Athens is where Western history began, and 2,500 years of it are still standing above a lively, sun-baked modern city. A few words of Greek and a taste for long dinners and you'll feel at home.
- The Acropolis & Parthenon — the temple that crowns the city and the whole idea of classical architecture. Enter at 8 a.m. from the quieter southeast gate to beat the heat and the tour groups.
- The Acropolis Museum — the sculptures and friezes up close, its glass floor over an excavated ancient street, the Parthenon framed through the top-floor windows.
- Plaka — the old neighbourhood under the Acropolis: bougainvillea, tavernas and stepped lanes. Anafiotika, its island-style corner, feels like the Cyclades.
- The Ancient Agora — the marketplace where Socrates argued, with the beautifully preserved Temple of Hephaestus. Quieter than the Acropolis, and included in the combo ticket.
- Lycabettus Hill at sunset — the highest point in Athens. Walk or take the funicular up for the Acropolis glowing gold and the city stretching to the sea.
Greeks warm instantly to anyone who tries — "yassas" (hello) and "efharistó" (thank you) are a great start. Meet a Greek speaker below and learn the alphabet's friendlier than it looks.
