What to see in the Greek capital city of Athens
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Athens is arguably one of the oldest cities in the history of the world. It is considered the birthplace of Western democracy and is presently home to 3.8 million people. The oldest known date of human presence in Athens is somewhere between the 11th and 7th Millenia BC. Furthermore, the city has been continually habited starting in 3000 BC, or for the last 5,000 years to Present Day.
When in school, we all learn about Ancient Roman and Greek cultures, but what is even more interesting is how the two cultures overlap and how the demise of one let to the rise of the other. Greece was divided into a variety of city-states, that were all conquered by the Romans by 146 BC. The inhabitants of these conquered territories were then forced to pay heavy taxes. Luckily, the Macedonians led by Alexander the Great, adopted and spread the Greek culture.
Present day, Athens is an epicenter of cultural heritage, with countless museums, temples, ruins, shrines, etc. It is a dream destination for people who love ancient history. Even if history is not your forte, the city itself is very picturesque and the food is phenomenal. Athens to me reminded me of my time in Istanbul, a city that appeals to all the senses, at the same time. It is hectic, busy, moving, but it is part of the entire experience, making immersion into the city that much more satisfying.
We can here in August of 2023 at the end of our three week holiday. The beginning of our holiday started in Rome, so we felt that ending in Athens would be a perfect historical counterbalance between both ancient civilizations. We were also here when it was stupidly hot, which may be the new normal in this day in age.
This is a guide about our time in Athens, Greece where I will highlight some of the places we found enjoyable. This post is not comprehensive, but just the sights that we can personally talk about that we would recommend. A Google Map of these places can be seen at the end of this post.
How to get to Athens
Book yourself a flight to Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH), which will take you just outside the Greek capital. Then from here, you have a few options:
Bus - You can take the X95 bus to Syntagma Square, which takes about 60 minutes while costing about 5.5 Euros. If you go during rush hour, a typical 45 to 60 minute journey can take in upwards of 90. You can buy tickets on board or at the airport information booths.
Train - You can take Metro Line 3 to Syntagma Square stop (Athens city center). The trains run every 30 minutes from 6:30am to 11:30pm, 7 days a week. One way is 9 Euros, while return tickets are 16 Euros. The journey takes about 40 minutes.
Taxi - You can find a taxi rank outside Exit 3 of Arrivals at the airport. There are two flat rate taxi fares:
40 Euros between 5am and 12am
55 Euros between 12am and 5am