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Athens

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Athens
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Athens Travel Guide

  • About Athens
Greece may be undergoing a difficult period with billions of euros in debt, but Athens will forever remain a European centre of culture, with stunning classical sites and world-class museums.While the suffering the economic crisis has brought shouldn’t be ignored, visitors may be surprised to find that the city’s restaurants and bars remain busy. Meanwhile, terrific deals can be found – with every cent helping locals.The city is named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom, who is celebrated by an ancient temple on the Acropolis, rising proudly above the concrete jungle of modern Athens. It reached its heyday in 5th century BCE as a city state, when many of the icons of Ancient Greece were erected.  It was here that democracy was born, drama flourished and Socrates conceived the foundations of Western philosophy.A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Acropolis is crowned with four ancient Greek temples, the best known of which is the majestic Parthenon. Nearby, the Acropolis Museum brings 21st-century design into the Greek urban landscape with its high-tech structure and minimalist exhibitions spaces. Then there’s the more staid 19th-century neo-classical National Archaeological Museum, displaying the world’s finest collection of Ancient Greek artefacts.Below the Acropolis, touristy Plaka merges into the flea-market-strewn Monastiraki, which in turn is linked by the busy shopping avenue of Ermou Street to Syntagma Square, home of the Greek Parliament – the site of countless popular protests since the economic crisis.West of Monastiraki lies Psiri, full of bars and taverns, and further west still, the trendy post-industrial neighbourhood of Gazi, known for its nightlife.Greek food is loved across the world, and whether its gyros or moussaka you want, there are plenty of eateries to choose from. Venture out of the centre to find more varied fare, and more creative restaurants.After dining, there’s the insatiable nightlife, with chic cocktail bars and waterside dance clubs. With so much fun to be had, and a blissful Mediterranean climate that extends into the night and through most of the year, you’ll wonder what there ever was to worry about it.
  • Athens History
Inhabited for at least 5,000 years, Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world. By the 5th century BCE, the developing Athenian state had launched democracy, which saw it become the cultural centre of Western civilisation.Named after the goddess of wisdom, battle strategies and more, the city-state of Athens came to dominate Greece after defeating Persian invasions in 490 and 479 BCE. Under Pericles from 461 BCE, the construction of the icons of Ancient Greece began, including the Parthenon in Athens and Temple of Poseidon at Sounion. In this Golden Age, drama and the arts also flourished, and Socrates conceived the foundations of Western philosophy.Despite echoing through the ages, Athens’ relatively brief dominance over Greece was challenged by Sparta and the Peloponnesian War followed for nearly three decades until 404 BCE. In 338 BCE, the Ancient Kingdom of Macedonia seized Athens, ruling it until the Roman conquest in 2nd century BCE. The city maintained its prestige as a centre of learning under the Romans.More than five centuries of Roman rule were followed by that of the Byzantines, under whom it declined. Later, there was medieval prosperity in the 11th and 12th centuries – until Latin rulers conquered it during the Fourth Crusade in 1204.Next came the Ottoman conquest in 1458. Although the empire wanted to preserve Athens’ ancient marvels, a litany of accidents and attacks led to the destruction of many.Greece finally gained independence in 1832, and Athens was named capital. The King employed architects to redesign the city and erect impressive neo-classical buildings, such as the Royal Palace, today the Greek Parliament.Athens grew rapidly through the 19th century, while Greek refugees from Anatolia flooded the city in 1920s after the Greek-Turkish war. Athens suffered greatly during the World Wars. Years of struggle between left and right in the post-war era led to a 7-year military dictatorship known as the Junta until 1974.In the late 20th century, Athens developed into a truly modern city and in 2004 it hosted the Olympic Games. Since the eurozone crisis from 2009, it became the centre of widespread protests against the government, leading to civil unrest.
  • Did you know?
When Prince Otto of Bavaria became King of Greece in 1832, he adopted Greek clothing and used the local spelling of his name, becoming King Othon. Although the Romans respected Athens’ legacy, General Sulla sacked the city in 87 BCE, causing much destruction. He did, however, order that the main monuments were not harmed. During WWII and German occupation, the Nazis flew the swastika flag from the Acropolis. Its removal by Greek left wing politician, Manolis Glezos, sparked the Greek revolt.
  • Weather in Athens
Athens has a Mediterranean climate characterised by hot and dry summers, relatively mild winters and moderate rainfall.While the summer nightlife is in full swing with open-air bars, concerts and beaches open for sunbathing, it can get very hot. The hottest month is August, where temperatures can reach an average high of 34°C (94°F).Visit between May and June or September and October, warm weather and attractions that are not as crowded.Average annual rainfall is 365mm (14.4 inches), and rain is frequent between October and March.Visit in low season (November-April) to experience Athens like a local. It may not compare to the summer period, but the cultural scene will still be thriving.

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