Open spaces in Greece and especially in its busy Athens capital, offer a unique feeling of freedom. “Openness” is very much a part of the Greek culture, history, lifestyle, entertainment and character. Here are some favourite parts of the city where you can really enjoy the freedom of open space, relax and have fun.

Lying in the most famous spots of Athens or tucked away in well-hidden areas, the lush gardens and parks of Athens adorn the city’s neighbourhoods and thanks to their scenic beauty they form oases in the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Whether you want to take a romantic stroll, relax or offer your children a pleasant environment to play, the gardens of Athens are definitely to be visited during your stay in the Greek capital!

Visit Athens National Garden, an oasis in the centre of the city with more than 500 different species of plants, trees, birds and animals; home to the Botanical Museum, a zoo, a pond, a playground, a children’s library, a traditional café as well as scattered ancient monuments and statues. Walk along Pedio Areos, the biggest park in Athens, recently fully restored, an ideal place for walking, relaxing or having fun! Don’t forget to visit Thissio Park, the south-westernmost part of the Ancient Agora archaeological site, a favourite spot of the locals and one of the most frequented city places.

Thanks to its rich morphology Athens has plenty of places where you can admire stunning panoramic views of the city. Romantic or not, let yourself be captivated by the Athenian cityscape as seen from above. Must “view” locations include Lycabettus Hill, Filopappou Hill, Kaisariani Monastery, Anafiotika in Plaka, Profitis Elias in Piraeus and Damari in Petroupoli.

To read more, please visit: Visit Greece

In the heart of buzzing Athens there are a lot of open markets selling anything from food and spices to vintage clothing, antiques and souvenirs. Even if you don’t want to shop a walk into the flea market is a great way to get the real vibe of Athens.

Here is a list of the top flea markets in the centre of Athens:

Monastiraki flea market starts next to Monastiraki metro station.  It's not an actual flea market, but a collection of small shops.  Here you can buy almost anything, form clothing, jewellery, cheap souvenirs like t-shirts, toy exzone soldiers, marble Greek statues, postcards and quality souvenirs like backgammon sets, Byzantine icons, traditional Greek products, musical instruments and leather goods.  In Monastiraki flea market you will find almost everything.  Near the flea market there ar ea lot of cafes where you can stop for a refreshment and watch the people passing by.  Early in the morning and late at night when the shops are closed, all the shop fronts are covered with street art, which is totally worth checking out.

Every Sunday at Avissynias Square, just off Ifaistou Street, the central street of Monastiraki flea market, there is a bazaar.  There are vendors selling antiques from furniture to old books and recornds to anything you can imagine.  Some have no value at all, but you can also find a lot of bargins.  There are some cozy cafes at the square and Avissynias restaurant with live Greek music and traditional food where you can have a bite and watch all the action of the square.

To read more, please visit: Travel Passionate

On discovering that there was a political exhile museum in Athens, Dave from Dave's Travel Pages immediately wanted to find out more.  

Political exhiles?  What was this all about? As he researched, Dave learned that there is a little known part of modern Greek history that even many Greeks do not know about. Keep reading...

Dave's ongoing project to visit all the museums in Athens has led him to some interesting places.  Some have been essential to visit, like the National Archeological Museum. Others have been educational on a much deeper level, like the Tactual Museum of Athens.  Some are shocking, such as the Political Exile Museum. Let's start with some context:

Modern Greece as we know it has existed for less than 200 years.  During this period, it has endured Balkan War, two World Wars, civil war and a dictatorship.  As one can imagine, whoever was in charge at the time used a variety of methods to keep in power.  One of these was by internal political exile to the Greek islands.

From 1926 to 1967, many of the Greek islands were used to house political prisoners. They would generally be people that had opposing political views to those in power. They might include politicians, military figures, and activists, but also poets and artists. The most significant numbers of people exiled, occurred during and directly after the civil war period of 1946 to 1949.

There is a strange absence of information available to the public about the civil war period. Certainly, there is no specific museum dedicated to this. So, when I discovered that there was not one, but two political exile museums in Athens, I knew I had to visit. The museums are actually next door to each other at 31, Agion Asomaton Street 10553 Keramikos, Athens. They have really short opening hours, which are between 11.00 and 14.30 so it might be worth calling ahead to make sure they are open.

To read more, please visit: Dave's Travel Pages

An entirely different museum, digital and dedicated to Plato, the great philosopher of the antiquity, opened at the archaeological site of Plato's Academy in Athens.

The history of Plato and his work dominates the museum's exhibition, which is divided into three sections, unveiled in separate halls. Digital applications, video screening, maps and other material constitute the first museum of philosophy in Greece.

The museum's construction is also a part of the exhibition and its entrance is from the back of the building and works as a time capsule that travels the visitor back to Plato's era.

Another important element is its orientation which is directly connected with the archaeological site, the neighbourhood and the present. Moreover, the material used for the museum's construction is in total harmony with the surrounding environment.

 

The Digital Museum is in a new building in the Academy of Plato and comprises of a series of physical exhibits and multimedia applications with a variety of thematic areas. Through multiple levels of information consisting of texts, multimedia material and images, the visitor will be navigated both in the area (Academy of Plato and greater area) and in the "world of ideas". Beyond the emergence of the region and Platonism, the presentation aims at creating stimuli for discussion within and outside the area. The presentations are bilingual.

The exhibition takes a "step back" in time. It starts from the Academy of Plato in the current Athenian neighborhood. Along the route of the building's exterior, time counts counter clockwise and we see the archeological site's stages of revelation and discovery.

Located at Akadamia Platonos, Athens 10400, one of the oldest neighbourhoods of Athens,  the Plato Academy is a welcome reprieve to an area of Athens not particulalry well known for its beauty.

The museum is open daily from 09:00 - 16:00, except Mondays. Entrance is free. To learn more, please visit: Plato Academy.

Just a few metres away from Syntagma metro station and right next to the Greek parliament lies the national garden which, together with the Zappion hall garden, covers 24 hectares full of vegetation, rare plants, saplings and birds.

The garden is accessible from seven entrances. The central entrance on Amalias Avenue, one on Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, three on Irodou Attikou Street and two more in the area of Zappeion park.

Before it was renamed “National”, the garden was called “royal” or “the garden of Amalia” the queen to whom it owes its rare existence. The interest of Queen Amalia, wife of King Otto, in the Garden was such that she is said to have spent at least three hours a day personally taking care of it. She herself also planted the iconic 25-metre-high Washingtonia palm trees which grab the attention  when one enters the garden from the gate on Vasilissis Amalias Avenue.

Next to the gate on Amalias Avenue, there’s always a street vendor supplying passers-by and visitors with traditional “koulouri Thessalonikis”, bread rings covered in sesame seeds, people are crowded at the bus stop and the kiosks are stocked for every contingency.  A few steps  into the garden allows you to escape the hurly burly of the city. Shaded by eucalyptus trees, its benches make an ideal spot to bury yourself in a book , make new acquaintances or perhaps even start a romance. There are also many Athenians who prefer the National Garden for their exercise and every now and again you will spot people jogging through this luxuriant city paradise.

To read more, please visit: Discover Greece

The Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Plaka, Anafiotika, Monastiraki.  The famous 'historical triangle' of Athens is full of surprises!

Whether or not you live in the city or you are making your way to the Greek islands, Athens is a must-see destination. Athens is filled with history and culture making it an unforgettable getaway. If you are visiting the city for the first time, be sure to check out these popular experiences from Discover Greece.

 

Centuries seperate the Sacred Rock of the Acropolis from the city that pulsates at its feet, lively and vibrant. It is the place where it all began - philosophy, democracy, the sciences and the theatre. The cluster of temples, shrines and ruins that visitors will encounter at the Acropolis and the creations of the Golden Age of Pericles (5th century BC), form the cornerstone of European culture. It's not surprising that the Acropolis has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list since 1987.

A microcosm stuck in a previous century is carved into the northeast side of the hill of the Acropolis and looks as if it has been lifted from the Cyclades. Wanderers will get lost in its labyrinthine pathways, exploring the charming homes, past patios and whitewashed streets barely wide enough for two. 

Syntagma Square is the central hub of the historic centre. Walking in front of the monument of the Unknown Soldier, built in 1932, visitors can feed the pidgeons and wait patiently for the kilted Evzones to perform the changing of the guard, which happens on the hour.  Behind the guards is the imposing Hellenic Parliament building. Built as a palace by the architect Friedrich von Gaertner for the first kings of early Greece who settled here in 1843, it has been home to the Greek Parliament since 1935.

To read this article in full, please visit: Discover Greece

Although Athens is not a city famed for its greenery, there are some lovely spots tucked away that offer pleasant green havens from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Whether you want to take a peaceful stroll, offer your children a pleasant environment to play, or have an enjoyable picnic, here are some natural environments in Athens that are worth the visit!

Just a stone's throw from the centre of Athens, the Forest of Tatoi was once the summer retreat of King George and Queen Olga, before being converted to the Royal Family's permanent residence in 1948. Walking in the forest, you will be stunned by the lush vegetation; Aleppo pine trees, tall cypresses, poplars, plane trees, beech trees, Greek strawberry trees, olive ad citrus trees - among others, adorn the Tatoi forest, which is protected by the Natura 2000 network as a area of outstanding beauty. Don't miss the 10m waterfall that offers an unrivalled sense of serenity and enjoyment.

Created and designed by Queen Amalia in the 19th century, this is the ultimate children's paradise in the centre of the city, and is home to more than 500 different species of plants, trees, birds and animals.  There is also a Botanical and a Children's Museum, a zoo and a playground along with scattered ancient monuments and statues. Relax at the pleasant and always shaded coffee shop, where children can taste one of the best strawberry sorbet in town!

Antonis Tritsis Environmental Awareness Park
Welcome to the largest green zone in Attica! It’s the region’s precious gem that encompasses ponds, canals, a rich flora and a refuge of hundreds of species of birds and mammals. A specially designed system ensures continuous recirculation of fresh water between the park’s six lakes. This abundance of water has helped promote and preserve the park’s rich biodiversity. Immerse yourself in some trekking, jogging, biking and even horseback riding!

To read more, please visit: This is Athens

Technopolis is a well known venue for cultural shows, exhibitions and concerts in the Gazi area of Athens. It is also home to the Industrial Gas Museum. This museum gives fascinating insight into a short lived technological period. It helped transform Athens from pre-independence ramshackle village, to  a modern city.

At the time in 1833, Athens certainly looked nothing like the city we see today. In fact, it was little more than a collection of ramshackle houses located in the Plaka area. At the time of independence from the Ottoman empire, the population was barely 5000. Hard to imagine when you see it today!

When King Otto took up residence in Athens, he (or his aides), embarked on a massive development plan for Athens. Grand neo-classical buildings were designed and built, parliaments organised, and industry encouraged. One of the modern developments, was the task of providing street lighting. From 1857 until around 1917, this was done solely with coal gas. It was gradually phased out as electric lights replaced gas street lighting. The coal gas was produced at the gasworks in Gazi, and employed thousands of people. The Industrial Gas Museum was created as a way to display the technologies of just 100 years ago, and demonstrate how things have changed.

To learn more about the museum, please visit: Daves Travel Pages

Industrial Gas Museum Athens
Website: http://www.technopolis-athens.com/web/guest/museum
Address: Peiraios 100, Athens, 11854

What was once the Old Hellenic Parliament Building in Athens, it is now the National Historical Museum, home to interesting items and artifacts that are from the period of 1453 to the Second World War. The museum emphasizes the Greek Revolution and Dave found that the museum built upon his knowledge of the Greek War of Independence.

There are hundreds of items on display, ranging from weapons to a collection of traditional Greek costumes. The ship's wooden mastheads  from the revolution era were particularly striking. Perhaps even a little cartoon like!

The Old Parliament Building is certainly worth seeing from the outside, even if you do not have the time to visit the museum. The building is of a neoclassical design, and an impressive bronze statue stands at the front. This is of General Theodoros Kolokotronis, one of the most prominent characters of the Greek War of Independence. Anyone interested in the creation of modern Greece should definitely visit this museum!

Visit on a Sunday. It’s free!

To see more of Dave’s experience at the museum, please visit: Dave’s Travel Pages.

Inhabited for more than 3,000 years, Athens is widely known as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. Consisting of a large city center, an urban district and metropolitan area, Athens presents a stunning blend of historical and modern features. Here are just a few of some of the best landmarks to visit.

This marvel of a museum engagingly presents everything you need to know about the Acropolis, its individual temples and the remarkable ancient civilization responsible for it all. You’ll want to make time to see the whole museum, but if pressed for time, take the elevator to the top level to see a veritable recreation of the Parthenon in its heyday, with all the sculptures, columns, metopes, and friezes (originals and plaster-cast copies) in place.

With its low whitewashed houses and steep meandering skinny streets, this 19th-Century neighborhood looks like an island in need of a sea. Which makes perfect sense, since it was built by refugee stonemasons from the Cycladic island of Anafi.

Considered the jewel of Ancient Greece, the Parthenon is an architecturally and historically significant building in the Western World.  It’s an extraordinary sight, especially considering that this intricately carved 23,000-square-foot temple is more than 2,500 years old.

 

Cape Sounion is found on the south-east coast of Athens, on the southern tip of the Attica peninsula. Some of the archaeological items found in this site date from as early as the 8th century BC, while Herodotus affirms that in the 6th century BC, the Athenians used to celebrate a quadrennial festival at Cape Sounion.

This is a replica of the Classical-style stone theatre, built in 161 AD on the southwest slope of the Acropolis, adjacent to the Theatre of Dionysus, which was used as a music hall. The Odeum was destroyed just 100 years after it was built in 161 AD, but in the 1950’s, a wealthy Athenian funded the reconstruction and now today, the Odeum is host to the annual Athens Festival and a popular concert venue throughout the year.

To read the full list of the best landmarks in Athens, please visit: Messonghi