Athens

Hotel Grande Bretagne

Sýntagma Square (Constitution Square)
Vasileos Georgiou A' 1, Athens 105 63
Tel: +30 (210) 333 0000 Fax: +30 (210) 322 8034
From U.S., call: 1-800-325-3589
info@grandebretagne.gr

Great location on Sýntagma Square overlooks Parliament Building and Changing of the Guard ceremony at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Two swimming pools and four restaurants. Rooftop restaurant has great views of sunset over the Acropolis.

Acropolis

Dionysiou Areopagitou (main entrance), Pláka, Athens
+30 (210) 321 4172
Open Mon-Sat 8am-8pm, Sun and holidays, 8am-3pm
Closed Jan 1, Mar 25, Good Fri (Orthodox) until 12pm, Easter Sun (Orthodox), May 1, Dec 25-26

This hill was a sacred site for ancient Athenians. You will see the ruins of three temples built in the 5th century. And from the top of the hill, you'll get a sweeping view of Athens and the Saronic Gulf.

Parthenon

One of the world's most awe-inspiring man-made sites. Built in mid-400s BC to honor, Athena, the goddess of wisdom and patron of the city. It originally held a 40 foot statue of the goddess. A copy is in the National Archaeological Museum.

Porch of the Caryatids

Statues of women used in place of columns.

Temple of Athena Nike

Also called the Temple of the Wingless Victory. Built of Pentelic marble in 400s BC. Has been destroyed and rebuilt twice.

Theatre of Dionysos

Oldest Greek theater, built in 5 BC. Plays of Aristophanes, Euripides, Aeschylus and Sophocles were first performed there.

Theatre of Herodes Atticus

5,000-seat theatre still in use today. The Annual Athens Festival, held throughout the summer, features major international ballet, opera, orchestral and theatrical groups.

Acropolis Museum

Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, Athens
+30 (210) 900 0900
Open Tue-Sun 8am-8pm (Friday till 10pm). Closed Mon, Jan 1, Easter Sunday, May 1, Dec 25 & 26

Opened in 2009, this modern museum features over 14,000 square meters of exhibition space, housing a marvelous collection of sculptures and other findings from the Acropolis.

Ancient Agora

Main entrance at Adriánou, Monastiráki, Athens
+30 (210) 321 0185
Apr-Oct 8am-7:30pm daily; Nov-Mar 8:30am-3pm. Opens Mon at 11am year round.
Closed Jan 1, Mar 25, Good Fri (Orthodox) until 12pm, Easter Sun (Orthodox), May 1, Dec 25-26

Just below the Acropolis, the Agora or market was the commercial and public center of ancient Athens. This is where Socrates spent his days in rational debate (and was later imprisoned and executed), and where Western philosophy and politics were born.

Statue of Hadrian

Dates from 2nd century AD.

Hephaisteion Temple

Best preserved ancient temple in all of Greece.

Stoa of Attalos and Museum of the Ancient Agora

24 Adrianou Street
+30 (210) 321 0185
Open daily 8am-8pm (from 11am Mondays). May close earlier in winter.

Houses critical legal, cultural and historical documents, and artifacts that represent the diversity of ancient life. Exhibits are staged in chronological order. I would recommend that you hire a guide to get the most out of this amazing museum.

Tower of the Winds

Enter from corner of Pelopida and Eólou, Monastiráki, Athens
+30 (210) 324 5220
Apr-Oct Mon 11am-7pm, Tue-Sun 8am-7pm;
Nov-Mar Mon 11am-2:30pm, Tue-Sun 8:30am-2:30pm
Closed Jan 1, Mar 25, May 1, Good Fri (Orthodox), Easter Sun (Orthodox), Dec 25-26

Library of Hadrian

Between Areos Street and Eólou (entrance on Eólou), Monastiráki, Athens
+30 (210) 322 9740
Mon-Fri 8:30am-3pm
Best views from Areos and Dhexippou Streets
May be temporarily closed for excavations

Temple of Olympian Zeus

Corner of Leoforos Vasilíssis Amalias & Leoforos Vasilíssis Olgas, Pláka, Athens
+30 (210) 922 6330
Apr-Oct Mon 12:30-7pm, Tues-Sun 8am-7:30pm;
Nov-Mar Mon 10:30am-5pm, Tue-Sun 8am-5pm
Closed Mar 25

The ruins of this temple lie just behind Hadrians's Arch. It was one of the largest temples in Greece. Taking seven centuries to build, its perimeter included 104 Corinthian columns, with additional columns inside the building that housed an enormous gold and ivory statue of Zeus.

Hadrian's Arch

Leoforos Vasilissi Amalias at the entrance to the site of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Pláka, Athens
Open 24/7

This tall marble structure constructed in 131 AD used to be the city gate connecting the original town of Athens (peresent-day Plaka) with the Roman quarters.

Sýntagma (Constitution) Square

This square is home to the Parliament building and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The National Guard, called Evzones, are on continuous patrol in front of the tomb and stand guard in front of the Parliament building.

At 11am on Sundays, you can see a ceremonial changing of the guard with the Evzones in traditional white kilts, red and black caps and red clogs with pompoms and 60 studded nails. Every other day, the guards wear regular khaki uniforms with skirts and the changing of the guard takes place every hour on the hour, 24 hours a day.

National Historical Museum

13 Stadiou Street, Sýntagma, Athens 105 61
+30 (210) 323 7617
Tue-Sun 9am-2pm
Closed Mon
Closed Jan 1, Mar 25, Good Fri (Orthodox) until 12pm, Easter Sun & Mon (Orthodox), May 1, Dec 25-26

Originally built as the first home of the Greek Parliament, this museum now houses a collection of personal effects and traditional costumes of famous Greeks.

Athens War Museum

Corner of Leoforos Vasilíssis Sofías & Rizári 2, Ilísia, Athens 106 75
+30 (210) 725 2974
Tue-Fri 9am-2pm; Sat-Sun 9:30am-2pm
Closed Mon
Closed Jan 1, Mar 25, May 1, Good Fri (Orthodox), Easter Sun (Orthodox), Dec 25-26

A showcase for the history of Greek warfare over thousands of years. Exhibits range from pre-historic stone axes to fighter planes and heavy artillery. My kids were really fascinated by the planes.

National Archaeological Museum

Patissíon 44, Exárcheia, Athens 106 82
+30 (210) 821 7724
Open Mon 1:30-8pm, Tue-Sun and holidays 9am-4pm
Closed Jan 1, Mar 25, May 1, Easter Sun (Orthodox), Dec 25-26

One of the world's finest and largest collections of ancient Greek art. Exhibits include sculptures, pottery, frescoes, and jewelry.

Benaki Museum of Islamic Art

1 Koumbari at Leoforos Vasilíssis Sofías , Kolonáki, Athens 106 74
+30 (210) 367 1000
Open Wed, Fri, Sat 9am-5pm, Thu 9am-midnight, Sun 9am-3pm. Closed Mon & tue.
Closed Jan 1, Jan 6, Mar 25, Clean Mon (varies according to Orthodox Easter dates), Easter Sun & Mon (Orthodox), May 1, Holy Spirit Day (early Jun), Aug 15, Oct 28, Dec 25-26
Located 5 blocks east of Sýntagma Square

Stunningly beautiful, this museum displays ancient and modern Greek art, as well as Islamic, Coptic and Byzantine treasures. It also hold memorabilia from the War of Independence (1821-31), which ended 400 years of Turkish rule.

Byzantine and Christian Museum

Leoforos Vasilíssis Sofías 22, Plateía Rigílis, Kolonáki, Athens 106 75
+30 (210) 213 9572
Open Tue-Sun 9am-4pm. Closed Mon.
Closed Jan 1, Mar 25, May 1, Good Fri (Orthodox, open noon-5pm), Easter Sun (Orthodox), Dec 25-26
Some parts of the permanent exhibition are currently closed.

Housed in a Florentine-style villa, this museum traces the development of Byzantine art from early Christianity to the fall of Constantinople.

Monastery of Daphni

Attica
5.5 miles NW of Athens. Trip can take up to an hour.
+30 (210) 581 1558 Monastery
Currently undergoing restoration. Open Tue and Fri 9am-2pm.

This 11th century Byzantine monastery was built on the site of an ancient Temple of Apollo. It is renowned for its mosaics. Most famous are Christ Pantokrátor ("Almighty") in the dome of the main church, and the Esonarthex Mosaics, including the Last Supper and Betrayal by Judas.

Temple of Poseidon

Cape Sounion, Attica
43 miles SE of Athens. Drive time about 45 minutes.
+30 (229) 203 9363
9:30am-sunset
Closed Mar 25

It was no accident that the Temple of Poseidon, god of the sea, was built on the coast at the tip of the mainland overlooking the sea. It remains a landmark for mariners to this day. The Doric columns of the 5th century BC temple are most spectacular at sunset. Next to the temple are the ruins of a smaller temple dedicated to Athena Sounias. You may want to avoid weekends because of crowds.

Corinth Canal

55 miles W of Athens (approx 1 hour drive)

75-foot wide canal. Construction originated with Emperor Nero in 67 AD, but it wasn't completed until 1893. Only small freighters are able to squeeze through underneath the road bridge above.

Ancient Isthmia Site

Southern end of Corinth Canal
+30 (274) 103 7244
Tue-Sun 8:30am-3pm. Closed Mon.
Closed Jan 1, Mar 25, Good Fri (Orthodox), Easter Sun (Orthodox), May 1, Dec 25-26

One of the four places in Greece where Panhellenic Games were held.

Mycenae

Approx. 1.5 hour drive from Athens
31 miles S of Corinth, 71 miles SW of Athens.
+30 (275) 107 6585
Apr-Oct 8:30am-4:30pm; Nov-Mar 8:30am-3pm daily
Closed Mar 25

According to legend, Mycenae was founded by the Greek hero Perseus. it was the center of power in the archaic period. The Mycenaean culture dominated Bronze Age Greece with its legends, art and ideas from 1600 BC until 1100 BC. The palace was the home of the Mycenaean Kings who ruled over the entire area during this period.

Lion's Gate

The entrance to the citadel.

Tholos Tombs

Tombs shaped like "beehives." The most outstanding example is Treasury of Atreus, also called the Tomb of Agamemnon.

Náfplio

34 miles SE of Mycenae. 90 miles SW of Athens.
Drive time from Athens under 2 hours.

This seaside town is one of the most beautiful in Greece. With two mountains crowned by medieval fortresses overlooking the town and a small fortress guarding its harbor, it is no wonder that Náfplio became the first capital of Independent Greece.

Palamídi Fortress

Polyzöidou, Náfplio
+30 (275) 202 8036
In summer, 8am-7pm; in winter, 8am-3pm
Closed Jan 1, Mar 25, Good Fri (Orthodox), Easter Sun (Orthodox), May 1, Dec 25-26

Huge Venetian citadel built between 1711 and 1714. Largest complex of its kind in Greece. Views from Piazza d'Armi are arguably among the best in the country.

Boúrtzi Fortress

NW of Náfplio Harbor

Island fortress built by the Venetians in the 15th century that can be reached by boat from the harbor along Akti Miaouli.

Theatre of Epidaurus

19 miles east of Náfplio, Peloponnese
+30 (275) 302 2009
Daily Mar-Apr 8am-6pm; May-Oct 8am-7pm; Nov-Feb 8am-5pm
Closed Jan 1, Mar 25, Good Friday am, Easter Sunday

Today, it is renowned for its magnificent amphitheatre, but in ancient times Epidaurus was the most famous healing centre of the Greek and Roman world. In fact it is considered to be the birthplace of medicine. Its monuments depict the transition from healing which depended solely on the gods, to the systematic description of cases and treatments. Ancient Greek plays are preformed at the Hellenic Festival held at Epidaurus each summer. For information about summer theater performances, visit the Athens & Epidaurus Festival website.

Ancient Delphi

Mount Parnassus, Stereá, Elláda
+30 (226) 508 2313
Open daily 7:30am-8pm
Closed Jan 1, Mar 25, Good Fri (Orthodox) until 12pm, Easter Sun (Orthodox), May 1, Dec 25-26

Delphi was considered by the ancients to be the center of the world, and the Oracle of Delphi was its religious nexus. From the end of the 8th century BC through the 4th century AD, worshippers came to the Oracle of Delphi to hear the words of the god Apollo spoken through its priestess.

Sanctuary of Apollo, Temple of Apollo, Sacred Way

The Sacred Way is a path that leads to the Temple of Apollo within the Sanctuary of Apollo at the heart of the Ancient Delphi complex. Only a few of its Doric columns remain, but its imposing foundation is a reminder of the Temple's size and grandeur in ancient times.

Sanctuary of the Athena Pronaia, The Tholos

A 10-minute walk from the Temple of Apollo brings you to the Sanctuary of the Athena Pronaia. The Tholos was a beautiful circular building at the center of the sanctuary. Although only 3 of its original 20 Doric columns remain standing, it is still one of the most photographed monuments of in all Greece.

Osios Loúkas Monastery

5 miles E of Dístomo
+30 (226) 702 2797
Tue-Sun 9am-5pm. Closed Mon.

The Monastery was founded by the monk, healer and prophet that gave it its name, Holy Luke. A stunning building in a spectacular setting, highlights include an 11th century mosaic depicting Christ's "Washing of the Apostles' Feet" and the crypt/sarcophagus of Holy Luke.

Mid July: International Aegean Sailing Rally

The oldest and most prestigious sailing regatta in Greece draws top sailing teams from around the world. The four races start at Pireaus near Athens and make stopovers at various islands. For information, call 210-412-3357 or 210-411-3201.

Late Sep: Spartathlon

This 153-mi/246-km race follows the route taken by an ancient Athenian messenger as described by the historian Herodotus. More than 200 international runners make the grueling trek from the foot of the Acropolis to Sparta. For information, call 210-322-3642. Continues through 1 Oct