What to see, what to do Athens?
The 10 good reasons to go Athens
A surprising relief
Surrounded by hills, close to the sea, Athens is a whole landscape to discover.
Under an almost omnipresent sun
Mediterranean climate, bewitching blue skies, every season is a good time to visit Athens.
A lively nightlife
A festive city, nights are filled with music and good cheer, and last until dawn.
A Mediterranean state of mind
The Greek capital teaches you to take the time to savor the taste of each moment.
A surprising capital
Cradle of Western culture, Athens preserves the traces of its thousand-year-old history.
Fascinating outdoor life
With its favorable climate, the capital offers visitors its open-air treasures and secrets.
A striking mosaic
The contrasting urban space is situated between modernity and a time when everything seems to stand still.
A welcoming city
Athens, a cosmopolitan city, preserves its values of hospitality and solidarity.
A gastronomic destination
The Greek capital, full of gustatory surprises, knows how to seduce visitors.
An eloquent architecture
The architectural works that adorn the city evoke its millennial history.
What to visit Athens?
Interview: My Athens
with Kalliopi Morfi, author of the guide
Kalliopi Morfi is the author of this new edition of Country Guide Athens. A Greek national, she is constantly in search of the secrets and hidden pages of the history of the countries she explores. She shares with you the treasures of Athens, where she has chosen to reside, a captivating city, timeless and modern at the same time, and which she is still discovering.
See the video of the interviewGood to know to visit Athens
Timetable
Museum opening times change at least once a year in Greece! So it's a good idea to check the websites of museums and archaeological sites before visiting them. In tourist areas such as the Greek capital, timetables during the high season are generally respected to the minute. The information given in this guide is constantly updated, but it is possible that prices or timetables may have changed in the meantime.
To be booked
It's essential to book well in advance if you want to attend a show or before your visit to Athens' museums or archaeological sites: this will save you long, unpleasant waits, especially on the hottest days of the season. For visits to museums and archaeological sites, book online: https://etickets.tap.gr/
Budget & Tips
Admission to public museums and archaeological sites is free on the following dates: every first Sunday between November1 and March 31, October 28, April 18, May 18, the last weekend in September and March 6.
Main events
Athens is home to a wide range of cultural and artistic events. In this guide, you'll find a selection of the most popular festivals and events that attract large numbers of spectators and take place every year. In season, take the opportunity to attend a performance of ancient Greek tragedy or comedy, or a concert held in the open-air theaters, notably the Odeon of Herod of Attica. You can also enjoy an unforgettable experience at one of the open-air cinemas.
Guided tours
Whether you're on a guided tour or on your own, be sure to follow the instructions: it's forbidden to take photos of certain objects on display in the museum; stay strictly within the areas designated for visitors; try not to occupy all the space in front of a museum's collection, so as to allow other visitors to admire the exhibits in their turn. Also, try not to make noise during a show or in a church, and dress appropriately. And, above all, remember to switch off your cell phone!
Smokers
Smoking is strictly prohibited in museums and archaeological sites.
What's very local
Don't enter a church or monastery in a bathing suit or shorts. On the contrary, wear decent clothes.
And don't photograph men wearing traditional costume without first asking their permission.
