Hellenic Cosmos

Athens


To get a sense of how ancient ruins once looked, take a virtual-reality trip at this multimedia centre. The Tholos virtual-reality theatre takes you on an interactive tour of the Ancient Agora, Acropolis or Hagia Sophia in İstanbul. There are also temporary exhibitions on different aspects of the ancient world. It's not a tourist spot, but more a place schoolkids go on field trips; call ahead to arrange English narration.

Take bus 049 or 914 from Omonia, or the metro to Kallithea.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Athens attractions

1. Benaki Museum at 138 Pireos St

1.2 MILES

While the main Benaki Museum of Greek Culture displays the classical and traditional, this annexe focuses on modern and inventive. Apart from a few…

2. Stavros Niarchos Park

1.47 MILES

Athens is short on green spaces, so this vast seaside park is a blessing. Covering a man-made slope that incorporates the roof of the Stavros Niarchos…

3. Industrial Gas Museum

1.56 MILES

It's fascinating to follow the walking route that runs through the old gasworks in Gazi, in operation from 1862 until 1984. The preserved complex of…

4. Melina Merkouri Cultural Centre

1.57 MILES

For anyone who loves the Greek tradition of karagiozi (shadow puppets), this free museum is a treat, packed with the creations of master puppeteer…

5. Filopappou Hill

1.58 MILES

Also called the Hill of the Muses, Filopappou Hill – along with the hills of the Pnyx and the Nymphs – is a somewhat wild, pine-shaded spot that's good…

6. National Library of Greece

1.58 MILES

In 2018, the National Library shifted more than 720,000 items from its collection to this stunning new building that is part of the Stavros Niarchos…

8. Hill of the Nymphs

1.6 MILES

Northwest of Hill of the Pnyx, this hill is home to the old Athens observatory, built in 1842.