Location: Athens
Top Things to do in Athens
Top 10 Things to do Good for Big Groups in Athens, Attica
Once known for smog, traffic and tacky architecture, Athens is a city reformed thanks to fortunes brought by the 2004 Summer Olympics. Spotless parks and streets, an ultra-modern subway, new freeways, an accessible airport and all signs in perfect English make the city easily negotiable. Meriting more than a stopover en route to the islands, sophisticated Athens sites include many pillars of Western history, from the Acropolis to the Temple of Olympian Zeus, as well as treasures in the National Archaeological Museum.
Restaurants in Athens
1. Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 290 reviews
Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology in the heart of Athens. In a unique historic Art Nouveau building (Unfortunately there is no access for people with disabilities because the building has been listed and unfortunately no relevant intervention can be made), Pindarou 6 and Akadimias St. in Kolonaki, with a total area of 700 square meters, guests will have the unique opportunity to get to know a relatively unknown aspect of Ancient Greek culture through the exhibition "The Hi-Tech Inventions of Ancient Greece – The origins of our modern technology", which includes approximately 100 selected exhibits, reconstructed inventions, from the robot-servant and the "cinema" of Philon to the automatic theater of Heron, and from the Hydraulic Clock of Ktesibios to the Antikythera Mechanism. At the same time, the same building will permanently house the independent exhibition of Ancient Greek Musical Instruments with 42 fully functional, reassembled reconstructed musical instruments.
Reviewed By 357alexm - Toronto, Canada
Very happy we went there. Exceeded our expectations. Not too big, but most of the artifacts are interactive. The young people working at the desk were very happy to guide us and explain the various artifacts. Going through this museum you realize how close the ancient Greeks came to discovering the steam engine and how close we were to having the industrial revolution two millennia before it actually happened.
2. Acropolis
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35,632 reviews
The most famous site in all of Athens, this large hill lies in the center of the city and contains a cluster of ancient ruins.
Reviewed By DavidTis - Campbell, United States
Greek/World history comes alive. The hop on hop off bus is an excellent tour of the city of Athens and one of it's stops is the Acropolis. A must see for sure. Bring good walking shoes and your camera and scratch this one off your bucket list, if you like history you're gonna love the Acropolis!
3. Ancient Agora of Athens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,225 reviews
These ruins, located in the heart of modern Athens, were once the site of the marketplace in ancient times, a political, cultural and economic center of the ancient world.
Reviewed By EileenMtShasta - Mount Shasta, United States
The area is breathtaking to imagine the history but is mostly a field of rubble, though there are many informative signs. The museum has many important and interesting artifacts, like the baby toilet from the 2nd century BC! The most intact structure is the Temple of Hephaistos, but entrance was blocked. The visit was made much more meaningful due to a free audio tour I downloaded from online, by tour guide Rick Steves, so I highly recommend it.
4. Parthenon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16,764 reviews
The majestic ruins of an ancient Greek building, known for its dignified white marble columns and perfect sense of proportion.
Reviewed By 223ravik - Bangalore District, India
We visited Acropolis today. It is amazing to see Parthenon with its rectangular structure consisting of 17 columns in length by 8 columns in width- a huge structure dedicated to mythological goddess Athena. It takes you back 2500 years and makes you wonder about the life of folks then and the events that unfolded later on! Do not miss out the story of the Flag - when the nazis came in 1941, a young Greek soldier refused to change the Greek flag, instead wrapped it around himself and leapt to his death. He is remembered and honored even today. There is so much to see in Acropolis- be sure you have at least 2.5 hours! I also loved the story regarding the competition between Athena and Poseidon, and how she won!!
5. National Archaeological Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,806 reviews
Reviewed By tashak574
An extensive and fascinating museum with many unimaginable finds. It can be an overwhelming experience even with several wings closed. The collection shed a great deal of insight on the various movements in design during Greek history and shared really fascinating and well kept artifacts from points we learn about in history class. We’re talking arrow heads from the battle of Marathon. It’s a good time.
6. Stoa of Attalos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 421 reviews
These ancient ruins were restored in the early 20th century and now house a collection of ancient Greek sculpture.
Reviewed By permia
While ancient ruins and artefacts are an Athens keynote, it was marvellous to see such a beautiful and faithful restoration splendidly reflecting the grandeur of the past. A gift to the city by Attalos II ruler of Pergamon for his excellent education courtesy of an Athenian it dates from around the middle of the 2nd century BCE. A fabulous colonnade is a highlight, with relatively unadorned Doric columns on the exterior, whilst the inner array has the Ionic style. With the purpose of reconstruction being as home to a museum of the Agora, from its dedication in 1956 it superbly fulfils the role.
7. Theater of Dionysus
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,063 reviews
Reviewed By KimD904 - Tweed Heads, Australia
Another site that amazes you at its size and grandeur. The theatre is the first of its type ever built and still hosts some of the worlds great acts as well as being still in use for local Athenians to watch regular performances. Among the historic area of the Acropolis, this theatre would have certainly been a focal point in ancient times. Another ancient that you just go 'WOW' when you first see it.
8. Byzantine and Christian Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 968 reviews
Reviewed By Gordon_and_Sally_11 - Broken Hill, Australia
We visited this museum in July (still catching up on reviews) and thought it excellent. There is a wealth of artefacts to see - we took about 115 photos in just under two hours. Artefacts include icons, mosaics, pottery, glass, jewellery and sacrophagi. The museum is beautifully laid out, with the permanent exhibition arranged around five themes: (1) From the ancient world to Byzantium; (2) The Byzantine world; (3) Intellectual and artistic activity in the 15th century; (4) From Byzantium to the modern era; and (5) Byzantium and modern art. The museum is closed on Tuesdays from November to March. Photography without flash is permitted.
9. Herod Atticus Odeon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,698 reviews
Second-century theater built into the hillside.
Reviewed By JLC-mtl2015 - Montreal, Canada
This is one of the two theater accessible on the slope of the Acropolis. This one is not the oldest but the one that has been renovated to welcome artists from around the world still today. The whole surrounding, the façade, the love story of Herodes Atticus, the city backstage and the Acropolis hill background makes this place way bigger than the 5,000 spectators capacity. No wonder why it is still active today and many musical performance have been held here. It provides a unique stage and show. While on the Acropolis site you can see also the Theater of Dionysus and on top of the Acropolis Hill, surrounding the Parthenon you can see the Temple of Athena Nike, the ruins of Propylaea and the Erechtheion. All this, for the price of 1 ticket. If you want tricks on how to skip the line see my review on the Acropolis.
10. Mount Lycabettus
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,125 reviews
Walk or take the funicular tramway to the top of this hill for the best views of Athens
Reviewed By 37SueFo - Swanley, United Kingdom
Get a taxi to the funicular railway, and when you get out at the top, a couple of flights of steps will bring you out to the church and terrace, with 360° views of the city, looking down on the Olympic stadium and the Acropolis and across to Piraeus. There are a couple of bar/restaurants so you can have a drink and take in the views
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