Athens City Centre is a major commercial hub with constant urban sounds to remind visitors that it’s busy around the clock. Here, the contemporary world collides with the ancient past. You don’t have to go far to discover ruins among present-day structures.
Stroll through the charming Plaka neighborhood to sample what this Adriatic country is famous for: food, lifestyle and historical buildings. Located in the shadow of the Acropolis, Plaka has many street musicians, restaurants, tavernas and intimate little stores. Look for the interesting Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments. Families with smaller children often visit the interactive Hellenic Children’s Museum.
Walk through a green area adjoining the next neighborhood, Monastiraki, where you’ll find the ruins of Hadrian’s Library from A.D. 132. The large and modern Acropolis Museum has been located here since 2007 and was built over an archaeological dig site.
Monastiraki’s souvlaki shops are plentiful, serving very tasty dishes. Peer over the market stalls in Monastiraki Square and you’ll see Tzistarakis Mosque, used for religious purposes for a relatively short time. It’s now part of the Museum of Greek Folk Art and holds an extensive ceramics collection. The small Church of the Pantanassa is also nearby. Find the city’s original marketplace, the Ancient Agora of Athens, where learned customers such as Plato, Socrates and Pericles once strolled.
Syntagma is a major commercial and transportation hub directly in Athens City Centre. Take a cable car to the top of Mount Lycabettus for its incredible panoramic view including the Acropolis. Shop in the upscale Kolonaki district at the hill’s base.
Perched on a hill overlooking the Acropolis Museum and Athens City Centre is the iconic Acropolis. Tour the ruins including the 5th-century Parthenon temple. Walk to the top of the citadel from the surrounding areas on wide pedestrian avenues. An elevator on one side of the hill makes the ascent easier for those with disabilities.
Travel to Athens City Centre from the airport by Metro, 24-hour buses, suburban railway or taxi. Spend days exploring a fascinating city, the birthplace of democracy.
