Sunrise over Athens, Greece.

Personal recommendations for a short break in Athens, Greece

Democracy, drama, philosophy… Athens has given us an awful lot. And the traces of the ancient greats crop up surprisingly regularly in an otherwise gritty-but-buzzy modern city. Walking down a road past bars, street art and souvlaki joints, only to suddenly bump into the remnants…
The Eridanos River running through Monastiraki Station on the Athens Metro.

The mini-museums of the Athens Metro

The Athens Metro stations double as mini-museums, displaying ancient Greek history. See artifacts at Akropoli and the Eridanos River at Monastiraki. Archaeological finds inside Akropoli Station As clashes between ancient and modern go, it’s hard to top the Akropoli Metro Station in Athens, Greece. In…
The Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece.

Athens’ Acropolis Museum: A review of Greece’s modern treasure

Review of the Acropolis Museum in Athens. The building displays original sculptures, and highlights the political debate over the missing Parthenon marbles. The controversial modern building If ever something was on a hiding to nothing, it’s the Acropolis Museum in Athens. It cost €130 million…
The Parthenon in Athens, Greece.

How to spend 24 hours in Athens before your cruise

Highlights of a day in Athens before a cruise from Piraeus include the Parthenon, the Panathenaic Stadium, the Agora and the Acropolis Museum. What is Athens like? The place Greece’s capital occupies in the minds of classical scholars and cherishers of democracy doesn’t quite match…
The Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens, Greece.

Athens accommodation recommendations (updated for 2026)

From the classic Grande Bretagne to the purpose-built beds of the Nubian Hostel, Athens has interesting accommodation options for all budgets. Best Athens accommodation for backpackers: Nubian Hostel Hostel beds are often hideous, noisy, rattling metal things that groan in the night as someone attempts…
The Parthenon in Athens, Greece.

Can you visit the Parthenon at night?

A practical guide to visiting at the Parthenon, including hours, ticketing, access, and alternatives for after-dark experiences. History and overview The Parthenon is one of the most recognisable ancient buildings on earth. Completed in 438 BC, it was built as a temple dedicated to the…
The Theatre of Dionysus in Athens. Greece.

Theatre of Dionysus: what first-time visitors need to know

How to plan a visit to the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens. This visitor guide, updated in January 2026, covers access, times, ticketing, and what to expect in the birthplace of drama. Theatre of Dionysus: History and overview The Theatre of Dionysus (or Dionysos Eleuthereus)…
The Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece.

Panathenaic Stadium, Athens: what first-time visitors need to know

Practical advice for visiting the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens: how to get there, opening times, ticket prices, accessibility and nearby sights. This guide was updated in January 2026. History and overview The Panathenaic Stadium, sometimes called Kallimarmaro, occupies a central spot in Athens and is…