No doubt in our minds that Athens is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. With historical ancient sites and exceptional beaches along the coast, Athens is a fascinating place for both tourists and locals. Most sightseeing is done during the day, but Athens is just as wonderful and impressive at night.Below are some excellent spots to sit and stargaze!



Thiseio


@observatoryathens

Right in the heart of Athens, the bright lights of the busy city might not create the best circumstances for a crystal clear sky, but the local observatory and its telescope have sure taken care of it! So next time you're downtown, don't forget to pay it a visit.

Penteli


@paranoid_pastel

The Penteli Observatory is undoubtedly one of the most famous observatories in Greece. Whether you live in Athens or just visiting, you can take part in one of the organized tours that they offer, which include walking at night and observing the clear sky through a Newall telescope.

Sounio


@leva_alex

One of the most magical places outside of Athens is the famous Sounio. The Temple of Poseidon and its sandy beach just under it make it a once in a lifetime oppurtunity to gaze at the sky while enjoying a refreshing swim. 

Elikonas


@tasos_palamidas

Just about an hour away from Athens lies the country town of Elikonas, which offers a fantastic site in the woods to gaze at the stars. The place is called Arvanitsa where visitors can also enjoy a quick bite far from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Kitheronas


@kimon_papathanasopoulos

The mountain of Kitheronas is situated between Attica and Viotia and has become a favorite place for passionate stargazers. If you do visit it, the best place for a great view of the sky is near the EOS Eleusina shelter, Vaggelis Tsakos.

The Megaron Concert Hall Garden is the perfect place to relax and escape the fast pace of the city. Walkers are free to stroll through the park and admire the beautiful verdant garden filled with thriving lush trees, flowers, shrubs, and climbing plants.

 

"In choosing the species to be planted, special emphasis was laid on evergreens such as carobs, acacia, orange and magnolia trees, with care taken to ensure that at any time of year some of the trees would be in flower. The mimosa, yellow jasmine, viburnum, and mahonia flower in the winter months. Early in spring, the ornamental plum-tree, Japanese quince, and forsythia come into bloom. The planting of laurel along the fences bordering the gardens was decided on functional – preventing noise pollution – as well as aesthetic grounds."

The landscape designers used the contours of the site to harmonize with the surrounding streets, the adjacent Eleftherias Park, and the monument to Eleftherios Venizelos. It was also designed to allow for rainwater run-off.

The Megaron Concert Hall Garden hosts a wide range of musical, educational, cultural, and environmental events. Perhaps the most unforgettable occasion was the concert by the Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Riccardo Muti. About 4,000 people, sat in Megaron Concert Hall Garden, to enjoy a live broadcast of the concert on giant screens.

 

For more information, please visit: Megaron
Photo source: Megaron

With over 11,000 exhibits at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, it's easy to feel overwhelmed trying to see it all! Luckily, Why Athens put together this list of 7 things you must see while you're visiting the largest museum in Greece.

The Kore (young maiden) and Kouros (young male) were discovered in Mirenda, south-east of Athens in 1972, with the female Kore being fully preserved and considered one of the most important pieces of Archaic art in existence. Both statues were created by the sculptor Aristion of Paros around 550-540BC.

Zeus or Poseidon, the museum itself asks the same question as the experts can’t agree but the locals will tell you it is Zeus. Found in a shipwreck off the island of Euboea (Evia) the hollow cast bronze statue dates back to the early Classical period around 460BC and is one of the few original pieces in existence from this time.

To read this article in full, please visit: Why Athens

Photo source: Wikipedia

Set in Gazi, the brightly lit Christmas Factory looks like a real wonderland right in the middle of the city center and promises to get both young and old into the magical spirit of Christmas!

First stop, the small train that takes visitors around the village. Even though the village is set up in an industrial space - dating back to 1857, Gazi was the first coal gas factory in Greece - the result is actually very beautiful and festive. The cobbled alleys are lined with market stalls, selling everything from candy and accessories to toys and magic props!

 

Next stop, the Carousel. This old-fashioned ride it's sure to make you smile! If you want to enjoy some absolutely stunning views of the city the giant Ferris Wheel is a must-see attraction. You will also have fun in the bumper cars, the tube slide, and the mini roller coaster. There is also an ice skating rink, an indoor play area with bouncy toys, and a bunch of other funfair rides.

 

One of the main reasons to visit the village is for your little ones to write and post a letter to Santa and, of course, meet him in person. All you have to do is buy a Christmas postage stamp, write the letter, and post it in one of the red post boxes outside Santa’s headquarters. Santa's impressive headquarters feature a big fireplace, a beautiful tree, and bags filled with gifts scattered all over the room. You'll find him sitting in his chair, often surrounded by his loyal workers, the elves!

 

The Christmas Village in Gazi will run until January 6, 2022, from 10:00 to 22:00 and tickets cost 6 euros each or 20 euros for a family of 4.

Important Note: Admission to the park will be available to all adults with a Vaccination or Recovery Certificate. Children can enter upon presenting a negative Self Test result. 

The center of Athens is the hub for most of the city’s museums, attractions, and cultural events. One of the newest additions to Athens’ museum and entertainment scene is the Museum of Illusions in Monastiraki which opened its doors to the public last September.

 

Get ready to enter a world of illusion, a world that will confuse your mind and senses. The Museum of Illusions is a visual, sensory, and educational experience that will impress children and adults alike.

 

Be brave enough to jump in an illusion created by the Vortex Tunnel that will drive you crazy and make you believe you’re struggling to make a step forward through the rotating cylinder – on a surface so stable and flat! See a deformed reflection of yourself in the Mirror Room, let yourself free in the Infinity Room, resist the laws of gravity and size ratio, and take pictures of yourself and your friends in every possible pose!

 

Before leaving make sure to visit the Playroom, a room full of intriguing and educational games, puzzles, and brain bashers that are great fun but can be quite frustrating as well.

 

Museum of Illusions

Address: Ermou 119 (entrance from Astiggos 12)

 

Photo Credit: Museum of Illusions

Escape rooms or escape games have rapidly become a huge entertainment trend throughout the world. The first escape game was developed in Kyoto, Japan in 2007. Escape rooms are physical adventure games in which players solve a series of puzzles and riddles using clues, hints, and strategies in order to complete the game’s objective and escape within a specified time limit.

Heading to an escape room is a great way to have fun with your group of friends or family; it's also an excellent way to pump back the motivation into your team. Do something different after work, put your skills to the test, and bond as a team in one of the numerous escape rooms in Athens.

 

Exit Plan Escape Rooms

Exit Plan, one of our favorite escape venues in Athens, is located in Agios Dimitrios right next to the Athens Metro Mall. They offer three different escape rooms, two of which also cater for English speaking players. The 'Dark Side of Elements’ has been ranked #1 escape room in Athens by avid escapers from around Greece. So, gather a group of 2 to 6 players and head to Exit Plan to think, unlock, open, have fun, and escape!

 

To find out more about escape rooms in Athens and their rankings, please visit: The Escapers

 

Located on the Vasilisis Olgas Avenue, the ‘Athens Tennis Club’ is situated amidst the city’s most important landmarks and monuments. The club is located next to the temple of Olympian Zeus, opposite the Zappeion Gardens, and just below the Acropolis!

Founded in 1895, the ‘Athens Tennis Club’ is the oldest tennis club in Greece; and has consistently served the tennis loving community of Athens for more than 120 years! The tennis club hosted the Olympic games of tennis during the first modern Olympic games that took place in Athens in 1896.

Today, the club is open to athletic groups, children, adults and seniors! It is a perfect place for outdoor family activities and its courts can be reserved by non-permanent members of the club.

The state-of-the-art tennis courts, the beautiful surroundings, and the club’s elegant restaurant make the ‘Athens Tennis Club’ an ideal destination for mild athletic activities, leisure and relaxation.

To read this article in full, please visit: yougoculture.com

Following the principles and expanding possibilities of house museums, such as the Freud Museum in London, the Katakouzenos House Museum is proof of how a historical Athenian residence can be converted to a community-oriented and education-based institution.

 

 

 

 

To read more about the life & heritage of Angelos & Leto Katakouzenos, please visit: Katakouzenos House Museum

 

The 6th OPEN HOUSE Athens is back on 6 & 7 April 2019.

A two-day event of free architectural guided tours addressed to the general public; an event based on volunteerism, which aims at promoting the architecture of our city; an opportunity to walk the city, look up while walking in the streets, see the buildings from a different angle… It is our established appointment in Spring, when everyone can continue their tour from where they left off last year!

With 40 new entries, this year’s renewed programme includes, as always, public and private buildings, contemporary and historical, monuments, museums, theatres, schools, residences, professional spaces, in the city centre and the suburbs. 550 volunteers will guide us at the 95 buildings which are included in the programme.

All guided tours are free of charge and no booking is required.

In order to attend a tour, visitors should arrive at the buildings of their interest during the opening hours of each, and wait in the queue. The tours are conducted on a first come, first served basis. Visitors are advised to arrive in time, as no tours are being held after the closing time.

Learn more about OHA 2019 parallel events HERE! 

The Greek capital welcomes the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation – one of the most anticipated cultural projects of the past years.

Apart from the Museum of Contemporary Art in Andros, Basil and Elise envisioned the creation of a museum in Athens, which would allow a broader audience to become introduced to modern and contemporary art.




The collection focuses on modern and contemporary art by Greek and foreign artists, including rare works by masters of the European avant-garde such as Cézanne, van Gogh, Gauguin, Monet, Degas, Rodin, Toulouse-Lautrec, Bonnard, Picasso, Braque, Léger, Miró, Giacometti, Balthus, and others, as well as works by distinguished Greek modern painters including Parthenis, Bouzianis, Vasileiou, Hadjikyriakos-Ghika, Tsarouchis, Moralis, Tetsis and others.




The museum covers a surface area of 7,250 sq.m. and consists of 11 floors.  The museum is home to a museum shop and a café-restaurant which is located on the mezzanine floor. On-site there is also a library with around 4,500 books, a children's workshop, and a state-of-the-art, 190-seat amphitheater, designed to host events including lectures, conferences, screenings, performances, concerts, and other artistic and scientific activities.

Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation

Address: 13 Eratosthenous,116 35, Athens