Athens

Ancient yet modern, classic yet creative, traditional yet constantly changing… Athens is a city of memorable contrasts..

Whether Athens is your focal point or you’re in town on a stopover on your way to an island or elsewhere on the mainland, it has become one of Europe’s most exciting city break destinations.

At its heart is the Acropolis, continuing to emit its unique energy and acting as a beacon to the world – just as it would have done in antiquity. Around it, the likes of the Ancient Agora, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the temples of Olympian Zeus and Hephaestus and so many other world-renowned cultural highlights stand ready to reveal their secrets, like an open-air museum.

Supplying the narrative to this visual feast are the museums. First among them, is the Acropolis Museum, one of the finest in the world – not just because of the richness of its exhibits but because of the beauty with which it displays statues and artefacts of the Parthenon and other monuments of the Acropolis, as well as objects unearthed during the construction of the museum in an area continuously inhabited for 4,000 years.

Meanwhile, the National Archaeological Museum reveals the extraordinary breadth of the history of Greece. And everywhere you look, another fascinating museum seems to call to you… the Benaki Museum and Museum of Cycladic Arts and, at the other end of the timescale, the Goulandris Museum of Modern Art, with works from Picasso to Van Gogh.

Away from the centre, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre is a wonderful recent addition to the cultural identity of Athens, housing the National Opera House and National Library. This, after all, is a place that is constantly reinventing itself. Most recently, a grand pedestrianisation project is changing the way visitors and residents communicate with the city, with new walkways and cycle paths linking ancient sites and neighbourhoods.
Beyond the antiquities, you’ll find a city that has lived a decade of unprecedented creativity. New shops and entertainment options have flourished and the food scene has undergone a revolution, with talented chefs reinterpreting Greek and Mediterranean classics. This is where Michelin-starred gourmet cuisine can be found right next door to street food – each memorable in its own way.

From traditional tavernas and rooftop dining with views of the lit-up Parthenon to bistros and dine-in delis (where the owner has hand-picked products from around the country), the choices seem infinite. As do the wine & cocktail bars and cafes, bringing colour to previously hidden neighbourhoods. New life has been breathed into the likes of Psyrri, Thissio and Kypseli, and neighbourhoods like Koukaki, Pangrati and Petralona call for your attention every bit as much as well-established districts such as Plaka and Monastiraki.
Just as you will be rewarded for seeking out the smaller boutiques selling clothes by local designers and handmade souvenirs, found in so many neighbourhoods (Kolonaki stands out), as well as venturing down the shopping thoroughfares of Ermou and Voukourestiou streets.

Athens is an outdoors city, whatever the season of your visit. How could you top watching an opera, concert or play under the starlit Athenian sky? By doing it in a venue like the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, below the Acropolis, that’s how! Or settling back to a classic in one of the historic outdoor summer cinemas, some operating for more than a century.
And in a city made to be walked and you’ll find unexpected pockets of greenery. The National Garden and Zappeion Hall deservedly stand out (perfect for a morning or afternoon run or stroll), but there is other greenery to explore. And for an amazing view of the city, Lycabettus and Philopappou hills offer an easy climb and incredible vantage points.

It’s a seemingly never-ending taste of summer in the Greek capital, enhancing a city break in a way that no other European city can hope to. Unless you go a step further, of course, and visit the islands close to Athens… Aegina, Hydra, Poros and Spetses … each just as magical as the more celebrated cousins in the Aegean or Ionian seas. Just a short ferry or hydrofoil journey away, they’re close enough for a day trip.

THINGS TO DO & SEE

The Acropolis & Museum
Plaka Neighbourhood
Temple of Poseidon Cape Sounion
Monastiraki Neighbourhood
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Centre
Lycabettus Hill
Varvakios Agora Food Market
Psyri Neighbourhood for tavernas & bars

In a Nutshell

Perfect for long weekend break or a stopover to a Greek island..Athens has good weather, culture, cool neighbourhoods & friendly people

Getting Here

Fly to Athens - Approx. 30min transfer time to resort

Daily Direct flights from London Heathrow with British Airways
Daily Direct flights from London Gatwick with Easyjet
Direct flights from Manchester with Easyjet

Our location maps are intended as a helpful guide but are by no means definitive.

OUR 28 ATHENS PROPERTIES

V36 SUITES

Located in the lively centre of Athens, V36 Suites offer a serene and cozy atmosphere in these recently renovated urban chic suites. Boasting an ideal location near Syntagma square, the hotel is close to important historical sites, landmarks, as ...

Athens

THINGS TO DO & SEE

In a Nutshell

Getting Here

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