Souvenirs

All over the city, there are different shops, stalls and kiosks where you can buy:

• books on Athens or the Acropolis
• postcards
• stamps
• pictures
• music CDs
• T-shirts with Greek motifs...

The best place to stay

I've never stayed in this hotel but I heard that it's the best place to stay. It's been number 1 place for all Heads of State since it was built in 1862 and it's 1 of the best-known hotels in the world.

Address: 17, Fillelinon, Athens

Directions: close to the Parliament building

Website: http://www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/grandebretagne

The Hill of the Muses

This is where a monument to the Roman consul Gaius Julius Antiochus Philopappos, a benefactor of Athens, was erected in 115 A.D. Thus the name of the hill.
According to a myth, 9 muses used to live here, so the hill’s also known as the Hill of the Muses.

The small chapel of Agios Dimitrios, containing some fine frescoes, can be found there as well.

Directions: Philopappos Hill, opposite the Acropolis

The Statue Of Kolokotronis

In the same street where the 1st modern stadium is, you can find the statue of Kolokotronis, great commander and national hero who fought for the independence of Greece.

The statue's the work of Lazaros Sochos.

Directions: close to  Panathenaic Stadium

The 1st modern stadium

Ancient Greeks used to build stadiums, theatres and odeons, usually on the slopes of hills and mountains near cities. Those stadiums were made of wood.

But in 1894, Georgios Averof, built 1 of marble. It still exists. In fact, this is where the 1st modern Olympic Games took place in 1896.

So, don't miss visiting this 1st large modern stadium and seeing where the modern Olympic Games started.

The trek's 204 m long and 33,36 m wide here and the stadium accommodates about 60,000 spectators.

Constitution Square

This is the place where you can always find people walking, feeding the pigeons or just sitting on benches and cafés.

At the top, there's the Parliament building, formerly the King's Palace, built between 1836 and 1840 by King Otto of Bavaria, with the tomb of the unknown soldiers in front. The tomb's guarded by Evzones, the elite soldiers, who also guard the Palace.

Address: Syntagma Square, the border of Plaka

The Propylaea

This is the monumental entrance to the temple (therefore the name) that people usually just pass through, without stopping, on their way to the Parthenon.

It was completed in 432 just before the outbreak of the Peloponnesian wars, following the designs of Mnesicles, Phidias's colleague.

To the left is the Pinacotheca (the gallery of paintings) that got that name because it used to be decorated with beautiful paintings. To the right is the small Temple of Athena Nike (Athena of Victory) which commemorates the Athenian victory over the Persians.

Directions: Acropolis, City centre

The site you mustn't miss!

The Acropolis is the historical site you mustn't miss!

The name refers to the entire hill, crowned by the Parthenon. The Parthenon and other main buildings here were built by Pericles in the 5th century B.C. as a monument to the cultural and political achievements of the inhabitants of Athens.

And a visit to the Acropolis Museum is a must, too. You might find it small, but its holdings are truly remarkable!

Directions: City centre