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23 Tourist Attractions in Athens you must not miss

The beautiful capital of Greece, Athens, was the heart of Ancient Greece, the birthplace of philosophy, astronomy, democracy, mathematics, the Olympic Games, and so on. Athens was once one of the most powerful empires, which is evident in the landmarks, monuments, and ruins that modern Athens has inherited to this day. The city has been inhabited for over 3,000 years and is spread across seven historic hills. We have created a list of 23 tourist attractions all visitors should visit when in Athens.

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23 Tourist Attractions in Athens you must not miss

1. The Plaka and Anafiotika Neighborhoods

Residing under the area of Acropolis, the Plaka District resembles a small island village with its colorful, nobly houses, the bougainvillea trees shadowing the narrow streets, and the traditional tavernas spreading their tables through the stairs, reigning the scenery.

The neighborhood of Plaka is home to some of the most expensive houses in Athens, as the area’s views and tranquility can not be compared to any other in the center. The famous Greek tavern, Anafiotika, attracts Greeks and tourists all year round. Here, they can degust on delicious, freshly made food and house wine to the sound of live Greek music dominated by the “bouzouki.” You might also like to check out this post: Best Traditional Taverns in Athens: A Local’s Guide

Recommended tour:

Athens: Private 4-Hour Tour with Acropolis and Old Town

2. Ancient Agora

The Ancient Agora was the marketplace and the center of everyday life in ancient Athens. It was also where Greeks would concentrate and discuss philosophy, politics, current events, and astronomy. This is where the traces of the beginning of Democracy can be found. It is a beautiful area enclosed for its preservation. Visitors can also visit the Museum of the Ancient Agora, where art crafts such as bronze, clay, and glass objects, sculptures, and coins dating back to the 7th century BC can be found.

The Ancient Agora is located northwest of the Acropolis. It includes a temple dedicated to the god Hephaestus and a smaller one dedicated to Apollo Patroos.

Recommended tour:

Athens: Agora, Plaka & Monastiraki Private Tour

3. Roman Agora

The Roman Agora is located in Monastiraki, north of the Acropolis and east of the Ancient Agora. It was constructed in the 1st century BC by the Roman Emperors Julius Caesar and Augustus as an open-air marketplace featuring shops.

Over the centuries and numerous invasions, first by Venetians and later by the Ottomans in 1400, the Roman Agora was destroyed, and its ruins were covered by houses, workshops, and mosques. The Fethiye Mosque, built by the Ottomans during the 17th century, still stands today; however, it has been repurposed for exhibitions and conferences. 

Recommended tour:

Acropolis, Plaka & Ancient Agora Guided Tour without Tickets

4. Tower of the Winds

Found in the Roman Agora, between the districts of Monastiraki and Plaka, the wind tower ruins are part of the first meteorological station ever to exist. Made from Pentelic marble, the wind tower was once a clock tower from which ancient Greeks could tell the time of the day. It was built in 50 BC, and its founder was the astronomer Andronicus of Cyrrhus. Apart from telling the hour, the tower’s functions included weather forecasting.

Recommended tour:

Athens Half-Day Tour:Acropolis, Parthenon & All Major Sights

5. Acropolis

The Acropolis is Athens’s jewel. Rising in the city’s basin, the Acropolis Monument is the most well-conserved monument from ancient Greek times. The word acropolis derives from the synthetic words acro and polis, which means the edge of the city, as in the highest point of the city, the spot from which guards could oversee the whole city in Ancient Times and detect any enemies or external coups. 

The Parthenon, which is the most important landmark in Greece’s history, majestically brightens the city of Athens. The building was built in the 4th century BC  in honor of the goddess Athena, who was Athens’ city patroness. Through the years and the many foreign invasions of the country, the Parthenon deteriorated until, in 1975, the restoration project of the temple of Athena Nike was initiated to recreate the perfect replica, consisting of new parts and the ruins left behind.

Recommended tours:

Athens: Acropolis and Parthenon Guided Walking Tour

Athens: Acropolis, Parthenon & Acropolis Museum Guided Tour

6. The Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum opened its doors to the public in the year 2009, depicting a total of 3.000 artifacts found in the Acropolis and the surrounding areas. The first Acropolis museum was built in 1874, however, when new excavations in the city uncovered new artifacts the urgent need for more and modern space was responded by the creation of the new museum, which has a total area of 25,000 square meters, which is approximately 15 times the size of the old one.

The Museum was built on top of parts of the ruins of Roman and early Byzantine Athens. Its significant structure has been designed precisely to be accessible to people with special needs. The glass surrounding the upper floor levels allows visitors to admire the Acropolis from a distance and enjoy delicious meals at the museum’s restaurant on the rooftop terrace. 

Recommended tours:

Athens: Acropolis & Acropolis Museum with Optional SG Audio

Athens: 3-Hour Private Acropolis Museum By Night Tour

Athens: Private 4-Hour Tour with Acropolis and Old Town

7. Temple of Olympian Zeus

The temple dedicated to the head of the Olympian God Zeus, also known as the Columns of the Olympian Zeus, is the largest one in Greece. Construction began during the 6th century under the tyrant Pisistratus, who envisioned building the largest and greatest temple. However, it was not completed for almost six centuries, when Roman Emperor Hadrian decided to conclude the project. Once, the temple was held by 104 columns of 17 meters each; however, today, only 15 are still standing. 

Recommended tour:

Zeus Temple, Acropolis & Museum Private Tour without Tickets

8. Hadrian’s Arch 

History has shown that the Arch was constructed to honor the arrival of Roman Emperor Hadrian in Athens and his contributions to the town. It was also the conclusion of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, located behind the Arch.

 The monument and its neighboring temple are constructed of marble derived from the Mountain Penteli, located 18km away. Two interesting inscriptions, one on the northwest side and the other on the northeast side, are carved on the bottom of the arch. 

The first writes ΑΙΔ’ ΕΙΣΙΝ ΑΘΗΝΑΙ ΘΗΣΕΩΣ Η ΠΡΙΝ ΠΟΛΙΣ – This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus. 

The second: ΑΙΔ’ ΕΙΣ’ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΥ ΚΟΥΧΙ ΘΗΣΕΩΣ ΠΟΛΙΣ (This is the city of Hadrian, and not of Theseus).

Recommended tour:

Athens: Acropolis and Mythology Highlights Small Group Tour

9. Museum of Cycladic Art 

The museum hosts a world-class collection of Cycladic Art featuring more than 3,000 artifacts made of marble stone, clay, bronze, silver, gold, glass, and faience, which date back to 3300 to 1100 BC, found in the many then-inhabited islands of the Aegeon Pelagos. The art pieces are grouped depending on the utility of the object, whether it was a toy or a culinary object, the dating or the location found, and objects attributed to Gods or Heroes, to give visitors a better picture of ancient Greek Civilization. 

The museum is open every day except Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m., and a full-priced admission ticket is 7 EUR.

10. Monastiraki and Flea Market

The district of Monastiraki is located under the Roman Agora and is the modern marketplace where hundreds of souvenirs and commercial shops can be found today. During the weekend the area becomes a huge flea market famous for the antique pieces sold at generous prices. The area is rich in traditional restaurants and souvlaki shops, which attract many tourists. It is also known for the rooftop bars and cafeterias from where visitors can admire the beautiful city and Acropolis views.

11. Changing of the Guards at Syntagma Square

The most central point of Athens city is Syntagma Square, where the Hellenic Parliament building is located. A very famous attraction/event for tourists visiting Athens is the symbolic changing of the Guards in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The guards, known as Evzones, who wear traditional costumes, which comprise pleated skirts, leg tassels, and “tsaruxia,” the traditional Greek shoes with pom-poms on the top, are in position 24/7 all year round.

12. The National Archeological Museum

The National Archeological Museum is Greece’s greatest and largest museum. With over 20,000 exhibits, the museum’s intention is to depict a panorama of Greek Civilization from prehistoric times to Late Antiquity. The museum houses some of the most well-preserved, rarest, and most famous statues from Ancient times, like the Antikythera mechanism, which is said to be the first traces of a computer, the Bronze Statuette of Athletic Spartan Girl and the Gold Nestor’s Cup, which is described in the epos of Iliad.

The museum also houses a 118-year-old library of 20,000 volumes, including archeological, rare, ancient art, science, and philosophy books. The neo-classical building, built in the 19th century, also houses modern conservational laboratories, a photographic and chemistry laboratory, exhibition spaces, and a lecture hall where archeological lectures occur.

Recommended tour:

Athens: National Archaeological Museum Private Guided Tour

13. Mount Lycabettus

Mount Lycabettus is the highest point in Athens, situated at over 300 meters above sea level. The 360° view of Athens city from the hill is simply breathtaking. The most beautiful images fill the eyes of every visitor, facing the Acropolis to Piraeus and the Athenian Riviera.

The Lycabettus Mount is a popular destination for sunset and sunrise lovers, as one can expect both the setting and the sun’s rising from that point to be fascinating. One of the best restaurants in town is located on the top of the hill, named Orizondes- a modern Mediterranean cuisine restaurant with distinctive service, high-quality dishes made with the finest ingredients, and unique views, attracting many visitors. To climb the hill, you hike from Syntagma Square, which takes an hour and a half, or you could hop on an underground cable car that crosses the hill and takes you right to the top!

Also, check out our post on Top 5 Spots: The Best View of Athens

Recommended tour:

Athens: Private Evening Sightseeing Tour by Electric Tuk-Tuk

14. Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Lying just at the foothill of the Acropolis is the marvelous ancient open-air theater – the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Built between 22 BC – 15 BC by the Greek politician and philosopher Herodes Atticus in memory of his late Roman wife Regilla.  In the 1950s, the audience stood, and the stage was restored to accommodate the Athens Festival, which runs every year from May to October. Famous and acclaimed Greek and international artists, like Maria Callas, Frank Sinatra, and Luciano Pavarotti, have performed in the theater.

15. National Garden and Zappeion

Located in the heart of Athens, next to Syntagma Square, the National Garden’s green abyss is ideal for a walk on a sunny day. In addition to the beautiful trees and flowerbeds that naturally decorate the park, statues, ancient ruins, and monuments give the scenery a majestic touch.

The Zappeion building and its garden can also be found on the premises of the National Garden. Today, the Zappeion is used to host conferences and ceremonies, but it was once a building where important historical events took place. It is in this building that Greece was signed in to be part of the European Community in 1979.  

16. Philopappos Hill

Southeast of the Acropolis area, another famous hill surrounded by rich greenery stands out. That is the Philopappos Hill, named after the monument dedicated to Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos, a Roman prince who ruled the ancient Greco-Iranian kingdom Commagene and was also buried there. The hill, 150 meters high above sea level, offers beautiful views of the Acropolis, Athens, and the Aegean Sea.

17. The Prison of Socrates

Beneath the Hill of Philopappos, on the eastern side, two caves carved into the rock hill are said to be former prisons where the greatest Greek philosopher, Socrates, was locked up around the year 399 BC. Socrates was accused of brainwashing the young generation against democracy and the city-state order. He was also blamed for political corruption, doubting the existence of the pantheon and the Olympian Gods. He was sentenced to death and had to carry on his own execution by drinking a poisonous beverage of hemlock. In these old prisons, Greeks hid pieces of art from the Acropolis and the National Archeological Museum during the occupation by the Nazis during WW2.

18. Benaki Museum

The Benaki Museum is located in the family mansion of Emannouil Benakis, a man who is considered a national benefactor to Greece. The museum houses 120,000 Greek pieces of works of art from prehistoric to modern times, representing the various stages of Greek culture. The venue is home to an extensive collection of Middle-Eastern, Islamic and Asian art, it hosts periodic exhibitions and maintains a state-of-the-art restoration and conservation workshop. The larger contribution to the museum was made by the Benakis family themselves in 1934 when they donated 37,000 Islamic and Byzantine objects to be displayed at the museum’s properties.

Recommended tour:

Athens: Benaki Museums Admission Tickets

19. EMST

EMST is the National Museum of Contemporary Arts in Athens. The art collected and displayed at the museum dates back to the postwar period up until the present and features 172 artworks created by 78 Greek and International artists. Awarded contemporary artists like Costas Varotsos, Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, Pedro Cabrita Reis, and Kim Sooja, among others, are displayed in the permanent exhibition of EMST. All these artists focus on the same topics: Memories, Political narratives, Limits and passages and Eterotopias, Mythology of the familiar, and New Perspectives.

The artwork itself is the building that has hosted the EMST collection permanently since 2014. Located on Syngrou Avenue, the building is a former FIX Brewery built in 1961 and then abandoned in 1982. The high ceilings, the glass windows scattered around the establishment’s walls, and the spacious rooms all benefit the exhibition of the artworks, which permits each one to have their own place and “privacy.”

20. Byzantine and Christian Museum

One of the largest and most significant museums of Byzantine Art in the world is located in Athens, the Byzantine and Christian Museum. The Artcraft collection is approximately 30,000 pieces and includes works of art such as pottery,  icons, ceramics, ecclesiastical textiles, statues, sculptures, paintings, and jewelry dating back from the 3rd century AD to the Late Middle Ages  (20th century). This is a great museum in which to admire the glories of Greek Orthodox Christianity.

21. Areopagus

The giant rock on the Acropolis’s northwest side, just across the monument’s entrance, is the Areopagus or Hill of Ares. The site in ancient Greek times was used as a governmental institution where the oldest, hence wiser, tried cases of homicide, religious matters, robbing, and even cases concerning arson of olive trees! This constitution existed way before Democracy was born in Athens.

Today, visitors can freely climb this hill and admire the most beautiful 360-degree views from Athens. On the Southwest Acropolis, on the Southeast the Aegean Sea, on the West the Philopappos Hill, looking down the ancient Agora and anywhere else one look they can gaze on the beautiful city of Athens and the rich greenery surrounding the site.

22. Kallimarmaro Stadium or Panathenaic Stadium 

Built during Herodes Atticus’s era, roughly around 335 BC, this stadium is important in sports history, as it has hosted several Olympic Games for centuries. Built entirely from marble, the stadium accommodates up to 50,000 seating spectators and is one of the oldest stadiums still operating today.

Of course, the stadium visitors admire today is a replica of the original Kallimarmaro Stadium, which was rebuilt to host the 1896 Olympic Games, the first international one held in modern history. Since then, the venue has hosted the Olympics once more in 2014, the 1997 World Championship in Athletics, the Special Olympics in 2011, and famous artists’ concerts such as the Scorpions and R.E.M.

23. Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center is a multifunctional and environmentally sustainable complex in Kallithea, the region of Athens. The whole Center, which consists of the National Library of Greece, the Greek National Opera, and the 210,000 m² Stavros Niarchos Park, was a donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation to the Greek state and for all Greeks delivered in 2017. The SNF committed to fund all of the Center’s costs, which amounted to €630 million, including a €20 million grant to help maintain and sustain the center for the first four years of its operation. The purpose of the Center was to provide a space where everyone, regardless of disabilities, could have free access to education, recreation, arts, music, culture, sports, and nature. 

Recommended tour:

From Athens: Seaside Tour with Electric Bike

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