The perfect spot in the city center for getting a mouthful of delicious food and an eyeful of amazing scenery, from the Acropolis to Lycabettus Hill all the way down to the Saronic Gulf! Lay back comfortably in your deck chair and sip on refreshing cocktails or cool down under the impressive waterfall in the most stylish rooftop pool bar of Athens!

Located in Monastiraki Square, this wonderful bar is a favorite among the young and the older crowds. At the bar, you can choose from a selection of 60 different cocktails, while at the restaurant, you will savor imaginative dishes inspired by Mediterranean and Greek cuisine.

@kuzina.gr

Located in one of the most crowded pedestrian streets of the city, overlooking the Acropolis, in front of the Temple of Hephaestus, Kuzina combines Greek traditions with the latest trends, always using the freshest ingredients. Enjoy tasteful dishes and cocktails while the sunset paints the sky in the most unique colors!

Facing the sacred rock of the Acropolis, this hidden bar on Normanou street is most definitely one of the most beautiful terraces in the center of Athens. The all-day menu includes cocktails, coffee, healthy snacks, finger food, delicious burgers, and pizza. When the sun sets, you'll enjoy selected lounge and house music by well-known Greek and world DJs!

 

Location: 3 Normanou, Monastiraki
Telephone: 216 7004917

Telescope


@telescope_cafe_bar_restaurant

It's like love at first sight! You most definitely won't need more than a moment to fall in love with this place. Inside the store, you will find 21 telescopes which you can use to look at the magnificent view from the Piraeus port to the Olympic Stadium! The ideal spot for a relaxing drink or a romantic dinner!

A total of 93 free-entry events in 115 archaeological sites, monuments and museums all over the country are organized by the Ministry of Culture and Sports for the full moon of August, which this year takes place on the 7^th of August!

In addition, 22 venues and museums will remain open to the public without  specific events being held. 

At the Central Archaeological Council meeting, all members  gave the "green light" for events that include music, dance, theater and visual exhibitions as film screenings, poetry nights, guided tours and many other actions.

Last year's statistics showed that 63,795 people participated in 82 events  that were held in 116 archaeological sites, museums and monuments or visited  34 sites that were just open to the public.

This year's events will culminate on August 7^th, but there will be more around this date. As for Athens and Attica, that evening the Acropolis will remain open until 8 pm and Sounio until midnight.

Musical events will be held, among other things, in the archaeological site of Olympiou, with the Philharmonic of the Army General Staff (20.00-22.00), as well as in the adjacent area of ​​the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus ("Melodies in the Full Moon" with the soprano Vasia Zacharopoulou, Dimitris Paksoglou and The Underground Youth Orchestra, at 21.00).

The Acropolis Museum will celebrate the August full moon on two separate nights. On Thursday August 18 at 9 pm, the museum will host the well-known band The Swingin’ Cats.

Furthermore, the museum galleries will remain open from 8:00 am to midnight (entrance will be free after 8:00 pm), allowing visitors to look through the permanent and temporary exhibitions. At the same time, the restaurant, located on the museum’s second floor, will also be open to the public. Visitors will be able to taste exquisite dishes based on traditional recipes, while listening to jazz music.

Acropolis Museum – Free entry to museum from 8:00pm – 12:00am

The Acropolis Museum invites its visitors to a musical performance by the well-known musician and singer Manolis Mitsias and his band who will perform popular melodies by Greek songwriters and composers including, Manos Hadjidakis, Mikis Theodorakis, Stavros Xarchakos, Thanos Mikroutsikos, Loukianos Kilaidonis, Christos Leontis and Dimos Moutsis. Performance from 9:00pm. Museum opens 8:00am.

National Archaeological Museum – open until midnight

A musical performance in the garden of the museum, 9:30pm – 11:00pm.

Numismatic Museum

A musical performance by quartet – “Quarderinas Moonlight Stories”, 9:00pm – 12:00am.

Source: WhyAthens.com

Greece is one of the best countries in the world to travel with children. Rather than just catering to kids with entertainment parks and special menus, the Greeks will welcome them with true warmth and a natural sense of inclusion in all activities. Expect locals to make a friendly fuss over your kids and try to treat Greek kids the same way, and a good time will be had by all.

With ruins to clamber over and child-geared sights to explore, there is plenty to keep children busy in Athens. From the Acropolis to the Ancient Agora, kids can retrace ancient history. Bring a book of Greek myths to read for bedtime stories, and they will have plenty to enliven the imagination.

Athens’ shady National Gardens has a playground, duck pond and mini zoo, or look for the fountain stocked with swimming turtles in neighbouring Zappeio Gardens. You can escape the heat and entertain the kids with a virtual-reality tour of Ancient Greece at the Hellenic Cosmos or explore the universe at the impressive Planetarium. At the War Museum, kids can climb into the cockpit of a WWII plane and check out other aircraft in the courtyard.

The Museum of Greek Children’s Art has a room set aside where children can let loose their creative energy and learn about Ancient Greece. At the Hellenic Children’s Museum kids can join Greek cooking and craft classes. A bit like a play centre, it has a games room and a number of exhibits for children to explore.

Further afield on the outskirts of the city, the enormous Allou Fun Park and Kidom is Athens' biggest amusement-park complex.

The sugar-cube island villages, glorious beaches and speedy catamarans linking the Cyclades daily make this island group ideal for families. In fact, when you think ‘Greek island holiday’ you’re probably imagining the iconic Cyclades. Many of the islands also offer outdoor activities and beach-side gear rental. For budding teenage kitesurfers, Paros has some world-class sandy beaches with ideal conditions for kitesurfing. Wee coastal explorers will enjoy Milos with its multihued volcanic beaches. Naxos offers both beach life and striking temples, plus interior mountains so you can mix water play with relaxed local culture. You can easily set up on one island for your whole holiday, or jump between several.



From the ancient theatre at Epidavros where you can hear a pin drop a hundred meters away, to Ancient Olympia, the site of the original Olympic Games, the Peloponnese is a playground of splendid kid-friendly historical sites. It also has the wonderful, walkable Venetian city of Nafplio. You could easily spend your whole holiday criss-crossing the villages and ruins of the Peloponnese, where the way of life remains refreshingly non-touristy.

To read more, please visit: Lonely Planet

Students of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki have created an innovative interactive tool that helps dyslexics read easier online, says a report in Chinese agency Xinhua.

The tool named “3asyR” (Easy Reader) allowed dyslexics and people with learning disabilities to easier read the website created for the 1st International Journalism Summer School.

The tool provides the opportunity for users to underline words or highlight material on online texts and choose among 15 dyslexic friendly colors and font size options or a Text-to-Speech option, supporting almost all languages.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter

Combining juicy, chilled slices of watermelon and salty, creamy feta cheese is a Greek summer favourite. This watermelon feta salad recipe includes crispy cucumber, tangy kalamata olives and thin slices of red onion garnished with a touch of lemon dressing and fresh vibrant mint leaves to turn this surprising combination into a delicious watermelon feta salad.

To view this recipe in full, please visit: My Greek Dish

 

Photo Credit: My Greek Dish

The 74-year-old conceptual artist Marta Minujín has recreated her seminal installation – initially constructed in Buenos Aires in 1983 – with thousands of banned books that have been donated by the public.

Marta Minujín's monumental installation "The Parthenon of Books" is one of the highlights of this year's Documenta in Kassel, Germany.

The installation in Friedrichsplatz perfectly mimics the grandeur and scale of the Parthenon at 10 meters high by 70 meters long and 30 meters wide.

On each of the 46 columns, up to 100,000 books which have been forbidden in various countries for numerous reasons (like Goethe’s romantic novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther, that led to a wave of suicides across Europe) have been attached to the metal scaffolding replica in plastic bags.

To read this article in full, please visit: The Culture Trip

 

Photo Credit: Maxie Fischer from documenta 14

This summer the design platform It's all, oh so souvenir to me! and the cultural space T.A.F / The Art Foundation are joining in a multi-faceted project that finds a roof at Normanou street in Monastiraki. The new partnership begins with Oh!@TAF, the shop that was created on the premises of T.A.F to host the exciting collection of Greek design by It's all, oh so souvenir to me!

Just this month, T.A.F and oh so souvenir to me! had their first launch party that was an exhibition held for the fifth consecutive year. They presented 50 new proposals, enriching the already existing collection of It's all, oh so souvenir to me! which counts over 80 collaborations and hundreds of souvenir objects.

The idea behind ​​It's all, oh so souvenir to me! was born in the summer of 2013. Since then, four major exhibitions have been organized - Athens (July 2013, June 2014), Nisyros (September 2014), Benaki Museum (March 2015) and Thessaloniki (June 2016) - which gathered the proposals of more than 80 Greek designers on the redefinition and redesign of an extremely controversial object, the souvenir. What does it mean, what is proposed, how it is manufactured, how can it differ from what is offered by the tourist market?

What has emerged is a line of articles with Greece as a reference, that have a variety of functional qualities. The collection draws on the souvenir taking inspiration from different social, political and cultural themes, while displaying modern Greek identity by escaping the trivial patterns of the category, combining usability and innovation, inventiveness and humour.

On the design platform the creators come from the whole range of design. Architects, product designers, fashion and accessories designers, photographers, visual artists, ceramists, graphic designers, are constantly enriching it with the addition of new objects and new collaborations, always focusing on supporting and promoting Greek creation and creativity.

This summer, the Greek souvenir sails from Monastiraki to travel all over the world.

 

Opening hours: Sunday - Tuesday: 11.00 - 21.00 / Thursday - Saturday: 11.00 - 23.00
Address: Normanou 5, Monastiraki 105 55 Athens
Contact: shop@ohsosouvenir.com

For more information, please visit:

Another award for the successful “Santorini Experience”

Athens, July 19 2017. The 3rd “Santorini Experience” will take place in the breathtaking Santorini from October 6th to 8th. The top sports tourism event for professional and amateur swimmers and runners in Greece, which recently won the silver award at the Sports Marketing Awards 2017 in the “Sports Events / Branded Events” section of the “Sports Tourism” category, offers the opportunity to those wishing to travel to the beautiful Santorini to “measure” their stamina and to “flirt” with the adrenaline!

The official airline partner of “Santorini Experience” Ryanair, which was awarded as the fastest growing company among the top 10 companies with the highest passenger traffic in Athens in 2016, is reinforcing the sports tourism of Santorini and the island’s completeness during the days of the event. The airline company will serve the route Athens-Santorini with fares starting from 14.99€ for bookings which will be completed until Sunday 23/07 and for travels within October. Since these amazing low prices will be available from Wednesday July 19, 2017 and will be snapped up quickly, customers interested in joining the event as active participants should log onto www.ryanair.com or the mobile application of Ryanair and avoid missing out.

You may see Ryanair’s video from “Santorini Experience” here!

At the same time, all those wishing to travel to the island by ferry, will be able to enjoy once again this year the safety and comfort of Blue Star Ferries. The top Greek shipping company offers 50% discount on the ferry tickets and vehicles to all those visiting the event and the island from October 2nd to 13th 2017. Each person who has completed his/her registration is entitled to the same discount for 3 more people (if these are his/her escorts) or for 4 people (if these are family members).

For the third consecutive year, ambassadors and organizers will move with the safety and efficient engines of the cars of Ford Motor Hellas, the official supporter of “Santorini Experience”.

“Santorini Experience” will receive for one more year the support of Avance Rent A Car. As an official car rental company of the event Avance Rent A Car will cover the event and all visitors’ car rental needs with one of the fastest growing car rental networks with presence in Greece & Cyprus and all major airports and will offer a 15% discount on car rentals.

VitaNTravel, as the official travel agent of the event, will take care and assist all athletes and escorts with information about the ferry routes, ferry tickets, car rentals and accommodation in the island. For more information visit Vita N Travel!

“Santorini Experience” is a world-renowned event with global broadcast, and it is worth noting that the show with the best moments of the event from 2016, which was screened in Greece via FOX Sports will also be broadcasted in 13 Asian countries (Hong Kong, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Macau, Mongolia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia and Brunei) on July 26th (18.30 Hong Kong time zone) and July 31st (13.30 Hong Kong time zone).

Regarding the athletic part of the event, and while registrations have already surpassed the record number of last year during the first 60 days, the schedule includes a 1.5-mile open water swimming race, on Saturday 7 October 2017 and running routes of 15km, 10km & 5km, on Sunday 8 October 2017.

The swimming and running registrations continue with an undiminished pace at the official event page or alternatively at the store of the official sponsor Alafouzos Sport in Fira, which supports the event for a 3rd year.

The support from Santorini entrepreneurs does not stop there, as Aqua Vista Hotels will support for a second consecutive year both as an official supporter and hospitality sponsor the event, providing high quality hosting services to the participants and visitors of the island.

Similarly, Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa promises an unforgettable holiday experience to the visitor, at an environment that is tailored to modern needs, offering to the event and thus recognizing the great significance of “Santorini Experience” for the island and its tourism.

At the same time, Canaves Oia is listed in the hospitality sponsors, while Sunset Oia Sailing Cruises, as the expert of organized sailing tours in Santorini will assist the event.

The hospitality sponsors supporting the event are: Aqua Vista Hotels, Athina Luxury Suites, Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa, Vedema A Luxury Collection Resort Santorini, Canaves Oia, West East Suites, 270 Oia's View, Central Fira Hotel, Memories Hotel, Loizos Stylish Residencies, Fanouris Condo, Monolithia Hotel, Esperas Santorini, Sienna Residencies, Hotel Rivari Santorini, White Pearl Villas.

"Santorini Experience" will take place under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization and the Hellenic Swimming Federation with the co-organization of the Municipality of Santorini, DAPPOS and Active Media Group.

More information regarding the activities schedule and the hospitality packages of sponsors will be announced in the following weeks..

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Running @ Santorini Experience: Photo by Elias Lefas

Official Hashtag: #SantoriniExperience

Official Airline Partner: Ryanair

Official Sponsors: Blue Star Ferries, Alafouzos Sport, Athina Luxury Suites

Official Supporters: Ford Motor Hellas, “Vikos” Natural Mineral Water, Avance Rent A Car, Aqua Vista Hotels, Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa, Wyndham Grand Athens, Santorini Boatmen Union

Hospitality Sponsors: Aqua Vista Hotels, Athina Luxury Suites, Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa, Vedema A Luxury Collection Resort Santorini, Canaves Oia, West East Suites, 270 Oia's View, Central Fira Hotel, Memories Hotel, Loizos Stylish Residencies, Fanouris Condo, Monolithia Hotel, Esperas Santorini, Sienna Residencies, Hotel Rivari Santorini, White Pearl Villas

Double gold distinction at the Sports Marketing Awards 2017

The Olympic “family” of “Navarino Challenge” grows and returns for a 5th consecutive year on October 13-15 2017, in Messinia and Costa Navarino.

Every year “Navarino Challenge”, honors the athletes who stand out for their overall contribution to sports. Honoree person at this year's event will be the Olympic gold medalist in Rio and world champion in the rings, Lefteris Petrounias who has made proud all Greeks not only with his successes but also with his ethics. Petrounias, is considered an exemplary athlete for young people, who has already won a gold Olympic medal, two gold medals in the world gymnastics championships, as well as four gold and one bronze in European tournaments and championships in rings.

The multiple award-winning sports tourism event of Messinia continues with new distinctions; following the Gold Ermis Award as best sports tourism event, another important recognition came at the Sports Marketing Awards 2017, which highlight the best practices in the marketing and communication of the Greek sports market.

On Wednesday, July 12, “Navarino Challenge” remained in the top level by winning not just one, but two gold awards. In particular, the event received a gold award at the “Sports Events / Branded Events” section, in the category “Live Well” for the values promoted through its program of activities. As an event that attracted thousands of participants, reinforced the local community, promoted the athletic ideal and contributed to the strengthening of a healthy lifestyle, distinguishing itself in terms of design, creativity, innovation, efficiency and effectiveness.

The second gold award was received in the “Sports Brands” section of the “Integrated Marketing Campaign” category for the best communication and marketing campaign launched in 2016, in the light of strong creativity, ingenuity, originality and excellence.

“Navarino Challenge”, which takes place in Costa Navarino and throughout Messinia, is innovating every year and now composes not only the event with the most sports activities but also with the most Olympic sports, contributing to the promotion of sports and the promotion of Greek tourism.

Registrations for “Navarino Challenge” continue with an undiminished pace and everyone can take part by completing the special entry form available by clicking here.

Participants may select to run in one of the following routes, the exquisite Half Marathon (21,1km), the 10 km route and the 5km run (for running and dynamic walking), while at the same day children may run the 1km running route. This year, there will be race timing for all runners. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to swim in the beautiful Navarino bay at the picturesque port of Pylos, covering the unique swimming route of one mile (1.6 km.) and take part in the Stand Up Paddling race by BIC® Sport that will be held with the support of the best surf club, Surf Salad!

Travel to “Navarino Challenge” with the multiple award-winning airline company Qatar Airways, by using the promo code ATHNAVCH to book an exclusive offer for roundtrip tickets to Athens from over 150 places, by clicking here!

Offer is valid from 3 to 15 October 2017 included (Outbound) and (Inbound) to be completed on or before 25 October 2017. This offer refers to roundtrip tickets to Athens from more than 150 destinations. Participants should be ready for even more surprises to be announced by the official airline partner of the event.

In addition, Vikos company will support and refresh for one more year the audience and participants of the event with the Natural Mineral Water "Vikos", while ambassadors and organizers will move with the safety of the cars of Ford Motor Hellas.

The privileged accommodation packages at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino are available for those wishing to enjoy the full schedule of “Navarino Challenge”, which includes more than 10 free sports activities. For further information click here!

“Navarino Challenge” will be held under the Auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization with the support of Costa Navarino and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino, as well as the Municipalities of Pylos-Nestor and Trifilia.

More information will be announced in the next few weeks.

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Hashtags: #navarinochallenge #costanavarino #eatwell #runwell #livewell

Photo: Greek Olympic gold medalist and world champion in the rings, Lefteris Petrounias will be the honoree person of "Navarino Challenge"

 

Official Airline Partner: Qatar Airways

Official Sponsors: “Vikos” Natural Mineral Water, Ford Motor Hellas

Official Supporters: BIC®, BIC® Sport, Wyndham Grand Athens, Poseidonia, Surf Salad

Assisted by: Navarino Outdoors, Swim Academy, Navarino Racquet Academy, Apia

Strategic Partner: National Geographic

Under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization

Passion for Greece, along with Travel Bloggers Greece, recently took a trip this summer to Hydra and shares their experience with us. If we didn't have enough before, now we have 15 reasons to visit Hydra!

With its rich history, architectural beauty and vibrant lifestyle, Hydra mesmerizes its visitors at all times of year. A much loved destination among foreign celebrities and prominent Greeks alike, this quaint Saronic Island is a short two-hour ferry trip from Athens. Here are our 15 reasons to visit Hydra right now.

During 1960s Hydra became an artists destination when Leonard Cohen came here and bought a house for only one thousand five hundred dollars, where he spent ten years of his life writing music and novels. Every year his son Adam visits the island for his holidays and every two years the Municipality of Hydra together with the Canadian Embassy organize an event dedicated to Leonard Cohen.

Hydra has managed to preserve its traditional flair as its architecture dates back to the 18th century. Until this day the island is protected by an archaeological law, nothing can be changed in its architectural style and it is forbidden to use solar systems on Hydra.

No installation of metal doors or windows in the houses is not allowed. There are no cars or motorbikes on Hydra which protects the island from pollution. Get lost wandering around the charming streets of Hydra, every turn is guaranteed to give you joy.

To read this article in full, please visit: Passion For Greece

Photo Credit: Passion For Greece