At A Glance
With over 3,000 years of continuous habitation, Athens’ rich history and culture can’t be summed up easily, but a few things haven’t changed over the centuries: Athens remains the center of Greek culture, commerce, politics, and nightlife.
First-time visitors to Athens are torn between the marvels of antiquity and the allure of modernity, between the gods and the shops of Plaka, between the ancient art and the green-covered terraces. Returning visitors enjoy all the best of both worlds just as native Athenians do. This iconic city is the perfect balance between the old and the new, inviting club-goers and myth-lovers alike. Athens offers a wide variety of tourist attractions and entertainment for people of every age, making it the first stop for countless vacationers in the region.
Αθήνα
3,400 Years of History
Attractions
- Acropolis of Athens
- Parthenon
- Temple of Olympian Zeus
- Syntagma Square
- Temple of Hephaestus
- Plaka
Famous Natives
- Plato
- Socrates
- Tommy Lee
History
According to mythology, Athens was named in honor of the goddess Athena after she bested Poseidon in a contest for the right to be protector of the city. The first settlement of Athens (3000 BC) was situated on the rock now known as the Acropolis.
Athens is known for having pioneered the arts of history, philosophy and theatre, who attempt the first radical version of democracy, and who achieve a degree of perfection in architecture, sculpture and pottery, the Athenians have rightly acquired an almost legendary status.
Today, Athens, with its five-million inhabitants, has all characteristics of a modern metropolis but has not lost any of its ancient wonder. The history of Athens still lives in the roads, buildings, and the people themselves.
