Athens, Greece

Athens, Greece

Athens Greece

Athens gets its name from the goddess of wisdom Athena, who is honoured by the magnificent Acropolis, which towers over the modern, cosmopolitan city that Athens is today. Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world and it is the birthplace of western philosophy, democracy and theatre. To this day, the Greek capital remains a major global centre of culture, with its historic centre, iconic classical sites and museums brimming with artefacts from ancient Greece. The Acropolis, topped by the emblematic Parthenon, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cars have been banned from the historic centre, which has become the most striking pedestrian promenade in Europe. In this archaeological park, visitors will see the contrasting nature of this ancient metropolis, with the opportunity to visit the New Acropolis Museum, a high-tech modern structure with light and airy exhibition spaces, as well as the National Archaeological Museum, the largest archaeological museum in Greece, built in the 19th century and dedicated to ancient Greek art. The Acropolis and Mount Lycavittos, the city’s highest points, are used as landmarks as they can be seen from most places in the Plaka, the old historical neighbourhood. The Plaka is under the Acropolis and stretches almost to Syntagma, home of the Greek Parliament. For a taste of the hedonistic Athenian lifestyle, one should visit Monastiraki, where locals go to eat, drink and socialise. The night belongs to Psirri, a vibrant neighbourhood known for its bars, live music venues and lively nightclubs. Southeast of the city centre, a glorious stretch of coast offers dreamy views over the shimmering blue Aegean Sea. Surely few European capitals can boast sandy beaches and clean water for swimming within such easy reach. Athens therefore offers the best of both worlds – a fantastic city break as well as a lazy beach holiday. Athenians are surprisingly friendly and outgoing and their enthusiasm for life’s pleasurable pursuits is so infectious that even the most reserved traveller will take time out for endless coffees and evening strolls, dine out until late and enjoy the city’s nightlife, long after the rest of Europe has gone to bed.
Recommended airport
Eleftherios Venizelos Intl (ATH)
Points of interest
  • Panathenaic Stadium
  • Metropolitan Expo
  • Temple of Hephaestus
Nearby destinations
  • Saronic Islands a 28.84 km
  • Pefki a 10.26 km
  • Piraeus a 8.26 km

Our ideas

See all ideas

Rome, Puglia and Meteoras (2025)

11 Destinations 8 Nights
Holidays package
Rome, Puglia and Meteoras (2025)
From €1,437 Per person
See
Destinations: Rome, Termoli, Trani, Bari, Brindisi, Igoumenitsa, Metsovo, Kalambaka, Delphi, Antikyra, Athens

Rome, Complete Greece, Heart of Italy and Sorrento (2025)

27 Destinations 15 Nights
Holidays package
Rome, Complete Greece, Heart of Italy and Sorrento (2025)
From €2,821 Per person
See
Destinations: Rome, Termoli, Trani, Bari, Brindisi, Igoumenitsa, Metsovo, Kalambaka, Delphi, Antikyra, Athens, Aegina Island, Poros, Epidauro, Nauplia, Tripoli, Olympia, Patras, Igoumenitsa, Igumenitsa, Brindisi, Alberobello, Matera, Naples, Capri Island, Sorrento, Salerno, Pompeii, Naples, Cassino, Rome

Rome, Complete Greece and Sicily (2025)

35 Destinations 20 Nights
Holidays package
Rome, Complete Greece and Sicily (2025)
From €3,688 Per person
See
Destinations: Rome, Rocca San Giovanni, Termoli, Bari, Brindisi, Igoumenitsa, Metsovo, Delphi, Antikyra, Athens, Aegina Island, Poros, Epidauro, Nauplia, Tripoli, Olympia, Patras, Igoumenitsa, Igumenitsa, Brindisi, Alberobello, Matera, Naples, Capri Island, Sorrento, Salerno, Paula, Messina, Taormina, Sicily, Catania, Sicily, Butera, Agrigento, Sicily, Marsala, Sicily, Trapani (Province), Palermo, Sicily, Monreale, Naples, Pompeii, Rome

Rome, Complete Greece with Puglia and Campania (2025)

24 Destinations 14 Nights
Holidays package
Rome, Complete Greece with Puglia and Campania (2025)
From €2,718 Per person
See
Destinations: Rome, Termoli, Trani, Bari, Brindisi, Igoumenitsa, Metsovo, Kalambaka, Delphi, Antikyra, Athens, Aegina Island, Poros, Epidauro, Nauplia, Tripoli, Olympia, Patras, Igoumenitsa, Igumenitsa, Brindisi, Alberobello, Matera, Naples, Capri Island, Pompeii, Rome

Peloponnese and Meteoras (2025)

10 Destinations 6 Nights
Holidays package
Peloponnese and Meteoras (2025)
From €974 Per person
See
Destinations: Athens, Tripoli, Olympia, Patras, Igoumenitsa, Corfu, Igoumenitsa, Metsovo, Kalambaka, Delphi, Antikyra, Athens

Radiant Peloponnese (2025)

7 Destinations 3 Nights
Holidays package
Radiant Peloponnese (2025)
From €562 Per person
See
Destinations: Athens, Tripoli, Olympia, Patras, Nafpaktos, Mycenae, Corinth, Athens

Peloponnese and Saronic Islands (2025)

11 Destinations 2 Nights
Holidays package
Peloponnese and Saronic Islands (2025)
From €525 Per person
See
Destinations: Athens, Aegina Island, Poros, Epidauro, Nauplia, Tripoli, Olympia, Patras, Nafpaktos, Mycenae, Corinth, Athens

Paris, essential Italy and Greece End Athens +i (2025)

19 Destinations 14 Nights
Holidays package
Paris, essential Italy and Greece End Athens +i (2025)
From €2,541 Per person
See
Destinations: Paris, Dijon, Beaune, Lyon, Geneva, Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Termoli, Trani, Bari, Brindisi, Igoumenitsa, Metsovo, Kalambaka, Delphi, Antikyra, Athens