Athens, greece
Attractions Guide

Greek's capital city is full of ancient monuments and temples, which are mostly huddled together in the city's center near the ancient Acropolis hill.

The most popular sight in the city is the Acropolis of Athens, a massive rocky hilltop where you'll find the iconic Parthenon, a landmark columned structure which served as the ancient temple for the Greek goddess Athena nearly 2,500 years ago.

Within the Acropolis you'll find several other impressive ancient Greek temples and ruins, such as the Erechtheion temple built to honor Poseidon, and the ancient Greek Theatre of Dionysus which sits just below the hill. Also below the Acropolis is the ancient Roman Odeon of Herodes Atticus theatre, which was built during Roman occupation of Ancient Greece.

Just south of the Acropolis is the famous Acropolis Museum, which houses an extensive collection of Ancient Greek artifacts, many of which were found at the Acropolis.

Another magnificent ancient Greek temple located near the Acropolis is the towering 2,500 year old Temple of Olympian Zeus, which sits on a small park. At the entrance to the park is the partially ruined Hadrian's Arch, which served as an ancient gateway. The park also hosts great views looking up at the Acropolis.

Adjacent to the Acropolis is Areopagus Hill, which served as the high court for Ancient Greece. The hill features ruins as well as excellent views of the neighboring Acropolis hill and over Athens. Be sure to take in views from here at night when the Acropolis lights up.

Very close-by is another important hill, the Hill of the Muses (or Filopappou Hill), where you'll find several more ancient structures and ruins, as well as more amazing views.

For some of the best views over the city you can head to Mount Lycabettus, which rises high above Athens, offering brilliant panoramic views over the entire city. You can reach the top via a 1 mile (1.6 km) round-trip hike, or take the cable car ride up if you prefer. Mount Lycabettus is located just north of the Benaki & Byzantine Museums.

Just behind Areopagus Hill to the north is the Ancient Agora of Athens, which contains many ruins as well as the strikingly well-preserved Temple of Hephaestus. The Agora also hosts the incredible reconstructed Stoa of Attalos building, a lavish columned ancient marketplace which now houses important artifacts and operates as an archaeological museum.

Nearby the Athenian Agora you'll find the 2000 year-old ruins of the ancient Roman Agora, as well as the remains of Hadrian's Library, which was commissioned by the great Roman emperor Hadrian. Just north of these many ruins is the main public plaza of Old Athens, Monastiraki Square, which hosts a quaint church, many shops and cafes, and views of the Athens Acropolis.

East of the Acropolis you'll find the Benaki Museum, a stately mansion filled with important artifacts from various periods of Greece. Very close by be sure to visit the Byzantine and Christian Museum, which contains one of the wold's foremost collections of Byzantine art such as paintings, sculptures, and frescoes, among many other objects and artifacts.

Housed in a majestic neoclassical structure north of the Acropolis you'll find Athen's National Archaeological Museum, which houses a massive superb collection of ancient Greek artifacts and art. Along with the Acropolis Museum, this museum is one of the two must-see museums in the city.

One more extraordinary temple to see near Athens is the ancient Temple of Poseidon. This temple is located southeast of Athens at the Archaeological Site of Sounion and sits atop the cliffs high above the ocean. From the temple you can take in amazing coastal views and watch the sunset over the Mediterranean.