Athens Top Ten

Flying to Athens? Take in our Top Tens

By TTM on 26 May 2008 in Travel Articles

Any visitor to Athens must be struck by the surreal feel of modern life built up around ancient temples and monuments. Taking a taxi from the old to the new town, its easy to miss the ancient Temple of Zeus, the father of all gods, as you whizz by. Sit down for a coffee and as you sip your coffee you not only get to enjoy the buzzing alfresco cafe culture, but may also get to feast your eyes on the amazing Acropolis high above you.

In the mix are Byzantine, medieval and 19th century monuments and some of the most highly regarded museums in the world. And to top it all off, getting around is both easy and enjoyable. The metro is easy to use and pristinely clean with stations that look like mini aiports. What's more, for those with a moment to stop and stare, the metro stations are homes to ancient relics found on site and preserved as museum pieces for all to enjoy.

The best time to go is late May and June when temperatures are pleasant and when the Athens Epidaurus Festival begins (www.greekfestival.gr) and runs throughout summer.

1. The Acropolis and the Parthenon
The Acropolis is the sacred hill that overlooks the city of Athens. It is the highest part of the city and once used for silent sanctuary and religion since Neolithic times. On its top are three 5th century temples, the most impressive being Parthenon - a temple that is considered the finest example of Doric-style architecture. It is the epitome of ancient classical Greek art and dedicated to the "Virgin" goddess Athena. It was built during the period of 447 BCE and continued to 438 BCE by the Greek politician, Pericles, who has the accolade of founding the city of Athens and being the architect of the "Golden Age of Greece". Amongst the many treasures displayed in the Parthenon, was a giant ivory and gold sculpture of Athena.

The Parthenon was used by different peoples for different activities. By the 5th century the Parthenon was used as a church, and during the Ottoman occupation it used as a mosque and during the Erechthheion as a harem.

The Parthenon is in ruins now and its downfall started with the Ottomans. They kep kept gunpowder in the temple which was disastrous when the Venetians shelled it during the siege of 1687. Later in 1899 Lord Elgin removed sculptures (the Elgin marbles) and brougt them to the UK where they have remained.

Address: Acropolis Hill, Plaka, Tel: 00 30 210 321 4172
Entry to Parthenon: 12 euros (£10, free on Sundays)
Open: 8am-7pm daily (summer) 8.30am-5pm daily (winter)

Note: When you buy your ticket for entry to the Parthenon, this ticket will also get you into the other main archaeological sites, including the Olympeion, the Theatre of Dionysos, the Agora, and the Roman Forum.

2. The Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrians Arch
Bang in the middle of Athens is the ruins of the ancient temple of Zeus the father of all Greek god. He was revered in this 6th century BC temple that was so big it once comprised 104 that took 700 years to complete but today, 2600 years later, just 15 remain.

The awesome temple was built by the tyranical Pisistratus in 510BC but work was abandoned when Pisistratus' son, Hippias, was overthrown in 510BC. Later in the 3rd century BC when Green during Macedonia domination of Greece. Hellenistic king Antiochus IV of Syria hired Roman architect Cossutius to design the largest temple ever. When the king dies in 164BC work was stopped. Roman Emperor Hadrian, a great admirer of Greek culture took up the mantle in the 2nd century AD and it finally completed in 129.

In 1852 one of the last remaining columns was blown down by a storm and its still lying there.

At the entrace of the site is Hadrian's Arch. This was erected in 131 AD as part of the wall that separated the old and new cities of Athens.

Address: Amalias Avenue
Entry: 12 euros
Open: 800am-7.30pm daily

3. Take a walk around Plaka
Stone-paved Plaka is probably the most picturesque and certainly the most historical neighbourhood of Athens, nestling between the Acropolis above it and Monastiraki further downhill.

Once an area of noisy bars and night club, Plaka was forced to clean up its act by the Athens most famous Culture MInister Melina Mercury who lovingly restored the area to is current glory. Today Plaka has the feel of a small Greek village surrounded by a modern Athens centre.

The are two main streets: Kydatheneon which is easy to walk to from Constitution Square (the main square) and the other, the oldest, Adrianou begins at the Monastiraki flea market. From these, a mele of quaint narrow streets fan out hosting pretty houses with quaint gardens and tidy forecourts.

Restaurants, jewellery shops and a motley mix of touristy souvenir shops lace the maze of pedestrianised streets of the ancient Plaka area. True, most of the shops sell much of the same art and crafts but there are some great finds that make the walk along the quaint streets all the more interesting. For instance antiques shops and a couple of eccentric shops such as the colourful ouzo shop called Angelo that claims to have more varieties of this pungent tipple than anywhere else in Athens and a punk fashion store that according to its diary and various photographs, enjoys famous clientelle such as Madonna.

Tucked away are some really interesting museums too such as the Children and the Music Museum along with Greek Forlk Art Museum and the Jewish Museum.

Plaka also has its fair share of architectural gems such as the Roman bath of the winds, the Lysicrates monument and next door the Capuchin Monastery where Lord Byron stayed. Most appealling are the surrounding eateries, tavernas and trendy bars.

4. Kolonaki District - Chic and Trendy
Kolonaki, near Plateia Syntagma, is probably the trendiest, most chick neighbourhood in Athens. Greek stars are often seen strutting their stuff here and when it comes to trendy, stylish clothes shopping, Kolonaki is where its at. Cafes and restaurants are always busy with people weighed down with shopping bags and in the evening, stylish restaurants and trendy bars are buzzing with Athens trendiest people.

5. Parliament Building, The Evzones and the Changing of the Guard
Standing elegantly on Plateia Syntagma (aka Constitution Square) is the neo-Classical Parliament building. It was built in 1842 for Otto who was the first King of Greece after independence. It fell into disrepair and in 1923 was used as shelter for the homeless.

The Parliamentary government resumed in 1926 and the building was renovated and brought back to grandeur. This is where issues of the day are debated and it is televised.

Standing guard are the evzones. These are soldiers dressed in traditional gear that the soldiers wore when rebels won the War of Independence. This comprises a red hat, a pleated skirt with 400 pleats, one for each year under Turkish rule, white tights and shoes with red pom poms. It's hard to imagine them in combat dressed like that. The changing of the guard happens every hour and is entertaining to watch. They don't walk or march, the kick the legs high as if in dance. Apparently the guards are chosen from the compulory Greek military, and they are the tallest and most handsome the army has to offer.

The National Gardens alongside the Parliament where once only royalty were allowed to venture, are now open to the public. A stroll through its well tended paths, orange trees and flowers bends is very calming. You will pass the 19th century Zappeion Hall that serves as an exhibition centre.

6. Syntagma Metro Station
Athens Metro system is extremely efficient but more than that, most stations are mini museum housing antiquities that were found on the site where the station was built. The most outstanding is Syntagma Metro Station built when Athens was hosting the Olympics. When the city was excavating in preparation of the metro system archeologists founds thousands of pricelss items on the site. Many are displayed in the station but the most magnificent is a glass wall overlooking the site. It includes two cemetries and there is a commentary that describes the different layers.

Address: Constitution Square

7. Lycabettus Hill (Lykavittos in Greek)
This cone-shaped limestone rock offers a lovely way to spend a morning or afternoon. It stretches up from a bed of green pine trees settling into a streaky vision of white and green. At 910 ft tall this is the highest hill in Athens. You can climb it following any one of several paths or if you prefer take the cable car to the top. It leaves every 30 minutes and takes just a couple of minutes to the top. At the top there's a restaurant and a pristinely white 19th century Chapel of St. George. In the summer it also stages open-air theatre and other culural events. Spend some time here and enjoy the dazzling views over Athens that take in the Parthenon on top of the Acropolis.

Address: Odos Ploutarchou
Directions: Start from Kolonaki and walk towards Exarchia and the Archaeological museum
Closest Metro: Evangelismos
Return ticket: 4,50 euros (£4.50)
Cable car: Runs 9am-3am every day

8. The National Archaeological Museum
This national treasure is home to a whole host of ancient treasures devoted to Greek civilisations including those from the royal graves at Mycenai. Some pieces are over 30 centuries old yet you can still pick out the detailed engravings on carved ivory and jewellery.

Address: 44 Patission Street (Tel: 00 30 210 821 7717)
Entry: 7 euros (£6)
Open: 8.30am-3pm Tuesday-Sunday, 1.30pm-7pm on Mondays.

9. Ancient Agora
This may look like a wilderness of wild land and olive trees where fallen columns lay where they fell many years ago, but actually, in ancient times, this was the city's main marketplace and seat of the Athenian goverment. It was here that Socrates and St Paul made their public speeches and where Plato spent much of his time. The law courts were here and anyone who happened to be in Agora when a case was being heard would be called up to serve as juror.

Today there are three standing structures: The 11th century Church of the Holy Apostles which was deconsecrated a mere 50 years ago; the Temple of Hephaistos, where the frieze is a must-see; and the Stoa of Attalos which had been rebuilt in the 1950s to house the Agora Museum. This is located near the entrance and worth visiting for the ancient finds.

Address: Adranou 24, Monastiraki, Tel 00 30 210 321 0185
Open: Daily 8am-7pm summer, 8am-3pm winter.
Entry: 4 euros (£3)

10. Benaki Museum
This impressive museum was founded in 1930 by Antonis Benakis in memory of his father Emmanuel Benakis at the Benakis family's gorgeous neo-classical mansion. This museum traces Greek art right up the 20th century. Sculpture, ceramics, jewellery, paintings, furniture and costumes are on display, but top pieces include the 2nd century BC Thessaly Treasure (a horde of gold filigree jewellery set with precious stones), two early paintings by El Greco, and the reconstruction of two 18th century, wooden-panelled, Ottoman-inspired living rooms. Later, enjoy some refreshement at the museum's lovely roof terrace café,

Address: Vassilissis Sofias & Koumbari 1, Kolonaki Tel: 00 30 210 367 1000
Web: www.benaki.gr
Open: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 9am-5pm; Thursday 9am-midnight; Sun 9am-3pm.
Entry: 6 euros (£4.30), free Thursdays.

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