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Acropolis: The symbol of the city, the Acropolis is one of the most famous ancient sites in the world. Towering above the city, at the top of the Sacred Rock, the ancient Doric temple known as the Parthenon was dedicated to the goddess Athena, protector of the city. Constructed in the 5^th century BC it is an architectural marvel, inspiring awe in thousands of visitors every day. Next to it stands the small Erechtheum, with its imposing Caryatids. The figures you see on the temple are replicas; five of the originals are in the Acropolis Museum, the sixth in the British Museum in London.

Herod Atticus Odeon: On the south-western side of the rock of the Acropolis you will come to the Herodion, the Roman Odeon, renowned for its architecture and acoustics, capacious enough to hold an audience of 5,000. Every summer it is used as a venue for musical and theatrical performances of international stature. Close by is the Theatre of Dionysus, the oldest theatre in the world, home to the ancient Greek drama and the cradle of dramatic art.

Ancient Agora: At the feet of the Acropolis, on the northern side, lies the ancient agora, the centre of city life in ancient Athens. Features to see include the road taken by the Panathenaic Procession, and the three gigantic statues which stand next to the remains of the Odeon of Agrippa. A little farther on is the Temple of Hephaestus, regarded – together with the Parthenon – as among the best preserved temples in Greece. The stoa of Attalus, built by Attalus King of Pergamon, dates from the 2^nd century BC and is the only two-storey stoa in ancient Athens, now fully restored.

Roman Forum: The Roman forum is in the Plaka district, and dates from the 1^st century BC. Look out for the remains of the Library of Hadrian (132 AD), and the elegant clock tower of Andronicus Cyrrestus, known as the Tower of the Winds.
Address: Areos St., Monastiraki

Columns of Olympian Zeus: At the edge of the city’s historic centre you will come across the Olympieio archaeological site, and the beautiful temple dedicated to Zeus, as well as the imposing Hadrian’s Gate, a marble triumphal arch which marked the boundary between the old and new cities.

Panathenaic Stadium – Kallimarmaro: The Panathenaic Stadium, or Kallimarmaro, lies between the Agra and Ardittos Hills. It was built in 330 BC by the orator Lycurgus, as a venue for the Great Panathenaia festival. The remains were unearthed in 1870 and the stadium was rebuilt, preserving its impressive horseshoe design. It was here in 1896 that the Olympic Games were revived for the modern age.
Entrance: From V. Konstantinou Street

New Acropolis Museum: The jewel of the city, showcasing the best of the ancient art of Athens, the New Acropolis Museum welcomes visitors on a journey of 5,200 years, featuring 4,000 exhibits – before you even pass through the doors! Because from the courtyard in front of the museum you can look down through the glass floor and see part of the ancient neighbourhood which came to light during construction work on the museum. The tour of the museum reaches its climax in the glass wing of the top floor, which houses copies and original pieces from the decoration of the Parthenon, prompting a fascinating architectural dialogue between the ancient monument and the modern building.
Address: 15 Dionysiou Areopagitou St., tel.: +30 210 900 0900, www.theacropolismuseum.gr

National Archaeological Museum: This is one of the most important museums of ancient art to be found anywhere in the world, with treasures from all the civilizations which flourished in the Greek world from the prehistoric era to the end of the Roman period.
Address: 1 Tositsa St., tel.: +30 210 821 7724, www.culture.gr

Byzantine and Christian Museum: This beautiful complex of buildings, with its gardens, elegant wings and the ancient Lyceum of Aristotle, is home to one of the world’s most important collections of Byzantine art. Its 15,000 exhibits include icons, sculptures, miniatures, frescoes, ceramics, fabrics, early printed works and manuscripts.
Address: 22 V. Sophias St., tel.: +30 210 723 2178

Benaki Museum: The Benaki Museum collection includes 33,000 items, recording the history of the Greek world from ancient times to the Asia Minor Catastrophe. Of particular interest are the collections of games and toys, the childhood section, the exhibits illustrating Coptic and Chinese art, and the room featuring works by the great Greek painter Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika.
Address: 1 Koubari St. and V. Sophias St., tel.: +30 210 367 1000, www.benaki.gr

Museum of Cycladic Art: Dedicated to the study and promotion of the ancient civilizations of the Aegean and Cyprus, with special emphasis on the art of the Cyclades in the 3^rd millennium BC, this important museum is divided into three sections: Cycladic Civilization, Ancient Greek Art and Cypriot Civilization.
Address: 4 N. Douka St., Kolonaki; Stathatou Building, 1 Irodotou St. and V. Sophias St., T. +30 210 722 8321-3, www.cycladic-m.gr

Plaka: Plaka is the oldest neighbourhood in Athens, nestling at the feet of the Acropolis, its picturesque narrow streets cheek by jowl with ancient monuments, Turkish bathhouses, Byzantine churches, lovely little tavernas and flower-filled courtyards outside houses that resemble those of the Cyclades. Since ancient times, this has been the heart of the city.

Philopappus Hill: One of the locals’ favourite spots, the hill takes its name from the monument erected there in the 2^nd century AD to honour the ruler of Syria and public benefactor Gaius Julius Antiochus Philopappus. The hill stands directly opposite the Acropolis and is the ideal place to see the majestic Parthenon from a new perspective.

Lycavettos: The second most widely recognized landmark of the city, Lycavettos Hill offers a panoramic view of Athens extending from the mountains of Parnitha and Penteli to Piraeus and the Saronic Gulf. Its slopes are covered in beautiful pine woods, and at the summit you will find cafes and a restaurant. There are various paths leading up to the top, or you can take the cable car from the terminal on Ploutarchou Street in Kolonaki.

Shopping in Athens is a fascinating experience, full of surprises. The historic centre of the city, focusing on Monastiraki and Plaka, much of it now pedestrians-only, is an excellent place to wander around, with great shopping opportunities for souvenirs, clothes, accessories, hand-made jewellery as well as vintage clothes, antiques, books and even spices. The Psirris district has dozens of little shops selling all sorts of goods, as well as cutting-edge fashion stores and workshops run by young designers. Ermou Street is still the main shopping street in the city centre, followed by Mitropoleos and Stadiou Streets. On Panepistimiou Street you should surrender to temptation and explore Attica, the ultra-chic department store with six floors crammed with luxury goods and fashion. On Voukourestiou Street you will find luxury jewellery stores and designer shops, while in Kolonaki there are superb boutiques in the streets around Kolonaki Square. Outside the city centre you can combine shopping and leisure at the big malls, found mainly in Maroussi (Golden Hall and The Mall). In the Spata district, too, and close to the airport, you will find outlets with discounts and special offers all year round.

Athens possesses a unique energy, which seems to provide a special charge to the sun-drenched days and to bring the nights alive with pleasant strolls, music and bars and tavernas full of merriment and laughter. In the heart of the downtown district, around Syntagma Square, you will find everything from fast food outlets and souvlaki stands to stylish, high-class restaurants. Younger people tend to gather on Kolokotroni Street, Karytsi Square and the area around Agias Eirinis Square, where there is a wide range of bars and restaurants. Kolonaki is the posh quarter of Athens, with all sorts of interesting places where you can eat and drink or just enjoy a coffee. In Plaka and Monastiraki you will find small traditional tavernas, Greek cafes and modern bars. The areas of Thiseio and Psirris have been literally transformed by a host of stylish restaurants and bars, but Gazi, too, the old industrial district, is now an exciting area of bars and restaurants. In the northern suburbs you will find good places to eat and drink in Psychiko, Halandri and Kifisia, while the best nightlife in the southern suburbs is to be found in Glyfada.

• Athens Festival: Every summer Athens organizes a very important festival, with a wide range of performances and events, staged at the Herod Atticus Odeon, the ancient theatre of Epidaurus and other venues in the city centre. Major Greek and foreign productions featuring famous artists from all over the world are staged at these historic locations, offering unique cultural experiences.
  Information: www.greekfestival.gr
• Premiere nights: Athenian movie-lovers have their own film festival, staged every autumn, with fascinating first screenings and special tributes staged in various venues around the city centre.
• Rockwave Festival: This major music event is held every summer in Terravibe Park, in the Malakassa district, featuring top names in international rock.
  Information: www.rockwavefestival.gr
• Technopolis: You should try to catch some of the events staged all year round at the Technopolis in Gazi. The emphasis is on big concerts and performances organized each summer, like the superb City of Athens Jazz Festival.
  Information: www.technopolis-athens.com

Transport from the airport

Aegean Airlines flights land at the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport at Spata. This is a new airport with lots of duty free shops, banks and bureaus de change, a post office and even a little museum where you can admire the archaeological finds that came to light during construction of the airport. There is free WiFi for the first sixty minutes of use. The airport is 27km from the city centre. To get to or from the airport you can use the Metro, Line 3, or the suburban rail line that links the airport to the main Athens rail station and the port of Piraeus. There are also four bus routes from the airport to various parts of the city. Taxis charge according to a meter and the fares are not unreasonable.