Athens Tourism

Athens contributes very much to the tourism industry of the entire Greek country suggesting a long list of archaeological sites, archaic monuments, and old towns. Tourism in Athens is highly developed all year round, although the most popular months are from April to October. The weather is really enjoyable during those months, and the crowds of tourists are still far from sight, which makes visits to archaeological sites, museums and places a lot easier, and the rooms cheaper to book.

In spring and summer, the weather in Athens is ideal for your walks in the old neighborhoods of Plaka. The entire Greek capital remains a quite traditional town, resisting to some of the mass changes brought by the EU. The best places to see are inside the capital town. In fact, Athens tourism is mostly restricted to the city center, although there are nice places to visit in the suburbs of the city.

The famous Greek hospitality can still be found in the big city, as you will discover if you get to meet some locals. Follow the Greek way of life by relaxing in a kafeneion, the Greek cafes, and the tavernas, or Greek restaurants, where you will take your time to enjoy food and drinks and become one with the Greeks and their open and festive reputation.

There are numerous sights to enjoy in the amazing and never-sleeping city of Athens. The best promenade would be to walk around the center and lose yourself in the small streets of the lovely Plaka neighborhood. You will eventually pass by the flea market of Monastiraki, and the Market of Athinas street where your eyes and nose will fill themselves with images and smells of meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, nuts, herbs, honey, and dried fruits. Right next to the market you will find Psiri neighborhood, the place for taverns, restaurants, live music, fashionable bars, and fun until the break of dawn.

This place is one of the most unique places to visit in Greece, proposing a wide list of archaeological monuments that you shouldn't miss, like the little church on top of Lycabettus Hill, where you can enjoy an amazing view of the city. Also a highlight of the city: the lovely walk path built for the Olympic Games project, which starts from the archaeological site at the arch of Adrian and the Temple of the Olympian Zeus, and then passes the Theater of Herodes Atticus, onwards to the Thiseio neighborhood, to end in Gazi. After all, tourism in Athens mostly focuses on archaeology and culture.

We would advise you to stop at Thiseio to enjoy a coffee frappe at one of the numerous cafeterias that can be found there, all with a view of the Acropolis. Keep an entire morning for the visit of the majestic site of the Acropolis, its museum and surroundings, and the little theatre of Dionysos, on its southeast side. Most of the churches sprinkled in the city are worth the visit. The main square of the city, Syntagma square, will probably be seen numerous times since it is the place where most of the buses leave and arrive.

Do not forget to take a minute to admire the wonderful neoclassical building of the Parliament, and the Evzones, its guards, wearing the traditional outfit. At the end of the day a walk in the National Gardens or the smaller but lovely gardens of the Zappeion. Buses, metros, trolleys, and taxis are the way to visit the whole of Athens for a really interesting fare.