Athens is famous around the world for its history and its marvelous sights..
Apart from the museums and historic sights, there are certain hidden gems that will cost you nothing!
We decided to write down everything for you, to make your trip to Athens a little bit easier and much more affordable!
Lycabettus Hill
Lycabettus Hill is one of the most famous sights of Athens, since it's the highest point of the center. However, a ticket isn't required in order to marvel at the captivating view it offers! You have to purchase a ticket only if you want to use the cable car to reach the top. We recommend you to walk the path to the top, because it will be a nice experience and a good exercise!
Apart from the beautiful view of Athens, at the top of Lycabettus Hill you can find the medieval church of Saint Georgios. For your information, there is also a cafe-restaurant, where you can enjoy a cup of coffee or a nice meal, while marvelling at the astonishing view.
Philopappos Hill - Pnyx Hill- Hill of the Nymphs
Philopappos Hill is the second highest point of Athen's center, after Lycabettus. It is full not only with tourists but locals as well, that grab a beer and climb up to marvel at the view of Athens. More specifically, from the top of Philopappos Hill you can view not only Acropolis but also the other side of Athens as well as Piraeus.
Pnyx is one of the first and most significant locations for Democracy, since it is the place where Ancient Greeks lectured and discussed important political issues of Athens. It is worth wandering around there and see the place that gave birth to Democracy!
As for Hill of the Nymphs, it is also called Hill of National Observatory and as you can imagine, it is the hill where you can find the National Observatory of Athens.
Aristotle's Lyceum
It is a historic site of immense significance! It is located in the center of Athens and it is easily reachable. In Aristotle's Lyceum, you won't find a museum or a marvelous ancient building, but the area on its own is of great archaeological importance, since it is the place where the famous philosopher Aristotle lectured.
The fact that it is one of the first schools in Greece and thinking that one of the most globally recognizable philosophers in the whole world taught his students there, makes someone want to visit the area and explore it for hours.
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center is located in the area of Faliro. It is one of the most important constructions of Athens, since it has new facilities for the National Library and National Opera. Moreover, many outdoor events are organized during the summer months and it will be a nice experience to participate in one of them.
Anafiotika is a unique district of Athens, since no other area looks like it! To be more specific, Anafiotika was built by workers from Anafi island and as a result it resembles a greek island! Indeed, when you visit Anafiotika, you will feel like walking the narrows of a greek island and you will be thrilled by the beautiful flowers, graphic alleys and of course... the white houses with colorful windows! Do not forget that you can marvel at the captivating view of Athens at the top of Anafiotika.
The fact that it is one of the first schools in Greece and thinking that one of the most globally recognizable philosophers in the whole world taught his students there, makes someone want to visit the area and explore it for hours.
Roman Baths
Near the National Garden of Greece (see below), you can find the ruins of Roman Baths. It is interesting to mention that the Roman Baths were uncovered during the construction a metro station.
They are basically ruins of the baths Ancient Romans used and it is important to mention that there are informational inscriptions around the area, in order to explain the basics about this archaeological site. It is worth taking a look, since there is no entrance fee.
Municipal Gallery of Athens
The Municipal Gallery of Athens is one of the most important galleries in Greece. Inside, you will find many magnificent paintings and whoever visits it, he/she will learn almost everything about Greek Painting. It is truly amazing that an exhibition like this, with 160 marvelous greek artworks, has a free entrance for the public! Also, it has many interesting periodical exhibitons as well as animation videos. Lastly, we want to inform you that it isn't located in a "safe" area and you better visit it in morning hours.
Museum of Popular Greek Instruments
In a beautiful old manor, next to the Roman Forum, you will find the Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments. You will amazed by the number of musical instruments exhibited there and more specifically the museum has 1,200 musical instruments used in Greek tradition. It is divided in 4 levels, based on the type of instruments. To be more specific, the topics of the four levels are the following: membranophones, aerophones, chordophones and idiophones. Of course, during your visit you will hear popular greek music and the place is totally captivating and modern.
We are sure that a visit there will thrill you, especially if you love music.
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC)
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center is located in the area of Faliro. It is one of the most important constructions of Athens, since it has new facilities for the National Library and National Opera. Moreover, many outdoor events are organized during the summer months and it will be a nice experience to participate in one of them.
Apart from watching a performance, it's worth enjoying a relaxing walk in its enormous park (68 hectares) as well as viewing the beautiful Athenian riviera!
Marina Flisvou
Marina Flisvou is a big marina in Paleo Faliro. It is a beloved place for locals, since they can have a wonderful walk by the sea as well as enjoy a delicious meal or a tasty coffee, while looking at the luxury yachts! Moreover, in Marina Flisvou you can find the historic armored cruiser Averof, which is the last one of its kind. Now it is a floating museum.
National Garden
In the center of Athens, you can find the wonderful National Garden, where you can enjoy a refreshing walk.
The National Garden is the only garden in Greece built according to the 19th century European design. It is a public park covering 15,5 hectares and the fact that you can wander around its splendid area without paying anything, is truly amazing! Moreover, inside you can marvel at a great variety of plants, animals as well as the beautiful graphic lake close to the center of the park.
Byzantine Churches
Athens and especially its center is full of Byzantine Churches, some of which exist for more than a thousand years! It is important to mention that a lot of byzantine churches are built on top of older christian temples or temples dedicated to other dieties. The most famous of them all is Kapnikarea, that's located in the popular Ermou street.
Plaka - Anafiotika
Plaka is maybe the oldest district of Europe. It is called by many locals "the neighborhood of the gods" and it's famous for its graphic small houses, the plethora of tourist shops, the beautiful flowers and the marvelous view of Acropolis. It's totally worth wandering around this area, since its immense beauty will stay with you forever!
Anafiotika is a unique district of Athens, since no other area looks like it! To be more specific, Anafiotika was built by workers from Anafi island and as a result it resembles a greek island! Indeed, when you visit Anafiotika, you will feel like walking the narrows of a greek island and you will be thrilled by the beautiful flowers, graphic alleys and of course... the white houses with colorful windows! Do not forget that you can marvel at the captivating view of Athens at the top of Anafiotika.
Areopagus
Areopagus is located exactly across the entrance of Acropolis. Its name means the rock of Ares, since god of war Ares was tried there by the gods for killing the son of Poseidon, god of the sea. We are sure that you will find interesting the fact that "pagos" means both rock and ice. That's probably where "on the rocks" comes from! 😉
Because of Ares trial, Areopagus was used by Ancient Greeks as a court. Today, it is an attractant both for tourists and locals, since it offers a beautiful view of the city. It's worth grabbing a coffee or a beer, sit down and enjoy the beautiful view of Athens from one side and the wonderful view of Acropolis from the other side!
Ancient Findings in metro stations
As we all know, Athens is an outdoor museum on its own, since it is one of the oldest cities in the whole world!
It is funny to think that the biggest archaeological excavation in the history of Athens took place during the construction of some metro stations! That's why everyone can marvel at the wonderful ancient findings in various metro stations, especially in those of Monastiraki, Acropolis and Syntagma.
Hymettus
Hymettus is a small green heaven in the center of the city. Most locals go there for hiking on weekends and everyone agrees that it's the best place for walking, since it's just a few minutes outside the center of Athens. and it offers a beautiful view. Moreover, in Hymettus you can find a small cantine, where you can take a break and buy something to eat, but be advised that it will be full, espeicially on Sundays. Trust us, climbing this beautiful mountain and getting close to nature is really worth it!
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located in front of the Greek Parliament, at Syntagma Square. It is not an actual tomb, but it is a monument dedicated to those who died during the wars Greece participated and weren't recognized.
Furthermore, we have to mention that there is a lantern inside the monument, which exists there since 1932 and it's still lit.
Lastly, as some of you may know, the Tomb of Unknown Soldier is guarded by Evzones/Tsoliades (the Presidential Guards) who change every hour. Trust us, the changing of guards is a sight you have to see and it will cost you nothing!
Olympic Athletic Center of Athens "Spiros Louis" (OAKA)
It is the athletic center built for the Olympic Games of 2004 and it got its name after Spiros Louis, the most famous marathon runner of Greece. The Olympic Athletic Center of Athens owes its aesthetic to the famous Spanish architecturer Calatrava. OAKA houses many marvelous sights and the most important of them is the Olympic Stadium, namely the place where the beginning and ending ceremony of the Olympic Games as well as many significant sport games took place.
It's totally worth visiting, since it's a beautiful sight as well as a beloved place for locals, who exercise there every day!
It's totally worth visiting, since it's a beautiful sight as well as a beloved place for locals, who exercise there every day!
Graffiti
On the contrary to other places, Athens is full of street art! More specifically, you will not believe how many graffiti you will see, if you go for a walk in the center of Athens! Even when we take a walk, we are amazed by the new graffiti that pop up around the city. For your information, the most famous graffiti places are Psirri and Keramikos.
We hope that you found our information helpful! 😀
If you want more information, you can read our 3-day itinerary in Athens here
or
our 1-day itinerary in Athens here
Watch also our 1-minute video with the best sights of Athens' center here
Keep traveling! 😉
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