Hailed as the home of Ancient Greece, this captivating capital has trembling temples, iconic statues and world-famous landmarks by the bucketload. But Athens is much more than just an archaeological site…

From the modern-day skyscrapers that have popped up all over the city to the maze of time-worn streets in its Old Town, there’s more to Athens than you could ever imagine. So, we’d better get cracking – let’s explore!

Here are the top things to do in Athens:

Acropolis
You can’t come to Athens without making your way around the iconic Acropolis that sits high up on a limestone hill overlooking the city. It’s probably the most famous sight across all of Greece. It’s within this ancient citadel that you’ll find the Parthenon ruins, Erechtheion, the Propylaia and the Temple of Athena Nike. It was built in the 5th century to honour the Greek Goddess Athena Parthenos, and it’s got the UNESCO seal of approval, so you know it’s worth a visit!

You can buy a single ticket to visit just the Acropolis or a combination ticket that will give you entry to some of the city’s other top sights. We’re talking the Ancient Agora and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

National Gardens
Need a little peace and quiet in between all your sightseeing? This 15-acre public park will do just the trick. It was commissioned by Queen Amalia, Greece’s first Queen, in 1838 and completed two years later. An afternoon stroll through the National Gardens will bring you to rainbow-coloured flowers, palm-lined promenades and plenty of rare plants. There’s also a small zoo on-site with Greek goats, chickens and peacocks.

Mount Lycabettus

If you love nothing more than a good view, then a trip up to the city’s highest peak has got to be on the cards. You can take on the challenge of walking up the forested slope yourself, which takes between 30 minutes and an hour, or hop on the funicular if you want to save your legs. Once up there, you can take in the sweeping views while enjoying a cooling drink on the café terrace.

Museum of Cycladic Art

This grand museum brings Ancient Greek and Cycladic history to life for its visitors through more than 3,000 fascinating artefacts that it has on display. There are permanent exhibitions alongside ones on rotation that feature everything from giant stone figurines and metal weapons to intricate pottery and ceramics.

Plaka

Take a step back in time as you wander the street of Athens’ Old Town. Not only is it the city’s oldest neighbourhood but it’s probably the prettiest too, with fuchsia bougainvillea draping the wooden balconies and tiny shops with hand-painted signs. It’s totally pedestrianised so you can explore with ease and it’s famed for its ice cream parlours, so why not enjoy a scoop or two to keep you cool?

Ancient Agora of Athens

As far as archaeological sites go, the Ancient Agora is nothing short of spectacular. You’ll find it right next to the Temple of Hephaestus, close to the Monastiraki district, so you can really get a feel of just how grand this part of the city used to be! Walk among the crumbling ruins and marble pillars and you could be following in the footsteps of local Athenians who were socialising and buying goods from the market here thousands of years ago.

Erechtheion

Just to the north of the Acropolis, you’ll find another of the city’s well-preserved ancient Greek temples – Erechtheion, also known as the Temple of Athena. The intricately sculptured female figures that support the porch’s roof are what you’ll probably notice first. Construction began around 421 BC where marble with traces of iron was used in the building process. Over time, the marble has aged, and this is what has given the temple its warm, honey-coloured glow.

Cine Paris

Fancy catching a top-rated flick as the Greek sun sets around you? At the heart of the Plaka neighbourhood, this rooftop cinema not only shows fantastic films, but it also showcases breathtaking views over the Acropolis.

It’s only open certain months, so plan ahead! You can choose to sit and watch the film from one of the tables on the main square, up on the balcony or on a smaller, more private balcony that you’ll have all to yourself.

Acropolis Museum

Didn’t get your Ancient Greek fix at the Acropolis site? And keen to see the fascinating artefacts that have been excavated up close? All that and more is what you can expect when you wander around this museum. You can join a guided tour and get the lowdown from the experts or explore at your own pace.

Want to check it all out for yourself?