Athens what to see, from the Parthenon to the flea market

Ancient Athens is worth visiting. Athens what to see? To date, the capital of Greece is a city full of charm, made even more beautiful by the recent improvement plans which, since 2004, have projected it into the future with great momentum while possessing within itself all the strength of its thousand-year history and mix of cultures that have inhabited it. Here's what to do in Athens.

Athens, night view
Athens, night view

If you stay in the city for several days, here's what to visit Athens. Hints, ideas, advice, for an Athens to see and enjoy. Athens in one weekend, is a viable idea but sacrifices many attractions.

However, even if you want to indulge in other distractions, the Greek capital is a city much loved by lovers of ancient art who, at this point, will be able to visit theAncient Agora di Athens with its beautiful Temple of Hephaestus , Stoa of Attalus; they also deserve an entry the National Archaeological Museum, Byzantine Museum and the Benaki Museum, while opera lovers will be able to visit the small one Museum of Maria Callas, with free admission. Guide Athens. Let's see what to see in Athens, the capital Greece, the most important monuments, Ancient Athens. Athens History.

Athens places of interest

1 The Acropolis, the Parthenon Athens

Athens Parthenon. It's impossible not to associate the idea of Athens atAcropolis: an inseparable combination that strongly characterizes this European capital, one of the cheapest and therefore highly appreciated even by low-cost travellers. There stop at the Acropolis is absolutely one of the first things to see in Athens. On the rocky hill ofAcropolis soars the Parthenon, symbol of Athens and the most important tourist and cultural attraction in this area. The grandeur of this temple is evident, even more appreciable at night when the whole hill is embellished with the golden color of the lights and the surrounding panorama: on one side you will find all of Athens "stretched out" down into the valley while on the other side it will be possible to admire part of the Peloponnese.

Athens what to see: the Parthenon
Athens, the Parthenon

2 Acropolis Museum Athens and Plaka

Not far from the Parthenon, here is the Acropolis Museum while for an immersion in the ancient streets of Athens, nothing is better than a walk in Plate, the neighborhood at the foot of the Acropolis which, despite the strong tourist-commercial connotation given by the presence of bars, guest houses and hotels, preserves its beautiful Byzantine churches and characteristic alleyways unchanged.

Acropolis opening hours

Every day: in summer from 8,00 to 19,00; in winter from 8,00 to 17,00.

Ticket price to visit the Acropolis

The price of ticket to visit the Acropolis it is around 12 euros. It allows visits to the Roman Forum, the Agora, the Keramikos, the Theater of Dionysus and the Temple of Zeus.

Metro stop for the Acropolis

Stop Akrpolis Monastiraki.

Plaka, Athens - Photo by kirkandmimi
Plaka, Athens – Photo by kirkandmimi

What to see Athens: museums

3 National Archaeological Museum Athens

Athens Archaeological Museum. It is the largest archaeological museum in Athens which collects relics of ancient Greek civilization. For art and culture enthusiasts it is an important destination. Inside it is possible to visit a large collection of artefacts that survived the eruption of the volcano Thera, the island also known as Santorini, dating back to the sixteenth century BC. C., The Mycenaean collection is very interesting with jewels, weapons, jewels and other finds dating back to between the ninth and sixteenth centuries BC.

Opening hours of the Archaeological Museum of Athens

Every day: in summer from 8,00 to 19,00; in winter from Tuesday to Sunday from 8,30 to 15,00, on Mondays from 13,00 to 19,30.

Ticket price to visit the Archaeological Museum of Athens

The ticket price to visit the Archaeological Museum of Athens is around 7 euros.

Metro stop for the Archaeological Museum of Athens

Stop Victoria.

Archaeological Museum of Athens
Archaeological Museum of Athens

4 Benaki Museum

Il Benaki Museum collects the art collection of Antonis Benaki which in 1954, before his death, was donated to the State together with his residence which contains it. It is a very rich artistic heritage that dates back to the third millennium BC up to the time of the donation. Inside are the "Treasures of Thessaly", precious jewels and many other important objects.

Times of Benaki Museum

Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: from 9,00 to 17,00; Sunday from 9,00 to 15,00; Thursday from 9,00 to 24,00 with free admission.

Ticket price to visit the Benaki Museum

The ticket price to visit the Benaki Museum is around 6 euros.

Metro stop for the Benaki Museum

Stop syntagma.

Benaki Museum, Athens

What to do in Athens

5 Flea market in Monastiraki

If you are looking for shopping among the markets, the ideal is to dedicate Sunday morning to flea market in Monastiraki, while if you prefer fashionable shops the right streets are those in the neighborhoods thissio e Gazi.

Monastiraki, Athens
Monastiraki, Athens

6 Central Market of Athens

Visiting Athens also means taking a walk in the heart of the Greek city's commerce. The Central Market is the biggest Athens market where the inhabitants of the Hellenic capital usually go shopping. The central market of Athens It is open every day from Monday to Saturday from 9,00 to 15,00.

Metro stop for the Central Market

Stop Monastiraki e Homony.

Central Market
Central Market

7 How to get to Athens and how to get around

How to get to Athens

Athens airport. Athens can be reached by plane via the international airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) located about 30 km from the city, in a north-east direction. The line of X94 bus connects to the metro station Amina Ethniki (Pentagon) with the airport. The first bus numbers is at 06.30, the last one at 20.55, at 10-20 minute intervals. The X95 line syntagma Square – Airport Express has its departure point in Syntagma square in the center of Athens, and ends at the airport. Athens Metro. An alternative to public transport is certainly the well-functioning subway.

How to get around Athens

You can get around the city on foot, as the places of interest are all easily accessible via pedestrian streets. Alternatively you can use the buses which are very cheap although almost always very crowded. The subway has three lines:

  • Line 1, green, Piraeus-Kifisià, 24 stations, 26 kilometers long, 3 of which are underground;
  • Line 2, red, Anthoupoli-Elliniko, 20 stations, 18,6 kilometers long, totally underground;
  • Line 3, blue, Agia Marina-“Eleftherios Venizelos” international airport, 21 stations, length 40 kilometers.

La Proastiakós suburban railway serves the city which also has two tram lines.

Proastiakós Railway in Athens
Proastiakós Railway in Athens

8 Where to eat and drink in Athens

The night clubs of Athens

Late at night the life of the Athenians explodes in the clubs, here very numerous and at good prices: the right destinations to go without fail are certainly the areas of Psirri e Gazi, two former industrial sites that are now the beating heart of the Greek capital's nightlife: between cocktail bars, discos, venues for modern intellectuals, Athens it is frenetic at night, both in winter and summer, with the only difference that in the warmer months many clubs move to the coastal area, perhaps right inside beach establishments. Whether for nightlife or art or for the pleasure of discovering a new European capital, there are many things to do Athens, a city that often represents an excellent solution for traveling while spending the right amount.

Nightlife in Athens - Photo by kirkandmimi
Nightlife in Athens – Photo by kirkandmimi

9 Where to sleep in Athens

Athens hotels. Accommodation in the city is affordable for any budget. There is no shortage of luxurious hotels, romantic hotels in the area Plate. The area of Syngrou it is especially suitable for those who go to Athens for work but it is an uninteresting area. Here is a selection of hotels in Athens.

Hotel Herodion Hotel, Athens
Hotel Herodion Hotel, Athens

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Information about Anna Bruno 123 Articles
Professional journalist, former reporter for "La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno", she specializes in travel, food, music and technologies. She is co-founder of the communication and digital PR agency FullPress Agency, she is the managing director of FullTravel.it, a travel magazine and of "VerdeGusto", as well as two other magazines. She is the author of “Digital Travel” and “Digital Food”, the fourth and fifth books respectively, for Flaccovio Editore. Digital Travel & Food Specialist, she is a consultant and teacher in training courses and is the delegate for the SOUTH and Islands of the Italian Travel Press (ITP).

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