Athens
The collection of coins here, dating from ancient through to modern times, is excellent, but of more general interest is the dazzling 1881 mansion in…
Must-see attractions in Athens
Syntagma & Plaka
In front of Parliament, the traditionally costumed evzones (presidential guards) stand by the tomb and change every hour on the hour. On Sunday at 11am, a…
Syntagma & Plaka
This grand old collection of swords, ship figureheads and portraits of moustachioed generals is a bit short on signage; it's best for people who already…
Syntagma & Plaka
Generally considered the centre of Athens, this square is a transport hub and general hang-out spot, especially on warm summer evenings when young people…
Athens
This eclectic private museum, split over two locations, examines the interrelation of art, mathematics and philosophy, explored through rotating exhibits…
Athens
This 12th-century church, dedicated to both Agios Eleftherios and Panagia Gorgoepikoos (Virgin Swift to Hear), is Athens' religious history in one tiny…
Athens
One of the neoclassical 'trilogy' of buildings on Panepistimio, the late-19th-century National Library is a dazzling design by Danish architect Theophil…
Athens
North of Filopappou Hill, this hill was the official meeting place of the Democratic Assembly in the 5th century BC – really, the first site of democracy…
Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos
Gazi, Keramikos & Metaxourgio
Visit the small museum at Kerameikos to see the originals of some pieces that are shown in replica around the historical site: delicate grave stelae …
Syntagma & Plaka
First built in the 11th century and now the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, this is the only Byzantine church with an octagonal plan. It's quite small but…
Church of Agios Nikolaos Rangavas
Syntagma & Plaka
This lovely 11th-century church was part of the palace of the Rangavas family, who counted among them Michael I, emperor of Byzantium. The church bell was…
Athens
This relic of the junta years is a stark architectural statement of the times. But its displays of weapons, maps, armour and models from the Mycenaean…
Syntagma & Plaka
Built between 1836 and 1842 by Bavarian architect Friedrich von Gärtner, Greece's Parliament was originally the royal palace. From its balcony, the…
Syntagma & Plaka
One of the few very old Byzantine churches that is open regularly, this is definitely worth a peek inside to see how an 11th-century space is still in…
Athens
Μanolis Anastasakos and Pavlos Tsakonas, along with students from the Athens School of Fine Arts (ASKT), are responsible for this provocative piece of…
Athens
Greece’s national art museum has been closed since 2013 for rebuilding; it's not set to be completed until around 2022. In the meantime, a portion of the…
Syntagma & Plaka
This 11th-century church is worth a detour just to see it still existing amid all the modern office buildings. Inside, you'll see a tiled dome and, under…
Athens
This museum has been closed since 2015, when it began its transition to this new site at Adrianou. Once it reopens in 2020, it will display secular and…
Gazi, Keramikos & Metaxourgio
This former tram depot is used for various events throughout the year including the Athens Street Food Festival. Its exterior is also the canvas for some…
Syntagma & Plaka
A neoclassical mansion contains the collection of Paul and Alexandra Kanellopoulos that was bequeathed to the Greek state in the 1970s. There's lovely…
Gazi, Keramikos & Metaxourgio
Athens' main synagogue is a handsome white marble building dating to 1935. Renovated in 1972, it has two stained-glass windows with abstract designs…
Athens
This educational centre devoted to science and technology includes Athens' planetarium, a 950-sq-metre hemispherical dome on which 3D virtual trips to the…
Gazi, Keramikos & Metaxourgio
This city-run gallery has temporary exhibits, sometimes featuring Greek artists but not always. It's definitely worth a peek as it's set in a grand…
Athens
The smaller section of this private museum devoted to ancient Greek technology occupies a restored mansion. It has an exhibition on automata, featuring an…
Syntagma & Plaka
Tucked away in Plaka, this 17th-century church is worth visiting any time for its peaceful courtyard and beautiful interior decoration. On the evening of…
Syntagma & Plaka
If you like discovering great painters you've never heard of, this could be the museum for you. The Frissiras family's collection, numbering around 4000…
Athens
This modernist 1935 market building has been reinvigorated by the city by a range of social projects including the first physical store for the non-profit…
Athens
The permanent collection here is superminimalist sculpture and paintings by Athenian grande dame Alex Mylona, who died in 2016. The creatively refurbished…
Athens
Exarhia is so plastered with graffiti that spotting the better pieces of street art can be a challenge. However there is no missing this gigantic and…
Athens
One of the original galleries to open in Psyrri’s warehouses, this impressive art space hosts exhibitions of contemporary Greek and international art,…
Athens
On a street plastered with street art, Alibi began as a gallery showcasing graffiti artists, and has expanded its mission a bit. Expect odd found-object…
Athens
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…
Syntagma & Plaka
Chorus leader and musical patron Lysikrates built this tower in 334 BC to commemorate the victory of his sponsored chorus in the dramatic contests of the…
Athens
These are the remains of the largest structure erected by Hadrian (2nd century AD). Not just a library, it also held music and lecture rooms. It was laid…
Athens
For the 2004 Olympics, this park with several stadiums and a pool was revamped by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, who built a signature winglike…
Acropolis Area
A grotto in the cliff face, the Choragic Monument of Thrasyllos was built here around 320 BC. In the Christian era it became the Chapel of Our Lady of the…
Athens
This splendid building was designed by the Danish architect Christian Hansen and completed in 1864. Although the university has expanded massively around…
Acropolis Area
From the stage of the Theatre of Dionysos, the path leads uphill and west to the top of the long Stoa of Eumenes, a colonnade built by Eumenes II, King of…
Syntagma & Plaka
The southwestern third of the green space at the centre of Athens, adjacent to the National Garden, is a network of wide, tree-shaded walkways around the…
Athens
Thousands of jagged sheets of glass piled on top of each other create the dynamic shape of this striking sculpture of what really does appear to be a…
