Destination : About Athens

Athenaeum InterContinental Athens

Contemporary grandeur in the ancient capital - no wonder the Athenaeum InterContinental has been named Greece’s leading hotel time and again.  The hotel boasts Athens’ largest guestrooms, award winning fine dining venues and a central location appeal to business and leisure travellers alike.  Within a few kilometers are the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Temple of Apollo and the Pláka.  Metro and tram stations are also nearby.

ATHENAEUM INTERCONTINENTAL ATHENS   89-93 Syngrou Avenue 11745  Athens, Greece Tel:   +30 210 920 6000 Fax:   +30 210 920 6500 www.athens.intercontinental.com

Athens Overview

Athens is the capital city of Greece. It is situated at the south eastern tip of Greece’s mainland and is the country's heart, its economic and industrial centre, as well as its political and cultural centre.  According to legend, the Gods of Olympus, who were worshipped by the ancient Greeks, decreed that the city should be named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom. Athens is the birthplace of democracy, Olympic spirit and modern thought. The Parthenon, an architectural masterpiece, is the crowning symbol of freedom in the civilized world.

Athens today is a city rich in contrasts and surprises. It is a beautiful, constantly evolving city with an exciting, unique mix of the Ancient, Byzantine, Neoclassical and Modern. In Athens the past, present and future co-exist in breathtaking harmony. Athens’ historical centre, with its many museums and galleries, offers a trip through the centuries, while the city’s inexhaustible variety of restaurants satisfies all palates. At night Athens offers a unique combination of ancient drama and modern dance, concert halls and bouzouki dance floors, cozy tavernas and nightclubs. Visitors are encouraged to discover the different aspects of the city: from the ancient theatres to the modern exhibition halls; from the sandy beaches of the seaside resorts to the hills and the mountains surrounding the city; from relaxing on a sailboat to shopping in the busy city centre.

Sightseeing

The Athens Acropolis
Visible from almost every corner of the city, the Acropolis stands defiant and dignified, dominating the Athenian skyline. The quintessence of the classic era and one of the most important monuments of the World Heritage List, the Parthenon dominates the Athens Acropolis, attracting millions of visitors every year.  A must-see is the recently opened Acroplis Museum, open from 8:00am to 8:00pm every day except Monday and costing only €1 to get in!

The antique Athens integrated into the contemporary city
Walk along Monastiraki, Plaka, Theseion and Kerameikos districts and meet Ancient Athens in situ. As a result of the urban development project "Unification of Archaeological sites", the majority of archaeological sites have been perfectly integrated into the contemporary city. Walk in Athens or sit for a coffee and at the same time enjoy major sites of antiquity such as the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora and others.

Get to know more than 5,000 years of civilization
Museums in Athens boost important exhibits, taking you to a journey into more than 5,000 years of human civilisation. Beginning with the Cycladic era, you can move on to the Minoan times, explore the Classic era, the Roman times, the Byzantine era, the era of Ottoman empire, then pass in the era of Enlightenment, to conclude in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Hiking in the heart of the city
Situated in the heart of the city center, Mount Lycabettus is ideal to go up either on foot or by cable car and enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of Athens.

Plaka and Sunday morning Flea market
Within the picturesque old town of Athens is Plaka, a neighborhood full of small cafes, tavernas and souvenir stores. Every Sunday morning, a flea market takes place at Monastiraki and Avissinias Square, with antique furniture, porcelain and many other interesting things for sale.

The Athens Metro: A Museum on-the-move
The Athens Metro is much more than just a means of transportation. It is a museum, in which in order to pass on from one area to the other, you are presented with exhibits of both the antique era and contemporary Greek art.

Delicious Mediterranean cuisine by the sea
It takes less than half an hour to get from the city center to Microlimano and enjoy a meal by the sea. Make sure you try the variety of fresh sea food as well as other recipes of Greek cuisine, which are famous worldwide for their fresh ingredients and rich nutritional value.

Shopping
Boosting a long tradition in the fields of handicrafts, jewelry making and shoe manufacture, Athens impresses with both the number and originality of its stores. Right next to them, the fashion world offers more than one could possibly ask for: department stores, internationally acclaimed designers and firms as well as a big variety of small boutiques that display brands from all over the world.

Vibrant cultural life
Last but certainly not least, arts flourish in today Athens. Throughout the year, internationally acclaimed artists perform in the Greek capital and distinguished visual arts events take place in a big number of galleries and museums.

Nightlife

Athens has a lively nightlife scene that takes place in the streets as well as in the hundreds of bars, tavernas and clubs throughout the city. Bars open until around 4am and nightclubs until 4am or 6am.  Winter is the best time to enjoy the full range of after-dark entertainment, as many establishments move to the coast during the summer. For an authentic Athenian evening, find a bar or club offering bouzouki or rembétika music. Alternatively, numerous nightclubs and bars cater for international tastes. These are to be found mainly in the Syntagma, Thissio, Psirri, Gazi and Kolonáki areas of central Athens, as well as in the suburbs, such as Kifissia, Glyfada, Vouliagméni, Voula and Varkiza.

City Facts

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