Make a start in the morning with a visit of Greece’s most glorious ancient site, the Acropolis of Athens. Located in the middle of modern Athens, the ‘sacred rock’ proudly displays a set of marble monuments that express their outstanding universal value. With a history spanning 25 centuries, the Acropolis has been traditionally associated with the Golden Age of Athenian democracy, philosophy and architecture. Enjoy a well-paced guided tour to admire the most significant classical masterpieces of Greece. Walk uphill through the Propylaea grand marble entrance, as you contemplate in the hills of Philoppapus, Pnyx and Mars. Discover the astonishing construction of the Parthenon, the most splendid temple ever built by the Greeks, dedicated to goddess Athena. Admire the Erechtheion with its renowned Caryatids and the view of the temple of Athena Nike. Gaze at the infinite modern city from the hilltop, stretching between low mountains and the Aegean Sea. Explore all sides for panoramic views of the old town and its picturesque neoclassical buildings, as well as the ancient theater of Dionysus, the Roman temple of Zeus and the world-famous Herodeion theater.

Continue on to the spectacular Acropolis museum, the most modern museum of Athens. Made of concrete, steel and glass, it houses a wide collection of original sculptures from the Acropolis and its slopes. The ground glass-made floor reveals to visitors the ruins of ancient buildings underneath, while it displays a pottery collection of high artistic value. The marble masterpieces that have been transferred here from the Acropolis for protection and preservation are waiting to be discovered in the first floor and the top Parthenon Gallery floor with its impressive view of the Acropolis hill, the Lycabettus hill and the rest of the city.

In the picturesque district of Monastiraki travelers encounter the second most significant historical site of Athens, the Agora. Once a vivid and bustling marketplace, the Agora was for many centuries the heart of Athens, filled with stores, administrative buildings, public monuments and temples. Associated with the daily life of Athenians and considered the cradle of democracy, this noteworthy site used to be everybody’s favorite part of the city, where eminent politicians, administrators and philosophers mingled with the citizens. Stroll around the ruins of public monuments, the ancient parliament and store stoas . Admire the temple of Hephaestus, the best preserved classical temple of Greece, built on a low hill that offers a panoramic view of the entire Agora.

Continue on with a beautiful walk around the picturesque streets of Plaka. This is an old, 19th century district of Athens, where significant personalities dwelled in stunning houses of neoclassical architectural style. In this part of Athens you come across an intriguing historical mosaic of old sites and monuments, featuring the Greek Agora, the Roman Forum and the tower of the winds, the ruins of Hadrian’s Library, old Orthodox churches and historical mosques.

Walk through the Flea Market and onto the central Adrianou Street, where you feel the commercial vibe of the old town.

The National Archaeological Museum is the largest and most significant archaeological museum in Greece. It was founded at the end of the 19th century to house and protect Greek antiquities, designed by the German architect Ludwig Lange and remodeled by Ernst Ziller. Its collections represent the whole range of Greek history and art, from Prehistory to Late Antiquity and from the Greek to the Roman times. Its exceptional pottery and sculpture, along with many other artifacts such as golden masks, bronze swords, prehistoric wall-paintings, pottery and jewelry have been highly regarded for their cultural value and contribute to the museum’s reputation as one of the leading ones around the world.

Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The Roman temple of Zeus with its imposing pillars

Venue of the first modern Olympic Games of 1896