Cheap Hotels Athens
What to see by foot: Athens
    
Walking around Athens can be a dream come true or a nightmare, usually a bit of
both. The city is surrounded by beautiful hills, yet the peaks can be obscured
by pollution. At times, the hustle and bustle of downtown will drive you crazy,
yet you can suddenly find yourself in a quiet, cobbled part of the Plaka.
From the vantage point of ancient monuments and amphitheatres, you can look
down on modern skyscrapers. The centre of the modern city borders the Agora,
the ancient marketplace. Walking around the city is definitely rewarding; there
is so much to see in a small area.
The elevated Acropolis stands sentinel over Athens and is visible from almost
everywhere in the city. Dating from 510 BC, it is entered via the architecturally
brilliant Propylaia gate. Crowning the hilltop is the recently restored iconic
Parthenon - among the finest surviving examples of pre-Christian architecture.
Other important features are the graceful Erechtheion and ancient Theatre of
Dionysos. Located at its foot is the lively and ancient Plaka district, loaded
with Mediterranean restaurants and guest houses. Nearby is the ancient Agora
(marketplace).
Fifteen minutes walk from the Acropolis is Hadrian's Roman Arch, the lovely,
often overlooked monument of Lysikrates (dated 335 BC), and the few remains
of the enormous Temple of Zeus. Farther along is one of Athens' most famous
landmarks, the Panathenaic Stadium, used for the original Olympics in 1896.
The National Archaeological Museum is worth a visit and houses magnificent
gold artefacts from Mycenae and spectacular Minoan frescoes from Santorini (Thira),
among other exquisite objects and antiquities. The Goulandris Museum of Cycladic
and Ancient Greek Art, boasts a powerful collection of elegant marble figurines.
As hosts of the 2004 Olympic Games Athens has spruced itself up considerably
and remains one of the world's most intriguing and historically spectacular
'museum cities'.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Hermes Hotel | | Achilleas Hotel | | Plaka Hotel | | Marina Hotel | | Semiramis Hotel | | Epidavros Hotel | | Hotel Rio Athens | | Novotel Athenes | | Athenaeum Inter-Continental | | Hilton Athens | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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