Best Things to Do in Athens

Kids and adults of course will love sightseeing Athens with the bright red Athens Happy Train. This sightseeing tour in the historical center of Athens and the most famous ancient sights and monuments, on the hop-on Athens Happy Train, is an exciting and interesting experience. The Athens Happy Train is a toy-like street train that starts its tour from Syntagma Square and Monastiraki Square and follows a route through the historical center of the city, the old neighborhoods and the hill of Acropolis. The tour has a 60-minute duration and includes the Acropolis, Plaka, Temple of Zeus, Thission, Monastiraki Square, Ancient and Roman Market, Zappeion, Panathinaiko Stadium, Theater of Herodes Atticus, Hadrian's Arch and the New Acropolis Museum. From the open-style train carriages, you can hop-on hop-off as you please and see Athens in your own time and pace, in safety and comfort. Hop-off the Athens Happy Train in Monastiraki Square to explore the narrow streets of Plaka, the oldest neighborhood of Athens, or hop-off at the New Acropolis Museum to visit the hill of Acropolis, the Parthenon or the Museum. The Athens Happy Train stops at these points for about fifteen minutes. If you want to spend your time there, you can use the same ticket and hop-on any of the next trains for the next two hours. The Athens Sightseeing Tour with Athens Happy Train, operates all year round. Tours start at 9.00 a.m. until 12.00 p.m. every thirty minutes, every day of the week. All the tours are guided with a hostess or steward on board and commentary in English and Greek.

Discover the city of Athens with the easy, fun and safe way of a segway tour. From the Acropolis Rock to the first Olympic Stadium, from the flea market of Monastiraki to Pnyka-the birthplace of Democracy and from the Ancient Agora to the National Gardens, get to know the ancient monuments, as well as the modern side one of the most fascinating cities in the Mediterranean. Experienced tour guides will take you to the most important sites, providing information about the mythical and historical past of the city of Athens, together with the insider's view on life and entertainment in the city.

The Grand Beach at top notch Grand Resort Lagonissi, located in the southern suburbs of Athens on the road to Sounio, is ideal for a one-day holiday in attractive surroundings. The unique beachfront setting and the watersports center are perfect for experiencing a day by the sea with fun also for the kids. Visitors can unwind by the Grand Pier jetty-bar while admiring the waterfront view and enjoying the sea breeze, with soft music, fresh juices and drinks, or dip in the cool swimming pool on the sea. Poseidon Tavern is the perfect spot for casual dining after swimming or sunbathing, with a delicious menu. Grand Beach is open from May until end September and the facilities include a cinema, beach volley court, beach bar, changing rooms and showers, lifeguard and wi fi.

Hammam Baths, situated in the neighborhood of Thission, close to the famous Bath House of the Winds in Plaka, is the authentic hammam in Athens. This simple, contemporary space, is designed like the traditional oriental steam baths. The impressive dome, the round marble bench in the center and the individual basins around, create the atmosphere of an authentic hammam. Here you can relax and let the curative qualities of the steam release all tension in your body. You can enjoy a rejuvenating bath, a deep peeling with the traditional toweling and a wonderfully soothing massage, followed by a cup of warm tea. The space accommodates six persons, and has a separate space with two marble couches for peeling, massage and washing. Tuesdays are reserved only for ladies. Fresh juices and traditional Greek tastes can be served on order. Hammam Baths are open Monday to Friday 12.30-22.00 and on weekends 10.00-22.00 and it is necessary to book an appointment.

A visit to the Monastiraki flea market in Athens is a must. Situated over a large area from Monastiraki square and metro station down to the end of Ermou street, the flea market is open every day, but on Sundays it is even more interesting to visit, as even more objects are on sale, especially on busy Abyssinias square. The flea market actually consists of shops which are open every day and on Sundays there is the extra bonus of open air improvised stalls. Things to buy range from clothes to old books, stamps, coins, furniture, bric a brac, postcards, memorabilia, decorative objects and more. The prices can vary and bargaining is always necessary. Even just browsing the shops and vendors is great fun.

The Byzantine and Christian Museum was founded in 1914 and is one of the most important national museums in Greece. The objects which are collected on the premises and are organized in collections are more than 30.000 and date from the 3rd up to the 20th century. The permanent exhibition offers visitors the unique occasion to acquire knowledge and appreciate Byzantine and more recent art through a new museological approach. The first part of the permanent exhibition pertains to the transition from the ancient world to Byzantium, and the second part, with the title "From Byzantium to recent times" presents various sides of the historical period from Byzantium up to recent times (15th-20th century) including many objects which are exhibited for the first time. At the gift shop visitors can buy certified copies of objects from Greek national museums, such as icons, mosaics, murals, engravings, sculptures, jewelry and also original creations. Books, posters, stationary and handmade objects are also available with motifs from the permanent collections of the Museum. The cafe-bistro Ilissia in the cool garden is ideal to enjoy a coffee, dessert or a light snack in an attractive and peaceful environment.

The Benaki Museum, actually consists of three separate museums, each specializing in certain subjects and each with its own unique personality. Visit the oldest and main building on Koubari 1, right opposite the National Park, for the prehistoric, ancient Greek and Roman Art, historic heirlooms, Coptic, Chinese and pre-columbian art. The new building at 138 Pireos str houses the neohellenic architectural archives and many modern art exhibitions are held here. The Islamic art collections can be seen at the building in the Kerameikos district, Agion Asomaton 22, and include objects collected by Antonis Benakis himself in Egypt during the first decades of the 20th century.

The Museum of Cycladic Art, is a great little gem museum in the heart of Athens, housing one of the most important collections of Cycladic Art in the world, as well as an impressive collection of Ancient Greek and Cypriot Art. Founded in 1986, it houses the collections of Nicholas and Dolly Goulandris with more than 3.000 artefacts, from the 4th millennium BC to the 6th century AD. Parallel to its collections, the MCA also develops a dynamic program of special shows, opening up a dialogue between archaeology and contemporary art. Through its exhibitions, educational and public programs the MCA engages a wide audience providing a platform for creativity, learning, participation and inspiration.Exhibitions of modern art also take place at the Cycladic museum. The museum shop offers a wide selection of exclusive gifts and the cafe is ideal for a light snack or coffee.

The National Archeological Museum, Patision 44, the largest museum in Greece with more than 11.000 exhibits, offers a panoramic experience of Greek civilization from prehistory to late antiquity. Numerous galleries house five permanent collections, amongst which the sculpture collection with unique masterpieces. At the Museum visitors can see the collection of Prehistoric Antiquities, the Sculptures Collection, which shows the development of ancient Greek sculpture from the seventh to the fifth centuries BC, the Vase and Minor Objects Collection,the Bronze Collection, with many fundamental statues, figurines and minor objects, and the only Egyptian and Near Eastern Antiquities Collection in Greece, with works dating from the pre-dynastic period (5000 BC) to the Roman conquest.

The Acropolis Museum , is an absolute must see. Inside the modern exterior visitors can discover the ancient aesthetic wisdom of the Acropolis and feel the atmosphere of ancient Athens. The Gallery of the Slopes of the Acropolis, the Archaic Gallery and the Parthenon Gallery display sculptures, inscriptions, finds from sanctuaries, as well as objects used in everyday life. Visitors can also watch conservators working, speak to an archeologist host and acquire small souvenirs from the museum shop. The restaurant on the second floor offers a breath taking view of the Acropolis.