| ACROPOLIS
& MUSEUM |
210
321 0219
210 323 6665 |
| Nearest
Metro Station: Acropolis The Acropolis dates from the
5th century BC when Athens set the tone for civilization
in Europe. It is a good idea to visit the museum prior
to walking around the site as you will get a better
understanding of the history of the Acropolis and enjoy
it more. Guides are available for a fee (English,
French, German, Arabic, Italian & Spanish) but a
good guidebook will do. Very unsuitable for pushchairs
and small children. It is advisable to wear good
gripping shoes; it is quite a steep climb and the marble
has worn very smooth and can be treacherous when wet!
Remember to go early in the day and to take water if
visiting in the summer, as there is very little shade
from the sun. Open
daily 8am – 3pm The new Acropolis ticket, priced 12
Euro for adults, enables you also to visit the Theatre
of Dionysos, Keramikos, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Ancient
Agora and Roman Agora within a week of purchase.
Children / Students free.
|
| PHILOPAPPOU
HILL |
| Opposite
the Acropolis. Nearest metro station Acropolis. The
monument was built in the 2nd century AD to honour the
Roman governor Gaius Julius Antiochus, who had been good
to the city. He was also known by the nickname
Philoppapos (literally grandfather's friend). His
grandfather was the last King of Kommagene, Antiochus
IV. Although it is a steep walk up to the monument, the
breathtaking views over Athens make it well worth it. |
| ACROPOLIS
STUDY CENTRE |
210
923 9381 |
| 2-4
Makriyanni |
| ODEON
OF HEROD ATTICUS (BOX
OFFICE) |
210
323 2771 |
| On
the south slope of the Acropolis Amphitheatre Built by
the Roman Emperor Herod Atticus in 161 AD. Still in
exceptional condition, the Amphitheatre is used every
summer for the Athens Festival and other cultural
events. |
| ANCIENT
AGORA/ MARKET PLACE |
210
321 0185 / 4825 |
| At
the foot of the Acropolis. Nearest metro station:
Thission. The ancient Agora (market place) was not only
the commercial centre of the city; it was its political,
cultural and religious one as well. The administrative
buildings and temples were built in this area, where the
public services and courts of law were also based. It
was here that Paul the Apostle made the first converts
to Christianity in 49 AD. Athenians gathered here daily,
not only to buy and sell their goods, but also to hear
the news, to criticize the government, to exchange views
and just gossip. This area dates back to Neolithic times
and the site includes monuments of different periods:
from classical to the 11th century AD represented by the
church of the Agio Apostoli |
| TEMPLE
OF HEPHAISTOS STOA OF ATTALOS MUSEUM |
210
321 4825 / 0185 |
| A
donation by Attalos III, King of the Pergamon (159-138
B.C.), to the city of Athens. The museum exhibits are
mainly items of everyday use, found during excavations
of the ancient Agora (market). The building is thought
to have been an ancient shopping centre made up of 21
shops on each of its two floors. |
| ROMAN
MARKET PLACE |
210
324 5220 |
| Pelopida
&Aiolou.Originally a single complex made up of a
vast rectangular court surrounded by colonnades. The
arcades would have housed shops. To the north was a
library built by Hadrian. To the east is the Tower of
Winds. |
| TOWER
OF WINDS |
210
324 5220 |
To
the east of the Ancient Agora
An octagonal tower representing the eight directions of
the wind. Andronicus, a Syrian astronomer, built it in
the 1st century. It served as a sundial, weather vane,
compass and water clock. |
| PLAKA |
| Narrow
stone paved streets, beautifully restored buildings and
the neo-classical colours of the houses make this area
one of the most picturesque in Athens centre. Be sure to
take a map, as it is easy to get lost in the maze of
tiny roads and alleyways. Uphill leads to the Acropolis
and downhill leads to Monastiraki. Plaka's main square
is called Philomousos Etairia (friends of the muses, the
9 patron goddesses of the arts). The square is full of
cafes restaurants and bars. The children's museum is
also located here.
|
| AVYSINIAS
SQUARE |
| The
main square in Monastiraki, the centre of the flea
market. Here you can find almost anything. Antique shops
selling furniture, books, records, pictures, etc.
Monastiraki leads into Plaka, walking around these areas
takes you back in time and you almost forget the busy
city going about its business. |
| DIONYSOS
THEATRE SITE |
210
322 4625 |
| Dion
Areopagitou. Built in the 5th century BC, it is able to
accommodate approximately 17,000 spectators. It is here
that the plays of Euripides, Sophocles, Aristophanes and
Aeschylus were first performed. |
| ACADEMY
OF ATHENS |
210
360 0207 |
| 28
Panepistimiou. Designed by Theophil Hansen. Displays
buildings decorated with friezes and columns adorned
with statues of Apollo and Athena |
| THE
NATIONAL LIBRARY |
| Panepistimiou.
The largest library in the country housing thousands of
books in all languages. Built by Theophil Hansen between
1858-1884. |
| THE
UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS |
| Panepistimiou.
Designed by Hans Christian Hansen and built between
1839-1864. Wonderful architecture and frescos by Karl
Rahl. |
| MELINA
MERKOURI CULTURAL CENTRE |
210
345 2150 |
| Iraklidon
66, Thissio |
| THE
PANATHENAIKON STADIUM (KALLIMAMARO OLYMPIC STADIUM) |
Opposite
the National Garden on Vassilias Konstandinou and Agras.
The first stadium to be built on this site was made of
wood in 330 BC. Herodes Atticus then built another on
the same site, which hosted the athletic games held
during the feast of Panathenaea. Today's stadium was
built between 1869 and 1870 for the first modern Olympic
Games held in 1896. |
| SYNTAGMA
SQUARE & THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT |
| Nearest
Metro Syntagma. The Parliament building overlooks
Syntagma Square. Built between 1836 and1842, it served
originally as a palace for King Otto, the first King of
Greece and his wife Amalia. In 1924 the presiding
Government decided that the Greek Parliament should be
housed in the building. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
lies below the Parliament building and is guarded 24
hours a day by a pair of elite soldiers called Evzones (Tsolias).
You can visit the Parliament Buildings which house
national treasures such as the First Greek Constitution
(the word Syntagma means Consititution) and many
valuable works of art. The large library is also worth a
visit. |
| THE
NATIONAL GARDENS |
| Nearest
metro station: Syntagma. In these large and well-kept
gardens (nearly 40 acres) you can find many varieties of
trees and plants from all over the world. Designed as
gardens for King Otto and Queen Amalia, they were
planted between 1838 and 1860. There are four entrances:
Vasilissis Sophias, Herodou Atticou St, Amalias and
through Zappeion. A playground, a small zoo, a duck
pond, a botanical museum and a children's library are
located within the grounds. When walking in these
gardens you forget you are in the centre of a busy city.
Open dawn to dusk daily. |
| ZAPPEION |
| This
is the small park area between the National Gardens and
the Olympion. The Zappion Megaron, built between
1874-1888 by the architect Theophil Hansen is now used
as a Congress and Exhibition Hall and has witnessed some
of the most important moments in the history of modern
Greece. |
| LYCAVITTOS
HILL AND THE CHURCH OF S.T. GEORGE |
| At
278m this is the highest point in Athens. Legend says
that the goddess Athena wanted her temple on the
Acropolis to be closer to the sky. So one stormy night,
she went to Mount Pendeli and took a huge rock, which
she meant to place on top of the existing one. Two black
birds approached her as she was carrying the rock and
told her some bad news. In her hurry, she dropped the
rock right in the middle of Athens, and then promptly
forgot about it. Beautiful views of Athens from the top
where you will find a small cafe and restaurant. It is
well worth a visit. There is one road leading to the
top, but many footpaths if you fancy a steep walk. There
is also a funicular cable car that runs up through the
mountain from the corner of Aristipou & Ploutarchou. |
| ELEUSIS
ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE AND MUSEUM |
210
554 6019, 210 554 3470 |
| The
ancient city of Eleusis dates back to Mycenaean times
when the cult of Demeter began. This cult was to become
one of the most important in ancient Greece. It was
celebrated with a huge annual festival, which attracted
thousands of pilgrims wanting to be initiated into the
Eleusian Mysteries. Museum and site open-8.30-3pm
Tues-Sat |
| TEMPLE
OF THE OLYMPIAN ZEUS |
210
922 6330 |
| Vas
Olgas & Amalias. Behind Hadrian's Arch. Original
temple dated circa 515 BC, the Roman Emperor Hadrian
completed further building in 131 AD. Once the largest
temple in Greece. |
| HADRIAN'S
ARCH |
210
922 6330 |
| Located
at the intersection of Amalias and Zappeion. After the
completion of the temple of Zeus, the Athenians honoured
Hadrian by building an arched gateway in 131 AD in the
northwest corner of the enclosure of the temple. The
temple has two inscriptions, on the side facing the
Acropolis it reads '' This is Athens, the ancient city
of Theseus'', on the other side, facing the extension of
the city by Hadrian, it reads, ''This is the city of
Hadrian and not of Theseus''. |
| LAVRIO
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM |
22920
22817 |
| Sepieri
Square Lavrio |
| MINERALOGICAL
MUSEUM |
22920
26270 |
| Iroon
Politechniou Sq Lavrio |
| RAMNOUS
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE |
22940
63477 |
| Kato
Souli near Marathon |
| NEW
DIGITAL PLANETARIUM |
210
9469600 |
Idrima
Evenidou Syngrou Ave 387, Palio Faliro. The largest
digital planetarium in the world has recently opened in
Athens.
Saturdays and Sundays 10.30 - 4.30 new show every hour.
Entrance 6 Euro. Student/child/pensioners & groups 4
Euro. It is advisable to book. The show is fairly loud
and takes place in the dark and so may not be suitable
for some young children.
|