Hotels in Athen

Athens is an ancient city which has been inhabited for more than 3,000 years. During Greece’s “Golden Age,” between around 500 - 300 BC, it was the true leader of the western world, being the most advanced city culturally, intellectually and commercially. Athens was home to famous philosopers such as Plato, Aristotle and Socrates, and is known as the birthplace of democracy. The beautiful city is named after Athena, its patron goddess, and its ancient origns are still very apparent. Its layout still centers around famous monuments such as the Acropolis, the Parthenon and Mount Lycabettus. Modern suburbs have covered the once-barren plains in all directions, and the city is now quite large and densly populated with around 5 million people. Athens has long been one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and it has a very cosmopolitan atmosphere as well as a strong sense of local culture. Since Greece joined the European Union, Athens has changed in terms of its government structure and become more modernized. The city is still a vibrant centre for the arts, as it was in ancient days, and there is a wonderful array of cultural activities to choose from, as well as some truly dazzling sights to see.