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Acropolis
One of the world’s most famous monuments, the Acropolis was a citadel of ancient Athens and the centre of classical Greek civilization. It is located at the top of a steep flat-topped rock, and is the location of a number of beautiful temples dedicated to Athena, the goddess of wisdom. The most famous building here is the Parthenon, a magnificent temple that is the greatest surviving example of Doric architecture. The other two main temples are the Erechtheion and the Temple of Nike. The hill of the Acropolis has been inhabited since the Neolithic period, and from 650 BC it became a place of worship to Athena. Most of the ruins that are visible today are from the 4th century BC, built by Pericles after the original Acropolis buildings were destroyed by Persians. The Acropolis towers over the city of Athens, and the view from the top is breathtaking. Visitors enter the site through a grand entrance way called the Propylaia, which was present in ancient times as an art gallery. There is also a museum here, displaying mainly carvings and friezes from the various temples.
Opening times: Mon - Fri 8 am - 7 pm, Sat and Sun 8.30 am - 3 pm
Entrance price: € 12
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Dionysiou Areopagitou
105 58
Lagonissi
Tel: +30 210 (0)1 3236665
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Agorá
The Agorá is an area of about 10 acres of land lying below the Acropolis, and was the centre of city life in ancient Athens. It was likewise the most important part of all the cities and states in ancient Greece. Some of the greatest philosophers of the ages have spent time here, such as Socrates and Plato. It was in the Agorá that Socrates committed suicide by drinking poison, surrounded by his friends. There is a lot to explore here, and there are ruins from many ancient buildings, including the Dionysis Theatre. This was the oldest theatre in the world, and saw the plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides performed. A few buildings have been restored, such as the Stoa of Attalos, originally a law court and municipal office, built in 200 BC. The reconstructed building is now a museum and includes thousands of artifacts relating to Athens’ history.
Opening times: Tues - Sun 8.30 am - 2.45 pm
Entrance prices: € 12 for adults, € 6 reduced fare
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Odos Adrianou
105 50
Lagonissi
Tel: +30 210 (0)1 3214825
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Syntagma Square
This square lies at the heart of modern Athens, and includes the city’s famous Parliament building, built in 1840 as a royal palace under King Otto. The magnificent building remained the royal palace until 1910, but was then destroyed by fire. It reopened in 1935 with a different function, as the seat of the National Assembly. One of the draws of the square is the chaning of the guard ceremony. The guards are unusually dressed in skirts and pom-pom decorated uniforms, and they change places every hour. The ceremony looks impressive and involves a large number of soldiers, and is probably one of the most photographed attractions in the city. Syntagma square is also a great central location from which to begin exploring the city. The musuem district on Vassilissis Sophias Avenue is only a stone’s throw away, as well as other major attractions.
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Syntagma Square
106 71
Lagonissi
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Temple of Olympian Zeus
This large temple was begun in 515 BC and dedicated to the worship of Zeus. Now in ruins, it was once a magnificent structure with 104 Corinthian columns, lots of marble and a huge statue of Zeus in ivory and gold. The temple was destroyed by invaders in the 4th century AD, and has not been rebuilt since. Some of the stone and marble has disappeared to be reused in other buildings, and today only a few of the columns remain. It is still an impressive sight, however, and one can get a good feeling of the grandeur of the original. The incredible height of the still-standing columns shows how huge the sanctuary once was.
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Vassilissis Olgas Avenue
105 57
Lagonissi
Tel: +30 210 9226330
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Lykavittos Hill
The highest point in Athens, this hill offers a wonderful view of the whole city. You can easily spot important landmarks like the Acropolis and the Olympic Stadium, as well as see a clear view of the coast and mountains. You can walk to the top, which takes about an hour, or take a cable car or a taxi. Once you reach the top, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery, relax in one of the cafés, and visit the chapel of Agios Giorgios. The view from the summit is particularly breathtaking at sunset.
Cable car operating times: Fri - Wed 8.45 am - 12 am, Thurs 10.30 am - 12 am
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Corner of Aristippou and Ploutarchou Streets
106 76
Lagonissi
Tel: +30 210 7227065
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Panathenaic Stadium
This ancient stadium at the foot of Ardittos Hill is one of the city’s major sights, built between 330 - 329 BC. It has served a variety of functions since it was built, and during the Roman period was transformed into an arena. It later fell into ruin, and by the mid-18th century little more remained than a wheat field. It was reconstructed, following the design of the ancient stadium, for the 1896 Olympics. These were the first Olympic Games played since antiquity. Grand and striking, the reconstructed stadium is the only stadium in the world made entirely out of marble, and is built in a large horseshoe shape. It has a capacity of 70,000 and is used today for number of different large-scale events.
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Vassileos Konstantinou Avenue
116 35
Lagonissi
Tel: +30 210 3251744
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Hadrian''s Arch
A famous monument as well as an important archaeological site, this arch was built in 131 AD. Full of intricate Corinthian detail-work, it was built to honour the Hellenophile emperor Hadrian, and also served the purpose of separating the ancient and imperial sections of Athens. One side of the arch faces the Acropolis, the other faces the Temple of Olympian Zeus. There are inscriptions on both sides of the arch, designating which area of the city belonged to whom. On the Acropolis side, it reads: “This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus,” but on the other side says “This is the city of Hadrian, not of Theseus.”
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Dionysiou Areopagitou
105 58
Lagonissi
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Kerameikos Cemetary
A beautiful cemetary of ancient Athens, this is a lovely and quiet spot full of fascinating classical monuments. The Street of the Tombs is one of the oldest sections of the cemetary, and here you will find monuments from the 4th century BC and later. Though a famous sight, the cemetary is rarely crowded, and you can sit in peaceful contemplation or take a virtually undisturbed walk among the ancient tombs.
Opening times: Summer Tues - Sun 8 am - 7 pm, Winter Tues - Sun 8.30 am - 6 pm
Entrance prices: € 2, or free with purchase of Acropolis ticket (€ 12)
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148 Ermou
105 62
Lagonissi
Tel: +30 210 3463553
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