You tease, Athens. With its neoclassical structures, cutting-edge galleries, genre-defining museums, and bougainvillea-drenched cafes, the birthplace of modern Western civilization doesn’t hold back on the tourism front. Athens’ jumbled streets pay homage to that most cliched of travel tropes: the treasure trove metropolis with surprises and thrills around every corner. You’ll struggle to find a city with a finer hold on the paradoxes of history and nature than this one, where the physical breath of history brings that tired idea to life. Here are the 5 top places to visit in the classic city of Athens.
Acropolis Museum
The Acropolis Museum, another of Athens’ major attractions, houses one of the world’s most precious collections of ancient Greek art. The new institution, which is located below the Acropolis summit, was finished in 2007 and replaced the previous museum atop the hill.
This massive structure, which spans 25,000 square meters and includes 14,000 square meters of exhibition area, is one of the largest in the world. An old Athenian neighborhood is incorporated into the unusual design.
When the sun is shining brightly in Athens, this is one of the nicest things to do. Be advised that the admission line may be lengthy. Purchasing a skip-the-line ticket to the Acropolis Museum is an excellent idea.
The Roman Agora & Hadrian’s Library
The Roman Agora is located next to the Ancient Agora. Emperor Hadrian erected the old Hadrian’s Library on the outskirts of the Roman Agora in AD 132. Three churches were built around the library site later, during Byzantine times.
From the street, you can view one wall of Hadrian’s Library and the ruins of the Roman Agora, but if you wish to go further, you can purchase a ticket and stroll among the ruins.
Monastiraki & the Flea Market
The Athens Flea Market in Monastiraki has narrow alleyways packed with stores offering anything from jewelry and trinkets to apparel and everyday items. This is one of the neighborhood’s primary draws, but it has its own distinct character and is a pleasant place to simply relax on an outdoor patio or meander about.
There are many eateries in Monastiraki, and this is a fantastic area to go to for lunch if you like gyros or any other traditional Greek food. This region, unlike the more expensive Plaka district, is a little more laid-back.
Cine Paris
When the outdoor theatres start to open, Athenians know it’s summer in the city. The iconic Cine Paris, which has been showing films since the 1920s, is most renowned for its breathtaking views of the Acropolis.
For a full night out in the style of the Greeks. Cine Paris is one of Athens’ approximately 90 outdoor movie theatres, where visitors may see old Greek and international classics as well as the current Hollywood movies. During the 2021 season, Cine Paris was closed for repairs, but it is expected to reopen in 2022 with a bang.
