Ancient yet modern, classic yet creative, traditional yet constantly changing… Athens is a city of memorable contrasts.
An enduring symbol of democracy, philosophy and all those big-picture ideals of the ancients, Athens also has a unique way of living in the moment. It is versatile and inventive, alive with the power of possibility day and night.
At its heart is the Acropolis,continuing to emit its unique energy and acting as a beacon to the world – just as it would have done in antiquity. Around it, the likes of the Ancient Agora, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the temples of Olympian Zeus and Hephaestus and so many other world renowned cultural site stand ready to reveal their secrets, like an open-air museum.
But perhaps the most unexpected outdoor highlight of Athens lies along the coast. The Athens Riviera is a series of beaches and marinas, from the southern suburbs of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza… extending all the way down to Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon on the southeastern tip of Attica.
It’s a seemingly never-ending taste of summer in the Greek capital, enhancing a city break in a way that no other European city can hope to. Unless you go a step further, of course, and visit the islands close to Athens… Aegina, Hydra, Poros and Spetses … each just as magical as the more celebrated cousins in the Aegean or Ionian seas. Just a short ferry or hydrofoil journey away, they’re close enough for a day trip.
Whether you’re on a city break or passing through as a stopover on your way to an island or elsewhere on the mainland, the Greek capital has become one of Europe’s most exciting destinations.