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Temple of Olympian ZeusA can't-miss on two counts: it's a marvellous temple, once the largest in Greece, and it's smack in the centre of Athens. Of the temple's 104 original…
Must see attractions in Syntagma & Plaka
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Hadrian’s ArchThe Roman emperor Hadrian had a great affection for Athens. Although he did his fair share of spiriting its Classical artwork to Rome, he also embellished…
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National GardenThe former royal gardens, designed by Queen Amalia in 1838, are a pleasantly unkempt park that makes a welcome shady refuge from summer heat and traffic…
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Museum of Greek Popular InstrumentsA single avid ethnomusicologist collected almost 1200 folk instruments; the best are on display in three floors of this house-turned-museum. Headphones…
- Jewish Museum
This small museum traces the history of the Jewish community in Greece – starting with the deeply rooted Romaniote community established in the 3rd…
- AAnafiotika
Clinging to the north slope of the Acropolis, the tiny Anafiotika district is a beautiful, architecturally distinct subdistrict of Plaka. In the mid-1800s…
- PPresidential Guard
Get a close-up look at the evzones, the traditionally dressed Greek soldiers, standing in front of their main barracks and, further down Irodou Attikou,…
- Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
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…
- National Historical Museum
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…
- Plateia Syntagmatos
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…
- Church of Sotira Lykodimou
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
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…
- Parliament
Built between 1836 and 1842 by Bavarian architect Friedrich von Gärtner, Greece's Parliament was originally the royal palace. From its balcony, the…
- Church of Agia Ekaterini
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…
- Church of Agii Theodori
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…
- KKanellopoulos Museum
A neoclassical mansion contains the collection of Paul and Alexandra Kanellopoulos that was bequeathed to the Greek state in the 1970s. There's lovely…
- CChurch of Agioi Anargyroi
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…
- FFrissiras Museum
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…
- Lysikrates Monument
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…
- Zappeion
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…