Travel guide Athens

The rock of the Acropolis stands proudly above Athens. Surmounted by the Parthenon, the site sees thousands of visitors eager to walk on this emblematic place, considered as the cradle of democracy. Over the centuries, the city developed around this rock, between its slopes and the foot of the neighboring mountains.

Known as tsimentopoli - "the city of concrete" - by its inhabitants, Athens is made up of anarchically stacked blocks of random heights. However, the National Garden, a stone's throw from Syntagma, is a veritable oasis, as is the recently redeveloped Pedion tou Areos (Field of Mars), near the Archaeological Museum.

You will be amazed by the diversity in the way coffee is prepared and drunk in Greece. There is of course the Greek coffee, which is similar to the Turkish coffee. In summer, there is nothing like an iced coffee: frappé (made with Nescafé) or freddo (made with espresso). Specify the amount of sugar you want, as it is added directly to the coffee.

The organization of the Olympic Games in Greece in 2004 symbolized the return of this global sporting event to its country of origin. At the dawn of the third millennium, Athens hosted the Games, offering the world a breathtaking opening ceremony and excellent organization of the event.

It looks like a rosary, but it is not, because a komboloi is used just to keep your hands busy. It is said to have genuine anti-stress properties. Kombos means "knot" and loï comes from logia, "the words"... You can find them in any tourist store, while the authentic one must be a beautiful object and made of amber.

Every year, Athens turns over a few pages in its history when it hosts the marathon race. A worldwide sporting competition, the event commemorates the strategic victory of Greek cities united at last against their common enemy, the Persians, and is a true symbol of the victory of democracy over totalitarianism.

Comparable to Spanish tapas, mezzedes (plural of mezze) are more a Mediterranean gastronomic habit than a culinary specialty. It's a very convivial type of meal: various dishes, such as the famous tzatziki or tarama, are cooked and laid out in the center of the table, leaving everyone to choose what they like.

An aniseed flavored aperitif, ouzo accompanies the sunny days of the Greeks and makes their everyday life festive! It is drunk dry, with ice cubes or by adding a few drops of water to the glass. All over Athens, there are ouzeries, small taverns where you can enjoy ouzo while tasting delicious mezzedes.

A place not to be missed, the periptero is the Greek word for newsagent, often open late at night and on public holidays. In addition to newspapers, you'll find cigarettes, cold drinks, chewing gum, candy, tissues, playing cards, condoms, combs, souvenirs and even aspirin!

Syntagma is the name on Athens' identity card. Between the Parliament and the commercial district of Athens, the bustling Syntagma square, a landmark for meetings, demonstrations and the senseless comings and goings of people, is right in the heart of the city and rhymes with the vitality and dynamism of the Greek capital.

Athens is the city of street art. Sometimes it seems that every square inch of the walls is trying to be covered or you get distracted by trying to recognize the signature of an artist. But the best thing to do is to go and admire the most impressive works in the neighborhoods of Exarchia, Psiri, Gazi or Monastiraki.

I thalassa or "the sea" in Greek is a living element very present in the landscape and in the daily life. Take advantage of the fact that the riviera of the Greek capital is bordered by all these beaches with such a different character. Not far from the center of Athens, they are incomparable for a swim between two visits or long moments of relaxation.