Athens, being the capital of Greece and one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, has a lot to discover. Here are 10 of the best places to visit in the City of the Violet Crown:
The Acropolis of Athens
The Parthenon
Ancient Agora
Panathenaic Stadium
Plaka Neighborhood
Anafiotika Neighborhood
Monastiraki Square
Archaeological Site of Kerameikos
Temple of Olympian Zeus
Any of the gyro places!
The Acropolis refers to the hill in the center of Athens that includes many sites, with the most recognizable being the Parthenon. Fun fact, many cities in Greece have an Acropolis, with the one in Athens being the most famous. Acropolis translates to "high city" and refers to a high fortified part of a Greek city. Given the number of points of interest located on the Acropolis, you'll probably want to schedule at least 2 hours to half a day to wander among the ruins. If you would like to avoid crowds, arrive right when it opens or to go later in the day when the tour groups have left.
This costs €20 to enter or is included in the €30 combination ticket package. The combination ticket is a 5-day ticket that gets you one entry each for: Acropolis of Athens, Ancient Agora of Athens, Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos, Archaeological Site of Lykeion, Hadrian's Library, Kerameikos, Museum of the Ancient Agora, North slope of the Acropolis, Olympieio, Roman Agora of Athens, and South Slope of Acropolis. This ticket can be purchased at any of those sites. The ticket does not include The Acropolis Museum.
Hours vary by season, but during peak season are 08:00-20:00. See their website for more details.
Obviously. You're in Athens! High atop the Acropolis sits the magnificent Parthenon. This is technically part of the Acropolis site, and included with the entrance fee to the Acropolis, but I'm including it separate because this is a big draw itself. From here you'll get an amazing view of the city below. This is a must-see spot when visiting the Acropolis. Making a beeline straight to the Parthenon when the Acropolis opens up is the best way to beat the crowds and feel the sense of awe this temple invoked during its heyday. If you're lucky enough, and arrive at the right time in the morning, you may see members of the Greek military parade out the flag and raise it as they sing the national anthem.