Top Things to Do in the Athens | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

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Places To Visit In Athens

Areopagus

Aeropagus Hill is a historic site located northwest of Acropolis. Around 1300 -1500 BC, it functioned as a court. It is visited for its serenity and amazing view of the city. The shiny, slippery steps for climbing Areopagus need trekking expertise. Look for marble patches and remnants of ancient houses on one of the hillsides. It is believed that St. Paul, who later became the city patron, preached his famous Areopagus Sermon here after noticing an unknown alter on the Areopagus hill. The word Areopagus also refers to the judicial body, and the council members were called Areopagites. It is said that God tried Ares for the murder of the sons of Poseidon, Hallirothios, who attempted to rape the daughter of Area, Alcippe. Thus, on the grounds of justifiable homicide, Ares was not punished by the council of gods for defending her daughter and protecting her. However, this hill continued to be the ground for trials of murder, treason, and other punishable offences from then onwards. Read More

Highlighting the historic Olympic trajectory of Greece on the world’s map, the Athens Olympic museum is located on the first floor of the Golden Hall in Maroussi. It sheds light on the unique journey of the Olympic games through history. The major highlights include the glamorous Kotinos, an amalgamation of olive leaves, the office of Demetrios Vekelos, and the silver medal of Leonidas Kokas. Exquisitely curated Athen Olympic Museum has audio and visual items showcased in the hall. It chronologically puts the three different stages of the Olympic games forwards; the Birth of Ancient Olympia, Revival, and the return of the Olympic games to Greece. The museum upholds the significant moments of the Olympics and portrays interactive exhibits, original installations, and unique digital restoration of historical monuments of ancient Olympia. It also has an impressive museum store and a popular restaurant called 1896 Cafe-Restaurant. The museum is directly connected to the Athens Olympic Center through a footbridge. Read More

Athens University History Museum, or the Old University, is a museum in Plaka. It houses historical relics and collections of the former university like preserved manuscripts, scientific instruments, portraits and even diplomas. These provide a great insight into the university’s history and its contribution to Greek science and art. It offers splendid views of the Acropolis and is a 2-minute walk from Erechtheion. It was an old Ottoman building reconstructed in the 19th century by Stamatios Kleanthis and Eduard Schaubert for official purposes and is one of the oldest residential buildings in the city. From 1937 to 1841, it became home to the independent Greek state’s first university. The museum’s courtyards witness the best theatrical and musical performances. Regular educational programmes ares conducted including guided tours for students, and other events such as seminars and exhibitions held on the ground floor. Read More

Athens War Museum is the largest military history museum in Greece, located on Rizari Street in Athens. It houses Greek military relics and documents the numerous conflicts in which the Greek nation took part throughout the centuries. In addition, there are exhibitions of weapon artefacts on 4 distinct floors and weaponry from other ancient civilizations such as Ancient China and Japan on display. A must-see attraction in the museum is the lightboard map showcasing how a fire beacon was used to transmit the news of the Trojan War. The museum also has an exterior area that is dedicated to heavy artillery and military aircrafts used by the Greek Air Force, which can be visited without entering the museum. Opened in 1964, the War Museum now has branches in different parts of Greece, including Crete and Peloponnese. Read More

Attica, a region circling the city of Athens and flanked by the Boeotia and Megaris on the north and west fronts respectively, is home to the oldest vineyards in Greek history. Native and select foreign varieties are grown in Attica's vineyards. Savvatiano and Roditis Greek varieties are mostly cultivated here. Some of the top must-visit wineries include Nikolou Winery, Anagnostou Winery and Domaine Vassiliou. During the winemaking season, Nikolou Winery hosts tasting tours of local varieties such as Savvatiano. It gives a glimpse into the production of their original sparkling wine based on Retsina and hosts training events for students amidst traditional folk architecture, all for a price of EUR 10 per person. Another popular winery, Domaine Vassiliou, has wine tours which include a 15-minute winery and cellar exploration and 45-minutes of wine tasting of four different varieties along with snacks for a cumulative price of EUR 12 per person. Allagiannis Winery is a famous vineyard in the heart of Attica and offers 2 visit programmes with wine tasting of 4 wines for EUR 10 per person + VAT and wine tasting of 5 wines and a seated menu for EUR 25 per person + VAT respectively. There are various other local gems spread across Kapandriti, Koropi, Pikermi and Spata where tourists can enjoy vineyard tours. Read More

Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation, also referred to as Goulandris Museum of Contemporary Art, is a recently opened modern art museum on Eratosthenous Street, Pangrati. This 11 storey masterpiece houses art collections from the 19th and 20th centuries, such as Van Gogh, Monet and Picasso, and contemporary Greek art. Guided tours are available. The museum is home to art collections worth US$3 billion accumulated by husband and wife Vassilis P. “Basil” and Elise Ghoulandris. In addition, there is a gift shop featuring original pieces inspired by the foundation’s collection, a café set amidst an open urban garden and a library with Goulandris’ cherished art books. Read More

The Benaki Museum of Islamic Art is the oldest and largest museum in Greece that features Greek artworks from the prehistoric period to the contemporary era. The museum is lodged in a complex of elegant buildings in the historical heart of Athens. It is located at the corner of Agion Asomaton and Dipylou streets in the Kerameikos district. Benaki Museum operates as an institution under private law. There is a considerable collection of Asian art. Besides, the museum hosts several exhibitions periodically and sustains an ultra-modern restoration and conservation workshop. There are some notable archaeological attractions in the surrounding area, including the Doric temple of Hephaestus, the grounds of the ancient Agora, and the museum of the ancient Kerameikos necropolis. Read More

The Byzantine and Christian Museum of Athens, located on the Vassilissis Sofias Avenue, represents the best of Byzantine Art in Greece. Containing more than 30,000 artworks, including frescoes, sculpture, pottery, ceramics, textile, and jewellery, it was built in 1948 in Tuscan Renaissance style. It is housed in Villa Ilissia, which earlier was the home of Duchess Sophie de Marbois-Lebrun, until her death. History lovers can know more about Crete, Serbia, Mystras, Bulgaria, and many more locations through art. There are three theme-based exhibitions in the garden, namely the Well Cistern about the water supply in Athens, Paradise about the Byzantine concept of paradise, and River Illinois about the river from its inception to modern times. There are also innumerable records, research, documents, wall paintings, and mosaic that talk about the history of the Early Christian, Byzantine, Medieval, and post-Byzantine periods from the 3rd century to the 20th century. Visitors can explore the permanent exhibition and learn about the ancient world of Byzantium and its transformation into the modern era. There are also 3d charts available for a real-time experience of the history. A cafe bistro is located in the garden area. Read More

The Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens, located on ancient Tripidon Street, is an elegant marble monument with gorgeous Corinthian-style columns. The first ancient monument built in the Corinthian order, the monument has replicas all over the world but this is the only Lysicrates monument that still remains intact. Standing in a small garden and only a few steps away from the Acropolis Museum, it has a circular statue, raised on a high squared podium. The Choragic Monument is decorated with the adventure of Dionysos with the pirates as Lysicrates built the monument to commemorate a chorus that he sponsored Dionysos in a competition. The Theatre of Dionysus was performed on the pedestal of the monument. The scene from Lysicrates’ play depicting Dionysus defeating pirates by turning them into dolphins is still preserved on the walls of the monument. Read More

Church of the Holy Apostles or Holy Apostles of Solakis is the first middle Byzantine church located in Ancient Agora. The only other standing monument in Agora, apart from the Temple of Hephaestus, the church is famous for its architecture. The highlights are a few wall paintings dating back to the 17th century and the watercolour of Saint Anthony and Saint Spyridon by Piet de Jong. It was the foundation for building cross-domed forms with 4 pillars or the Athenian type church. Built around the 10th century, the church has undergone several reconstructions following war damage from 1687 and numerous fires but remains an important historical and cultural landmark. Read More