 Plaka, AnafiotikaPlaka is the oldest neighbourhood of Athens. Walking on its paved narrow streets you get the feeling that you are travelling back in time. Anafiotika, built in the mid 19th century on the foothills of the Acropolis, has the charm of a beautiful island village. After drifting through the area, taste an exquisite preset plate of greek food and delis at a traditional local tavern |  Dionysiou AreopagitouDionyssiou Aeropagitou Str is one of the most impressive streets of Athens, offering an extraordinary view of the southern slope of the Acropolis, where some of the city’s most significant monuments stand. Most of the buildings on one side of the road facing south were constructed in the late 19th century and the early 20th century in the neoclassical or modernist style. |  Hadrian’s GateFollowing the construction of the temple of Zeus, the Athenians, in 131 AD, in honour of Emperor Hadrian, built an arch on the northwestern perimeter of the temple. The monument is 18m tall and 13m wide while the arch is built of Pentelic marble. |  Theatre of DionysosThis is the most ancient theatre of the world, the Theatre of Dionysos. In this theatre, the most famous ancient Greek poets, Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Euripides, and Sophocles saw premiere performances of their plays in the 5th century BC. |
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 Stoa of EumenesAbove the theatre is the Stoa of Eumenes, which was built by the King of Pergamum, Eumenes II in the 2nd century BC. The arch provided shelter to theatregoers in case of bad weather or shade from the sun. |  Ancient AgoraThe archaeological area of the ancient Agora is located on the foothills of the Acropolis, near Thission Metro Station. In antiquity, the Agora was not solely a commercial centre. It was also an important political, cultural and religious center. |  Hadrian’s LibraryIt is situated north of the Roman Agora (the entrance is on 3 Areos Str). It is a rectangular building measuring 122mx82m with a Corinthian propylon on the west side. It was built by Roman emperor Hadrian in 132 A.D. |  Roman AgoraThe Roman Agora (in the Plaka area) was an architectural complex, built between 19 and 11 B.C., consisting of a large rectangular court surrounded by colonnades (stoas). Behind the stoas were various shops. |
 Stoa of AttalusThe Stoa of Attalus, a twofloor building, was donated by the King of Pergamum Attalus II (159-138 BC) to the city of Athens. It is thought to have been a kind of ancient commercial center with 21 shops on each floor. |  OlympieionThe Olympieion includes the sanctuary (temple) of Olympian Zeus, Roman baths, classical houses as well as a section of the ancient city’s fortification wall. According to the geographer Pausanias, the temple of Olympian Zeus was founded by Deukalionas, a mythical ancestor of the Greeks. |  AcropolisThe Acropolis is the symbol of Athens, the sacred rock, linking the fabulous ancient civilization with the modern city. The monuments on the Sacred Rock date back to the prehistoric era and antiquity. The grandeur and beauty of the Sacred Rock attract Greek and foreign visitors. |  New Acropolis MuseumIt houses priceless finds from the Acropolis monuments that represent its history and function as the most important religious center of ancient Athens. |
 Odeion of Herodes AtticusThe Odeion of Herodes Atticus was built in 161 AD by the wealthy Herodes Tiberius Claudius Atticus, a teacher and philosopher, who inherited a fortune from his father. Ancient Greeks organised events in the Odeion. |  Temple of HephaistosIt is the best-preserved temple of antiquity. It was built in 460-415 BC. In the temple stood the statues of Hephaistos and Athena, thought to have been sculpted by Alkamenes. |  KerameikosThe ancient Kerameikos was located in the northwestern outskirts of Athens. It was partly enclosed by, and partly beyond, the walls that divide the area of the excavation. In the center of the archaeological site are the two best known arches of ancient Athens. |  GaziThe former Gas works is at the center of the neighbourhood. It has to a large extent maintained the colour of a historic Athens neighbourhood. You will find cafes, bars and luxury restaurants, popular among Athenians, in a multitude of old, picturesque buildings. |
 Traditional TavernYou will be amazed at the variety of authentic dishes and delis that you can enjoy at a local greek tavern, all cooked with traditional recipies and under the strict supervision of the tavern owner. The surrounding atmosphere is also amazing. Go ahead, spoil your taste buds |  Vasilissis Sofias AvenueOne of the main Athens roads, cutting through the city center and always packed with traffic. Enjoy the urban buildings on either side of the avenue |  Stadiou streetA busy commercial road, linking Omonoia square to Syntagma square, with lots of posh or neo-classical buildings, shops and malls. |  Herodou Attikou StreetHerodou Attikou Street is named after the ancient Athenian rhetorician, magnate and major benefactor of the Roman era, Herodes Atticus. The tree-lined one-way street runs from north (Vasilissis Sofias Avenue) to south (Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue). It is, by far, the most expensive piece of housing real estate in Greece and one of the most expensive in Europe |
 Street view to AcropolisWalk along the streets surrounding the Acropolis, do some actual shopping, enjoy your coffee in one of the numerous cafes, or just stroll along and absorb the local vibes |  Monastiraki flea marketThe variety of stuff and merchandise that you can find here is amazing, ranging from antiques, bargain books, leather goods, clothes, jewellery, small furniture, and various bits-and-pieces. Enjoy the hustle and bustle, and discover goodies at amazingly low prices |  Old street in PlakaPláka (Greek: Πλάκα) is the old historical neighborhood of Athens, clustered around the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis, and incorporating labyrinthine streets and neoclassical architecture. Plaka is built on top of the residential areas of the ancient town of Athens. It is known as the "Neighborhood of the Gods" |  Athens Gazi for a drinkGazi eighborhood of surrounds the old Athens gasworks, which is the industrial museum and exhibition space "Technopolis", widely known as Gazi, next to Keramikos and close to the Acropolis. Over the years, numerous garages, paint shops, tinsmiths and spare parts shops opened up in the area |
 Shopping in AthensModern day Athens continues the fine ancient tradition. With its bustling markets, high-end stores, boutiques and department stores, Athens is a truly grand shopping voyage |  Ermou Street shoppingErmou is the most popular shopping street in Athens. Starting close to the Parliament at Syntagma Square, Ermou is a pedestrian street, full of clothing and shoes stores. From the most known retailers such as Zara or H&M to smaller shops, Ermou Street is a shopping heaven. The street is very busy during the whole day. In case you get hungry, street vendors will offer you fried corn and traditional Greek food, such as “spanakopita” (spinach pie) |  Live musicA very special, authentic experience which you can have in Athens is Greek live music. There are small. Humble spots which continue the tradition of the good rebetika music. There are also clubs with young Greek singers. In this case the night is intense, the audience is passionate and stays up all night, the scenic presence of the singers is impressive and a lot of times reaches extreme heights, with people dancing on the tables and throwing flowers to the artists |  Plaka tavernsPlaka is a great favorite with visitors to Athens and also with Athenians, who enjoy the simple pleasure of a family outing, especially on weekends. Dining in Plaka is always a pleasurable experience and many restaurants are located in old mansions, cool gardens, romantic terraces |
 Picturesque coffee shopIt is virtually impossible to select the best coffee shops in Athens, given the wide selection on offer. Big and crowded cafeterias on a square, plus small and cozy bars hidden in small alleys are scattered all over the place. All the numerous specialty coffee shops have that "little something" which make them stand out |  Greek cuisineGreek food spreads its culinary influence throughout Europe and beyond. It is known as some of the best food in the world! With an age old tradition, Greek cuisine has been greatly influenced by both Eastern and Western cultures. Fresh vegetables, fishes & seafoods play a significant role in the dishes mostly because of its long coastline while meat is treated as less popular, with the exception of lamb |
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almost Private Experiences: small Groups of 1-"few" persons
Athens, Insiders' Cuisine and Art
COOKING, Athens - 9 hrs, 6 persons, Hosted by Evy
€ 100
Evy had her university education in the USA, as a qualified teacher and tutor, and has worked in the Education and Seminars sector for years. She loves letting tourists in the authentic greek way of life and showing them the positive and beautiful side of Greece
Athens, Greek cuisine, wine, olive oil and cheese
COOKING, Pallini, Athens - 7 hrs, 4 persons, Hosted by Maria
€ 120
Guests will exploit Maria’s greek cuisine knowledge and will learn the principles and fundamentals of greek cooking. They will also acquire a comprehensive cognoscenti’s overview on traditional wine, olive oil and cheese production
Athens, traditional bread & pastry baking, & authentic greek cuisine
COOKING, Athens - 5 hrs, 5 persons, Hosted by Andreas
€ 69
Under Andreas’ guidance, who is an expert baker and an excellent cook, guests will learn how to prepare bread and authentic delicious pastries, and the secrets of cooking a number of traditional greek recipes and dishes
Athens, the art of hand-made chocolate production
COOKING, Athens - 2 hrs, 10 persons, Hosted by Aristotelis
€ 79
Based on Aristotelis’ life-long expertise, the guests will attend a thorough hands-on workshop in producing traditional hand-made chocolates, starting from the initial preparation stages, and finishing off with the actual basic decoration and coating. They will also eat and drink various chocolates and drinks, in order to appreciate their flavours and aromas
Athens, Insiders’ Greek Herbs & Wines tour
CRAFTS, Athens - 5 hrs, 4 persons, Hosted by Dimitris
€ 90
Guests will initially visit a prominent Athens herbs & spices shop, to learn about the greek herbs, spices, herbal drinks and bio products. They will then visit a leading Athens wine merchant where they will discover amazing local greek wines. Finaly, they will visit a fine Athens tea-room, enjoy their herbal drink of choice, and discuss tips & proposals for the best Athens attractions
Athens, handmade cosmetics, and greek biodiversity
CRAFTS, Athens - 5 hrs, 4 persons, Hosted by Tania
€ 99
Tania’s expertise in biology and environmental biodiversity, together with her studies in the Arts, will help visitors acquire an insider’s view of how to produce natural cosmetics. Guests will take active part in the whole preparation, production and testing process, and acquire a thorough understanding of the greek nature’s biodiversity
Athens, on Cooking, Handcrafting and Music
CRAFTS, Athens - 4 hrs, 3 persons, Hosted by Ilia
€ 65
Ilia is a musician and a travel booking manager. Her guests will indulge in cooking and pastry-making sessions, learn how to create ornamental artifacts, and immerse into the wealth of traditional greek songs
Athens, workshops for wood-aging, wreath & dress creating
CRAFTS, Athens - 5 hrs, 10 persons, Hosted by Apostolia
€ 75
Apostolia is an expert in creating ornamental artifacts, and will involve her guests in three workshops that will teach them wood-aging techniques, ancient brass wreath creation, and ornamental dress creation. All these techniques preserve the ancient traditions, and the end results are truly amazing
Athens, creating hand-made ornamental boats and jewels
CRAFTS, Athens - 4 hrs, 5 persons, Hosted by Lia
€ 75
Based on her extensive practical experience in hand-crafting decorative artifacts, Lia will teach her guests how to create small ornamental boats using natural materials, and how to design and create hand-made jewels. All these artifacts will convey a flair of authentic Greek atmosphere and light
Athens, collecting, preserving and processing local herbs
CRAFTS, Athens - 5 hrs, 2-8 persons, Hosted by Maria
€ 79
Based on her extensive experience in collecting herbs and producing home-made cosmetics, Maria will teach her guests how to collect, store and process local herbs, and what their pharmaceutical and therapeutic properties are. They will also have time to enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, with greek souvlaki, greek salad and beverages
Athens, culture, singing, dancing, handcrafting and cuisine
CULTURE, Athens - 5 hrs, 6 persons, Hosted by Orfeas
€ 149
The guests will learn how to sing traditional and folk greek songs, the fundamentals of ancient and contemporary greek theatre, how to dance at the rhythm of folk songs, techniques for traditional greek hand-crafting, how to produce pure and authentic wax creams, and they will also taste authentic greek cuisine dishes
Athens uncovered, the definitive Athens “sights & atmosphere” walkabout
CULTURE, Athens - 6 hrs, 6 persons, Hosted by Maria
€ 69
Maria is an Athens enthusiast. She cherishes the city’s history and cultural vibes, and loves to take her guests along a thorough walking journey that covers almost all the “must-see” ancient monuments, as well as offering a unique feeling of the vibrant city's atmosphere and cuisine. This is a blend of history and local colour, that one can only appreciate on foot
Athens, insider’s walk-about on tradition, music, dancing
CULTURE, Athens - 11 hrs, 10 persons, Hosted by Panayiotis
€ 120
The guests will have a chance to visit a number of Athens hotspots, and museums exhibiting traditional garments and clothing, in order to appreciate the city vibes and the sense of historic continuity. They will then visit certain clubs and societies and learn the basics of traditional dancing, traditional instrument playing, and traditional singing
Athens, art, performances, venues, urban hotspots
CULTURE, Athens - 5 hrs, 5 persons, Hosted by Maria
€ 79
Under Maria’s expert guidance, guests will have a chance to visit a number of art, music and theatre performances and venues and acquire a feeling for the real artistic atmosphere. They will visit areas that constitute part of industrial zones or are natural beauty hotspots, and do not belong to modern housing structures
Athens, Spend a Day with our Family
LOCAL LIFE, Athens - 5 hrs, 4 persons, Hosted by Dimitris
€ 65
We'd like to invite you to spend the day with us! Visiting a local Deli Shop, learning how to cook traditional greek dishes, having lunch together, and chit-chatting on the sofa with a nice cup of coffee. Become a truly native Greek, NOT just a tourist
Athens, discover the mythical and authentic city
LOCAL LIFE, Athens - 5 hrs, 5 persons, Hosted by Maria
€ 69
Under Maria’s expert guidance, guests will explore places that are off the beaten track, walk on the city roads like true locals, acquaint themselves with the Athens traditions, and explore the renowned Athens cuisine and entertainement opportunities
Piraeus, Creative greek cooking, and pure soap production
COOKING, Piraeus - 4 hrs, 4 persons, Hosted by Eleni
€ 79
Eleni has devoted her time in creative cooking, as well as in perfecting the production of hand-made natural cosmetics Visitors will initially follow creative cooking techniques and learn how to cook delicious and authentic local greek dishes. They will also attend a seminar on how to hand-produce pure olive oil based soap
Traditional Delis from Athens
Top-rated Traditional Restaurants in Athens
Athens - what Wikipedia says
Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, with its recorded history spanning around 3,400 years, and the earliest human presence around the 11th–7th centuries BC. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state that emerged in conjunction with the seagoing development of the port of Piraeus. A centre for the arts, learning and philosophy, home of Plato's Academy and Aristotle's Lyceum, it is widely referred to as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy, largely because of its cultural and political impact on the European continent and in particular the Romans. In modern times, Athens is a large cosmopolitan metropolis and central to economic, financial, industrial, maritime, political and cultural life in Greece. In 2015, Athens was ranked the world's 29th richest city by purchasing power and the 67th most expensive in a UBS study.
Athens is recognised as a global city because of its geo-strategic location and its importance in shipping, finance, commerce, media, entertainment, arts, international trade, culture, education and tourism. It is one of the biggest economic centres in southeastern Europe, with a large financial sector, and its port Piraeus is the largest passenger port in Europe, and the second largest in the world. The municipality (City) of Athens had a population of 664,046 (in 2011, 796,442 in 2004) within its administrative limits, and a land area of 39 km2 (15 sq mi). The urban area of Athens (Greater Athens and Greater Piraeus) extends beyond its administrative municipal city limits, with a population of 3,090,508 (in 2011) over an area of 412 km2 (159 sq mi). According to Eurostat in 2004, the Athens Larger Urban Zone (LUZ) was the 7th most populous LUZ in the European Union (the 5th most populous capital city of the EU), with a population of 4,013,368. Athens is also the southernmost capital on the European mainland.
The heritage of the classical era is still evident in the city, represented by ancient monuments and works of art, the most famous of all being the Parthenon, considered a key landmark of early Western civilization. The city also retains Roman and Byzantine monuments, as well as a smaller number of Ottoman monuments.
Athens is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Acropolis of Athens and the medieval Daphni Monastery. Landmarks of the modern era, dating back to the establishment of Athens as the capital of the independent Greek state in 1834, include the Hellenic Parliament (19th century) and the Athens Trilogy, consisting of the National Library of Greece, the Athens University and the Academy of Athens. Athens was the host city of the first modern-day Olympic Games in 1896, and 108 years later it welcomed home the 2004 Summer Olympics. Athens is home to the National Archeological Museum, featuring the world's largest collection of ancient Greek antiquities, as well as the new Acropolis Museum.