 1
The former Royal Garden, now the National Garden, is full of
shady nooks and benches to help escape the summer heat for a while. Take a
picnic and join the locals, and enjoy the ancient remains, all for free.
And here's a map showing you where all these fun things to do in Athens can be found.
Where to Stay in Athens
Some other Athens pages
This drive around Attica offers visitors high hills, beach resorts, small villages and classical sites like Marathon and the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion.
Piraeus is the port of Athens from where many ferries to the Greek islands depart, and it also has an Archaeological Museum and the Hellenic Maritime Museum.
If you're wondering where to eat in Athens and Piraeus we have a few suggestions including some favorites around the Acropolis, Omonia Square, and Syntagma.
A History of Athens from the first people to live on the Acropolis through the Golden Age of Pericles and Alexander the Great to the military junta.
This beginner's guide to Greek architecture explains how to tell your Ionic from your Doric columns, and what to look for in temples and Byzantine churches.
There's all kinds of entertainment in Athens whether you're interested in theatre, dance, classical music, jazz, Greek music, rock music, disco, opera or movies.
Easter in Athens is, like everywhere in Greece, the biggest religious celebration of the year and this page tells you what to expect over the Easter weekend.
The beach resorts of Athens are easily reached from the city and also close are Cape Sounion with the Temple of Poseidon, ancient Marathon and Rafina's port.
The best things to do in Athens, Greece, include top archaeological sites like the Acropolis and must-see attractions such as the National Archaeological Museum
Two of the best cocktail bars in Athens, MoMix Kerameikos and The Clumsies, are making creative cocktails using that most Greek of Greek spirits, Metaxa.
Athens is a top vacation destination. The Greece Travel Secrets Athensguide has information on hotels, museums, Athens airport and all the best things to do.
The Greece Travel Secrets website looks at the Athens weather, the chance of rain, the climate in summer and winter and the best time to visit Athens.
Athens walking tours and other experiences like cookery lessons, ceramics workshops, dining with a family, and street art are available from Alternative Athens
There are lots of flights from Athens to Santorini as well as a ferry service from Piraeus, with flights to Santorini leaving from Athens International Airport.
Athens International Airport is east of Athens city centre with its own Metro train station, buses to Athens and Piraeus, taxis and car rental offices.
Athens in the rain isn’t something you’re likely to experience but here are suggestions for things to do in the rain in Athens including museums and shopping
Athens Food Tours are being introduced by new company The Greek Fork, and will include tours of the Central Market, and the best street food.
If visiting Athens it helps to know when major events and public holidays take place, as some shops and attractions may be closed, but to be there at times like Easter can make for a magical trip.
Athens, an Eater's Guide to the City, is published by Culinary Backstreets, who do walking food tours in Athens and the book recommends the best places to eat.
This Athens dining guide doesn't list restaurants but gives practical advice on types of eating places, tipping, hotel breakfasts and picnics.
Athens culinary tours are among the food walking tours offered by an unusual company, Culinary Backstreets.
Athens car rental options include almost all of the major international car hire firms such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, and Europcar.
Athens Airport hotels include the luxury Sofitel at the terminals, Holiday Inn near the airport, and others close by like the Hotel Pantheon.
Athens Airport car rentals include Alamo/National Car Rental, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt, all with offices at the airport.
The Athens Acropolis has the city's most iconic building, the Parthenon, along with other historic buildings and is where the Elgin Marbles were taken from.
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