Wander through Athens to discover plenty of intriguing attractions, perfect for the curious explorer and culture addict. Visit the Ancient, Roman, Byzantine and modern monuments that abound in the city. See and feel the unique character of its districts and enjoy a journey through history, tradition and contemporary life.

ACROPOLIS

The term “Acropolis” derives from the Greek words “akron” meaning highest point or extremity, and “polis” meaning city. In ancient times, our ancestors constructed a sacred monument at the highest location of each city. This tradition has resulted in numerous citadels (acropolis) throughout Greece. The Acropolis of Athens, this Sacred Rock adorned by the Parthenon temple honoring the city’s patroness, Goddess Athena, serves as a timeless landmark bridging the present to the glorious past. Drawing millions of visitors annually, it stands as a symbol of cultural and historical significance.

PANATHENAIC STADIUM

The first modern Olympic Stadium in the world. The Panathenaic Stadium, also known as Kallimarmaro, is a distinctive archaeological monument, a living emblem of the ancient and modern heritage of sport and the Olympic Games. Originally, since the 6th century BC, it hosted the Panathenaic Games (also known as the Great Panathenaea), a religious and athletic festival celebrated every four years in honor of the Goddess Athena. It is situated in the Pangrati area in the center of Athens.

ACROPOLIS MUSEUM

Located just 300 meters from the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum is an archaeological institution that displays the treasures unearthed on the Sacred Rock of the Acropolis and its surrounding foothills. It is the second most significant archaeological museum in Greece, following the National Archaeological Museum on Patission Street. Visitors of all ages can spend a day exploring the Acropolis Museum, which offers onsite archaeological interactive games for families, demonstrations of sculpture conservation, thematic exhibit presentations, oversized reading rooms with panoramic views of the Parthenon, and many other attractions.

NATIONAL ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Established in 1829, the National Archaeological Museum was the first museum in Greece following the country’s liberation from Ottoman rule. It is the largest museum in Greece and holds significant global importance. Originally designed to house discoveries from 19th-century excavations, primarily in Attica but also across Greece, the museum evolved into a central repository for archaeological artifacts from the entire Greek region. The extensive collections, totaling over 11,000 exhibits, provide visitors with a panorama of ancient Greek civilization from early prehistory to late antiquity.

BENAKI MUSEUM

The Benaki Museum was established in 1930 in Athens through a donation by Antonis Benakis to the Greek state. It is recognized as a prominent cultural institution in Greece, boasting a collection of over 100,000 exhibits related to Greek history and culture. Since 2000, the collections have been organized thematically and distributed among regional museums, making it a multipurpose cultural center. A unique museum that highlights the evolution of Greek culture while supporting knowledge, research, and freedom of expression.

MUSEUM OF CYCLADIC ART

Located in the heart of Athens, this dynamic cultural institution is dedicated to showcasing the ancient civilizations of the Aegean. The Museum of Cycladic Art houses one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Cycladic art, featuring the renowned marble figurines from the 3rd millennium BC that have influenced numerous twentieth and twenty-first century artists, such as Brancusi, Modigliani, Giacometti, Hepworth, and Moore. Within its permanent collections, you will find 3,000 artifacts, including Cycladic and ancient Greek pieces. The museum hosts temporary exhibitions ranging from archaeology to modern and contemporary art. Committed to inspiring and benefiting multiple communities, the Museum has made its impact in the city of Athens, both within and beyond its walls.

BASIL & ELISE GOULANDRIS FOUNDATION ATHENS

Art should be open to society; this was the vision and statement of the founders, Basil and Elise Goulandris. The new modern art museum opened its doors in 2019 and was specifically designed to showcase the Basil and Elise Goulandris Foundation’s world-class collection of Impressionist, Modernist, and post-war art. The collection emphasizes modern and contemporary art by both Greek and international artists, featuring rare pieces from European avant-garde masters such as Cézanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso, alongside works by notable modern Greek painters including Parthenis, Bouzianis, Vassiliou, Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas, Tsarouchis, Moralis, Tetsis, and others.

NATIONAL OBSERVATORY OF ATHENS

For those interested in entering the “Hall of Time,” unlocking the “Gate to Space,” and conducting a thorough study of the Moon, a visit to the National Observatory of Athens is highly recommended. Founded in 1842, the National Observatory of Athens is the oldest research foundation in Greece. It has long been used by Greek and foreign Astronomers as the basis for astronomical, meteorological, cartographical and geodynamical measurements and observations in the more than 170 years long course of its history. Today the buildings of NOA at Thissio include an Astrogeophysics Museum, housing clocks, telescopes and other instruments of the 19th century, as well as an extensive 19th century library.

NATIONAL GALLERY

The National Gallery of Athens was established in 1900 and is regarded as one of the most significant art museums in Greece, housing over 20,000 works of painting, sculpture, engraving, drawing and other forms of art; this is the treasury of Modern Greek art, encompassing the period from the post-Byzantine times until today. Moreover, the National Gallery owns a remarkable collection of Western European paintings. In 1954, the National Gallery merged with the Alexandros Soutsos Estate, hence its double name. Beautiful works by Bruegel, Caravaggio, Delacroix, El Greco, and Picasso are displayed in a space characterized by innovative architectural perspective and an imposing presence in the heart of Athens.

ODEON OF HERODES ATTICUS

The ancient Odeon of Herodes Atticus theatre, known locally as “Herodeon”, is a highly-acclaimed attraction in Athens and renowned as one of the finest open-air theaters globally. It was built between 160AD – 174AD by the wealthy benefactor of Athens, Herodes Atticus as an ode to his late wife Rigilla and served as a venue for music concerts with a capacity of 5,000. This historic stone theatre has gone on to host some of the world’s best musical performances by artists such as Nana Mouskouri, Luciano Pavarotti and Frank Sinatra. Today, majestic ballets, arias, ancient Greek tragedies, and grand concerts are presented in an inspiring environment that harmoniously blends the contemporary world with the ancient Hellenic spirit.

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