Athens is the capital of Greece, the original place of the Olympic Games. The city takes its name from the goddess Athens, which symbolises wisdom in Greek mythology. Legend say that the gods Athens and Ares discovered the city and argued to take possession of it. Ares gave the inhabitants a horse for war and Athens tame the horse and gave the olive.

Being inhabited since ancient times, Athens was fortified by Mycenaeans. For five centuries, Athens continued to develop under the Roman domination and both the Greek and Roman civilisations became harmonious. During the archaic period (650-480 BC), the cult of the goddess Athens was established here, as the numerous inscriptions on buildings or decorative basilicas show.

Historic sites in Athens

The Acropolis of Athens is the most famous acropolis in the world. It is located in the centre of Athens and was built around 3,000 BC on a rocky plateau, 156 m high. This great fortress included several temples dedicated to the gods, including the goddess of Athens, who was the protector of the city. The Acropolis of Athens includes 21 vestiges of great historical and architectural importance from which the most important are Parthenon and Erehteion dedicated to the goddess Athens.

The Ancient Agora or the Old Market, just off the harbour, was discovered by the French archaeological school during the excavations from 1948 to 1955. It was the first “heart” of the ancient city of Thasos, considered the political and religious centre of the island. In the old centre you have the opportunity to visit the ruins of Artemis (Artemisia), Zeus and Theagenes sanctuaries. Moreover you can admire the temple of Dionysus, which dates back to the 4th century BC. Near the Agora you can visit the Ancient Theatre and the Archaeology Museum, two important tourist attractions of the island.

Temple of Olympian Zeus is also known as Oplympeion. The construction works of the temple of Zeus were carried out in the third century AD, during the domination of the Macedonians. It was finished in 129 AD when Hadrian, took over the leadership of the works.

Other attractions in Athens

National Archaeological Museum is the largest museum in Greece and one of the world’s great museums. It gradually became the central National Archaeological Museum and was enriched with finds from all over Greece. In short, its abundant collections with more than 11,000 exhibits, provide a panorama of Greek civilisation from the beginnings of Prehistory to Late Antiquity.

Plaka is the old historical neighbourhood of Athens. It is built on the top of the residential areas of the ancient town of Athens. It is also known as the “Neighbourhood of the Gods” due to its proximity to the Acropolis and its many archaeological sites.

The Parthenon was dedicated to the city’s patron, Athena. The temple was constructed to house the new cult statue of the goddess and to proclaim to the world the success of Athens. The temple would remain in use for more than a thousand years. In short, despite the ravages of time, explosions, looting and pollution damage, it still dominates the modern city of Athens.

Spring and autumn are perfect times to see Athens. You might be unlucky and get some rain, but chances to get  pleasant temperature are very high. The average in both May and October is very pleasant 20C/68F. It’s ideal for sightseeing and visiting the ancient sites, without having it unpleasantly hot. Even in winter, don’t skip Athens. Skies can still be bright blue and the weather mild. January is the coldest month when the average drops to 12C/54F, but it can be much warmer than that. In conclusion, it can be a great option to visit this beautiful capital in any of these periods.

Athens is so amazing that it offers an almost unlimited number of opportunities for you if you are looking for cultural attractions, gourmets and pubs. Moreover, the Greek city is also a paradise for shopping and the best from all is the nice opening sea.

The Metro (www.amel.gr) runs from 5:30 am to midnight Sunday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, trains run until 2 am. All stations are wheelchair accessible. To travel on the Metro, buy your ticket at the station, validate it in the machines as you enter and hang onto it until you get off.

By Bus & Trolley Bus

Local express buses, regular buses and electric trolleybuses operate every 15 minutes from 5 am to midnight. All allow cross ticketing from any of the public transport networks. So, if you have a metro ticket, you can use it on the buses in the city centre but be warned, their destination is purely in Greek language. Most importantly make sure you have studied a bus guide, otherwise  you may find it very confusing.

Taxis
Greek taxis are among the cheapest in Europe, but it means that swindling tourists is regarded as fair game. The minimum fare is €3. Rates switch to ‘double tariff’ between midnight and 5 am. Double tariff also applies outside the city limits.