Athens attractions

Named after a small monastery that once stood on Monastiraki Square, the vibrant Monastiraki neighborhood in downtown Athens brims with energy night and day. Its bustling streets are crammed with shops and stalls selling everything from inexpensive trinkets to handcrafted leather goods and antique treasures, as well as people-packed rooftop bars and terraces. Ancient highlights include Hadrian’s Library, and the Ancient Agora of Athens is close by.

Dramatically positioned on the coastal cliffs of Cape Sounion, this temple is one of the most evocative sites of ancient Greece. It’s dedicated to Poseidon, the god of the sea, and dates back to the 5th century BC. Today, all that remains of the magnificent structure is a series of gleaming white marble columns, standing proudly atop the cape and overlooking the Aegean Sea.

Delphi is one of Greece’s most famous archaeological sites, with its remarkably preserved ruins dotted along the southern slopes of Mt. Parnassus. The town has drawn visitors since the eighth century BC, when pilgrims flocked to the Temple of Apollo to ask for guidance from its oracle, Pythia. Aside from its UNESCO-listed ruins—which also include a theater, stadium, and treasury—Delphi is known for its serene natural beauty, with opportunities for skiing and hiking nearby.

Downtown Athens] highest point, Mt. Lycabettus (also known as Lykavittos) looms 909 feet (277 meters) over the urban sprawl of Greece’s capital. Views from the top are unmatched and come with the bonus of having far fewer crowds than better-known hilltop attractions, such as the Acropolis. A couple of restaurants, a theater, and two chapels (one in a cave) add to the hill’s charms.

Since 1932, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has presided over Athens’ Syntagma Square, honoring the Greek soldiers who lost their lives in battle. The monument is inscribed with the names of significant conflicts and battles, with a relief of a fallen Greek soldier at its center. Every day, crowds come to witness the famed Changing of the Guard ceremony, one of the most popular spectacles in Athens.

One third of the Hansen brothers’ neoclassical Athenian Trilogy, the National Library (Vallianeion) is inspired by a Doric temple, fronted by twin winding staircases, and an utter delight for architecture enthusiasts. While the 2-million strong collection has now moved to a new modernist building designed by Renzo Piano, the building continues to serve as a reading room.

Sometimes translated as Constitution Square, Syntagma Square (Plateia Syntagmatos) is a huge public plaza stretching out in front of Athens’ Parliament Building (Vouli). Gleaming with white marble statues and anchored by a fountain, it’s a great place for people-watching. Many of the city's most important streets begin here, including Ermou Street and Vassilissis Sofias Avenue.

The sheer cliffs, sweeping views, epic sunsets, and photogenic ruins of Cape Sounion (also written Cape Sounio) form one of the most popular Athens day trips. Built around 444–440 BC, the Temple of Poseidon and its elegant white-marble columns are the star of the show, but there’s a small beach below and a wealth of dining options nearby.

Established in 1829, Athens’ Hellenic National Archaeological Museum is the go-to museum for Greek artifacts worldwide. It houses umpteen treasures unearthed from Greece’s myriad archaeological sites, dating from prehistory to the late classical period. The expansive neoclassical building holds sculptures, bronzes, ceramics, and jewelry from Mycenae, Santorini, ancient Egypt, and beyond. It's considered one of the world's top archeological museums.

Built in honor of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century, this monumental gateway is one of the most striking remnants of ancient Athens. The 60-foot (18-meter) Roman-style arch once stood on a road between the Agora and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and is remarkably well-preserved. Today, it's a must-see for history buffs, and is conveniently close to many of Athens' other timeless attractions.

Before it was called the National Gardens of Athens, this refreshing getaway was named after Queen Amalia, the German princess who presided over the Kingdom of Greece in the 19th century. She commissioned the garden, and was said to have lovingly tended to its thousands of trees, flowers, and plants after its construction in 1840. Today, the gardens span nearly 60 acres of greenery and contain lakes, a conservatory, and children’s library.

The Theatre of Epidaurus is a well-preserved 4th-century BC theater built on a hillside that overlooks the Sanctuary of Asclepius. Its extraordinary acoustics meant that all 14,000 spectators could hear performances perfectly.

On the Athens Riviera, Lake Vouliagmeni is a striking cliff-backed pool fed by mineral-rich underground springs that keep the waters balmy, with an average temperature of 71°F (20°C) at its coldest in winter. The lake is said to have curative properties, so many people come here to enjoy spa activities and nibbles from the resident doctor fish. You can also sunbathe, swim, eat, and drink amid lush lawns and elegant decks.

Just north of the Acropolis, this neighborhoood—alongside the adjacent Plaka and Monastiraki—is one of the buzziest in Athens. By day, you can stroll its narrow streets to browse the eclectic shops and market stalls; by night, join locals who pack the area’s cafés and bars, or head to clubs for live rembetika and bouzouki music.

Perched on a hilltop on the western edge of the ancient Agora of Athens, the Temple of Hephaestus dates from the fifth century BC, likely around the same time as the Parthenon. Used as a Christian church during the Middle Ages, it preserves a spectacular range of original features, including friezes, columns, and even its roof. Many consider it the most intact Greek temple in all of Greece.

The University of Athens (the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, to give it its full title) forms part of the triumvirate of neighboring neoclassical buildings—including the Academy of Athens and the old National Library of Greece building—that are known as the “Athenian Trilogy”. With its elegant, column-lined facade, the imposing 19th-century building is one of the city’s architectural treasures.

Focused on the war of independence and the evolution of modern Greece, the Athens National Historical Museum takes visitors all the way through history, from medieval times to World War II. Weaponry, folk costumes, decorative arts, war medals, and statuary are on display in the ornate neoclassical palace that was once Greece’s parliament. The building still houses the original parliamentary chamber.

Perched on the northern slope of the Acropolis and peeking above the rooftops of neighboring Plaka, Anafiotika is a tiny, picturesque enclave in Athens. Known for its steep, cobbled alleyways lined with pocket-sized whitewashed houses—many of which feel reminiscent of villages on the Greek islands—the neighborhood was once home to the city's laborers. Today, it's become one of the most charming corners of the Greek capital.

The Piraeus cruise terminal is an important historical port in Greece and one of the largest cruise ship docks in Europe. While known by cruisers as a gateway to the ancient city of Athens, the Aegean Islands, and other destinations in the Mediterranean, the city of Piraeus—with its traditional center, cafés, and harbor—also merits a visit.

It took 20 years, four architects, and marble from scores of demolished Byzantine churches to finish the ornate Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens (Mitropoli). Today, the cathedral is the official seat of the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Athens, and ranks among the most important churches in Greece. It’s worth stopping by to admire its frescoed interiors, while taking in the range of priceless icons, tombs, and relics.

Stately Kotzia Square (Plateia Kotzia) is lined with some of the most elegant 19th-century neoclassical buildings in Athens, including the City Hall and the National Bank of Greece. A modern fountain marks the center, while a small archaeological site situated in one corner features the remains of tombs and an ancient road. Lively pedestrian streets fan out in all directions, offering plenty of options for shopping and dining, while the busy Athens Central Market is just a short walk away.

More than just a major transit hub, Syntagma Station is a unique archaeological destination. Athens is built on foundations that date back more than 9,000 years, so it was no surprise that the city revealed a perfect chronological timeline of artefacts when the metro system was first built. Many of these are now displayed at the station, tracing history from a prehistoric necropolis to classical Greek, Roman, and Byzantine remains, including mosaics, urns, and other treasures.

One of the homes of the Muses in myth, 8,061-foot (2,457-meter) Mount Parnassus (Parnassos) is one of the star attractions of Parnassos National Park. Activities on offer run the gamut from skiing and snowmobiling to hiking, climbing, and mountain biking, but most travelers experience it only on a visit to the ancient site of Delphi.

Once a gritty industrial area, Gazi has reinvented itself as one of Athens’ coolest nightlife and entertainment hubs. Home to the Technopolis cultural center—the former gasworks that today hosts concerts, art exhibitions, and a museum—the neighborhood is now crammed with bars, restaurants, live music venues, and nightclubs, as well as contemporary galleries and street art.

Colorful fishing boats and elegant yachts bob in the waters off Mikrolimano, the most picturesque harbor in the busy Piraeus port area. Lined with waterfront cafés and restaurants, this charming stretch of coastline draws Athenians for walks along the promenade and seafood feasts overlooking the water. It retains the relaxed atmosphere of a far-flung Aegean island.

One of the seven hills of Athens, the pine- and scrub-covered Philopappos Hill (Filopappou) is topped with a 39-foot (12-meter) marble monument; the structure, built in the 1st century AD, honors Gaius Julius Antiochus Philopappos, a Greek aristocrat who served as a high-ranking Roman official. The hill also boasts a scenic viewpoint that directly overlooks the Acropolis, offering some of the best panoramic views of the city.

Omonoia Square (Plateia Omonoias) is one of Athens’ most famous public spaces. Six major streets fan out from its central monumental fountain, and the square itself is primarily a busy transit hub—with bus, metro, and taxi routes clustered here. But it’s also the city’s eclectic and multicultural nexus, where old-school gritty neighborhoods and trendy storefronts meet. The area has a bohemian vibe and offers an array of affordable hotels, inexpensive restaurants and cafés, and international shops.

Cutting through the heart of Plaka, Adrianou Street is one of the most storied and atmospheric thoroughfares in Athens. It runs from the Monastiraki Flea Market, past the Ancient Agora of Athens, to the statue of Theseus at Thissio. Most of its length is lined with lively eateries and a variety of shops selling handcrafted jewelry and art, antiques, and souvenirs.

Kolonaki Square is set beneath Mt. Lycabettus in the heart of the upmarket Kolonaki district, the luxe epicenter of modern-day Athens. A modern, compact, leafy square with minimalist fountains, it’s home to popular cafés, plus statues of the 19th-century Greek revolutionaries who give it the name you’ll find on most maps: Plateia Filikis Etaireias (Square of the Friendly Brotherhood).

The Benaki Museum, along with the Acropolis Museum and Hellenic National Archaeological Museum, is one of the premier museums in Athens. Tracing Greek history from the Bronze Age to the 20th century, it's home to thousands of artworks and artifacts displayed across three floors. Visitors can explore everything from Byzantine icons and traditional costumes to antique weapons and beyond.