Beaches of Thessaloniki

Beaches of Thessaloniki

 The variety and extent of  Thessaloniki coastline make it possible for bathers to enjoy an infinite number of different places to swim, all of them lapped by warm, crystal clear water.
The best swimming beaches are:Aretsou, Perea, Nei Epivates, Agia Triada, Nea Mihaniona, Epanomi, Asprovalta
Beach run by the Greek National Tourist Organization are:
At Agia Triada (27 km). Open from 1st May to 30th September, tel. 0392/51360. G.N.T.O. Beach Facilities: Changing cabins, bar, supermarket, restaurant, children's playground, tennis courts, volley-ball pitch

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Top 10 Thessaloniki

1. White Tower

 

The symbol of our city at the seaside, a 500-year-old sea fort and later a prison. Now it is the Museum of the City of Thessaloniki and its top floor offers a great view to the sea and the city. No visit to Thessaloniki would be complete without at least a photo in front of the White Tower! 

2. Archaeological Museum

Greece is full of ancient artifacts and Thessaloniki does have its fair share of them! At the Archaeological Museum you can see a lot of great stuff from the city's prehistoric, Macedonian and Roman civilization. The museum is not huge – you can easily tour it within an hour if you are not a huge history lover. The museum's official site is here (In English).

 

3. Museum of Byzantine Culture

 

Thessaloniki was the Byzantine Empire's second most important city and there are so many things to admire from this period. The museum won the 2005 Museum Prize of the European Council. The museum's official site is here .

4. The seaside

 

Thessaloniki's most important tourist attraction to our opinion! The seaside walk is a Thessalonican favourite summer evening pastime – do it like a true Thessalonican and take your time stolling the 4,5-km walk from the port's Pier 1 to the Thessaloniki Concert Hall! 

5. Aristotelous Square

 

Thessaloniki's most central square, a great place to have a coffee and stroll from the sea to Venizelos' statue. You can also find the City of Thessaloniki's central information kiosk at the centre of the square. 

6. Kapani and Modiano Markets

 

The central food markets of Thessaloniki, exactly to the west of Aristotelous Sq. At Kapani Market you can see and taste a very lively aspect of Thessaloniki's life – plus you will find a lot of shops selling fresh produce, spices and cheap household items. The next-door covered Modiano Market is a quite melancholic place, as it has most of its shops closed nowadays, but it is always interesting to admire the early-20th century architecture and eat at the old-school tavernas inside the market.

7. Agios Dimitrios Basilica

 

Thessaloniki's most famous Byzantine church, the place of martyrdom of St. Demetrius. Many visitors visit the city just for a visit to the basilica and its catacombs – a great place to worship and to admire the architecture. Don't forget to visit the catacombs!

8. The Rotunda

 

A large cylindrical Roman structure built by the Roman emperor Galerius. We still don't know what it was built for, but it was converted into a Christian church during Byzantine times and into a mosque during Ottoman times. It is still used as a church once a month. It is surely worth a quick visit.

Tip: it is in the centre of the student residence area of Thessaloniki, hence you will find great student spots nearby.

9. Ladadika

 

Next to the port, the old oil-merchants' quarter that was once a notorious dodgy district of the city, converted into a great entertainment area in the 1990s. Nowadays it is full of great restaurants, classy bars and some tacky clubs. Great for lunch, dinner or a glass of beer.

10. Ano Poli

 

The area north of Agiou Dimitriou Str., the only part of the city that survived the great fire of 1917. It is a great place to admire the view and get intentionally lost in the alleys. Ano Poli is a quiet residential area, full of small two-storey houses and streets with little traffic. If you are careful you will see the life of the village-like neighbourhood and find its quiet little spots. It's a steep area of the city, so in order not to get tired, take the bus to Trigoniou Tower to admire the view and work your way down.

Tip: We've compiled a walk that connects most of these top-10 attractions of the city, loaded with lots of info on each one. 

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Food, Drinks and Nightlife in thessaloniki

Eat

Due to the fact that Thessaloniki remained under Ottoman rule for about 100 years more than southern Greece, it has retained a lot of its Eastern character, including its culinary tastes. Spices in particular play an important role in the cuisine of Thessaloniki, something which is not true to the same degree about Greece's southern regions. Greeks consider Thessaloniki a gourmet city - but bear in mind that this refers to the excellent local specialities and cheap-and-cheerful ouzo taverns rather than to haute cuisine or a range of foreign restaurants. The latter are best avoided in Thessaloniki.

Sweets and pastries

For any traveler to Thessaloniki, a Greek will usually mention how they expect you to bring back sweets from the city, as it is known for having some of the best in the country. Throughout Thessaloniki anyone can find a variety of places that sell: Tsoureki, a plaited sweetened bread, deserts such as Baklava and Galaktoboureko; and Bougatsa, the most famous pastry of Thessaloniki, with cream (sweet) or cheese (savoury) filling, which was invented in the city and has spread around other parts of Greece and the Balkans as well.
Some shops, where you can find the best sweets and pasties the city has to offer, include "Nikiforou" on Venizelou street, "Terkenlis" famous for its Tsoureki and "Chatzis" famous for its Baklava, but fame has not made it any better - it has become overpriced and not as good as in previous years.

• Chatzis is famous for its collection of Greek Asia Minor sweets (politika glyka) originating from Istanbul.

• Terkenlis is famous for its variety of "tsoureki", a sweet bread much like brioche but containing spices too, covered and filled with several combinations of chocolates/creams/nuts, etc.

• Elenidis is considered the expert in "trigona" (triangles made of sfoglia, filled with cream). 

 Meats

For a carnivore's treat, places that serve, Gyros and Souvlaki with pork and chicken, are scattered all around the city. This is the best calories per money option, since with less that 3 euros you get a meal that, although not that healthy, can keep you going for many hours. Some of the best souvlaki meals at very affordable prices can be found at a place called "Derlicatesen".
Local specialities include Soutzoukakia, minced meat pellets that are either grilled (at the central market or rotisseries) and topped with chilli pepper flakes, or cooked in tomato and cumin sauce (Smyrna-style); and Patsas, a tripe soup, best tried late at night (or early morning). For seafood, in Thessaloniki you can find Gemista kalamarakia (Stuffed squids), Mydopilafo (rise with mussels) or Mydia saganaki (mussels in tomato sause).

 Fast food and snacks

• The traditional fast food of Thessaloniki includes sandwiches with Gyros (pork meat), Souvlaki or Soutzoukaki, offered in many stores for a little over €2.

• Goody's. is the Greek fast-food chain, actually preferred by Greeks over other fast food restaurants such as McDonalds. There you can find classic hamburgers, also Gyros, pasta, and salads.  

• Crepes can be found in many stores all around the city. The best can be found at Gounari street, near Navarinou square, that is popular with the city's student population.

• During the winter you can try roasted chestnuts (Kastana in Greek) that are sold from carts.

• During the summer one can buy boiled or roasted corn on the cob that is sold from carts, which cost €1-2.

• You can try Stafidopsomo, a small bread with raisins, or Koulouri a donut-shaped small bread with sesame. You can find them sold in bakeries or on carts, costing around €0.5.

• For breakfast Bougatsa, can be found in nearly every pastry shop around the city and can be accompanied with a cacao milk or coffee. Prices range from €1.8 - €2.3, for a plate of Bougatsa.

Budget

This guide uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:
Budget	Under €15
Mid-range	€15-€20
Splurge	€20-€30 and upwards

Most tavernas and restaurants located all around the city of Thessaloniki offer very affordable prices. Most can be found concentrated in areas listed below, that also serve as points of interest for any traveler into the city, where you can experience a lively atmosphere at night with the local population.

 Ladadika

Thessaloniki's Ladadika borough is a particularly busy area in regards to Thessalonian cuisine, with most tavernas serving traditional meze and other such culinary delights. Right next to the port and around Morichovou square, it is full of restaurants, bars and nighclubs.

• Ellinikon, Ladadika (Morichovou Sq.). Offers 'appelation d'origine' local delicacies.  edit

 Athonos Square

The area between Athonos square and Aristotelous street is full of taverns of which many are frequented by mostly young Greeks and tourists. Prices are usually low and the quality can vary greatly from tavern to tavern. Several restaurants have a small band playing local live music. Better to move around before sitting to eat, not only to choose the place, but to take a look at the old shops in the area selling fruit, spices, handmade small furniture etc. Many of the taverns in the area are tourist-traps, so choose a tavern where you see locals and preferably older people.

• Vrotos, (Near Athonos). Ouzo restaurant (ouzeri). 25% more expensive than others in this region, but top quality. 

 Bit-Bazaar and nearby streets

During the day the area hosts antique shops and cheapjacks selling anything useful or useless one can imagine. In the evening it turns into a lively (and noisy) student hang-out and can get very crowded on warm nights. Most of the shops offer cheap wine, ouzo, beers and Mezedes, appetizers that accompany your Ouzo or Tsipouro with a battery of small dishes - by far the best way to eat in Thessaloniki.

Ionos Dragoumi

Agora, (Off Ionos Dragoumi). Ouzo restaurant (ouzeri) in one of the most interesting old downtown areas 

Kastra (Ano Poli)

At Ano Poli (also called Old Town and literally the Upper Town), the heritage listed district north of Thessaloniki's city center, many quality restaurants can be found next to the Byzantine walls, and some with views overlooking the city.

 Tsinari (Ano Poli)

An old district of Ano Poli hosting the eponymous tavern, along with some others.

Mid-range

• Pire kai vradiazei (Πήρε και βραδιάζει), Omirou 7 (Off Theagenio Hospital). Great Taverna, unique style, good food and some days (Thur-Sun) live music 

• Tombourlika (Τομπουρλίκα), Navmachias Limnou 14 (Off Vardaris Sqare), ☎ +30 2310 548193. Great traditional ouzeri, with fresh fish and meat dishes and live rembetico music

• Tsarouchas (Τσαρούχας), Olymbou 78 (Off Ancient Forum). all night and morning open. is for those of you with adventurous tastes, preferably to go after a hard night's drinking, for a "patsás" (tripe) soup - a delicious way to prevent a hangover. 

• Toicho-Toicho, Polydorou 1 (Ano Poli (Kastra)). An hipster hang-out, nice atmosphere, very expencive for the quality provided 

• Kamaras, (Near Rotonda). Great traditional dishes. 

• Lila Cafe Bistro, Diogenus 23 (Ano Toumba district), ☎ 30 2310 947377. Traditional pies and sweets, croissant and dishes accompany the coffee or your drink. Porcelain miniatures and collective drinks are available for originally gifts. 

• Pizza da Pepe, Stefanou Tatti 10 (side street of Egnatia, near the Aghia Sophia Church), ☎ +30 2310 242407. For the best pizzas in town head here.

• Myrsini, (behind the State Theatre Etairia Makedonikon Spoudon). Good Cretan restaurant. 

• Apo Dyo Horia, (Navarinou Square). Cretan and Pontian restaurant. Here, order raki rather than ouzo or tsipouro.  

 Splurge

• Odos Aristotelous (Lepen), Odos Aristotelous. Most Salonicans know it as the "Lepen" 

• Krikelas, Ladadika (near Morichovou Sq.).  

• Zythos-Dore, (White Tower Square). An upmarket brasserie with a wide range of specialties and interesing ambience. 

Drink

Thessaloniki has a very active nightlife scene and only recently it is starting to become exposed internationally, with Lonely Planet listing Thessaloniki as the world's fifth-best "ultimate party city".
Cafe-bars are scattered throughout the entire city, which create a lively atmosphere everywhere you step and you can have a drink whenever you want, while trendy bars line up along Thessaloniki's entire waterfront from the old port, along Nikis avenue and down to "Krini", a southeast coastal district of the city.
Thessaloniki also offers a wide variety of nightlife, from small to huge nightclubs with dance music, bars dedicated to rock music, jazz clubs and Bouzoukia, where you can experience Greek music and dancing. Large entertainment venues of the city include Pyli Axiou and Mamounia, at Vilka (which are housed in converted old factories). During summer, one can also find beach bars with lively music and serving drinks throughout the whole day and night, located at the city's southeast suburbs. The city's most known nightlife district is "Ladadika", there together with the many tavernas and restaurants, you will find the most known nightclubs and bars housed in old warehouses next to the port, while in the area around the Kamara (the Arch of Galerius) is home to many cheaper cafe's and bars, popular with the city's student population. Areas were most of Thessaloniki's nightlife is located at are listed below.

Aristotle Square (Aristotelous)

Being the center of the city, some of the most popular cafes and bars are located there. One can find quiet cafes or noisy ones that usually preferred by younger people. Breakfast is also served, some restaurants are also available.

Nikis avenue

Thessaloniki's central seafront avenue is full of cafeterias usually crowded around the clock, available for coffee in daytime and beer or drinks at night. Many bars also feature balconies with views towards the sea.

Ladadika district

At the west side of the center lies the picturesque district of Ladadika (meaning: oil stores). Named this way by the many stores selling oil arriving from the adjacent port of Thessaloniki. Formerly a notorious district, it is today the city's most lively and vibrant areas, were renovated old stone build warehouses host some of the most known nightclubs with all sorts of music, including traditional Greek bouzoukia. Although not the favorite by Thessaloniki’s highest class (modern bouzoukia are not considered a classy kind of entertainment), they are definitely worth a visit for any traveler. Delicate restaurants and Greek taverns serving drinks are located around Morichovou square, and are also popular during lunch time.

Proxenou Koromila St

Parallel to the seafront Nikis avenue is Proxenou Koromila street and at night many cafes and bars spill out on to the streets. A few trendy jazz clubs can be found here.

Iktinou pedestrian

Another place in the city with cafes, bars and a couple of restaurants, that spill out onto pedestrianized streets. A popular hangout by many Thessalonians.

 Aretsou

Aretsou is located in the southeast part of the city, in the suburb of Kalamaria. Home to high end bars, cafés and entertainment venues, most notably on Plastira street, along the coast; featuring loud music and hosting many young people.

 Karabournaki

A place in Kalamaria with delicate bars, restaurants and pizzerias. All of them along Sofouli street, right next to the seashore and nearby the Thessaloniki Concert Hall. "Shark", one of the most exclusive nightlife venues of the city is also located in this area with views of the sea and central Thessaloniki.

 Boat bars

For a drink on a boat, there are many "floating bars" that depart every 2hrs or so from the White Tower, and make a short trip around Thermaic Gulf, where you can enjoy evening and late night views of the city. Most of them play ethnic and alternative foreign music.

 Mylos and Vilka

A set of high-range café, bars, restaurants, ouzeris some with live music located at the city’s west. Also hosting concerts, events, exhibitions, music bands, famous greek artists etc.

 Valaoritou and Syggrou

Over the last 2 years a lot of Thessaloniki's nightlife has moved in these areas of the city center. The old industrial center has become a place for entertainment for everybody, with many bars, clubs and cafes that may remind you of Berlin, or London.

 Prices

A beer in Thessaloniki costs €4-6, an alcohol drink €7-10 and a coffee around €2.50-5.

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Food, Drinks and Nightlife

      Eat

• For quick, decent and low-budget meals that do not fall into the commercialized fast food category, try a souvlaki' (pronounced soo- VLAH-kee), mainly grilled meat (pork, chicken, it's your choice) vegetables (tomato and onion slices) and greek 'tzatziki' (pronounced tzah-TZEE-khee) which is yogurt enriched with garlic and cucumber. All the above (often accompanied by french fries) are wrapped inside a thin slice of pan bread, named 'pita' (PEE-tah). Prices of 'souvlaki' vary according to the confidence and/or nerve of the cornershop owner, but usually you can get one from €1.70 to €2.20; add some soda, salad and french fries and you can have lunch for no more than €7 - if you ask for a take away, the price is considerably cheaper than if you sit at a table. You can get souvlaki just about everywhere, especially where tourists roam, though they are a bit more expensive in those regions. The best souvlaki stands in central Athens are both in Monastiraki, adjacent to each other and just off the main square in front of the Metro stop: Savvas at Mitropoleas 86-88 and O Thanasis at Mitropoleos 69. 

• If you're interested in a sandwich, cheese pie, spinach pie or the equivalent of a fast snack, try Grigoris (Γρηγόρης) or Everest, two chains of fast food to be found in most districts of Athens and the rest of Greece. Goody's is the Greek equivalent of McDonald's and offers a fair variety of tasty meals, including pasta, different salads, burgers etc. 

• If you are interested in having a good meal or dinner great restaurants can be found in Plaka, Thisio, Gazi, Mikrolimano and Kifissia

      Drink

• Greeks love to socialize, and Athens buzzes long after its other European counterparts have laid their heads down to sleep. 8PM is the earliest most Greeks will consider going to eat out, and clubbers start to get ready at about midnight. Note that many Athens clubs relocate to the beach during the summer months. Cafes spill onto the streets and the sound of lively conversation is everywhere in the evenings.

• Have a frappé, the delicious Greek version of cold coffee. Being a Greek invention, it is absolutely nothing like the frappé you find in other countries of the world. Served sweet, medium, or without sugar, with or without milk. Delicious with Bailey's too.

• A 'club zone' is located in the coastal zone, running to the east- if you go there and you are lucky, you can actually get to listen to non-Greek music. There are also many clubs and pubs in the center of Athens.

• Go to the Psyrrí area for a number of smart bars and small clubs. It is the area immediately north of Ermou street between these two metro stops.

• The area north of Ermou street between Monastiraki and Syntagma has seen a considerably rise in the number and quality of bars during recent years. Aiolou and Kolokotroni streets both offer a fair variety of cafés and bars. Magazé, 6dogs, Booze and all the bars on Karytsi square (a small square at the end of Christou Lada street, behind Klafthmonos square on Stadiou avenue) can get very busy on Fridays and Saturdays, with visitors having their drinks even on the streets outside from spring through autumn, when the weather is nice.

• The area around the Kerameikos station, called Gazi (Γκάζι, gas) has been the gay village of Athens for quite a few years. Since the opening of the metro station, in 2007, the neighbourhood has attracted all kinds of crowds. This is a home to dozens of bars, cafés and clubs, gay or not, as well as to small theatrical scenes, the latter one especially to the northeast of the area, towards Metaxourgeio.

 Clubbing & Night Life

Athens is famous for its vibrant nightlife. The Athenians like to party and will do so almost every night of the week. The choices are plenty and they appeal to all tastes and lifestyles. In general, things get started pretty late: after midnight for bars and clubbing and after 10:00 p.m. for dinner at the city's tavernas, Athens Restaurants and bar-restaurants.
Hip areas include Gazi, Psirri, Exarcheia, Monastiraki, Theseion and Kolonaki. Traditional Greek evenings can be spent in Plaka.
Until recently at Psirri, some of Athens' hottest clubs and bars were to be spotted. During recent years Gazi has seen some tremendous change. Most of the galleries, mainstream bars, restaurants, clubs and Greek nightclubs here (featuring live Greek pop singers), are trademarked by their industrial design as many of them are housed in remodelled -- and once abandoned -- factories. Gazi is one of the trendiest neighbourhoods of Athens nightlife. You can get there by metro line 3 at Kerameikos station.
Plaka - Monastiraki are two ancient, historic and all-time classic Athenian neighborhoods popular with visitors, they do not have many big dance clubs and bars, but offer lively, traditional places to enjoy Greek culture year-round as well as several rock and jazz clubs.
You will find plenty nightclubs with live Greek music along Syggrou Avenue and at the industrial strips of Iera Odos and Pireos Street in Gazi. In the summer months, the action moves to Poseidon Avenue and the coastal towns of Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni. Kolonaki is a staple dining and entertainment destination, catering to the city's urban working professionals who enjoy an after work cocktail at many of its bars that are open - and busy - until after midnight, even on weekdays. The clubs here are also very chic. Exarchia is where to go for smaller more bohemian style haunts that cater to artists and college students. At the foot of Strefi Hill is where you will find most of the bars and clubs, many of which play rock music. An alternative option of Athens nightlife.

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Some of the best beaches in the world are to be found on the Greek islands, but if you happen to be in Athens instead, you won’t be short of choice for places to spend a day by the sea. Athens is surrounded by water and most of the beaches around the city are easily accessible by public transport.

The Athenian beaches fall into two broad categories, basically those that are public and free and the privately operated ones where an admission fee is charged for the services.As a general rule, free public beaches do not offer any amenities (except a beach bar and umbrellas in some cases). In the privately operated beaches the entrance fee sometimes includes sun-beds, umbrellas and showers and there are of course beach bars, restaurants and even shops to keep you occupied for the whole day. 

Finally, if you are really lazy, cannot be bothered to drag yourself down the coast and all you want is to enjoy the hot Athenian sun, many hotels have swimming pools that are open to the public, for a fee of course. As a rule, the price includes the use of the swimming pool,  sun-beds and towels (and often lockers and changing rooms) and you can buy drinks and light snacks from the pool bar.  

Privately operated beaches:

Akti Iliou 12 km Tel. 210 9855169 Tram:bstop Zephyros/Kalamaki / Bus 141 from Agios Dimitrios metro station / Bus 103 from Akadimias st Daily: 08:00-20:00,Admission: Weekdays€6 (free sunbeds) Weekends €8 (sunbeds €3) Chidren under 12: half price.

Thalassea, Voula 20 km Tel. 210 8959632 Bus A1 from Faliro metro station Daily: 08:00-20:00 Admission: Weekdays €5.5,Weekends €6.5 (sunbeds incl

Astir Beach, Vouliagmeni  26 km Tel. 210 8902000Tram, stop Glyfada and then bus 114, Daily: 08:00 -21:00 Admission: Weekdays €15, children €8 Weekends € 25, children €13

Yabanaki, Varkiza 27km Tel. 210 8972414 Bus 171 from Dafni metro stationDaily: 08:00-20:00, Admission: Weekdays €7 (sunbeds incl.) Weekends €8 (sunbeds: €5). Children under 6yrs free, children under 12 yrs, students €4, Free Parking

Grand Beach, Lagonissi 40km Tel. 22910 76000 KTEL (intercity) bus from Pedion to Areos to Sounio, bus stop Lagonissi €3.30, Weekdays 10:00-sunset, Weekends 09:00-sunset,Admission: Weekdays: €8, children under 12 free, Weekends: €17, children 6-12 yrs: €8.5 Parking weekdays: €6, weekends €11, Sunbeds incl. all days. 

Public beaches

There are hundreds of beaches down the Attica coast and if you don’t feel like planning ahead, you can just board the bus and find the appropriate bus stops by just following the crowd. Or, if you drive, a good way to find a good beach is to watch for  the number of cars parked at the side of the road.The following are some of the most popular free beaches.  Although there is some kind of shop near almost every one of them, remember to bring a bottle of water, towels, hats and everything else you may need.

Alimos,  11 km, Tram, stop Zephyros/ Kalamaki / Bus 141 from Agios Dimitrios metro station / Bus 103 from Akadimias st €0.80

Agios Kosmas 15 km, Tram, stop 1st Agios Kosmas / Bus 141 from Agios Dimitrios metro station / Bus 103 from Akadimias st €0.80Vouliagmeni -Limanakia  28 km, Bus E22 

Agia Marina 34 km, Bus E22 , KTEL (intercity) bus to Sounio, €2.90

Anavyssos 44 km, Bus E22 , KTEL (intercity) bus to Sounio, €4.20

Legraina 64 km, KTEL (intercity) bus to Sounio, €5.20

Sounio 69 km, KTEL (intercity) bus to Sounio, €5.20 / €5.70 depending on the route.  

OASA coast Express bus E22 departs Akadimias st (& Ippokratous MPanepistimio) every 20 minutes, Tickets cost €1.20

KTEL buses servicing the southern coast depart Pedion  Areos (Alexandras & Mavromateon st, MVictoria) starting at 06:30 and every half hour - last bus 21:30  

 

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ATHENS TOP TEN

1.The Parthenon

The Parthenon  is a temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the maiden goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron. Its construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. It was completed in 438 BC, although decoration of the building continued until 432 BC. It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece, generally considered the culmination of the development of the Doric order. Its decorative sculptures are considered some of the high points of Greek art. The Parthenon is regarded as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece, Athenian democracy, western civilization and one of the world's greatest cultural monuments. The Greek Ministry of Culture is currently carrying out a program of selective restoration and reconstruction to ensure the stability of the partially ruined structure.

2.Lycabettus

 The hill is a popular tourist destination and can be ascended by the Lycabettus Funicular, a funicular railway which climbs the hill from a lower terminus at Kolonaki (The railway station can be found at Aristippou street). Lycabettus appears in various legends. Popular stories suggest it was once the refuge of wolves, possibly the origin of its name (which means "the one (the hill) that is walked by wolves"). Mythologically, Lycabettus is credited to Athena, who created it when she dropped a mountain she had been carrying from Pallene for the construction of the Acropolis after the box holding Erichthonius was opened.
The hill also has a large open-air theater at the top, which has housed many Greek and international concerts.
The panorama from the top is priceless – all the way to Mount Parnes in the north, west to Piraeus and the Saronic Gulf, with the Acropolis siiting like a ruminative lion half way to the sea. There's also a cafe/restaurant up there.

3.Plaka-Monastiraki

The area of Plaka is one of the most attractive districts of Athens. Under the slopes of the Acropolis Plaka attracts all the visitors of Athens with its neoclassical mansions and houses with roofs from red tiles, its small winding roads with their steps, balconies with bougainvilleas ,geraniums and jasmines. Plaka is called many times in the Greek literature as the neighbourhood of the Gods and that because over Plaka dominates the sacred rock of the Acropolis "the sacred rock of the gods"  who made the modern Athenians with the same humour like their Ancient ancestors, to  personalise the Olympian gods having fun like them in Plaka with lots of Retsina wine and Dance. Sometimes being romantic on a sunny day you feel  that  the Greek goddess Athena  looks down to Plaka with a smile in her divine face as the modern Athenians enjoy the sunshine in the street cafes at Adrianou street overlooking Thission the Ancient Agora and the rock of Arios Pagos.

Monastiraki is a famous district of Athens that extends from the Monastiraki square at the end of Athinas street until Thission, Monastiraki is a large part of the district of Plaka. The old name of the area was Monastirion because of the small church right on the Monastiraki square the today's church of Koimisis Theotokou. At the square you will find the Monastiraki Athens Metro station and the main entrance to the flea market.

4.The Odeon of Herodes Atticus

 The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a stone theatre structure located on the south slope of the Acropolis of Athens. It was built in 161 AD by the Athenian magnate Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife, Aspasia Annia Regilla. It was originally a steep-sloped amphitheater with a three-story stone front wall and a wooden roof made of expensive, cedar of Lebanon timber. It was used as a venue for music concerts with a capacity of 5,000.

5.The Hellenic Parliament

The Hellenic Parliament (Greek: Βουλή των Ελλήνων; Parliament of the Hellenes transliterated Vouli ton Ellinon), is the Parliament of Greece, located in the Parliament House (Old Royal Palace), overlooking Syntagma Square in Athens, Greece. The Parliament is the supreme democratic institution that represents the citizens through an elected body of Members of Parliament (MPs).
It is a unicameral legislature of 300 members, elected for a four-year term. During 1844-1863 and 1927-1935 the parliament was bicameral with an upper house, the Senate, and a lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, which retained the name Vouli. Several important Greek statesmen have served as Speakers of the Hellenic Parliament

6.The Temple of Olympian Zeus

The Temple of Olympian Zeus (Greek: Ναὸς τοῦ Ὀλυμπίου Διός, Naos tou Olympiou Dios), also known as the Olympieion or Columns of the Olympian Zeus, is a colossal ruined temple in the centre of the Greek capital Athens that was dedicated to Zeus, king of the Olympian gods. Construction began in the 6th century BC during the rule of the Athenian tyrants, who envisaged building the greatest temple in the ancient world, but it was not completed until the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD some 638 years after the project had begun. During the Roman periods it was renowned as the largest temple in Greece and housed one of the largest cult statues in the ancient world.



7.The Panathenaic Stadium

The Panathenaic Stadium is one of the largest stadiums of the ancient times. It is situated at the foot of two small hills of Athens: the Ardittos Hill and the Agras Hill.

In ancient Greece the panathenaic games were held in the Panathenaic Stadium. Around the second century A.D. marble seats from the Odeon of Herod Atticus were added to it.

At the time of Turkish domination, the Panathenaic Stadium was nearly devastated. It was rebuilt, though, at the expense of G. Averof and the first Olympic Games of 1896 were held in it.

8.The Acropolis Museum
 

The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological site-specific museum, housing more than 3.000 famous artefacts from the Athenian Acropolis, the most significant sanctuary of the ancient city. Located in the historical area of Makriyianni, southeast of the Rock of the Acropolis, the Museum narrates the story of life on the Rock from prehistoric times until the end of Antiquity. From its opening in June 2009 until March 2012 more than 4 million local and foreign visitors have passed through the Museum’s door.


9.The National Archaeological Museum

 

 

The National Archaeological Museum is the largest museum in Greece and one of the world's great museums. Although its original purpose was to secure all the finds from the nineteenth century excavations in and around Athens, it gradually became the central National Archaeological Museum and was enriched with finds from all over Greece. Its abundant collections, with more than 20,000 exhibits, provide a panorama of Greek civilization from the beginnings of Prehistory to Late Antiquity.


10.The Temple of Poseidon
 

Follow the road to Cape Sounion, circling the idyllic Saronic Gulf, and you come to one of the most iconic sights in Greece: the columns of the Temple of Poseidon, framing the blue sea backdrop since 44 BC. One of the temple’s remaining Doric columns is inscribed by none other than Lord Byron, who visited the temple in the early 19th century.

The ancient Greeks certainly knew how to choose a temple location, as Cape Sounion is a remarkable site. The Temple of Poseidon is perched on a rocky hilltop overlooking the sea, a gleaming white beacon for ancient (as well as modern) travelers along this dangerous stretch of coast.The view across the Aegean is magnificent, extending all the way to Kea and the Peloponnese on a clear day.

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Greece is a country of a great interests and diverse cultures, influenced by its location, at the junction between the East and the West and by the many occupations endured by the Greek people throughout history.

In general, the Greeks are particularly proud of their culture and speak of their country with an intense passion, feeling that their Greek culture is a definition of their national and ethnic belonging. Traditions, religion, music, language, food and wines are the major composites of the Greece culture and constitute the base for those who wish to visit the country.

Greece Traditions & Customs
Traditions in Greece and Greek Islands are either of a religious character or coming from paganism. Furthermore, most of the traditions and festivals still followed and celebrated today are religious. That is why so many panygiria are organized in the country, which are actually religious celebrations of saints followed by traditional music and dance in the square of the village.

Many Greeks are very superstitious people and believe a lot in religion as well as in supernatural or paranormal phenomenon. This impresses many visitors who travel in Greece. For example, some people believe it is bad luck to see a black car, it is 7 years bad luck to break a glass or mirror, while others knock their fingers against wood if they have a bad thought.

Greece Religion
The 97% of the Greeks are Christians Orthodox. The rest of the population are Muslims, Roman Catholics and Jewish. Greece and Russia are the only countries to have such a big proportion of Christians Orthodox.

Greece Music
Greek music is of unbelievable diversity due to the creative Greek assimilation of different influences of the Eastern and Western culture of Asia and Europe. Music in Greece has a long history dating from the ancient times.

Greece Food & Wine
Greek cuisine is famous for its good quality products and the amazing taste of its food and wines. Some dishes are the same everywhere in Greece, whereas some others are local culinary specialties. The same dishes can be cooked differently or with different ingredients depending on the region.

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History

Today’s visitors to Greece have the opportunity to trace the “fingerprints” of Greek history from the Paleolithic Era to the Roman Period in the hundreds of archaeological sites, as well as in the archaeological museums and collections that are scattered throughout the country.
The first traces of human habitation in Greece appeared during the Paleolithic Age (approx. 120000 - 10000 B.C.).
During the Neolithic Age that followed (approx. 7000 - 3000 B.C.), a plethora of Neolithic buildings spread throughout the country. Buildings and cemeteries have been discovered in Thessaly (Sesklo, Dimini), Macedonia, the Peloponnese, etc.
The beginning of the Bronze Age (approx. 3000-1100 B.C.) is marked by the appearance of the first urban centers in the Aegean region (Poliochni on Limnos). Flourishing settlements were found on Crete, Mainland Greece, the Cyclades and the Northeastern Aegean, regions where characteristic cultural patterns developed.

At the beginning of the 2nd Millennium B.C., organized palatial societies appeared on Minoan Crete, resulting in the development of the first systematic scripts. The Minoans, with Knossos Palace as their epicenter, developed a communications network with races from the Eastern Mediterranean region, adopted certain elements and in turn decisively influenced cultures on the Greek mainland and the islands of the Aegean.
On Mainland Greece, the Mycenean Greeks –taking advantage of the destruction caused on Crete by the volcanic eruption on Santorini (around 1500 B.C.)- became the dominant force in the Aegean during the last centuries of the 2nd Millennium B.C.. The Mycenean acropolises (citadels) in Mycenae, Tiryns, Pylos, Thiva, Glas, Athens and Iolcus, then comprised the centers of the bureaucratically organized kingdoms.
The extensive destruction of the Mycenean centers around 1200 B.C. led to the decline of the Mycenean civilization and caused the population to migrate to the coastal regions of Asia Minor and Cyprus (1st Greek colonization).
After approximately two centuries of economic and cultural inactivity, which also became known as the Dark Years (1150 - 900 B.C.), the Geometric Period then followed (9th - 8th Century B.C.). This was the beginning of the Greek Renaissance Years. This period was marked by the formation of the Greek City-States, the creation of the Greek alphabet and the composition of the Homeric epics (end of the 8th Century B.C.).

The Archaic Years that subsequently followed (7th - 6th Century B.C.) were a period of major social and political changes. The Greek City-States established colonies as far as Spain to the west, the Black Sea to the north and N. Africa to the south (2nd Greek colonization) and laid the foundations for the acme during the Classical Period.
The Classical Years (5th - 4th Century B.C.) were characterized by the cultural and political dominance of Athens, so much so that the second half of the 5th Century B.C. was subsequently called the “Golden Age” of Pericles. With the end of the Peloponnesian War in 404 B.C., Athens lost its leading role.
New forces emerged during the 4th Century B.C. The Macedonians, with Philip II and his son Alexander the Great, began to play a leading role in Greece. Alexander’s campaign to the East and the conquest of all the regions as far as the Indus River radically changed the situation in the world, as it was at that time.

After the death of Alexander, the vast empire he had created was then divided among his generals, leading to the creation of the kingdoms that would prevail during the Hellenistic Period (3rd - 1st Century B.C.). In this period the Greek City-States remained more or less autonomous, but lost much of their old power and prestige. The appearance of the Romans on the scene and the final conquest of Greece in 146 B.C. forced the country to join the vast Roman Empire.
During the Roman occupation period (1st Century B.C. - 3rd Century A.D.), most of the Roman emperors, who admired Greek culture, acted as benefactors to the Greek cities, and especially Athens.
Christianity, the new religion that would depose Dodekatheon worshipping, then spread all over Greece through the travels of Apostle Paul during the 1st Century A.D.
The decision by Constantine the Great to move the capital of the empire from Rome to Constantinople (324 A.D.), shifted the focus of attention to the eastern part of the empire. This shift marked the beginning of the Byzantine Years, during which Greece became part of the Byzantine Empire.
After 1204, when Constantinople was taken by Western crusaders, parts of Greece was apportioned out to western leaders, while the Venetians occupied strategic positions in the Aegean (islands or coastal cities), in order to control the trade routes. The reoccupation of Constantinople by the Byzantines in 1262 marked the last stages of the empire’s existence.
The Ottomans gradually began to seize parts of the empire from the 14th Century A.D., and completed the breakup of the empire with the capture of Constantinople in 1453. Crete was the final area of Greece that was occupied by the Ottomans in 1669.
Around four centuries of Ottoman domination then followed, up to the beginning of the Greek War of Independence in 1821. Numerous monuments from the Byzantine Years and the Ottoman Occupation Period have been preserved, such as Byzantine and Post-Byzantine churches and monasteries, Ottoman buildings, charming Byzantine and Frankish castles, various other monuments as well as traditional settlements, quite a few of which retain their Ottoman and partly Byzantine structure.
The result of the Greek War of Independence was the creation of an independent Greek Kingdom in 1830, but with limited sovereign land.
During the 19th C. and the beginning of the 20th C., new areas with compact Greek populations were gradually inducted into the Greek State. Greece’s sovereign land would reach its maximum after the end of Word War I in 1920, with the substantial contribution of then Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos. The Greek State took its current form after the end of World War II with the incorporation of the Dodecanese Islands.
In 1974, after the seven-year dictatorship period a referendum was held and the government changed from a Constitutional Monarchy to a Presidential Parliamentary Democracy, and in 1981 Greece became a member of the European Community/Union.

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