Sights to see in Athens
Athens, the busy capital of Greece, draws visitors from every continent because it mixes old stones living customs and new city life. One essential stop is the Acropolis, a flat topped rock that rises above the streets and holds ruins declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. People built there in the fifth century BC - the hill served as a place of worship. The Parthenon, a temple for Athena, still stands, as does the small Temple of Nike, once home to the famous “Nike of Samothrace” statue. From the top you look over the entire city plus guides tell the stories behind the marble.
The National Archaeological Museum, the biggest in Greece, displays objects that span the whole of ancient Greek history. Rooms hold marble statues, painted pots, floor mosaics and well-known works such as the “Angel Boy.” The layout of the galleries follows a timeline - a visitor sees how Greek art and daily life changed century after century.
Recommend
Plaka, one of the oldest parts of Athens, sits in the shadow of the Acropolis. Tight lanes climb between houses painted in warm colors - cafés set tables on the stone, family tavernas serve grilled fish but also small shops sell wood carvings and old copper plates. A walk through Plaka feels like a stroll through a village that never left the nineteenth century - yet the rock of the Acropolis waits at every turn.
A five minute walk brings you to Monastiraki Market, where the square and surrounding streets turn into an open bazaar. Vendors spread out jeans, beaded sandals, vintage posters as well as hand-painted icons. Food stalls sell souvlaki in paper, while tavernas offer tables under vines. The place suits shoppers who want a bargain and diners who want a quick bite or a long meal.
Outside the center you find Roman columns besides Byzantine chapels, the summit of Mount Lycabettus with its wide view and neighborhoods where young chefs reinvent traditional dishes. Athens keeps the past in plain sight or still lives at full urban speed - travelers leave with both historic memories and the buzz of a modern city.
