Athens is one of the world’s most impressive capital cities with a unique and vibrant blend of history and culture.
Acropolis
The Acropolis is an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens. Build in 5 B.C. by Pericles, it contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historical significance, with the most famous being the Parthenon. Also known as sacred Rock, this UNESCO world Heritage site is definitely synonymous with Athens.
New Acropolis Museum
The first Museum was on the Acropolis, which was completed in 1874, however, due to the growing volume of archaeological treasures discovered the need for a new museum was created.
Operating since 2009, the modern Acropolis Museum, houses every artifact found on the Sacred Rock and on the surrounding slopes, from the Greek Bronze Age to the Roman and Byzantine Greece.
Benaki Museum
The Benaki Museum has several sites, but the main one is the former Benaki family mansion in central Athens.
The museum houses Greek works of art from the prehistorical to the modern times, an extensive collection of Asian art, hosts periodic exhibitions and maintains a state-of-the-art restoration and conservation workshop. Although the museum initially housed a collection that included Islamic art, Chinese porcelain and exhibits on toys, its 2000 re-opening led to the creation of satellite museums that focused on specific collections, allowing the main museum to focus on Greek culture over the span of the country’s history.
Syntagma Square
Syntagma Square or Constitution Square is the central square of Athens. It is located in front of the 19th century Old Royal Palace housing the Greek Parliament since 1934.
Syntagma Square is the most important square of modern Athens from both a historical and social point of view, as it is at the heart of commercial activity and Greek politics.
Kolonaki
Kolonaki is an upscale neighbourhood and one of the main shopping areas in Athens, with many fashion designer boutiques and jewellery shops.
A buzzing neighbourhood with a laid-back vibe. Here, you’ll be immersed in the vibrant lifestyle.
The streets are filled with cafes and bars, which are filled with people having a good time. If you visit Athens, you should definitely stroll around Kolonaki area as you’ll fit right into this sociable scene.
Stroll around the streets of Monastiraki
Shopping in Athens is a favourite pastime and the Flea Market at Monastiraki is one of the best places to buy about anything. The area is home to clothing boutiques, souvenir shops, and specialty stores, and is a major tourist attraction in Athens for bargain shopping. The best day to stroll around the streets of Monastiraki is on a Sunday morning, where you may also combine it with a walk towards Psiri area, which hosts a number of galleries and vintage stores.
The National Garden of Athens
The National Garden or Royal Garden is a public park of 15.5 hectares (38 acres) in the center of Athens. It is located between the districts of Kolonaki and Pangrati, directly behind the Greek Parliament building and continues to the South to the area where the Zappeion is located, across from the Panathenaic Stadium. The Garden also encloses some ancient ruins, tambourines and Corinthian columns, mosaic, and other features.
Apart from the historic monuments, during your walk here you will find several instagramable moments.
The romantic experience: Open-air movie experience at Cine Paris in Plaka
Nothing defines Greek summer as open air cinemas do. In fact, almost every Athenian neighbourhood has one. Cine Paris is one of the oldest open-air cinemas in Athens, and it’s still one of the most popular cinemas for the locals thanks to its fantastic location in Plaka, facing the Parthenon. It is open from May to September, screening mostly contemporary movies.
Don’t forget to stroll around the streets of Plaka, either before or after the movie, as it is definitely a must.
Star gazing at the National Observatory of Athens
Let us take you to the stars!
The visitors’ center of the National Observatory of Athens is a beautiful building. During the summer months, it conducts private evening tours offering to the public the opportunity to peer through the 8 meter dome of the Doridis telescope and to enjoy the Athenian sky from the Hill of the Nymphs. The Doridis telescope was built by the French company P.F. Gautier in 1902 and is housed in a building designed by Ernst Ziller. It was
used for the first time at the sun eclipse on 30th August 1905.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC)
The SNFCC is a public space, where everyone has free access and can participate in a multitude of cultural, educational, athletic, environmental and recreational activities and events. It includes the Greek National Opera, the National Library of Greece as well as the Stavros Niarchos Park, one of the largest green areas in Athens, covering 21 hectares.
Designed by the architectural firm Renzo Piano Building Workshop , the SNFCC has become a reference point in Greece.
This site is definitely one to add on your bucket list, even if there is not an event taking place. Just stroll around and be mesmerized.
Sail to the stunning Saronic Islands
These Greek islands make a great choice for a day trip or a quick break from the city.
The Argo-Saronic islands hug the coast between Piraeus, the port of Athens, and the Peloponnese, the stunning southern mainland of Greece. The Saronic is renowned for its lush landscape, stunning neoclassical architecture, and vibrant restaurant and nightlife scene.
These islands give you the opportunity to visit archaeological sites, cliff jump into the Aegean, hike ancient paths, and take donkey rides through cobblestone streets.
Contact our concierge in order to prepare for you a mind-blowing experience.
Hiking on the Kesariani Trail
Hiking on Hymettus, one of the three mountains that surround the basin of Attica, is an experience in itself. The Kesariani Trail, part of the larger Hymettus trail, consists of three circular routes of 6km each, all of them leading back to the road. As a newly paved path, its signage along the way showcases 29 monuments of historic, cultural and religious interest.
Beyond the captivating beauty of nature, you will come across many points of cultural interest such as the Kaisariani Monastery, the carved columns of an early Byzantine church and the Church of Agios Markos, while there are also many ruins of churches from the 5th and 6th centuries AD.
Contact our concierge for more information.