One of the Top 10 Things to do in Athens, undoubtedly, is visiting the renowned Acropolis Temple, with the magnificent Parthenon – the symbol of the city. The temple was built in Ancient Greece in honor of Goddess Athena, protector of the city. Parthenon is made completely out of marble and it took 15 years to complete its construction. Right now all visitors can see the temple and enjoy the breathtaking panoramic view of the city. Acropolis is open every day, but may be closed on some religious holidays; sometimes the Ministry of Culture allows free entrance on Sundays.

This ultra-modern museum was opened in 2009, in place of the old archaeological museum that was originally built in the 19th century. The design of the museum is the result of collaboration between a Greek and a Swiss architect. The location is absolutely unique, as the new Acropolis Museum is built on top of an archaeological site. There are more than 4,000 exhibits portraying the history of Ancient Greece, from which some are antique relics that returned to their home country after they were illegally exported to Italy.

Plaka is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Athens. Walking around narrow streets, full of picturesque cafes, taverns, locals and old houses travels you back in time. Nearby is another interesting neighborhood- Agora, the central marketplace, where national court judged the citizens under the sky. It is believed that Socrates was executed upon the conviction of the Agora. This place is filled with little shops selling hand-made souvenirs, olive oil and herbs. Continuing onwards, visitors can reach another famous area – Monastiraki, which is very busy on the weekend. It is very lively, especially around the flea market on Ifestou street.

This ancient stadium is where the first Olympic Games of 1896 took place. Built in 329 B.C. it is made completely out of marble. From then, this stadium was the place of athletic victories, championship and competition. The acoustics here are fantastic, and this is a main attraction in the center of the city. Not far away visitors can see the Keramikos – the first Athenian cemetery built in the 19th century. This place hosts the tombs of the most prestigious elite families, each one being its own masterpiece.

The main parliament of Athens is located at the Constitution Square – Syntagma. This is the location of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, near which you see Greek guards - ‘evzony’, who wear colorful traditional clothing, including sarouchi shoes with large pom-poms on the front. Syntagma is filled with pigeons, which you can feed by buying some bread from the vendors. It is interesting to see the subway station underneath, which is a mini-archaeological museum with unique exhibits, hidden behind the glass. Right behind the Parliament building, there is a beautiful luxurious Garden of Zappeion, which is a pleasure to walk through all year round.

Making a trip down south is among the Top 10 Things to do in Athens! Greece is known all over the world for its sand beaches and turquoise sea. The swimming season usually starts from May and lasts till early October. Visiting Sounio and the Poseidon temple is a definite must! Be ware that in the summer months it gets too hot, so plan accordingly. Usually visitors come to Sounio to admire the sunset, in a unique location, infused by beautiful ruins of the Temple of Poseidon.

Lykavitos is the highest hill of Athens, towering over the city. From here you can enjoy the beautiful panoramic view of Athens, as well as the Acropolis, on a sunny clear day you can even see Aegina from here. Very often there are shows that take place in the open-air theater located at its top.

Island hopping is a favorite thing for locals and visitors alike. There are various day tours to near-by islands such as Aegina, Hytra, and Poros by speed boats. The islands are beautiful all year-round, but especially in the summer, after the swimming season has started.

Greece is known as the birthplace of the healthy Mediterranean diet – it is abundant with vegetables, herbs, pulses and seafood. Trying traditional Greek food is one of the Top 10 Things to do in Athens! The best restaurants – called ‘taverna’ are located either near the seaside, where you typically find seafood and fresh fish restaurants, or on the way to the airport- there are special restaurants that serve lamb meat – you see the lambs being roasted on huge rotisseries behind the glass windows. These can be recognized by Greeks wearing traditional clothing ushering visitors in. Do not expect white tablecloths and comfortable chairs in the best tavernas in town, the best and most popular ones look very simple, but serve the most delicious food!

Bouzoukia is something like entertainment centers, mostly for an adult audience. Here famous Greek singers perform live on stage, and the opening starts after midnight. Famous singers, such as Anna Vissi, Antonis Remos and Ploutarxos sometimes gather audiences of over 1,000 people! Bouzoukia are especially fun because for about 10Euros you get buy a plate of the carnation heads and throw them at each other, or at the singer. This is considered a sign of appreciation of their performance and if the singer catches the flower head, they might even throw it back at you. It is advised to book a table in advance, especially for a show of the top singers.