Attractions

A few words on Athens

Athens is built on a low land surrounded by mountains Hymmetos, Pendeli and Parnitha northwards and eastwards, and the Saronic gulf southwards and westwards. The sun is shining over Athens all year around. The climate is one of the best in Europe with mild winters and hot summers, ideal for tourism. The city is located just a few kilometers from the port of Piraeus, the central commercial port of the capital.

Athens has been constantly inhabited since the Neolithic Age. The 5th century BC was the time of its ultimate bloom, when morals and civilization surpassed city limits and Athens became the mother land of west civilization. In the following centuries, many conquerors took over the city. In 1834, Athens was chosen to be the capital of the newly established Greek State, and the town, which now hosts more than 4.5 million people, was rebuilt around the walls of the Acropolis. Today it is the political, social, cultural, financial and commercial center of Greece.

Athens is a surprising city blending its long ancient path, with its Christian heritage, the eastern influence, with the vibe of a modern metropolis. Due to its recent revamping for staging the 2004 Olympics, Athens has greatly upgraded its infrastructure, and main sites, but there are also some less spotted places worth visiting, if you wish to learn more about the city and multicultural population.

The weather in early April can be diverse, allowing for pleasant walks and city scrolls, but may, especially during nights, require warmer clothes. Delegates are advised to consult weather forecast sites for an update before traveling.

Be to Be travel and Event Management, the official conference travel partner, offers a range of excursions to the most popular sites: these are guided tours, and their detailed description can be found in the excursion section. Here are a couple of suggestions for alternative ways of exploring Athens.

The best way to go about Athens is with the METRO. Some of the METRO stations are sites in themselves, including Syntagma Station, Monastraki Station, and Keramikos Station. Next to the latter is "Gazi", a fine representation of late 19th century industrial Athens. The whole area has been transformed in an art hotspot, with various exhibitions of contemporary art throughout the year, and a number of imaginative dining venues scattered all around.

If you want to experience the Athenians’ way of entertainment, take a walk from Monastiraki Station to "Psyri" and "Thession", and just enter any of the numerous restaurants, bars and clubs, featuring live performances, different music streams, and a variety of culinary tastes.

For those wishing to shop, Athens offers most international brands, coupled with traditional Greek market. Athens' high street is Ermou, starting at Syntagma Sq., and is a pedestrian zone, going all the way through to Monastiraki, in which the open air flee market is located. If you are into a posh shopping spree, the ideal place to be is Kolonaki. All major retail outlets are present there, while the walk there can be enriched with a leisurely stop at the well visited cafes and restaurants.

Don't forget to pass from the Byzantine museum, the National Gallery, the Odeon and the Panathinaic stadium, where the first modern Olympics were held back in 1896. There is also the National Garden, the biggest park in Athens, right next to which you can find 'Zappeion', a multipurpose classical mansion.

Museums
[1] The New Acropolis Museum
[2] The National Archaeological museum of Athens
[3] The National Gallery
[4] The Athens Byzantine and Christian Museum
[5] The Cycladic Art Museum
[6] The Benaki Museum
[7] The War Museum of Athens

Other attractions
[8] Acropolis and Parthenon
[9] Plaka, Monastiraki and the Flea Market
[10] Lycabettus Hill
[11] Syntagma Square
[12] The 2004 Olympic Games stadium
[13] Panathinaiko Stadium
[14] Shopping at Ermou str.